Sedan is designed for drivers
Kia vehicles have become more stylish and appealing lately, and now, with the all-new Stinger sport sedan, performance is maximized as well.
About the size of the midsize Kia Optima sedan, the new Stinger premium fastback sedan is lower, sleeker and more powerful, with an aggressive yet graceful design setting it apart from similarly priced sedans.
The interior is refined and comfortable, challenging similar luxury-brand vehicles.
Two trims are available: Stinger GT, $44,195; and GT Limited, $49,995 — the model I drove for this review.
An in-house designed second-generation eightspeed rear-wheel drive automatic transmission is standard. But the Stinger is Kia’s first sedan available with all-wheel drive.
With a 3.3-litre V-6 engine, the Stinger GT is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 4.7 seconds, and has a governed top speed of 270 km/h. Paddle shifters allow the driver to manually run through the gears, with up to five modes available (a Kia first) — Eco, Smart, Comfort, Sport and Custom.
Stinger’s exterior design is both eye-catching and functional, from the long hood and short front overhang to the long rear overhang with strong shoulders.
Kia’s signature “tiger-nose” grille is outlined with chrome, and the honeycomb insert is edged in chrome. A cluster of small LED lights in the corner of the complex LED headlights (with high-beam assist) echo the “honeycomb” shape.
The interior was Black Nappa Leather, with satin chrome on the door handles, door armrests, across the lower dash, around the spoked circular air vents, on the centre console and on the speaker grilles.
Nineteen-inch wheels had five “Y” spokes with silver machined edges, grey pockets and grey grooves forming a star around the hub. Staggered ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport tires specifically engineered and tuned for Stinger finished the package.
High-performance Brembo brakes with largediameter discs designed to dissipate heat quickly delivered short stopping distances.
GT2 has Kia’s first electronically controlled suspension, called Dynamic Stability Damping Control, which can be tuned for more agility by softening the front shocks and firming the rear. Stiffening the front and softening the rear achieve high-speed stability. The system is accessed through the same modes as the paddle shifters.
Entry and exit were easy, with tall door openings and a low, narrow stepover, although taller rear passengers needed to stoop slightly due to the sloping roofline.
Piano key controls on the centre stack were wellplaced and simple, situated low on the stack below three vents, divided into two groups — infotainment incorporated into the chrome dash trim, and climate (with filtration) nestled in a cubby below.
Once the climate controls were set, they rarely required adjustment — even during crazy, up-anddown spring temperatures. Front and rear vents were well-placed, without noticeable hot or cold spots. Warm and inviting multi-colour LED ambient lighting softly illuminated the cosy interior.
A telescoping steering wheel along with power multi-adjustable driver’s seat made it quick and easy to find the best driving position. Both seating rows had generous legroom, and a low seating position meant ample headroom front and back — although rear passengers found little space under the front seats for their feet.
Loading the trunk was easy with a Smart Power Trunk lid (actually a hatch) — opened from inside with a button, from outside with a button on the key fob or by pressing the trunk handle. A low liftover height was also helpful.
Inside the trunk is 23.3 cubic feet of space for luggage or golf bags, groceries or gardening supplies. Folding the rear seatbacks produces 40 cubic feet for DIY supplies or sports equipment.
The infotainment touch screen was mounted high on the dash, for easy visibility, and had easy-to-understand menus and sharp graphics. Bluetooth is standard, with many of the vehicle’s subsystems available through steering-wheel-mounted controls.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard and easy to use through the touchscreen. Kia’s Uvo infotainment system uses voice commands, but Apple CarPlay allows the user to speak more naturally.
My Stinger had a premium Harman/Kardon audio system, producing 720 watts through an external amplifier for crystal-clear sound. The system utilized 15 speakers and Kia’s first under-seat subwoofers (driver and passenger), and featured Clari-Fi to rebuild audio signals lost in the digital compression process, and QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology to extract and redistribute signals from original recordings for authentic multidimensional soundstage playback.
A Head-Up Display projected speed, turn-by-turn navigation, audio, and cruise control setting, as well as Blind Spot Collision Warning information onto the windshield. The height-adjustable display was easy to read day or night.
All of the Kia Stinger’s advanced safety features are available across the lineup. They include forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection; smart cruise control; lane-keeping assist; blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision warning; and a Kia first, Driver Attention Warning, which sounds a chime and displays a graphic on the instrument panel if it senses the driver is inattentive and needs a break. Kia’s safety features are smartly tuned to reduce false alarms.
The stylish and powerful Stinger is very easy and fun to drive, easy to manoeuvre in tight spots, secure and stable in turns, and gets up to speed effortlessly with only a slight delay from a standstill. It shifts smoothly and quickly, rides smoothly over most road surfaces and brakes quickly and smoothly. The cabin was quiet, thanks in part to the ultra-stiff foundation.
The Stinger delivers a lot of performance for the price, striking a good balance of power, handling, and braking, with room for five and/or lots of cargo, and an air of elegance and athleticism.