Review of the 2022 Kia Stinger offers performance in a comfort package
One of the most practical daily driver options on the market for enthusiasts is not selling well.
Kia sold just 13,517 Stingers in the U.S. in 2021, down 20% from the model's peak of 16,806 in 2018 (its first year on the market) Despite the 2022 refresh, sales of the rear-wheel drive hatchback are down 13% year over year year earlier.
With updated lighting elements, a larger touchscreen, more standard safety features, and a more power-tuned exterior, the Stinger is more attractive than ever.
Kia sent me a (nearly) base 2022 Stinger GT-Line painted in a gorgeous Ascot green to determine if the updates are an attractive proposition. Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.
Power to the people
The biggest change in the 2022 is the one you won't see. Under the hood, the base Stinger will be powered by a 2.5-liter turbo four, producing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft.
Power still goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission that snaps clean shifts-all-wheel drive is optional. Kia said the new Turbo 4 pushes the Stinger from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds (down from 5.9 seconds), and my butt dyno said it feels about right.
The new Turbo 4 has plenty of power for everyday driving, although a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 with 368 hp and 376 hp is also available.
The Turbo 4 feels lighter up front than the V-6 model, and its rear-wheel drive makes it nimble in corners. Steering is weighted even in comfort mode. The larger turbo four has great throttle response, but when the powertrain is switched to Sport mode, the transmission drops a gear or two and the throttle really wakes up. Annoyingly, Sport mode locks out the top gear, and on the highway the powertrain is at about 2,300 rpm instead of 1,800 rpm. The quick response came at a steep price.
Suspension is well organized on the street with controlled body roll. Even on Minnesota's fragile roads, it is difficult to upset the Stinger. The longer wheelbase than the Genesis G70 pays dividends in ride comfort, but Kia's tuning is a bit softer.
More screens
Inside, the Stinger takes over the nice analog gauges that may have been pulled from the Audi. My GT-Line tester's flat-bottom steering wheel is thicker than the Alfa Romeo Giulia's, but its perfect size offers a great driving position. The thickly bolstered front buckets are comfortable and wrap around every nook and cranny.
But the eye-catching feature is the new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that replaces the 7.0-inch screen. Its easy-to-use interface remains the same, but so does the absence of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, despite the presence of a wireless smartphone charging pad.
It takes a keen eye to spot the refreshed Stinger. The standard LED lights have been tweaked, and the standard 18-inch wheels have a new design, along with a widened exhaust finisher. However, the rear-wheel drive proportions, functional ductwork, and flared body panels all remain the same.
Safety and Value
The refresh also includes more standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, active lane control, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear parking sensors.
With a starting price of $37,135, including destination $1,045, the 2022 Stinger is $3,000 more than last year's less powerful model. My tester had a $2,300 Sun and Sound package that added a 720-watt Harmon Kardon 15-speaker sound system, a sunroof, and an eight-way power passenger seat with two-way lumbar support. $39,715 is a price that today's felt like a bargain in today's market.
The Genesis G70 might be a bit more compact and sporty, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class a bit more classy and sparkly, the Alfa Giulia a bit sharper, but the Stinger, with its larger turbo four and more comfortable interior, base ...form, it feels like an almost perfect compromise.
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