Kia Stinger Review

The introduction of the Kia took the automotive world by surprise, with the company stepping away from its bread-and-butter passenger vehicles with the development of their very own sports car. Since then, though, the Stinger has carved itself out a healthy reputation in the marketplace as a cut-price, luxurious and sporty sedan that combines performance with real-world practicality.

With that in mind, just how well does the Kia Stinger perform when put under the microscope, and how well suited is the Stinger to your needs and the requirements of your family? Let’s find out

Starting Price: $49,550

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Kia Stinger (200S) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Kia Stinger car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Kia Stinger range kicks off in the form of the entry-level Stinger 200S 2.0T, which is priced from $49,550. Moving to the Stinger 330S comes at a price of $53,330, while the GT-Line variant of the 2.0T is priced at $57,230. Finally, the range-topping Stinger GT is priced from $63,260. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs, which can vary depending on where you are. Drive-away prices for the Stinger range start at around $53,090 for the entry-level 200S 2.0T, and jump to $56,890 for the 330S, $60,090 for the GT-Line 2.0T, and finally to around $66,690 drive-away for the range-topping Stinger GT. 

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What Features Does the Kia Stinger Have?

The entry-level Kia Stinger 200S 2.0T comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys, and features LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera with rear-mounted parking sensors, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, sports premium seat upholstery, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers, wheel-mounted paddle shifters, as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment system fitted with satellite navigation, DAB+ radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

The Stinger GT-Line adds a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, as well as a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, surround-view camera with front-mounted parking sensors, adaptive high-beam and bending headlights, a heated sports steering wheel, alloy driving pedals, wireless smartphone charging, ambient lighting and an upgraded Harman/Kardon sound system, as well as a host of active safety technologies that we’ll cover later in this review. 

Stepping up to the Stinger 330S adds a twin-turbo V6 engine, upgraded brakes from Brembo, bi-model exhaust system as well as a mechanical limited-slip differential, while the Stinger GT adds an adaptive suspension platform and Nappa leather upholstery inside. 

Range Features: 

• 18-inch alloy wheels 

• Turbocharged four-cylinder engine 

• LED headlights 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Keyless entry and start 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ and sat-nav 

• Dual-zone climate control 

• Wheel-mounted paddle shifters 

• Premium sport seats 

• Remote start 

• Reversing camera

• Rear-mounted parking sensors 

• 19-inch alloys (GT-Line) 

• Surround-view camera (GT-Line) 

• Leather upholstery (GT-Line) 

• Heated and ventilated front seats (GT-Line) 

• Panoramic sunroof (GT-Line) 

• 15-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system (GT-Line) 

• Heated, flat-bottom steering wheel (GT-Line) 

• Twin-turbo V6 engine (Stinger GT)

• Brembo brakes (Stinger GT)

• Mechanical limited-slip differential (Stinger GT)

• Nappa leather upholstery (Stinger GT)

• Adaptive suspension (Stinger GT)

Kia Stinger Colours

Is the Kia Stinger Fun and Comfortable to Drive? 

Typically when a manufacturer makes a sports car, comfort is one of the first things to be thrown into the bin, in favour of speed and performance. The Kia Stinger is an interesting case, however, considering just how comfortable it remains while offering a considerable amount of power for the money. This two-toned personality means that the Stinger is able to accompany you on a daily drive or work commute in a comfortable manner, while retaining its performance credentials, which is a great feat of engineering on Kia’s behalf. 

The base model 200S and GT-Line are powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 182kW/353Nm of torque, while the flagship 330S and GT receive a significantly beefier twin-turbo V6 unit producing 274kW and 510Nm. Both variants throw power to the rear-wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, which offers rapid shifts while you’re up to speed while being able to soften the gear shifts while you’re commuting at low speeds. Overall, the engine and transmission combinations on offer in the Stinger range are absolutely perfect, with the base model offering more than enough power to get you up to speed in quick fashion, and the flagship variant taking performance to a level you’d never associate with a brand like Kia. 

If you’re looking for a truly exciting driving experience, opting for the 330S and GT add upgraded brakes, a mechanical limited-slip differential and even adaptive dampers in the case of the flagship GT, which adds to the Stinger’s all-round flexibility as a sports car and a comfortable tourer. The performance on offer is smooth, linear and unrelenting in the case of the twin-turbo V6 unit, which doesn’t suffer from any significant turbo lag. 

What makes the Stinger more impressive is the fact that when you’re in the mood to simply drive home in a quiet, comfortable state, it has no problem adapting. The Stinger comes packaged with a range of driving modes, and with the comfort mode engaged, the suspension softens and the steering becomes lighter, making it a perfect daily drive. While the suspension has been designed with sporty driving as a focus, it remains friendly for daily commuting, and while it retains the firmness of a sports car, the Stinger still offers an impressively comfortable ride quality for a vehicle of this nature. 

When you leave the confines of the city and begin to stretch out the Stinger’s legs, it takes only a few minutes of highway driving to realise its true potential as a long-distance cruiser. The power on offer, combined with the feedback through the steering wheel and the adaptive suspension means the platform is confidence-inspiring and adaptable in most of the situations you’ll put it in. 

All up, then, the Kia Stinger offers an impressive slice of genuine performance mixed with the everyday drivability of the cars that Kia has cemented itself a reputation for building. Some sports cars force their owners to make sacrifices in one way or another, however, the Kia Stinger is a great example of the fact that this doesn’t have to be the case. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

While it might have been designed primarily as a sports car, the Stinger retains a number of practical elements that Kia, a renowned manufacturer of user-friendly passenger cars is famous for. This doesn’t, however, mean that the Stinger is perfectly suited to the needs of your family, because there are some limitations when it comes to practicality, as you’ll discover. 

The front of the cabin welcomes the driver and front passenger with a comfortable set of sports seats with some side bolstering to hold you in place. Kia has revised the interior design of the Stinger with the latest version of its infotainment system, which sits atop a set of air vents, and while the front windscreen doesn’t offer a huge amount of visibility, the low-riding dash design helps the driver get a better view over that long bonnet while driving. In terms of practical elements in the front of the cabin, you’ll find the usual set of door bins either side, sunglasses storage up top, and a set of cup holders, two storage trays and a large folding armrest with added storage in the central tunnel. Combined, there are far more storage options inside the front of the Kia Stinger’s cabin than you’ll find on a typical sports car, which makes sense considering the practical nature of Kia’s vehicle lineup. 

Move to the rear of the cabin and you’ll find a set of extremely comfortable seats for rear passengers that are treated to some added light from the panoramic sunroof. While legroom isn’t a problem for even tall adults, there is a lack of headroom in the rear of the cabin due to the sleek, sloping roofline no doubt adds to the Stinger’s visual appeal, but ultimately restricts its ability to comfortably transport tall rear passengers. Thankfully, though, for any prospective Stinger owners with young children, the ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts are extremely easy to access and make the process of installing a child seat in the Stinger’s rear cabin a simple task. 

The Stinger’s potential of being a truly family-friendly sedan, however, is also impacted by the underwhelming amount of boot space on offer. Typically in sedans, boot space is a strong-point, however in the Stinger, this sadly isn’t the case. It offers 406L of storage in the boot, which is more than enough space for a large errand or supermarket run, but ultimately lacks the capacity of a truly family-friendly sedan. You can, however, expand the boot space on offer in the Stinger to 1,114L with the rear-seats folded down. 

Is it Safe? 

The Kia Stinger has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, scoring 91% for adult protection, 81% for child protection, 78% for vulnerable road user protection and 70% for safety assist technologies.

As standard, even the entry-level Kia Stinger comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking with junction assist, forward-collision warnings and cyclist detection, as well as lane keep assistance and a host of airbags, including curtain and driver knee airbags. Opting for the GT-Line and GT Stinger variants add rear cross traffic alerts, a blind spot view monitor and safe exit warnings. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fuel economy in the Kia Stinger ranges from average to outright thirsty, depending on which variant you opt for. The entry-level turbocharged four-cylinder Stinger is rated at 8.8L per 100km on a combined cycle, while the twin-turbo V6 unit is rated at 10.2L per 100km, making the Kia Stinger undeniably thirsty. These figures can, of course, change depending on your driving style, but it’s clear to see that the Stinger is far from impressive when it comes to outright fuel economy. 

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Stinger Worth it?

The Kia Stinger is a great sporty sedan that retains a number of the practical elements you’d expect from a manufacturer like Kia. With impressive performance on offer from both the entry-level and flagship variants, combined with a sleek interior design that comes packed with features, there truly are few cars that are able to tick as many boxes as the Stinger does, particularly when you consider the attractive price lists. 

Combined with the fact that Kia has just updated the Stinger, while retaining the company’s outstanding ownership program, there has never been a better time to test-drive the Stinger and see how it could meet your performance desires and practical requirements. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with capped-price servicing 

2. 12-month/10,000km service intervals 

3. Turbo four-cylinder and twin-turbo V6 engines available 

4. 406L of boot space; expands to 1,114L with seats folded 

5. Five star ANCAP safety rating 

Pros

• Genuine performance; especially in the twin-turbo V6 flagship 

• Slick transmission with capable suspension platform 

• Updated interior design with latest infotainment system 

Cons

• Short service intervals 

• Limited headroom in the rear of the cabin 

• Some safety features reserved for more expensive variants 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Kia Stinger Competition