2018 Kia Stinger
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,491
Likes: 386
From: ON/NY
If the Stinger was a Lexus pre spindle era everyone would claim it’s too boring and bland. Everyone seems to like the Stinger and everyone wants to compare it with luxury badged cars, but at the end of the day, the car is not going to be priced at the same level as those of the higher priced brands. Most people would rather have the luxury branded car. A Buick Regal GS hatch is in a higher level of prestige than the Stinger. Probably priced the same. But the press members and the armchair reviewers want to say it’s superior than a higher priced car because it generates clicks and reads.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Feb 23, 2018 at 05:28 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,521
Likes: 261
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I'm somewhere in the middle on style...nether a fan or a hater. I'm generally not a fan of the Kia "Tiger" grilles, and the dash looks a little plain....too much like the A3. But the general overall styling is quite good, and, while, yes, those low, raked rooflines do often cut into headroom, it must be remembered that this is a sport sedan (technically, a hatchback), not necessarily intended to regularly transport families around.
If the Stinger was a Lexus pre spindle era everyone would claim it’s too boring and bland. Everyone seems to like the Stinger and everyone wants to compare it with luxury badged cars, but at the end of the day, the car is not going to be priced at the same level as those of the higher priced brands.
Most people would rather have the luxury branded car.
A Buick Regal GS hatch is in a higher level of prestige than the Stinger. Probably priced the same.
But the press members and the armchair reviewers want to say it’s superior than a higher priced car because it generates clicks and reads.
i think it's superior in every way to a lexus is.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,574
Likes: 283
From: Illinois
If the Stinger was a Lexus pre spindle era everyone would claim it’s too boring and bland. Everyone seems to like the Stinger and everyone wants to compare it with luxury badged cars, but at the end of the day, the car is not going to be priced at the same level as those of the higher priced brands. Most people would rather have the luxury branded car. A Buick Regal GS hatch is in a higher level of prestige than the Stinger. Probably priced the same. But the press members and the armchair reviewers want to say it’s superior than a higher priced car because it generates clicks and reads.
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Brett Foote
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 4
From: RightHere
Automobile Magazine's reviewer is quite taken with it during his week long test of a RWD Stinger that came in at just over $41K.
Source
After just one standing-start acceleration blast through the gears, I almost wanted to get out and check the badge on the nose. This thing is a Kia? Why, yes, it sure is—says so right there. That said, in a side-by-side proficiency run, this newcomer would leave a V-8-powered Dodge Charger Daytona sucking its exhaust fumes.
Kia showed off the racy GT Concept seven years ago at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. And now comes the new-for-2018 production Stinger GT—looking almost exactly like the concept car and boasting a thunderous, 365-hp twin-turbo V-6 behind its dramatic prow.Kia claims a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4.7 seconds but to me, the GT feels even quicker than that.
Top speed is an electronically limited 167 mph—which is to say, this new Kia is ready to eat BMWs, Audis, and Benzes for lunch—and then gulp down that Charger Daytona for dessert. As for room, I drove with three passengers along on several occasions and nobody ever complained about the accommodations. The rear seat is generously sized and under the rear hatch lies enough space to stash a ton of cargo. I filled it with six bags of groceries and had lots of room to spare...
Around Los Angeles, the Stinger got plenty of attention—both for its dramatic Micro Blue Pearl paint scheme and because nobody had seen one before. Overall it’s a striking piece—aggressively proportioned, the big alloys nicely filling the wheel wells, standard LED headlamps shaped into a menacing squint. One passerby asked, “That a Jaguar?” Wasn’t a bad guess...
Clearly, Kia has biased the GT’s performance toward “pleasurable sportiness,” not “ultimate performance.” The 8-speed automatic has a manual-shifting mode, and it responds well enough to up- and downshift commands using the paddles behind the wheel. But you’d never mistake it for a twin-clutch unit.
Similarly, the chassis responds well enough—to a point. Pushed hard, the rear end tends to loose its footing. The electronic steering doesn’t deliver the fine road Braille you’ll find in many competitors. And the fore-aft body motions under braking or acceleration are more than you’d encounter in, say, a BMW.
Kia showed off the racy GT Concept seven years ago at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. And now comes the new-for-2018 production Stinger GT—looking almost exactly like the concept car and boasting a thunderous, 365-hp twin-turbo V-6 behind its dramatic prow.Kia claims a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4.7 seconds but to me, the GT feels even quicker than that.
Top speed is an electronically limited 167 mph—which is to say, this new Kia is ready to eat BMWs, Audis, and Benzes for lunch—and then gulp down that Charger Daytona for dessert. As for room, I drove with three passengers along on several occasions and nobody ever complained about the accommodations. The rear seat is generously sized and under the rear hatch lies enough space to stash a ton of cargo. I filled it with six bags of groceries and had lots of room to spare...
Around Los Angeles, the Stinger got plenty of attention—both for its dramatic Micro Blue Pearl paint scheme and because nobody had seen one before. Overall it’s a striking piece—aggressively proportioned, the big alloys nicely filling the wheel wells, standard LED headlamps shaped into a menacing squint. One passerby asked, “That a Jaguar?” Wasn’t a bad guess...
Clearly, Kia has biased the GT’s performance toward “pleasurable sportiness,” not “ultimate performance.” The 8-speed automatic has a manual-shifting mode, and it responds well enough to up- and downshift commands using the paddles behind the wheel. But you’d never mistake it for a twin-clutch unit.
Similarly, the chassis responds well enough—to a point. Pushed hard, the rear end tends to loose its footing. The electronic steering doesn’t deliver the fine road Braille you’ll find in many competitors. And the fore-aft body motions under braking or acceleration are more than you’d encounter in, say, a BMW.
Went to the CIAS today and took some shots of mine in the parking lot and the Ceramic Silver (wet metallic "cement") and the white ones on display.
While I was checking them out, I honestly heard not a single criticism. People were genuinely surprised and impressed with the styling, interior, specs, and price.
While I was checking them out, I honestly heard not a single criticism. People were genuinely surprised and impressed with the styling, interior, specs, and price.
I love these new "marble-ized" colors. You see them a lot on the bmw and porsches.
Not that it matters, but is there a fog light option?
The pursuit of F
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,296
Likes: 303
From: Toronto, Canada
As for Lexus superiority in the price range (i.e. IS), in most areas, yes without a doubt the Stinger is a better package, but it comes short in a couple areas. I'll update my Stinger thread with more details soon after two months ownership!
Ironically, months back though, I found the styling too chunky towards the rear and fastback designs were never my thing. Well, today, I lust over this car every time I see it, especially in profile at the rear! Go figure!
No fog light option.
I'm somewhat aligned with you on this. I'm not fond of polished alumimum wheels in general (same with my past NX F Sport) and the chunky center plastic cap covering the lug nuts doesn't add to the appeal, but the overall look has grown on me.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 89
From: Singapore
From what I read, the Stinger GT is one stiffer rear sway bar and a set of lighter broader rims away from handling perfection.
Curious to hear feedback from actual Stinger owners on this area : the handling.
Curious to hear feedback from actual Stinger owners on this area : the handling.