Yellow is the colour this week, as Al Suttie checks gets behind the wheel of Kia’s efficient compact crossover.

Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line S 48v

List price (BiK): £24,515 (30%) CO2: 129g/km Economy: 50.4mpg Test efficiency:49.8mpg

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Monday

If you play the Yellow Car game with your kids, you’ll appreciate that this Kia Stonic has just condemned me to a bruised arm. It is very yellow and stands out in this Honey Bee hue that is standard for the GT-Line S trim of this car. I usually prefer a more subtle colour, but this one appeals as I also think smaller cars are better in bright shades – contrary? Moi?

Tuesday

In this spec, the Stonic comes with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, and it’s a cracking wee unit. It makes 118PS, so it’s no fire breather and 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds won’t have the hot hatch crowd shaking in their trainers. However, on the road, the Stonic feels quicker than the figures suggest and make it plenty of fun on some local back roads this morning.

Wednesday

Another foray on to Scottish country lanes shows the Stonic also has the sort of ride and handling balance that appeals to me. Finding that Goldilocks sweet spot can be tricky with SUVs, but Kia has located it very accurately as the Stonic dabs its way over rough surfaces with ease without then flopping into corners. It also has well weighted steering for another direct hit.

Thursday

Is there enough room in the back of the Kia Stonic for a couple of adults? If you’re around the 5’ 10” mark like me, then the answer is yes, you can fit four into this car. Taller occupants will struggle, which means my gangly son and his mates will prefer something a bit larger than this Stonic. However, the boot should be more than up to holding their kit for a football training session.

Friday

The GT-Line S trim may come at a premium over others in the Stonic line-up, but it’s worth it in my view for the extra pizzazz it brings. The gloss black roof and other exterior details lend it a touch of class that had one passer-by comment ‘Lovely car.’ It’s rare to hear that about any modern car, let alone a compact crossover that’s really more of a small hatch in its scope.

Saturday

As more carmakers shift towards automatic transmissions as the default choice, it’s pleasing to find the Stonic has a six-speed manual gearbox. Perhaps it says more about me than the car that I still enjoy swapping gears myself and making a clean, seamless change. It’s easy in the Kia as the gear lever has good weighting and a well-defined gait, which enhances the overall positive impression of how the Stonic drives.

Sunday

The carbon dioxide emissions of the Stonic GT-Line S 1.0 t-GDi 48v are so-so at 129g/km, especially compared to some hybrid rivals. However, the Kia’s keen drive counts for a lot and, during my time with the car, it happily turned in an average of 49.8mpg on the display. This stands up well to the claimed official figure of 50.4mpg and backs up the sense the Stonic is a very decent, sound value compact crossover that is often overlooked.