2018 Kia Stinger Review
Car Tested: 2018 Kia Stinger GT; Road Test No. 1021 Test Location: Delhi, NCR
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 65 lakhs (est.)
The Kia Stinger GT unleashes fun performance and looks killer but doesn’t have the swag of Germans
Until the 2017 North American International Auto Show, where the Stinger was unveiled, Kia was a brand known for making reliable, safe, feature-rich and comfort-oriented cars. Just when the world thought they could never really cater to the performance or driving enthusiastic customer, in came the Kia Stinger, a vehicle that changes your perception about the Korean brand when it comes to looks and the design but what about the other key parameters? Is it worth all the hype or is it just another example of only show and no go? We find out!
Motor Quest: Kia Motors took everyone by surprise at the 2017 North American International Auto Show by unveiling the Stinger. The grand tourer is the first Kia to have a rear-wheel drive setup and it is also available in the AWD guise.
The styling of the Kia Stinger looks extremely attractive
Exteriors – SEXY is the word that comes to my mind when I think of describing the Kia Stinger GT. The vehicle is low-slung and pretty long and takes the form of a grand tourer or liftback. The front fascia houses the signature Tiger Nose grille flanked by twin projector headlights with LED DRLs on either side. The bumper gets vertically stacked air curtains for better aerodynamics while the bonnet too gets two air vents. Move to the side and there are three elements that’ll catch your attention. One, is of course, the design of the sloping roofline, two, are the massive 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and last but not the least, the dark chrome finish for the ORVMs and the window-line (nope, this isn’t the regular chrome) that runs all the way till the rear. Talking of the rear, the design highlight here has to be the tail-lights which run seemlessly across the width of the car. The bumper gets a dual-tone finish and also houses the quad exhaust tips. Overall, the Kia Stinger is a great attention magnet and all we’d say is get one if you have to be the talk of the town.
The interior is smartly laid-out, lots of features on offer
Interiors – As with the exterior, the Kia Stinger GT gets a matching sporty all-black dashboard. The quality of materials used inside the cabin is phenomenal, especially the leather on the dashboard. The door pads and the seats come wrapped in a maroonish leather upholstery which increases the appeal of the car further. A touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto takes the centre stage in the dashboard which also doubles up as a display for the rear view camera. However, there’s no adaptive guidelines. The centre console gets a premium aluminium finish and features a plethora of buttons with two cup holders. The multi-function steering wheel gets a flat bottom and feels good to hold. Nonetheless, the instrument console with a colour MID display might feel a tad too modest but that’s fine, you or we can get used to it.
There is generous space at the rear, a comfortable sedan for 4 occupants
The cabin of the Kia Stinger is a spectacular place to be in, lots of colours and lots of features on offer!
In terms of features, our test car was equipped with an electric sunroof, 2-zone climate control AC, cruise control, Harmon-Kardon sound system, heated and ventilated front seats with memory function, power adjustable driver’s seat, push-button start, stainless steel foot pedals and plush leather upholstery. Both the front and rear seats offer supreme comfort and support. There is good legroom and under-thigh support as well but due to the sloping roofline, headroom for occupants above 5’10” is tight. The high transmission tunnel also makes it a comfortable 4-seater rather than a 5-seater.
The vehicle cruises with ease and gets to triple digit speeds in no time
Performance – Globally the Kia Stinger GT is available with a choice of 1 diesel and 2 petrol engines. The one we’re driving is the range-topping trim which comes powered by a 3.3-litre twin turbo Lambda II V6 petrol motor which produces 365 HP of power at 6000 RPM and 510 Nm of torque at 1300-4500 RPM. Switch it on and the traditional V6 motor’s growl makes its presence felt. On the move, initially, you will notice some lag but as the revs build, especially in the mid and top-end, there is good amount of performance on offer. The engine feels punchy and just keeps pulling, pulling and pulling. Power delivery is linear and the 0-100 km/hr sprint is covered in under 5 seconds (4.7 to be precise). The powerplant redlines slightly above 6000 RPM and only in the higher rev band, you do notice some wind and tyre noise creeping into the cabin. Otherwise, NVH levels are great.
The 8-speed automatic gearbox feels lethargic to respond
The V6 petrol engine has a lot of grunt and offers exciting performance
An 8-speed torque converter gearbox takes care of the transmission duties. It swaps cogs efficiently and there are steering mounted paddle shifters should you choose to manually take control of things. However, in the manual mode, the gearbox tends to upshift quite soon thereby robbing off some fun. Fuel efficiency is around 6-9 km/l if driven sedately.
The chassis of the Stinger is well-tuned offering tight handling
Driving Dynamics – We have to say that this is the most dynamic Korean car we’ve ever driven! Handling is great and the steering, well, at city speeds is light and weighs up just right at highway speeds. The feel and feedback from the steering too is generous. There are five driving modes to choose from, Smart, Comfort, Eco, Sport and Custom. These alter the responses from the engine, steering, transmission and the dampers. The ride quality is compliant on good roads but feels choppy on the bad section of road due to the low profile rubber. Having said that, the highway stability is good as the Stinger feels glued to the roads at all times and the grip from the tyres is commendable. The brakes are strong and offer tremendous stopping power.
The Kia Stinger has scored a 5-star rating in the Australian NCAP (ANCAP) crash tests
Safety and After Sales Service – The Kia Stinger is loaded to the gills with safety tech. There is an electronic parking brake with auto hold function, ISOFIX child seat mounts, multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, lane departure warning, heads-up display, autonomous emergency braking and tyre pressure monitoring system. If launched in India, the Kia Stinger GT will definitely serve as a halo model for the brand and its dealership network is expected to be as expansive as its sister concern Hyundai.
Overall, the Kia Stinger GT is a well-rounded package
Verdict – Overall, the Kia Stinger GT has completely impressed us on all fronts. It has got the looks, is feature-loaded, is dynamically sound and the 3.3-litre V6 is a hoot to drive. Kia is yet to confirm the Stinger GT for India and if launched in our market, expect it to be priced under Rs. 60-65 lakhs (ex-showroom). It will go head-on against the performance set from Germany and that price tag when viewed against the Germans’ looks very tempting, doesn’t it?
The V6 petrol engine makes enthusiasts happy
What’s Cool
* Design is striking
* Engine is very punchy
* Handling is super engaging
* Lots of safety features available
What’s Not So Cool
* If launched, will be priced above Rs. 65 lakhs
* Kia doesn’t have the snob value of BMW
Alternatives: –
Would you buy a Stinger over a German performance car?
Kia Stinger GT Specifications
* Engine: 3342cc, V6, Twin Turbo Petrol
* Power: 365 HP @ 6000 RPM
* Torque: 510 Nm @ 1300-4500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-Speed AT
* 0-100 km/hr: 4.7 Seconds
* Top Speed: 265 km/hr
* Fuel Consumption: 6-9 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: Independent McPherson Strut (Front), Independent Coil Springs (Rear)
* Tyre Size: 225/40/19 (Front), 255/35/19 (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Disc (Rear), ABS
* Safety: Airbags, ABS with EBD, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traction Control, Hill Hold Assist
Kia Stinger GT Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4830 mm X 1870 mm X 1400 mm
* Boot Space: 660-litres
* Ground Clearance: 130 mm
* Wheelbase: 2905 mm
* Kerb Weight: 1855 kgs
The Stinger’s India launch is still unclear
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