Out-of-system element. Test drive of the updated Kia Stinger

General information about the liftback Stinger

The Stinger, abbreviated as CK, is a five-door luxury Gran Turismo manufactured by Korean company Kia.

It is based on the shortened Hyundai Genesis rear-wheel drive platform used, among others, on the G70 premium sedan.

Famous designers Peter Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume participated in the development of the exterior of the car, the prototype of the car (concept car) was first presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011.

Before the liftback entered mass production, it passed lengthy tests, in particular, drove more than 1000 km on the International Circuit of Korea and 10,000 km on the Nordschleife track in Nuremberg, Germany.

At home, the Stinger went on sale on May 23, 2017, and in the same year it was announced as a production model at the North American Auto Show in Detroit (Michigan, USA).

For Korean and other regions, the Kia Stinger comes with three powertrain options:

• a two-liter GDi gasoline turbo engine of the Theta II engine series (4 cylinders in a row, 252-255 hp, factory index G4KL);
• 3.3-liter V6 T-GDi gasoline engine (with two turbines, 365-370 hp, model G6DP);
• 2.2-liter CRDi turbodiesel from the Hyundai R line (202 hp, D4HC).

Yes, all engines have both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions (more precisely, with plug-in all-wheel drive), the transmission is presented only in a single version – an eight-speed automatic transmission in two versions: A8LR1 – comes in conjunction with 2.2D / 2.0T engines, A8TR1 – comes with 3.3T internal combustion engine.

After the model was updated in August 2020, the 255-horsepower gasoline turbo engine was replaced with a 2.5L turbo engine (304 hp), and the power of the 3.3L engine “grew up” to 373 horsepower.

At the end of 2022, Kia is going to remove the Stinger from production; instead, it plans to produce either the Kia Carnival Hybrid or some of its electric vehicles on this conveyor line.

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Trunk

Since the Stinger is a liftback, it is equipped with a massive tailgate, which is held in the upper position by two powerful gas struts.

Together with the door, when opened, a wide shelf also rises, hiding the loads.

The standard volume of the cargo compartment is just over 400 liters, but the trunk is “correct” in shape, and it seems larger.

It can be significantly increased by folding down the rear seatbacks, divided among themselves in a ratio of 60/40.

When folded, it turns out to be an almost flat floor, but still there is a small step, and there is a small gap between the backrests and the luggage floor.

The loading height here is quite low, convenient for loading / unloading. Of course, there is an underground, and a small spare wheel is stored under the false panel, a backlight is located on the right side trim.

An electric tailgate is not provided in the two younger versions, this option appears starting from the average Style configuration.

In move

The Stinger chassis was not invented by Kia, the Hyundai group already had it. This is an attempt by the Koreans to play premium with a rear-wheel drive platform (in the top versions – all-wheel drive). Initially, the chassis was created for Genesis cars, and Kia simply borrowed it.

And this, in part, is the main problem of Stinger. On the one hand, the car drives exactly premium. About the same as the BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-class or the Lexus IS and Infiniti Q50 that have left the market. Yes, perhaps Kia loses a little to many of them, but just a little, still speaking in one category. For example, it is impossible not to notice the difference between the Kia K5 and the Mercedes-Benz C-class, these are completely different cars. And between the Kia Stinger and the Mercedes-Benz C-class in motion, it will be minimal.

But therein lies the problem. Where are the Lexus IS and Infiniti Q50 now? How long have you heard about the Jaguar XE? Even the new BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class have become less and less common on the streets. The customers of these cars simply switched to crossovers and will definitely not return in the coming years.

In my opinion, Kia Stinger should have been a little different. Namely – even more reckless! There would be a slightly more advanced all-wheel drive, sharpened for power sliding, a hooligan roar of the engine, which the GT version so lacks, and even a manual gearbox! Look, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution left this world itself, Subaru WRX STi is going to follow him, and such an extreme Kia could be a great and only replacement for them! The Koreans, even in the name Stinger, made a hint of STi!

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