KIA STINGER
Kia’s first rear-wheel driven car is an athletic long-distance sports tourer that is excellent value for money.
In the military, a ‘Stinger’ is a type of missile. In nature, it’s often the venomous rear-end of an insect. Considering the nature of both of those things, it is perhaps apt that at Kia, the ‘Stinger’ is the Korean firm’s most potent car.
A four-door fastback – a sort of large, practical coupe – the Kia is classed by its creators as a ‘Gran Turismo’, a style more familiar with brands like Aston Martin or Bentley. The Stinger’s mandate is perhaps best explained by what Kia’s Chief Designer Gregory Guillaume told Forbes back in 2017 - “The new Kia Stinger is a true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving. It’s not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics and brutal styling all at the expense of luxury, comfort and grace. The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion.”
Naturally, for a brand focused on economy and value, this sort of a car is a drastic change of direction. Certainly, Guillaume was correct about the Stinger not being about outright power, though the engines are still impressive nevertheless. There are two more efficiency-minded engines on offer in the form of a 2.2-litre turbo diesel and a 2.0-litre petrol. These four-cylinder turbocharged engines are far from sluggish, but they’re overshadowed by the inclusion in the range of a 365bhp 3.3-litre bi-turbo V6. This powerful unit sends the Stinger to 62mph in just 5.1-seconds and onto a limit of 167. This is the engine that will provide the most ‘Gran Turismo’ experience, though its 26.6mpg combined is not going to be efficient enough for some. The Stinger is rear-wheel driven, so turning off the traction control systems is done so at your own peril, especially if you’ve the V6 under the bonnet. All Stinger models come with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, regardless of your engine choice.
Equipment levels are very impressive in the Stinger. All models get electrically adjustable heated leather seats, a heads-up display, navigation, adaptive cruise control and a Limited Slip Differential (LSD). The top of the range V6 GT-S gets Brembo brakes, LED headlights, a Harman/Kardon premium sound system and electronically controlled suspension. Across the Stinger range the standard equipment levels are far in excess of equivalent models from rivals like the BMW 4-series or Mercedes-Benz AMG C43.