2017 Kia Stinger GT-Line 2.0 she says, he says review
She: The Stinger is not your typical Kia. Understandably most of the hype surrounding the South Korean brand’s first rear-wheel drive car has revolved around the twin-turbo V6 engine, with its impressive 272kW and 510Nm. But there’s a tamer four-cylinder version aimed towards families and I think it has distinctive appeal. What was your first reaction, Steve?
He: As someone who enjoys driving, and has a couple of kids, I like the idea of the Stinger - a fun-to-drive family car. There’s no doubt that is a shrinking market, especially with the demise of the locally-made Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, but I’m glad Kia has decided to jump in.
I think the Stinger cuts a striking figure on the road; it’s a stylish four-door complete with Audi-style swooping roofline and liftback. Kia has done a nice job on the styling. What do you think of the cabin?
She: I think the cockpit demonstrates how high the bar has been raised. It looks premium, has quality finishes and the styling has some resemblance to marques like Audi and Mercedes. That’s probably not too surprising given the mastermind behind the Stinger is Peter Schreyer, the German designer famous for Audi's iconic TT. The stylish roofline isn’t ideal for tall passengers and visibility in the rearview is restricted but there’s an impressive amount of kit, including the latest in active safety.
He: Style aside the Stinger is making a statement with its rear-wheel drive chassis. Kia has claimed it is targeting the likes of the BMW 420i with this car - a bold statement.
Unfortunately, my impressions of the 2.0-litre Stinger are somewhat biased by the fact I’d driven the V6 first. Having come from the punchier big brother, the 2.0-litre Stinger felt a bit underwhelming. It feels fast enough for a family car but doesn’t have the shove-in-the-back the twin-turbo six has.
She: I think the four-cylinder is adequate for a family car and 182kW and 353Nm provides decent pull. The low seating position makes it feel like you’re in a sports car and it does 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds. The eight-speed automatic transmission can feel stilted but the Stinger handles urban roads well. However it does feel patchy on the rougher surfaces. What was it like for you?
He: This top-specification GT-Line comes equipped with adaptive dampers, while the rest of the range has a single tune, and personally I prefer the passive suspension. In the Sport setting the ride is too busy and in Comfort it feels too floaty.
I think it falls short of being a true rival to the Europeans, or even the local Commodore, by not quite finding the right balance between its sporty character and a comfortable and controlled ride.
Having said all that, I do think it is a fun car to drive, with a lively and playful character that is hard to find in a four-door family car.
But it doesn’t come cheap. Costing $55,990 the 2.0 GT-Line is more expensive than a V8 Commodore SS-V.
She: It does cost more than its rivals and that higher price for the range-topper may put a bit of a sting in the Stinger.
Ownership is strong though, as Kia boasts an industry-leading seven-year warranty and the capped price servicing scheme means you’ll be paying $1000 for the first three years, which is reasonable.
While the gearbox could be better, it’s still the best Kia I’ve driven and it does comes with a terrific amount of safety and tech gear. I think the Stinger proves family cars don’t have to be boring.
He: I have to applaud Kia for building the Stinger against an ever-growing onslaught of SUVs. It’s a good car, but not a brilliant one thanks to the unresolved balance between whether or not it wants to be a sports sedan or a luxury car.
Given there’s only a $3000 price difference between the 2.0-litre and the V6 engines, I think I’d prefer to step up to a 330Si to get the extra grunt.
2017 Kia Stinger GT-Line 2.0 price and specifications
Price: From $55,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 182kW at 6200rpm
Torque: 353Nm at 1400-4000rpm
Transmissions: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 8.8L/100km