Kia surprised Aussies late last year when it released a performance car, the all-new Kia Stinger 2018. This fresh offering from the Korean manufacturer includes six models: three with four-cylinder turbo engines and another three with two-cylinder V6 engines. The reviews are great for Kia Stinger, with CarAdvice.com grading it nine out of ten and praising its handling, comfort, and practicality. The entry-level 2018 Kia Stinger 200S is actually the winner of Australia’s Best Car 2018 – Large Car under $70,000.
Is this five-seater high-performance sports sedan the car for you?
Features
The Kia Stinger entire model line-up is equipped with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, and an eight-speed automatic transmission (shift-by-wire) with launch control. Stinger 200S, 200Si and GT-Line are powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder Petrol engine, while 330S, 330Si and GT have 3.3L V6 Twin Turbocharged Petrol engine. All models sport the following basic features.
Exterior
Just one look at the 2018 Kia Stringer and you’ll see right away how attractive it is for a sports car. From the tiger nose grille to the Chrome-coated quad-exhaust pipes, this sedan projects a classy and luxurious appearance. It also has automatic folding side mirrors, LED Daytime Running Lights, LED Rear Combination lights, and 18” Alloy Wheels (19” for GT-Line and GT).
Interior
Inside the cabin, you’ll be transported to one of the most high-tech, and aircraft-inspired vehicle interiors you’ll see. It has metal-trim accents, Interior LED Lights, LED Luggage Area Lamps, alloy door scuff panels, and alloy sports pedals that create a very modern appearance. The cabin is spacious, has comfortable seats with premium upholstery, and has all the things you need within reach.
Its dashboard is packed with technology to make driving easier and more convenient like the Digital Speedo & Multi-function trip computer, Ambient Temperature Display, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Rear Window Defroster.
Other interior features include the 8-way power driver’s seat, a driver’s footrest, two 12V power outlets, a dual-zone climate control, and an auto defog system.
Safety and Driver Assist Technology
The Kia Stinger 2018 has semi-autonomous capabilities to give you maximum safety while driving. The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is the most important feature that any car should have, and the Stinger has it for you. It will totally prevent any head-on collisions from happening, saving your life and other people on the road. It also has an Electronic parking brake with Auto Hold and an Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist to make sure that the car brakes when it needs to.
The Stinger also has different driver-assist techs to help you maintain full control of the vehicle whatever speed you may be running at. These include Hill-start Assist Control, Forward Collision Warning System, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Alert.
Other safety features included in all Kia Stinger models are Rear Parking Sensors with Rear View Camera, three child seat anchors, and SRS airbags.
Security
The 2018 Kia Stinger also has enhanced security features. The performance sedan has an anti-theft immobiliser system that will prevent the car engine from running without the correct key. Because it also supports remote central locking with keyless entry and smart key with push-button start, there’s no way for the car to start without you near it. To complete the security features, a burglar alarm is also integrated into the car.
Entertainment and Navigation
When it comes to in-car entertainment, Kia made sure that drivers and passengers alike won’t be bored no matter how long the drive may be. The 200S and 330S models are equipped with a 7” Touchscreen infotainment system, while the other four models have a slightly larger 8” screens. These infotainment systems are loaded with DAB Digital Audio, Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, AUX/USB input with iPod® compatibility, and Bluetooth® Connectivity.
That means you can connect your mobile phone and play your MP3 files, make and receive calls, and send messages. You can do all of these tasks hands-free because voice recognition is also installed in the car system. With Kia Stringer’s infotainment system, you can also open iOS and Android streaming apps like Spotify, Podcasts, Audiobooks, and Google Play Music. Don’t forget that you simply ask Siri or Cortana to open these apps for you.
You can also open your preferred third-party navigation app such as Google Maps, Waze, and Baidu. Else, Stringer has a built-in Satellite Navigation Multimedia System with traffic information that will help you go to places via GPS.
Colours
All Kia Stringer 2018 models are available in Pantera Metal, Silky Silver, Ceramic Grey, Micro Blue, Hichroma Red, and Deep Chroma Blue colours.
Driving Modes
Kia Stingers also have five driving modes namely: SMARTS, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Custom. You can shift to different modes so that the Kia Stinger will adapt to your needs with a simple turning of a small knob. Choose SMART if you want the car to automatically adjust to different driving environments; Eco, to maximize fuel economy and reduce power consumption; Sport, to go full-power performance; Comfort, for simple day-to-day driving; and Custom, for a personalized combination.
2018 Kia Stringer GT-Line and GT
The high-end GT and GT-Line models (around $56,000-$60,000 each) are specifically fitted out with more advanced and awesome technologies like the Front Parking Sensors, 360-degree camera view, Blind Spot Detection, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert for safety and security of the passengers.
The two models are also packed with amazing cabin features like the 8-way power front passenger’s seat and 4-way power driver seat lumbar support, ventilated and heated front seats, suede interior trim, Wireless Phone Charging (Qi Technology), 15-speaker premium sound system with Active Sound Design, and the Colour Head-Up Display with digital speedo to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road.
The Stinger GT-Line and GT exteriors are the exact opposite of plain, with features like Electrochromic Outside Door Mirrors, Dynamic Bending Light, LED Headlights and Powered Sunroof. Both models are available in Aurora Black and Snow White Pearl colours.
Performance
The Kia Stinger 2018 has the performance that you want for a sports sedan and more. Experience exhilarating acceleration, perfect stability, and precision handling with Stringer model you might fancy. All models have maximum braked towing capacity of 1,500kgs and 60-litre fuel tank capacity.
The 3.3L twin turbo V6 engine equipped in the 330S, 330Si and GT are capable of 272kW maximum power and 510Nm maximum torque. It has 0 to 100kph smooth acceleration in 4.9 seconds. On the other hand, the 2.0L four-cylinder Petrol engine can produce 182kW/353nM maximum power and torque for the Stinger 200S, 200Si, and GT-Line. These three models also have 0 to 100kph acceleration in 6.0 seconds.
All Stinger models have Dynamic Stability Damping Control for a perfect ride quality. This technology monitors the car speed and road surface in real time for a better control on the car’s suspension. They also have a Traction Control System and Limited Slip Differential, which give perfect grip and stability on both ends. It makes cornering and driving in extreme road conditions easier.
Developed in the extreme Nurburgring Track, the 2018 Kia Stringer is made for optimum performance while producing barely any noise, the perfect combination that most Aussies love in a sports sedan.
About Kia
Kia Motors is a car manufacturer based in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 1994 and is currently the country’s second largest automobile company. The company faced financial difficulties to the brink of bankruptcy until 1998, when a significant amount of shares were bought by Hyundai Motor Company to get Kia back on track. Since then, Kia expanded their operations to USA, Europe, and South America. Kia Motors came to Australia more than a decade ago and since then has put more than 120,000 on the road. In 2017, Kia Motors has sold more than 2.75 million vehicles worldwide.
Finance Options
If the new Kia Stinger sounds like the right car for you, then talk to the experts at Aussie Car Loans. We are an experienced car finance provider for new car purchases. Call us on 1300 889 669 to speak to one of our finance consultants or apply online.