Used 2020 Kia Stinger

In the 2020 Kia Stinger, the company takes a stab at the ultra-luxury performance segment and comes up with a pretty slick answer to the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Offered with a choice of turbocharged 4- or 6-cylinder engines and with rear- or all-wheel drive, the 2020 Kia Stinger isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to impressing the public.

The suspension is taut and the handling precise, although when pushed at the upper limits, the Stinger begins to show why it’s not yet at Audi or BMW levels. Still, with in impressive array of features, racy exterior styling and a price tag starting under $35,000, the Kia Stinger may be the perfect car for enthusiast drivers unimpressed by badges as status symbols.

From the moment you pull away from a stop, it’s obvious that the 2020 Kia Stinger is something special. From the growl of the 365-horsepower V6, to the sharp steering, to the bite of the suspension, this Kia means business. Best of all, it’s not an illusion: This is as legit a sports sedan as you could hope for. The engine pours out power seamlessly, and the 8-speed automatic transmission snaps off shifts quickly and smoothly. In corners, there’s just enough suspension travel to keep the Stinger from being upset when it encounters bumps, but not so much that it leans too far.

Different driving modes range from Smart, Eco, Comfort and Sport; the last of those would seem like the default, but we thought it made the steering unnecessarily heavy. Instead, switch to Custom and program the steering to Comfort and you’ll find just the right balance. Dial it back from those extremes and just cruise, and you can appreciate the interior accommodations, comfortable seats and quiet cabin. Yet even when relaxed, the Stinger provides just enough feedback through the steering wheel and suspension to remind you that at a moment’s notice it’s ready to play.

If we had to pick one luxury brand the 2020 Kia Stinger’s interior most emulates, we’d have to go with Mercedes-Benz. From the large round center vents to the large dash-mounted infotainment screen, the Stinger’s interior is both elegant and functional. There are some family familiarities shared with the Forte, Sedona and Optima, but other aspects of the Stinger’s layout are totally unique.

There is plenty of legroom both front and rear, but the liftback design somewhat reduces rear headroom for anyone taller than 6 feet. The plastics and soft-touch surfaces are a step up from most Kia interiors, but not yet at the level set by pricier European makes. We also found some of the more stylistic treatments a bit irritating, such as the silver finish on the infotainment buttons that makes deciphering the letters and symbols rather difficult.

The 2020 Stinger offers classic rear-drive proportions, with a long hood and short rear deck, the latter part of its useful liftback design. While the design incorporates many of the cues we’ve come to expect from Kia, such as the “tiger-nose” grille treatment, it’s not like any Kia before it. The silhouette could be mistaken for an Audi A5 Sportback, for example, or maybe a BMW 4 Series Gran Sport. Yet the surface details are notably different. In fact, some think maybe the exterior is trying a bit too hard, and if you think its various vents, winglets and elongated taillights all come across as fussy, rather than sporty, you’re not alone.

CHASSIS DYNAMICS
For a car in this price range, the 2020 Kia Stinger’s overall driving dynamics are downright impressive. The suspension is brilliantly responsive, the steering precise and the optional Brembo brakes strong. This is a car that pushes rivals costing twice as much, and that may be all budget-conscious enthusiasts need to know.

LIFTBACK BODY
A sharply raked rear end as found on the Kia Stinger usually results in a tiny trunk opening that limits cargo hauling. But with the Stinger’s liftback design, the clever Kia is as versatile as any compact SUV or wagon, able to swallow all shapes and sizes of cargo and gear up to 40 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

For 2020, the new GT-Line becomes the base Stinger model. It receives more styling cues from the GT cars, such as the GT grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and unique front and rear bumpers.

Also standard are leather seating, keyless entry with push-button start, power-folding heated outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, 7-inch touch-screen infotainment featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, 12-way-power driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, rearview monitor and rear park distance warning.

On the driver-assist front, the 2020 Kia Stinger includes blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and a brake-boost system that increases brake force after detecting brake fade due to overheating.

The most notable options are all-wheel drive and the twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which is available only in GT models. On the GT-Line, the Sun and Sound package adds a power sunroof, 8-inch touch-screen monitor, navigation, 15-speaker Harman Kardon audio and full LED headlights.

At the top, the GT2 gets a standard limited-slip differential, launch-control system, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, black chrome trim and high-gloss hood vents. Inside, there’s soft Nappa leather on the 16-way driver’s seat, and other exclusive trim. Standard on GT1 and GT2 trims is a driver-assist package that bundles forward-collision avoidance and warning, smart cruise control and lane-keep assist.

The entry-level 2020 Kia Stinger GT-Line is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine good for 255 ponies. While more than capable of moving the Stinger at a satisfactory pace, this engine doesn’t sound all that refined, and it lacks the smoothness of the GT’s more potent twin-turbo V6. With 365 horsepower on tap, the GT delivers the kind of acceleration and passing power expected of a sports sedan and does it all with grace, smoothness and a melodious exhaust note.

An 8-speed automatic is standard regardless of engine choice and while a manual would have been appreciated, we have no arguments with the automatic’s rapid shifts, especially when using the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Fuel economy for both engines is acceptable, but not great, separated by a mere four mpg in highway driving. All Kia Stingers are available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive (RWD, AWD).

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (GT-Line)
255 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg (RWD), 21/29 mpg (AWD)

3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (GT, GT1, GT2)
365 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
376 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg (RWD), 17/25 mpg (AWD)