Kia Stinger grabs headlines again
The honour comes on the heels of Stinger GT’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 being named to Wards 10 Best Engines list for 2018
MUSCAT: Awards and accolades never seem to end for the 2018 Kia Stinger GT fastback sport sedan. The latest achievement of this newsmaker is being named one of Wards 10 Best Interiors for 2018.
The Wards 10 Best Interiors list recognises outstanding achievement in aesthetics, comfort, ergonomics, material use, fit-and-finish and user-friendly technology. The honour comes on the heels of Stinger GT’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 being named to Wards 10 Best Engines list for 2018.
Christie Schweinsberg, WardsAuto Senior Editor, remarked, “After we tallied the scores, the Stinger GT took its spot on our list with no debate. Its interior is both elegant and athletic thanks to its high-quality leather and softtouch materials and a just-right mix of black and red on our test car, accented by real aluminium trim. Our test car also quickly paired our smartphones, had easy-tounderstand touchscreen menus, comfortable seats and good fitand-finish,” said.
Orth Hedrick, vice president, Product Planning, Kia Motors America said, “Ushering in a dynamic new era for the Kia brand, Stinger brings dreams to reality with the perfect combination of aesthetics, comfort, ergonomics, quality and technology,” he added, “On the heels of Stinger GT being named to Wards 10 Best Engines, the 10 Best Interiors is a true honour!”
Experts opine that the Kia Stinger continues to redefine the sport sedan segment previously occupied by more expensive offerings. Brimming with power, passion and performance, the 2018 Kia Stinger is a sport sedan dedicated to the thrill of driving while cossetting occupants in luxury. A strong horizontal plane across the dash presents the driver with a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. Occupants feel a sense of intimacy balanced by warm and inviting available multicolour LED ambient lighting that softly illuminates the interior.
All Stingers come standard with leather trim appointed seats, typically a high-cost option on many competitors. Meanwhile, a trio of available high-performance audio systems turns Stinger’s interior into a dynamic concert hall. Seating for five passengers and 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space (40.9 cu.ft. with the rear seats folded) without sacrificing room for luggage further enhances the experience.
The 2018 Stinger rides with good company. Previous Kia recipients of Wards 10 Best Interiors honour include the 2015 Sedona, 2014 Soul, 2013 Forte and 2011 Optima.
The Stinger delivers more interior space than many entry-luxury competitors. Technically a 5-seater, the Stinger is best used for four adults, each able to stow a fullsized suitcase in the 23.3 cubicfoot cargo hold (40.9 cu.-ft. with the rear seats folded down). Front seat comfort is excellent, and Rear seat comfort is remarkably good. Stylishly rendered, the Stinger’s cabin has a unique look and feel compared to other Kias, and the controls are logically located and work intuitively. Familiar knobs control stereo volume, radio station tuning, and cabin temperature, while buttons supply access to climate system functions and main infotainment system menus.
The list of safety technologies that come standard on the Stinger GT2 and is available on other versions of the car includes Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-andgo capability, Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, and Automatic Emergency Braking. Additionally, there is a Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keeping Assist, a Blind Spot Monitoring System with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Automatic High-Beam Headlights are aboard the GT2 (and optional on other trims).
A Driver Attention Warning system monitors for drowsy or distracted drivers -the UVO touchscreen display sits atop the dashboard like a tablet computer, responding to input at the screen, through steering wheel controls, and via voice commands. It is a fairly sophisticated system and is easy to navigate and to understand.
A 15-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system is available for the Stinger, featuring ClariFi technology designed to improve the quality of digitally compressed music files. A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Kia Stinger, making 255 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,400 to 4,000 rpm. Upgrade to the Kia Stinger GT for a twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6 generating 365 hp at 6,000 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,300 rpm and 4,500 rpm.
Both engines are bolted to an 8-speed automatic transmission driving the car’s rear wheels. An all-wheel-drive system is an option, able to send up to half of the engine output to the front axle as is necessary, and it features dynamic torque vectoring capability. Upgrade to the Stinger GT to get variable-ratio steering, Brembo 4-piston front and 2-piston rear callipers clamping bigger brake discs, available adaptive damping shocks, and 19-inch wheels and tires. So too does its performance on writhing canyon roads. The rear-drive Stinger GT rotates beautifully around corners, and the variable-ratio steering reduces the amount of input required at the wheel, which makes the stubby little paddle shifters more accessible for greater control over the drivetrain. Brake pedal feels and response impresses, too.
The new Stinger possesses the authenticity and credibility to change your mind about Kia. It is a car like few others, which makes it special. It has good looks to go along with its genuine utility. Finally, it delivers the materials, technology, and performance to necessary to bunch above its brand weight.
In Oman, the Stinger is available with a wide variety of features – many of which are standard. However, there are many options available too. According to the spokesperson, “We believe that this is a car which the customer would want to personalise. Hence we order the vehicles based on Customer preferred specifications/engine cc/colour of interior/ exterior colour / 2 WD or 4WD.”
Reliable International Automotive, the distributor for Kia in Oman provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers. Excellent product attributes and unmatched 18 facilities easily ensure their absolute satisfaction, every mile of the way. No wonder then that Reliable International Automotive has been ranked amongst the top Kia distributors worldwide and has been honoured with prestigious accolades including the Kia ‘Dealer of the Year’ award; Kia ‘Distributor of Distinction’ award, ‘Family Like Care’ Service award and the ‘Zenith Club’ award for excellent performance.
The prestigious ‘Kia Award for Overall Excellence and Outstanding Performance’ amongst Kia distributors worldwide was bestowed most deservingly.