2019 Kia Stinger Review

The Stinger GT doesn't launch very hard from a full stop, but nail the accelerator at speed and you'll be impressed by the thrust from the twin-turbo V6. Even with a car full of people, it's quick. Our test car posted a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds, which is slightly slower than comparable luxury sport sedans.

The brakes activate high in the pedal stroke, but braking force is gradual and linear; they are easy to modulate in traffic. In performance driving, you'll have to hit the pedal harder than you think to slow the Stinger quickly, but the sticky summer tires perform exceptionally well.

The Stinger responds the moment you start moving the wheel. But it never feels darty, which is welcome and appropriate for a sporty sedan. The steering effort is moderate, in contrast with the too-light feeling in other Kias.

This big sedan exhibits some body roll, even when the dampers are in their Sport setting. Still, the Stinger GT handles well and is pretty fun to hustle around corners, especially when you reduce the amount of stability control intervention.

The engine exhibits predictable acceleration in the standard Comfort driving mode. Eco mode dulls acceleration with light to moderate pedal application, while Sport makes the Stinger feel a bit more energetic. Sport also introduces harsher shifts to the otherwise smooth-shifting transmission.

The front seats are supportive and offer multiple adjustments, including the side bolsters. But the padding might feel overly firm for some. The seat bottom is also on the narrow side, which will have most pressing against the thigh bolsters. The rear seats are also stiff, and the bench is pretty flat.

The Stinger's ride is indeed pleasant. In the standard Comfort driving mode, the adaptive suspension dampers smooth out road imperfections. The ride is firmer in Sport mode but still livable. However, the Stinger lacks the ride sophistication of premium luxury sedans. It can get a little jittery on coarse pavement.

The thrum of the engine is always present, but you won't notice it much during light-throttle conditions. Mash the gas pedal or put it into Sport mode and you'll hear a snarly V6 sound. It's augmented, but it sounds good. Road noise is mostly quiet, and wind noise is nearly nonexistent.

The Stinger has dual-zone climate control up front, with a separate temp dial for the rear vents. Normally, the climate system keeps the cabin at the appropriate temp, though the engine stop-start system significantly reduces fan speed when the engine is off.

The driver's armrests are just the right height so you can rest your elbows while holding the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock. The buttons are clearly labeled and easy to understand. The touchscreen is a bit of a reach.

The deep-set pedals and wide doorsill can make for an awkward exit for tall drivers or those with limited flexibility. The rear sloping roofline means most passengers will have to duck to get into the back. The doors are light and easy to open.

The seats in the GT2 trim are more configurable than those in other trims, with adjustable side bolsters and thigh extension. A wide range of vertical and horizontal range ensures that drivers of all sizes can find an agreeable position. The steering wheel has lots of tilt-and-telescoping range.

There's a good sense of space up front, with plenty of legroom and a wide center armrest. Tall drivers might brush against the headliner. There's less headroom in the back due to the sloping roofline. Rear legroom is just OK.

The narrow front pillars promote decent forward visibility, but the high hood and low-slung seating position can make it difficult to place the front of the car. The upward sloping beltline toward the rear and the large rear pillar compromise the rear three-quarter view.

Some buttons are shared with other vehicles in Kia's lineup, but others are unique. There are simulated-leather coverings on the doors, and the aluminum-looking trim looks good. It's not as nice inside as a German luxury sedan, but it's not too far off.

There are two decent-size cupholders in front, along with a small tray below the center stack and a shallow, wide bin under the armrest. The door pockets are smaller in back, but the armrest's cupholders are just as accommodating as those in the front. You also get nets behind each front seat.

As a hatchback, the Stinger offers greater cargo flexibility than a comparable sedan. The cargo area is wide and rectangular, with small pockets behind the rear wheels. The GT2 also comes with a hands-free hatch; simply stand behind the bumper for a few seconds. The rear seats don't quite fold flat.

Four LATCH anchors are hidden behind covers that fold as you press down on them. The anchors themselves are inset pretty far from the front of the covers. The tethers are located about halfway down the seatback. You'll have to move the cargo cover to reach the tether points.

Most models come with a sweet-sounding 15-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. There aren't any rattles when turning the bass and volume all the way up. You get good volume output with radio and most connected media.

There are two USB ports below the center stack: one for data and one charge-only. There's another charge-only port behind the console for rear passengers. The system should be able to play audio files from a USB drive, but it didn't work on our tester. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors are standard. All additional driving aids are included in the Premium and supportive GT trims.

Although the system prompts you to use a set menu of voice commands, it also has limited natural speech detection. It can navigate to general locations (the nearest coffee shop or Starbucks, for example) but doesn't understand specific points of interest (e.g., Disneyland).

Standard features for the base Stinger include 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lights, heated and power-folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, selectable drive modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and 60/40-split folding rear seats.

You also get an auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a 7-inch touchscreen, three USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

The Premium trim adds LED headlights, a sunroof, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a larger driver information display, driver-seat memory functions, an 8-inch touchscreen, a 15-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.

The Kia Stinger GT employs a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 (365 hp, 376 lb-ft). Feature content is similar to the base Stinger but upgrades to 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, a mechanical-locking rear differential, adaptive suspension dampers, a launch control system, variable ratio steering, a few exterior and interior embellishments, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a nine-speaker audio system.

Debuting midway through the model year is the limited-production GTS. It builds off the GT trim but adds many of the features found on the Premium trim, with the exception of adaptive cruise control. Unique to the GTS are bits of carbon-fiber exterior trim, a steering wheel wrapped in imitation suede, bright orange exterior paint (the only color available), and an optional drift mode for the all-wheel-drive variant.

The GT1 trim adds the Premium features along with auto-dimming exterior mirrors, ventilated front seats and additional performance meters. At the top of the lineup is the GT2 trim that finishes it off with a hands-free opening hatchback, a head-up display, premium leather upholstery, upgraded front seats, heated rear seats, and a surround-view parking camera system. Automatic wipers are also available as an option for all Stingers.