Engine Types

Made up of five trims (2.0L, Premier, GT, GT1, and GT2), the 2018 Kia Stinger lineup is available with one of two engines. The standard engine found on the base trim, the Stinger 2.0L and the Stinger Premium trim is a Twin Scroll Turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC 4-Cylinder engine capable of generating 255 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The second engine found on the other trims in the lineup is a Twin Turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine, able to deliver 365 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are designed with a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) technology, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), and Idle Stop and Go (ISG).

A DOHC design take stress off of an engine’s cylinder by splitting the process on intaking gasoline and air and exhausting the resulting fumes. The Kia Stinger has four valves per cylinder, two dedicated to each action to take stress off of the engine and improve performance. The valve lift event for the intake and exhaust is controlled by CVVT, a process that alters how frequently the valves lift. Correct optimization can greatly increase an engine’s output and fuel efficiency. GDI injects highly-pressurized fuel directly into the engine’s combustion chamber via its fuel line. ISG helps to conserve fuel efficiency to turn off the engine when idle for more than several seconds.

Driving and Handling

Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All trims of the 2018 Kia Stinger come with rear-wheel drive as the default drivetrain but are available with an all-wheel drivetrain with an electronically controlled transfer case. The Stinger GT and GT2 trims can come with a limited-slip differential to evenly distribute power to the rear wheels under varying road conditions. The drivetrain has a small change on the fuel economy for each engine pairing.

If powered by the 2.0-liter engine and riding on rear-wheel drive, the Kia Stinger has a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. When powered by the same engine on an all-wheel drive configuration, the Stinger has an average fuel economy of 21/29 mpg city/highway. If powered by the V6 engine, the Stinger averages 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with either drivetrain.

Exterior Features

The design of the 2018 Kia Stinger is like no other Kia sedan. It looks like a sports car bleeding into pony car territory with its crisp, smooth lines and side vents that help cool the engine. Setting a new standard for Kia vehicles, the 2018 Kia Stinger also offers many standard features across the lineup to sweeten the pot for any trim level. Consumers can expect power-folding heated exterior mirrors, mirror-mounted LED turn signal indicators, a smart welcome Smart Key that automatically turns on the cabin lights when in proximity to the vehicle, solar control glass to keep the cabin from heating up, sound absorbing front door windows, automatic on/off headlamps, LED daytime running lights and rear brake lamps, and dual chrome exhaust tips.

Found on select trims, consumers can get auto-dimming exterior mirrors, a smart trunk that opens in presence of the Smart Key, a sunroof with a power sunshade, dual-lens full LED headlights, high beam assist, dynamic low beam assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and respective badges on the GT trims. The Kia Stinger riders on 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels with different styles for each trim and wrapped in all-season tires. Depending on the trim, the consumer may have as many as six colors to choose from for the paint job - Snow White Pearl, HiChroma Red, Micro Blue Pearl, Silky Silver, Panthera Metal, and Aurora Black Pearl. All interiors come with a black color scheme.

Interior Features

The interior of the Kia Stinger is just as sleek as the exterior, and leather upholstery is actually a standard feature. Other standard interior features consist of a 12-way power-adjustable drivers seat (16-way on the GT2), an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat (12-way on the GT2), heated front seats, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat with center armrests, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, carpeted floor mats, dual-zone automatic temperature control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and under floor storage.

High-end Stinger trims have additional features like a heads-up display on the GT2 or an auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink and a compass on the Stinger Premium, GT1, and GT2 trims. Other available features on select trims consist of ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a sport d-shaped steering wheel, and sport gauges. The available cargo room adds up to 23.3 cubic-feet.

Entertainment

The 2018 Kia Stinger is just as loaded with modern technology and convenient features. The standard is a 6-speaker system on the base trim and a 9-speaker system on the Stinger GT. The Stinger Premium, GT1, and GT2 trims come with a Harman/Kardon 15-speaker system with QuantumLogic™ Premium Surround Sound w/ Clari-Fi™. Steering wheel mounted audio controls, drive mode select, a USB/auxiliary jack, and Bluetooth wireless technology are all standard features. UVO eServices with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are another lineup standard, with the only difference between trims being a 7-inch touchscreen or an 8-inch touchscreen with a voice-command navigation system.

Safety Features and Warranty

All 2018 Kia Stinger trims come with the following safety features - dual-stage front seat airbags, dual-stage front-seat mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a drivers knee airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), stability and traction control systems, LATCH child seat restraints, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, and a front and rear park assist system. Available advanced safety features (all standard on the GT2 trim) include blind spot collision warning with lane change assist, rear cross traffic collision warning, a forward collision warning system, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, advanced smart cruise control with stop and go, a lane departure warning system, a lane keep system, and a driver attention warning system.

All Kia vehicles come with the 10-year or 100,000 mile warranty program which includes: a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year or 60,000 mile-limited basic warranty and a 5-year or 100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty.