Kia Stonic vs Lexus ES
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Lexus ES scores higher, 73 vs 72
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Oct 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Kia Stonic
11 of 27 standard · no option data · 4 not offered · 12 no dataFrom
$26,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 88kW
- Economy
- 5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 352L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Lexus ES
17 of 27 standard · no option data · 10 no dataFrom
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 144kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 493L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 72, but the Kia Stonic is $48,010 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Lexus ES: we're still completing kerb weight, torque, 0-100km/h, ground clearance and turning circle, plus 1 other.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$26,990RRP
- cannot be matched: Satellite Navigation and Heated Front Seats not offered
$75,000RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Kia Stonic S
$26,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 28 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $102 a week in repayments ($26,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Lexus ES ES 300h Luxury
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $324 a week in repayments ($75,000 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Kia Stonic starts $48,010 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$102/wk(≈$441/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Stonic at $26,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Kia StonicDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Kia Stonic a rating. ANCAP's published record does not give the Lexus ES a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 4 of 10 key systems on the Kia Stonic and 4 on the Lexus ES.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Kia Stonic
- REC-006665 · published 16 Jul 2026Due to a software issue, the daytime running lamps switch off when the vehicle enters fuel-saving (sailing) mode.Year range on the notice: 2025 - 2026
Lexus ES
- REC-005374 · published 6 Apr 2020The fuel pump on affected vehicles may stop operating.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2019
- REC-005366 · published 31 Jul 2019Some brake booster pumps may be manufactured improperly, and may cause the brake assist function to stop operating while driving.Year range on the notice: 2019
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Kia Stonic features a 8-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Lexus ES gets a 14-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Lexus ES counters with panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Kia Stonic gets cloth upholstery while the Lexus ES offers nulux (synthetic leather). Climate control is 1-zone in the Kia Stonic and 2-zone in the Lexus ES.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Kia Stonic uses a Petrol producing 88kW and 172Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed dct to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11.2 seconds.
The Lexus ES responds with a Petrol making 144kW, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels.
The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 144kW vs 88kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia Stonic measures 4,165mm long on a 2,580mm wheelbase, 980mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 5,145mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 352L in the Kia Stonic and 493L in the Lexus ES, giving the Lexus ES a 141L advantage.
The Kia Stonic turns in a 10.4 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Lexus ES's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Kia Stonic costs about $1,425 a year (5 L/100km) and fuel for the Lexus ES about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $142 a year less for the Lexus ES.
Warranty: 7 years / unlimited km (Kia Stonic) and 5 years / unlimited km (Lexus ES).
Where each one leads
The Kia Stonic: the lower starting price ($26,990 against $75,000) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Lexus ES: more power (144kW against 88kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (493L against 352L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $1,425).
The Verdict
Lexus ES scores higher, 73 vs 72
The Lexus ES scores 73 to the Kia Stonic's 72 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: technology (Lexus ES ahead by 21 points), value (Kia Stonic ahead by 16 points), performance (Lexus ES ahead by 11 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Lexus ES costs about $142 less (4.5 L/100km against 5 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 352L in the Kia Stonic, 493L in the Lexus ES. Warranty: 7 years on the Kia Stonic, 5 on the Lexus ES.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$102/wk(≈$441/mo)
Estimate on the Kia Stonic at $26,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Kia StonicDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Kia Stonic and Lexus ES?
The Kia Stonic is the cheapest at $26,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Lexus ES by $48,010.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Lexus ES uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Kia Stonic and Lexus ES, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which has the most boot space?
The Lexus ES has the largest boot at 493L with the seats up.
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia Stonic has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Lexus ES makes the most power at 144kW.
Track the Kia Stonic & Lexus ES
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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