The Kia Stinger doesn’t attract headlines like it might have, but it’s still positive.
Strong and large forklift sales remain in Australia, as the Stinger fills the void left by the Holden Commodore SS and Ford Falcon XR8 for both private buyers and the police force.
It’s been updated once with a new look and more tech, but it’s still essentially the same car it was revealed in 2017. That’s a good thing.
Large, powerful, comfortable rear-wheel drive cars are unlikely to appear in 2022, but the Stinger is still going strong.
How much does Kia Stinger GT cost?
Even the top Stinger in the range is heavily discounted, with a sticker just shell out $65,000 before it costs on the road.
However, you pay a lot for the switch from the cheapest V6, the 330S, to the GT.
Pure rivals are few and far between. With the introduction of the Holden Commodore SS and the Ford Focus XR8, along with the Chrysler 300, the Stinger competed with all-wheel drive Volkswagen Arteon 206TSI R-Line ($71,240) and entry-level versions of BMW 3 Series ($73,500) and Audi A4 ($63,900).
None of the Stinger’s rivals can match its outputs, nor its old-fashioned rear-wheel drive.
Price Kia Stinger 2022:
- Kia Stinger 200S: $51,250
- Kia Stinger 330S: $55,030
- Kia Stinger GT-Line: $58,930
- Kia Stinger GT: 64,960 USD
All prices do not include road charges.
What’s the Kia Stinger GT like on the inside?
So far, Kia has fixed most of the problems with the Stinger behind the wheel.
When it first launched, the car had a glossy black bezel around the center screen. It’s now an assembled unit that runs the same infotainment system you get in the highest-end Hyundai Group products. The displays between the dials now also feature the Blind Spot Monitor system offered elsewhere in the range.
The leather-trimmed seats in this GT are finished with a bold one-sixth stitch, part throne and refreshed ambient lighting.
One thing that has always been true of Stinger is the fundamentals. The driving position is one of the best in the business, with a low seat and ideal for long-distance driving, thanks to a well-reviewed cushion and cushion combination. The electrically adjustable steering wheel telescope is responsive to taller drivers and feels great in your hand.
Everything you need for poking or production is within easy reach, and the row of silver switches below the display looks premium. They also make it easy to switch between functions on the touchscreen, which is a bit out of reach if you’re sitting for long distances.
Touches such as the adjustment button (actually a two-way adjustment button) for the heated and cooled seats feel a little more special than the regular buttons, and show that Kia has really thought about times soft touch.
The new 10.25-inch infotainment system is pure Kia and Hyundai, for better and for worse. It’s quick to respond and easy to navigate…but a bit of a stretch to reach, and the fact that the main function is on the left side of the screen when it’s running in split-screen mode shows that the system is playable. developed for the driver on the left.
The 7.0-inch trip computer display between analog dials is simple, clear, and easy to use on the go, and the blind-spot camera is a handy addition since the raised shape doesn’t affect over-the-shoulder vision.
Storage space is good, with a wireless phone charging pad under the dash, a cup holders above the transmission tunnel, a shallow storage compartment under the center armrest and spacious door niches.
It all feels put together. Even after jumping out Mercedes-Benz C-Class For the higher price tag, the Stinger feels tied together by the buttons and squeaks as you’d expect.
Rear-seat space isn’t great, despite the car’s oversized exterior. The sloping roofline eats up headroom for taller passengers and the large transmission tunnel means the middle seat doesn’t have enough special seating.
It’s best to fold the center armrest down and only use the rear as a two-seat bench.
The legroom is acceptable though, and the presence of air vents and a USB charger will keep kids and their devices happy there.
The boot space under the huge, supported that is 406L with the rear seats in place, and 1114L with them folded.
While none of the numbers are groundbreaking on paper, the load compartment is wide and flat, and the lifting shape is much more practical than a typical sedan if you’re carrying a bike or other bulky items.
What’s under the bonnet?
The power of the Kia Stinger GT comes from a twin turbocharger 3.3 liter V6 with 274kW and 510Nm.
That growl is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
100km/h sprint takes a statement 4.9 secondsand claimed fuel economy is 10.2 liters per 100km on the mixed cycle.
Interestingly, the Stinger can run on regular 91 RON unleaded and has 60L gas tank.
How does the Kia Stinger GT drive?
The twin-turbo V6 in the Stinger is a powerful monster and it makes the car feel quick and easy to drive on a daily basis.
There’s only a slight lag when you lean on the accelerator, but as the turbocharger ramps up at around 2000rpm, the Stinger will force you back into the seat and spin faster than any other large car in its current price range. now Commodore SS and Falcon XR8 is dead.
Kia says this is a car that does 5.0 seconds to 100km/h but in the real world, given the torque range, it feels quicker than that.
It just needs to be a little bigger. The fact that it’s so quiet makes it a great highway cruiser (we’ll get to that), but even the dual-mode exhaust that Kia added as part of the process The mid-life refresh didn’t turn the taciturn V6 into an opera singer. It only ever delivers the V6 anodyne bang, and it’s never really loud enough to get you excited.
The Stinger may be powerful, but it’s not a proper sports car. It’s a big traveller very capable of highway mile breakfasts, with the excellently rated ride in Comfort allowing Stinger to hit midway rural Australia’s highways without dumping. sweat.
While the ride can feel a bit hectic on the pimp city roads, it has a long-legged feel on the open road. There’s almost no wind or road noise, and the audio system has enough power to drown out the world around you.
Overtaking is easy with the twin-turbo V6 in its torque range, and while it never goes out of style, the car is relatively efficient when running in eighth gear.
Displaying a set angle, the vehicle’s rear wheel balance is immediately apparent. Traction from the rear tire is very good in dry conditions, but heavy right footing and a necessary working attitude will benefit the rear. Traction control works quickly in normal mode and means you can sink deep into the throttle’s travel without fear.
While we’re talking about electronic assist, the lane-keeping assist on the Stinger is quite practical and the lane-centering system (which aims to keep the car in the center of its lane, rather than simply putting it) you back in the middle when you stray) is too bad. Thankfully, the latter can be turned off permanently.
Clicking Sport lengthens the ride, makes the saddle hug you a little tighter, and adds some weight to the handlebars, but it never makes the Stinger lighter.
With that said, the steering is quick and the front end loyal, meaning you can glide the Stinger into corners with more intent than you might expect.
What do you get?
Stinger 200S highlights:
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite positioning
- DAB . Digital Radio
- LED headlights
- Reverse camera
- Rear parking sensor
- Auto beam
- Automatic headlights
- Keyless entry and start
- Remote start
- Seat decoration “Premium Sport”
- Eight-way electric driver’s seat
- Rain wipers
- Gearshift paddles
- Electronic parking brake
- Tilt and telescopic steering column
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Six-speaker sound system
- Dual-zone climate control
Stinger 330S adds:
- V6 3.3 liter twin turbocharger
- Brakes Brembo
- Mechanical limited slip differential
- Two-way exhaust
Stinger GT-Line adds over 200S:
- Front parking sensor
- Surround view camera
- Blind spot support
- Rear cross-section support
- Safe exit warning
- Auto beam
- Active cornering lights
- Leather decoration
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Eight-way electric passenger seat
- Sunroof
- Heated flat-bottomed leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 7.0-inch instrument cluster display
- Alloy pedal
- Head-up display
- Suede interior trim for roofs, pillars and visors
- Wireless phone charger
- Harman / Kardon 15-speaker sound system
- Color-adjustable ambient light
- 19-inch alloy wheels
The Stinger GT-Line adds:
- 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine
- Brakes Brembo
- Adaptive dampers
- Nappa leather trim
- Electronically adjustable tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Is the Kia Stinger GT safe?
When the Kia Stinger was tested by ANCAP in 2017it received a rating of five stars.
That rating is based on a score of adult protection of 91%, child protection of 81%, pedestrian protection of 78% and safety assistance of 70%.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Crossover support
- Forward collision warning,
- Lane keeping assist
- Lane support
- Front, front, side curtain airbags with driver’s knee bags
- Reverse camera
- Rear parking sensor
- Rear seat warning
- Driver attention warning
- Leading Vehicle Departure Alert
- Adaptive cruise control
Stinger GT-Line and GT add:
- Safe exit warning
- Blind spot support
- Blind spot monitor
- Rear cross-section support
- Front parking sensor
- Surround view camera
How much does the Kia Stinger GT cost to run?
Kia offers seven years of limited-price service along with seven-year, unlimited km warranty.
All Stinger models require servicing every 12 months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first.
Seven years of maintenance will cost $4,243 use Kia’s limited pricing program.
CarExpert’s takes on Kia Stinger GT
Stinger’s appeal hasn’t waned since it hit the market a few years ago.
It’s still a quick, capable upgrade with eye-catching looks and a luxurious interior. Unsurprisingly, the majority of Stinger sales are GT V6s; It’s certainly the choice of the range and the purest expression of what Kia is trying to do with its flagship petrol car.
There are some better ways to cover the long haul for the price – or for a more reasonable portion of the price, for that matter.
Reports of the Stinger’s demise seem to be constantly swirling in, but it’s hard to see why Kia ignored it. Not only is it a best-selling car in Australia, it’s also a car that makes people ask “really, is that Kia?”.
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THAN: Everything Kia Stinger
