Kia is often seen as a modern carmaker, but its history dates back to the 1940s. The company officially started to use the Kia name in 1952, according to kiaofauburn.com. Since then, they have become the second-largest car manufacturer in South Korea, with Hyundai being first.
Kia is known for a wide variety of vehicles that are usually reasonably priced. However, the company also produces luxury cars. One of their most notable options is the Kia Stinger. This ride hit the market for the 2017 model year and is still in production today. Almost every car has a year model that most would say was the best, and for the Stinger, it seems there is general agreement that the 2018 model was the best.
Since this is the car that is considered the best Stinger, we decided to take a look. Here is what we love about the 2018 Kia Stinger GT.
The 2018 Stinger GT's Engine Packs A Punch
Most people don’t consider Kia cars to be especially fast or powerful. This is because many view them somewhat as budget cars, although as of late the company has shown this is not the case. The Stinger GT is different from most Kias and its engine is one example as to why.
This luxurious ride is powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces a max 365-hp at 6,000 rpm as well as a torque of 376 lb-ft at 1,300 rpm. The transmission is an 8-speed shiftable automatic and this car has a double overhead cam. This is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
The 2018 Kia Stinger GT is also pretty fast. No, not necessarily top-of-the-line sports car fast, but this ride can compete with many of the best of them. The GT trim of the 2018 Stinger can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. It has a top speed of 167, which is pretty up there for a Kia.
In terms of fuel economy, this ride is passable. This isn’t the best gas mileage you’d find on a Kia, but we can’t forget that this is technically a luxury sportscar. The 2018 Kia Stinger gets 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. For the full range, that’s 270.3 miles in the city and 397.5 on the highway. The tank holds 15.9 gallons of fuel and premium unleaded fuel is recommended, according to Edmunds.com.
One problem people have expressed about this car is that it is a bit loud. This isn’t typically a characteristic of luxury vehicles, especially sedans, so it has left some buyers and car enthusiasts a bit puzzled.
It’s Stacked With Features
When looking for a new car, or new to you ride, people tend to look at the features. This is especially true in today’s world as the features are what ultimately create the experience for the driver and passengers.
This model of the Kina Stinger GT has a lot to offer, despite many people not considering this an actual luxury car. In terms of general features, it comes with such things as heated front seats, LED lights, and of course, you get integration for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Where this car truly shines in terms of features is safety. It comes with things like adaptive cruise control as well as lane-keeping assist. According to Car and Driver, this is close to hands-off-the-wheel automation. This is not the intent of the feature, but it shows where Kia can go as a company and that they are prepared for the future. The 2018 Kia Stinger GT also features lane centering, which still today, is not found on many cars.
Oh, we can’t forget about the space. This ride has more than enough room for passengers to stretch out. There is also a decent amount of trunk space.
Great Car But Not Super Luxurious Either
The Kia Stinger GT is billed as both Kia’s first luxury car and first sports option. While it succeeds as a sports car, many people question if it should be considered a luxury car. This is because it lacks many of the finer details that many luxury rides would have. Yes, it has great features and this is a well-designed car, but it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. For example, the seats are soft and comfortable, but the interior doesn’t stand out as it would in a car like Audi or BMW.
Despite this, the 2018 Kia Stinger GT is quick, it offers many great safety features, and it won’t break the bank. What Kia did with this car was offered their version of luxury while also staying close to their normal pricing. While this won’t be everyone’s choice, it’s still pretty great It’s also nice to see that even beyond the Stinger, Kia has been putting more work into their cars in recent years. We hope this trend continues and more people begin to trust Kia as a company.