2018 Kia Stinger GT Specs: Closer Look by the Numbers

Forget what you know about sport sedans

Every passing year sees the lines between luxury and mainstream cars get a little blurrier, as premium brands continue to add smaller, more affordable models and companies like Kia — formerly a stalwart of the entry-level market segments — reach into upscale territory with cars like the Stinger.

Stinger GT Review: Here’s our full take on Kia’s 365-hp sedan

Kia is quite clear about its aspirations for this car: to prove it can engineer a vehicle to compete with established German and Japanese sport sedans. And while we initially thought the Stinger was indeed a sedan, we were pleasantly surprised to discover it’s actually a fastback, with a large trunk accessed through a tailgate.

That creates a design link to cars like the Porsche Panamera, Audi A7 and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, any of which could have served as inspiration for the Stinger’s styling.

Attention Seeking Stinger

But never mind what cars Kia hopes the Stinger GT can emulate at its US$38,350 or C$49,995 starting price: It attracts a lot of attention in its own right. A woman in the grocery-store parking lot knew more about the car than I did; when we crossed back into Canada after a road trip to the U.S., the customs officer had many enthusiastic questions; and a couple of guys in a Corvette challenged us to a race on Ontario’s busy Highway 401 through Toronto (obviously, we declined, which is fine because they would have won anyway).

Engine & Performance

Engine

Type 3.3L Twin Turbo V6
Displacement (cc) 3,342 cc
Bore x stroke (mm) 92.0 mm x 83.8 mm
Compression ratio 10.0:1
Horsepower 365 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque 376 lb.-ft. @ 1,300-4,500 rpm
Block Aluminum
Head Aluminum
Valve System DOHC D-CVVT 24V
Fuel System GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection)
Rec. Fuel Premium Recommended
Fuel tank capacity (gal.) 15.9 gallons

 

Kia has baked in performance to back up that head-turning appearance, with a 3.3L twin-turbo V6 making 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. Those are pretty average-sounding numbers for a sporty car these days, but it nonetheless makes the Stinger feel very quick at city speeds and thoroughly competent as a highway driver.

Drivetrain

Transmission Gear Ratios: 8-speed automatic transmission
First 3.665:1
Second 2.396:1
Third 1.610:1
Fourth 1.190:1
Fifth 1.000:1
Sixth 0.826:1
Seventh 0.643:1
Eighth 0.556:1
Reverse 2.273:1
Final gear ratio 3.538:1
Layout/drive Front Engine/ Rear or All Wheel Drive
Top Speed – 18″ Tires 130 MPH
Top Speed – 19″ Tires 167 MPH

 

All-wheel drive is standard, an arrangement we appreciate both for its efficient application of power in fair weather and for adding traction in foul conditions. While all 2018 models use our tester’s potent V6, next year will see Kia add a four-cylinder engine that will offer less power at a lower price.

Presumably, that smaller engine will also promise fuel consumption lower than the V6’s estimates of 12.7/9.6 L/100 km (city/highway); our tester averaged about 9.5 L/100 km in more than 1,000 km of highway driving.

Suspension

Front suspension MacPherson
Rear suspension Multi Link (5-link)
Shock absorber Gas or Electric
Construction Steel Unibody

 

The Stinger’s standard suspension is an adjustable setup whose firmness changes according to the drive mode you choose. In its most compliant setting, the Stinger’s ride comfort rivals the poshest luxury sedans you can think of.

Stinger’s Drive Modes

Unlike many performance cars with multiple suspension settings, even the firm sport mode was chill enough to be comfortable on most of the roads we traveled. In fact, we wished it was even a bit firmer during the opportunities we had to test the Stinger’s cornering abilities.

Toggling sport mode also makes the throttle more responsive and commands the eight-speed transmission to let the engine gain some revs before shifting, for a sportier feel.

Footwork

Wheels:

Wheel size, front (in.) 8.0J×19
Wheel size, rear (in.) 8.5Jx19
Wheel size, optional 8.0J×18
Tire size, front P225/40R19
Tire size, rear P255/35R19
Tire size, optional P225/45R18
Spare Tire Temporary Tire

Brakes:

Brake Type front/rear Brembo4-Wheel Disc (Vented Front and Rear)
Size (in.) front/rear 13.8 in. / 13.4 in.
Brake caliper, front/rear Four piston / Two piston
Parking brake type Electronic Parking

Interior

Interior Specs

Head room
Front (in.) 38.3 in.
Rear (in.) 37.0 in.
Leg room
Front (in.) 42.6 in.
Rear (in.) 36.4 in.
Shoulder room
Front (in.) 56.4 in.
Rear (in.) 54.8 in.
Hip room
Front (in.) 55.5 in.
Rear (in.) 56.1 in.
Passenger capacity (cu. ft.) 93.8 cu. ft.
Cargo area capacity (cu. ft.) 23.3 cu. ft.
Total interior capacity (cu. ft.) 117.1 cu. ft.

 

The Stinger boasts front seats perfectly comfortable for long-haul driving, and the rear is more than adequate for adults, despite some of the car’s long wheelbase being sacrificed for the space-inefficient longitudinal driveline layout. That drivetrain has little effect we can discern on a vast trunk that can be expanded by folding the rear seats.

One of my few misgivings about this car is Kia’s decision to attach such an aggressive-sounding name to it. Don’t get me wrong: The Stinger is a great performer, but there’s a lot more to it than getting places quickly.

2018 Kia Stinger GT Price & Value

Taken as a whole, the Stinger feels more expensive than its starting price, and its performance and quality still feel like a bargain. That’s a phenomenon we’ve become accustomed to in Kia’s recent models, but the company has taken that concept a lot further here, creating a vehicle that deserves to be considered alongside some of the world’s best upscale cars.

You might like this too: 2019 Stinger GT Gets Aggressively-Styled DUB Treatment for SEMA

Stinger GT Photos

© Amee Reehal

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Author:
Chris Chase
Chris Chasehttps://chrischasescars.com/
Chris has been writing professionally about cars since 2004, in print and online. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and two feline tyrants. In rare quiet moments, he can be found travelling or playing one of his way-too-many guitars. Chris is also a journalist member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).