This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
The 2022 Kia Stinger comes witha 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine connecteed to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 2022 Kia Stinger GT sedan has seating for up to five people.
Kia rolled out the Stinger hatchback four years ago, with sporty styling and turbocharged performance. The fastback appearance makes it look more like a sport coupe, although with four doors, and Kia markets the Stinger as a “sport sedan.” No matter what you decide to call the Stinger, two things are clear: It looks great and has impressive performance for its class. Oh, and there are four passenger doors and room for up to five people to ride (four in relative comfort).
About the size of the midsize Kia Optima sedan, the Stinger is lower, sleeker, and more powerful than the Optima, with an aggressive yet graceful design setting it apart from similarly priced sedans. For 2022, there are plenty of upgrades, inside and out, and the interior is even more refined and comfortable, challenging similar luxury-brand vehicles.
There are three basic trim levels for 2022, GT-Line, GT1 and GT2, and all three are available with either rear-wheel drive (standard) or all-wheel drive. GT-Line models ($36,290 plus $1,145 freight with rear drive; $38,490 with AWD) come with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 foot-pounds of torque. The GT1 and GT2 versions come with a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 engine with 368 horsepower and 376 foot-pounds of torque. GT1 models start at $43,890 (front drive) and $46,090 (AWD), For the GT2, prices begin at $51,490 (rear drive) or $53,690 (AWD).
All models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission; no manual gearbox is offered for sportier performance. We tested the 2022 Stinger GT2 rear-drive model with the $51,490 base price, plus $775 in options. They included premium paint, cargo mat ($125) and carpeted floor mats ($155). Our Stinger came in the bright Hi-Chroma Red premium exterior color ($495 extra). The interior was black Nappa leather, with a new “chain link” design that Kia says was “inspired by the wristbands found on high-end watches.” Ambient LED mood cabin lighting was included, with a selection of available colors. Nineteen-inch wheels were standard, along with Brembo brakes with large-diameter discs designed to dissipate heat quickly and deliver short stopping distances. Stinger is the highest-performance production vehicle in Kia’s history. It’s bold, nimble and fast, luxurious and quiet, and still quite comfortable, at least for four people.
With the 3.3-liter engine, the Stinger GT is capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and has a governed top speed of 167 mph. Paddle shifters allow the driver to manually run through the gears, with up to five modes available – Eco, Smart, Comfort, Sport, and Custom. Stinger’s exterior design is both eye-catching and functional, from the long hood and short front overhang to the long rear overhang with strong shoulders. An extended wheelbase delivers a spacious cabin sitting toward the rear, with steeply raked windshield and rear window creating a fast silhouette. Entry and exit were easy, with tall door openings and a low, narrow stepover, although taller rear passengers needed to stoop slightly due to the sloping roofline. The interior was elegant and athletic, thanks to the ultra-soft quilted leather and soft-touch materials. Air-cell bladders in the seatback and width-adjusting bolsters offered optimal support and comfort.
Piano key controls on the center stack were well-placed and simple, situated low on the stack below three vents, divided into two groups – infotainment incorporated into the chrome dash trim, and climate (with filtration) nestled in a cubby below. Once the climate controls were set, they rarely required adjustment – even during crazy, up-and-down outside temperatures. Front and rear vents were well-placed, without noticeable hot or cold spots. Warm and inviting multi-color LED ambient lighting softly illuminated the cozy interior. A telescoping steering wheel along with power multi-adjustable driver’s seat made it quick and easy to find the best driving position. Both seating rows had generous leg room, and a low seating position meant ample headroom front and back – although rear passengers found little space under the front seats for their feet.
Loading the trunk was easy with a Smart Power Trunk lid (hatch) – opened from inside with a button, from outside with a button on the key fob or by pressing the trunk handle. A low lift-over height was also helpful. Inside the trunk is 23.3 cubic feet of space for luggage or golf bags, groceries or gardening supplies. Folding the rear seatbacks produces 40 cubic feet for DIY supplies or sports equipment.
The infotainment touch screen was mounted high on the dash, for easy visibility, and had easy-to-understand menus and sharp graphics. Bluetooth is standard, with many of the vehicle’s subsystems available through steering-wheel-mounted controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard and easy to use through the touch screen. Kia’s UVO infotainment system uses voice commands, but Apple CarPlay allows the user to speak more naturally.
Our Stinger had a premium Harman/Kardon audio system, producing 720 watts through an external amplifier for crystal-clear sound. The system utilized 15 speakers and Kia’s first under-seat subwoofers (driver and passenger), and featured Clari-Fi to rebuild audio signals lost in the digital compression process, and QuantumLogic Surround Sound technology to extract and redistribute signals from original recordings for authentic multidimensional soundstage playback. A Head-Up Display projected speed, turn-by-turn navigation, audio, and cruise control setting, as well as Blind Spot Warning information onto the windshield. The height-adjustable display was easy to read day or night.
All of the Kia Stinger’s advanced safety features were standard on our GT2. They include Forward Collision Avoidance with pedestrian detection; Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go; Lane Keeping Assist; Blind Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning; and Driver Attention Warning, which sounds a chime and displays a graphic on the instrument panel if it senses the driver is inattentive and needs a break. Kia’s safety features are smartly tuned to reduce false alarms. The stylish and powerful Stinger is very easy and fun to drive, easy to maneuver in tight spots, secure and stable in turns, gets up to speed effortlessly with only a slight delay from a standstill.
It shifts smoothly and quickly, rides smoothly over most road surfaces, and brakes quickly and smoothly. The cabin was quiet, thanks in part to the ultra-stiff foundation. The delivered price for our 2022 Kia Stinger GT2 with rear-wheel drive was $53,410. The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Express-News since 2000. Contact him at chambers@auto-writer.com. His driving partner, Emma Jayne Williams, contributed to this report.
The package: Midsize, four-door, turbocharged four-cylinder or twin-turbo V-6 gasoline-powered, rear- or all-wheel-drive, five-passenger sport hatchback-sedan. Highlights: Kia’s sportiest model yet, the stinger, was introduced for 2018, and updated for 2022. It’s roomy and comfortable for up to four, and lots of fun to drive, especially with the V-6 engine. Negatives: Rear seat middle position is best left to kids; no manual gearbox offered for sportier performance. Engine/power: 2.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder gasoline (GT-Line); 3.3-liter twin-turbo gasoline V-6 (GT1, GT2). Transmission: Eight-speed automatic (all versions). Power/torque: 300 HP./311 foot-pounds (2.5); 368 HP./376 foot-pounds (3.3). Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock. Electronic stability control: Standard, including traction control. Side air bags: Front seat-mounted; roof-mounted side-curtain, both rows. Length: 190.2 inches. Trunk capacity: 23.3 cubic feet (behind rear seat). Curb weight range: Not provided. Fuel capacity/type: 15.9 gallons/premium recommended but not required. EPA fuel economy: 22 mpg city/32 highway/25 combined (2.5, RWD); 21/39/24 (2.5, AWD); 18/25/20 (3.3, RWD); 17/24/20 (3.3, AWD). Base price range: $36,290-$53,690, plus $1,145 freight. Price as tested: $53,410, including freight and options(2022 GT2, RWD). On the Road rating: 8.7 (of a possible 10). Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary.