The Car Connection Expert Review Show
October 6, 2022 Likes
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Buying tipThe V-6 turns the Stinger into a proper performance sedan, but its big price gap may not be worthwhile for you. features & specsGT-Line AWD GT-Line RWD GT2 AWD With a trimmed lineup that reflects weak demand, the 2023 Kia Stinger further cements its position as one of the most under-appreciated sports sedans. Buy this instead of most SUVs.What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Kia Stinger? What does it compare to? The 2023 Kia Stinger is a big, rear- or all-wheel-drive hatchback that undercuts the Genesis G70, Acura TLX, and Audi A5, while delivering impressive acceleration. Is the 2023 Kia Stinger a good car? Review continues below The 2023 Kia Stinger is an incognito sports-sedan alternative. Its good handling and ride quality, its comfortable cabin, and its reasonably low base price make it a strong contender. Even with a big jump to the V-6 engine, we rate the 2023 Stinger at 7.2 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.) What's new for the 2023 Kia Stinger? After a mild revamp last year including a new base turbo-4 engine, the Stinger loses its middle trim level this year. The Stinger retains its sleek hatchback looks and its upscale cabin. It’s like a fussier (but much cheaper) Audi A7 Sportback in the styling department, with an intuitive cabin and user-friendly infotainment system unmatched by luxury-brand rivals. The 300-hp 2.5-liter turbo-4 offers lots of power on paper, but it struggles to overcome a plump 3,700-lb curb weight, especially with optional all-wheel drive. The optional 3.3-liter V-6 uses a pair of turbos to deliver 368 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque for a more satisfying performance. The well-tuned 8-speed automatic transmission is a delight save for on a track, where it lags.. Ride quality is spectacular, and the Stinger steers and handles in line with traditional big sedans. It’s quiet and composed, though not quite as entertaining as, say, a BMW 5-Series. Then again, the Stinger costs far less—not that you’d necessarily know it from its cabin. The big 10.3-inch touchscreen runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it includes a terrific navigation system. Standard leather elevates the interior experience, though softer nappa hides are optional. Four adults can sit in comfort, and the big tailgate opens up more than 23 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard crash-avoidance tech is augmented by excellent crash-test scores, including a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. How much does the 2023 Kia Stinger cost? The 2023 Stinger starts at $37,695 in base GT-Line form. Stepping up to the V-6 bumps the price considerably, to $52,895, though that also buys a lot more features such as a head-up display, Harman/Kardon audio, and softer leather seat trim. Where is the 2023 Kia Stinger made? In South Korea. The 2023 Kia Stinger is a head-turner.Is the Kia Stinger a good-looking car? With its sleek fastback shape and reptilian front fascia, the 2023 Kia Stinger makes a strong statement. Sure, it may be a little busy in its details, but overall the exterior scores a pair of points and the interior a single point to bring it to an 8 on the TCC scale. Mild tweaks last year made little change in the Stinger’s overall appearance, which is best appreciated in profile. The hourglass curves give it a muscular appearance, and subtle details such as the taillights that begin just aft of the fuel filler lid add excitement. Even the available wheel choices are fun. Inside, the minimalist dash has an aeronautics look with its circular air vents. The 10.3-inch display integrates well, and Kia makes subtle use of silver and chrome to break things up. Review continues below The 2023 Kia Stinger has more than a small dose of athleticism.While it lacks the nimble feel of Europe’s best sports sedans, the 2023 Kia Stinger is a worthy facsimile. It’s comfortable and its engines offer good acceleration, even though the base turbo-4 can lag from a stop. We rate the Stinger at 7 for its performance. Is the Kia Stinger 4WD? It can be. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 extra. How fast is the Kia Stinger? Base GT-Line versions use a 2.5-liter turbo-4 rated at a healthy 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, though it doesn’t feel quite so peppy in practice. The 8-speed automatic transmission shoulders some of the blame since its shifts are tuned more for comfort than for neck-snapping performance. In day-to-day use, the base Stinger GT-Line is more than adequate, though, aside from a hint of lag off the line. The GT2 version swaps in a 368-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that feels far more muscular in routine use. Its 4.7-second 0-60 mph sprint is only a half-second zippier than the turbo-4, but it feels much more up to lugging around this big sedan. A well-controlled ride that splits the difference between performance and comfort makes the Stinger a great mile-eater. Its well-weighted steering is accurate, too, but the Stinger can never quite overcome its heft on a winding road. It’s a big car that can drive like one. For the way most of us drive, however, that should be just fine. Review continues below The 2023 Kia Stinger boasts a huge interior for passengers and cargo.Unlike some sleek cars, the 2023 Kia Stinger serves up a spacious interior. Its 190.2-inch overall length puts it more in line with mid-size luxury sedans than the compact ones against which it’s priced. That size means plenty of interior room. Add in a big cargo area and the Stinger vaults to an 8 on our scale. The front seats offer standard power adjustment and heating. Rear-seat riders can revel in a reasonable 36.4 inches of leg room. The 23.3-cubic-foot cargo area offers nearly double the utility of a typical compact sports sedan. All that and the Stinger comes standard with leather seats and nice materials. Review continues below The 2023 Kia Stinger boasts top crash-test results and a broad suite of safety gear.How safe is the Kia Stinger? Impressive crash-test ratings and plenty of driver-assistance tech add up to an 8 out of 10 on the TCC scale for the 2023 Kia Stinger. This big car comes standard with driver-assistance features including automatic emergency braking, active lane control, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and rear parking sensors. A surround-view camera system, a head-up display, and a live-view blind-spot monitor in the instrument cluster are optional. Accolades from professional crash testers include a five-star NHTSA rating and a Top Safety Pick+ score from the IIHS. Review continues below Even with a pared lineup this year, the 2023 Kia Stinger is a bargain among big performance-oriented sedans.Kia offers just two versions of the Stinger for 2023, starting at $37,695 for the base GT-Line. That version is powered by the 300-hp turbo-4 and it includes 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seats that are heated up front, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a wireless smartphone charging pad, plus a long list of driver-assistance tech covered separately. A 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage are further assets. Overall, the 2023 Stinger rates a 9 on the TCC scale thanks to impressive standard fare, a long list of optional extras, a big touchscreen, and fantastic warranty coverage. Which Kia Stinger should I buy? That’s a tough one this year given the mid-level GT1 has been sliced. The leap to the GT2 with its strong V-6 is now a hefty $15,000. Even adding both the Apex Special Edition Package with its Brembo brakes and another package containing Harman/Kardon speakers and a sunroof bumps the GT-Line to a reasonable $40,995. How much is a fully loaded Kia Stinger? A Stinger GT2 costs $52,895 to start, though 19-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, and extra-cost trim can push it to $55,530. Review continues below The 2023 Kia Stinger offers decent fuel economy given its power output.Is the Kia Stinger good on gas? Models with the standard turbo-4 engine deliver good fuel economy, though the twin-turbo V-6 is thirsty. Our 3 rating here applies to rear-drive GT-Line versions, which are rated at 22 mpg city, 32 highway, 25 combined according to the EPA. All-wheel-drive dents those numbers to 21/29/24 mpg. V-6 versions are rated at 18/25/20 mpg with rear-wheel drive, or just 17/24/20 mpg with all-wheel drive. Review continues below |
