A GRAND TOURER WORTHY OF ITS TITLE
The initials ‘GT’ are frequently abused in this industry – not least by Kia itself, whose Proceed GT hot hatch is as suited to trans-continental schleps as a Ferrari 575 Maranello is to the paper round. However, in the case of the Stinger, they’re warranted.
Having driven the car home from Barcelona, we can say that with confidence. Where the Kia’s weight, width and more relaxed settings for the suspension tune and steering response disadvantage it against the BMW on British B-roads, they make for an effortlessly long-legged cruiser with a reassuring sense of heft at speed. The cabin architecture also allows you to position yourself satisfyingly low in the comfy, heavily bolstered seats, but not in such a way that you have to relinquish an excellent view of the road ahead. It left us rested enough to engage Sport+ and let the Stinger loose on the snaking, leafstrewn forest roads of the medieval Auvergne region after a 420-mile day.
Of course, what really lends the Stinger its GT gait is the 3342cc V6 that sits just aft the front axle. Peak torque arrives low, meaning you can sit in one of the eight-speed transmissions’ higher ratios without sacrificing response. The engine note is also subdued – a little disappointing at times, but ideal for the outside lane, where it fades into the background.
Small frustrations do exist. The adaptive cruise control is aggressively calibrated and can abruptly haul you down to 50mph as you’re preparing to sweep around an HGV. The twin-turbo engine is also thirsty if you’re in a hurry – we managed economy only in the mid-20s on the French autoroutes which, given the 60-litre tank, equates to a modest touring range of around 340 miles. The Stinger is otherwise as good a grand tourer as any in this category and better than most.