A do-it-all driver's car | 2022 Kia Stinger Review

The 2.5-liter turbo-four arrives ready for duty in the 2022 Stinger

The Kia Stinger competes in a pretty small field. There just aren't many four-door sports coupes in this price range. Forrest Jones takes a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) GT-Line for a test drive.

Presenter: Forrest Jones
Cinematography: Phil Shuyler
Written review: Bev Braga

#Stinger #KiaStinger #Review
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0:00 the 2022 Stinger
0:36 Updates for 2022
1:56 Under the Hood
2:52 Inside the Stinger
4:17 Rear Seat Experience
5:20 Cargo Space
5:45 Driving Impressions
8:52 Pricing and the Competition
10:19 Final Thoughts

[GLI_]

Just bought a 2022 Kia Stinger gt-line white the Sun and sound package red leather seats. This car gets so much attention more attention that you would ever get in a Camry or Accord

[erykahs]

I have a 22 gt line with red interior and sound and sun package! I love it.

[nickstark]

Love the Stinger. The GT-Line has an optional Sun/Sound Package which this model had. That includes the Sunroof as well as the Harmon Stereo upgrade.

[genesisg]

I came very close to purchasing this vehicle. I ended up purchasing the Genesis G70 3.3.T.
My only reason for choosing the Genesis G70, I didn't need to rear passenger or cargo space.
We( my wife and I) own two other vehicles, 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV, and a large sedan, 2012 Hyundai Azera.
I needed a smaller personal vehicle.
I test drove the Kia Stinger Gt 2 several times, before the 2019 Genesis G70 was finally released.
I also tested the BMW and Mercedes first. The BMW and Mercedes were new vehicles (2019 model year), yet both felt old.
After several tests drives of the Kia Stinger Gt 2, I knew that if the Genesis G70 drove just as good, that would be the car for me.
My choice had to do with need.
I'm 60, my Sons are adults.
If you're young or this is going to be your only vehicle, you can't go wrong with either version of the Kia Stinger.

Watching this video makes me want to go and test drive it again!

We just didn't need another large vehicle, but damn if we did, the Kia Stinger would be it!

[stephenhendricks]

Kudos for reviewing the GT-Line Stinger. At an MSRP of slightly over $40K with AWD, upgraded HK sound with 15 speakers, and a sunroof, it's a screaming bargain. That's especially the case with the addition of the 2.L turbo that replaces the previous 2.0L engine. (That 2.0L version, by the way, is inexplicably retained in the base Genesis G70 model, at least for the present.) With the new engine and AWD 0-60 mph in ideal conditions is 5.1 seconds. That's about 1.5 seconds quicker than the model with the previous engine and only about 0.5 seconds slower than the comparable GT1 and GT2 V6 twin turbo models. Willing to sacrifice half a second in 0-60 time for a savings of up to $14, 000? I would.

Furthermore, the GT-Line comes with the same engine as the KIA K5 GT and Sonata N-Line. But each is available only in FWD that without any form of LSD makes putting the full power to the road very difficult. The Stinger's available AWD largely solves that problem. With a significantly more upscale interior and amenities that include greater passenger and cargo space than the K5 or Sonata the MSRP difference of around $4000 for the Stinger seems well worth it. And compared to a top trim Touring model Accord or an XSE Camry V6 with MSRPs around $38K and no AWD, the Stinger is even more appealing.

Finally, it's worth understanding just what kind of vehicle the Stinger is. Unlike its G70 cousin, the Stinger isn't a "sports sedan" in the BMW 3 series mold. Rather, it is a true "GT" (Grand Touring) vehicle designed to transport four or five passengers and their gear at high speeds (100 mph+) over meticulously maintained European highways and over winding backroads many of which were originally laid down by the Romans. Comparable GT vehicles are the far more expensive Audi A7 Sportback and the VW Arteon. The VW is comparably priced to the GT-Line Stinger with slightly less power. That deficit, however, can be eliminated with a relatively inexpensive ECU tune in about half an hour. And for 2022, the US will be getting the Eurospec Version of the Arteon with power and performance comparable to the GT-Line Stinger. I've driven both the current GT-Line Stinger and the R-Line Arteon. For me, the VW wins but only by a nose.

Despite earlier reports that KIA would drop the Stinger after mid-2022, KIA now says that the Stinger will continue at least until the 2023 model. Whether there will be a new generation Stinger, however, is questionable. KIA is putting their performance eggs in the fully electric basket with the EV6, a vehicle with considerably better straight line performance in its top trim than the V6 Stinger. Some speculate that if the Stinger survives it will be an EV, not an ICE vehicle. Time will tell.

What is certain, however, that anyone tempted to purchase a top trim Accord or Camry or the KIA K5 GT or Hyundai Sonata N-Line would be well advised to take a close look at the GT-Line Stinger.

[tknox]

I bought the 2022 stinger gt line back in march. Mine is red with black interior. BEAUTIFUL!!!! I also have the sun and fun pkg. I'm so in love with my car. I previously had the 2014 optima sxl and it too was such an amazing car that it was a tough decision to trade it in. It was absolutely packed with options and had great power. However kia's warranty and the performance of the stinger was such a step up that it made it easier for me to trade it in. The 2014 optima sxl surprisingly had a few more options that I lost in buying the stinger gt line, but it's all good. The car is amazing and I'm highly pleased with my choice. Great car.

[PSDetails]

I haven’t had the pleasure of driving one of these, but holy cow do I want to. I was very excited when they came out and they seem to button them up and make small improvements every year.

[gailkilday]

Just bought one love it just got it striped up which looks really good and I am 74 but still like sharp cars

[gene]

I love this car. I would be very tempted with the base engine and AWD if you could add on Vented Seats, and Heads up Display.

[littlsuprstr]

one of the best looking cars on the road

[mikobel]

Kias line up is confusing with this transition to EVs. Is the EV6 the equivalent to the stinger? Is the stinger going to have an all EV version that’s going to compete with the EV6 if it doesn’t get killed off?

Love the stinger, if I was in the market this would be on the top of the list.

[catjuice]

I'm not going to lie, I want this stinger

[xavierpnce]

While the refreshed headlights do look cooler, the output and functionality of the projectors are still superior. I drove next to a refreshed GT-Line and the light output looked a little disappointed. Reflector housings will never perform as well as projectors.

[jamminjh]

I got a 22 Gt-line with sun and sound and it is pretty much as described above. Great car for the money...they even came out with a 2033 version, which I thought was great also...it's not dead yet...

[Superfastjellyfish]

I was looking into getting a 2022 model however I don’t like that the Gt- Line doesn’t get some of the features that are now only available on the Gt2 model. On the GT1 you can’t get the sound system of the Gt line

[NileshR]

The GT-Line offers a Sun + Sound package which includes the Harmon Kardon audio system. If it has the sunroof it had the Harmon/Kardon audio system on the GT-Line

[justasurfer]

I have a '22 GT 1 3.3TT and my ruining lights are the 4 LEDs. My headlights are also different then the '21. U.S. spec's if that matters

[shopwithaaron]

Looking out front....my 2020 G-t K=Line in Pathera with Sun and Sound now on Conti Viking 7 winters...Please do a snow dance so I get the chance to test them...Dang el nins may crash my tail happy antics! thx!

[David-vgou]

I have a 2022 GT1 and it has the same exact DRLs as the GT Line so you weren't quite correct on that point.

[jacegibson]

im going back and forth between this and the honda accord 2.0t