Kia Stinger

The Kia Stinger is a 5-door compact executive fastback, also referred to as a mid-size or entry-level luxury car in the US and a D-segment or large family car in Europe. In Australia, its footprint straddles between medium and large vehicles, and it is entered in the large passenger car category.

Conceptual Background of the Kia Stinger

Kia’s latest sporty addition is as much a head-turner as the stylish Kia GT concept car that inspired its creation. This fastback features the same streamlined roofline, muscled bonnet, and sleek proportions of the original Peter Schreyer concept minus the suicide door.

The Kia Stinger itself was co-designed by Schreyer and Kia’s chief designer Gregory Guillaume, who said that the car was partly inspired by the smooth curves of the Coca-Cola bottle. It debuted at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and earned the admiration of car enthusiasts for it's minimalist and gran Turismo features.

This GT fastback has paved the way for more performance-oriented Kias in the ensuing few years, including the overhaul of existing Kia models. While the Stinger is aimed at the high-performance market—the same occupied by the BMW 4-Series of coupés and fastbacks— Guillaume stated that the Stinger is not all about hardcore track power and speed. Instead, this handsome fastback blends luxury, spaciousness, and spirited yet graceful ride through long-distance drives. 

Mechanical Elements Shared Between the Kia Stinger and Hyundai Genesis

Kia’s Stinger and Hyundai’s Genesis share some common underpinnings, including Stinger’s front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout, which is a shorter version of what’s used for Genesis. 

There are three engine choices available for the Kia Stinger, albeit not for all markets:

• 2.0L Theta II GDi turbocharged I4 petrol engine rated 182 kW with 8-speed automatic transmission
• 3.3L Lambda II GDi twin-turbo V6 petrol engine rated at 272 kW with 8-speed automatic transmission
• 2.2L R-line D4HC CRDi I4 diesel engine rated at 147 kW (Europe and Korea) with 8-speed automatic transmission

Specs and Trim Levels 

The 2.0L engine is bundled in three spec/trim grades (200S, 200Si, and GT), while the 3.3L engine likewise comes in three spec/trim grades (330S, 330Si, and GT). An 8-speed automatic transmission comes standard across the board. 

• 200S (base spec) – dual front airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, auto climate control, Apple CarPlay, alarm/remote anti-theft, shark fin antenna, adjustable steering wheel, ambient temp display, Android auto, 18-in alloy wheels, power mirrors and windows, and many more
• 200Si – base spec plus adaptive dynamics, autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, driver fatigue detection, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, parking distance control front, 18-in alloy wheels, and many more
• 200GT – base spec plus black or red leather trim, active high beam control, adaptive dynamics , AEB, heated/ventilated front seats, 19-in alloy wheels, bending lights, blind-spot monitoring, cruise control, driver fatigue detection, and many more
• 330S (base spec) – dual front airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, auto climate control, Apple CarPlay, alarm/remote anti-theft, shark fin antenna, adjustable steering wheel, ambient temp display, Android auto, 18-in alloy wheels, power mirrors and windows, and many more
• 330Si – base spec plus adaptive dynamics, autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, driver fatigue detection, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, parking distance control front, 19-in alloy wheels, and many more

·      330GT – base spec plus black or red leather trim, active high beam control, adaptive dynamics, AEB, heated/ventilated front seats, 19-in alloy wheels, bending lights, blind spot monitoring, and many more

Safety Rating

The Kia Stinger garnered an overall safety rating of 5/5 stars from the Euro NCAP, which assessed the Stinger in 2017 based on four key areas, namely: 

• Safety to adult occupant (driver and passenger) – 35.4 – 93%
• Child occupant (child restraint system) – 39.7 – 81%
• Vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) – 33.0 – 78%
• Safety assist (crash avoidance technologies) – 9.9 – 82%

Kia Stinger in Police Fleets

The cops in Queensland and Tasmania stepped-up law enforcement by updating their fleet of pursuit and intercept vehicles. They tested and evaluated several cars, including VW Passat, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S60, and Kia Stinger. Their criteria emphasized on quickness, efficiency, and safety. After months of rigid evaluation, they found the vehicle that they could trust—the rear-wheel-drive Kia Stinger 330Si. Its engine specs: 3.3L twin-turbo V6 engine, rated at 272 kW power, 510 N⋅m torque, and 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.9 seconds. 

Awards

In 2018, a year after its launching, the Stinger won two awards, namely:

• The iF Product Design Award (Transportation Design category)
• The Red Dot award (Best of the Best Car Design)

Check out more car makes and models from Carpart's Carpedia.

By Jeannette Salanga (JMSL)