Summary of Significant Changes:
- New 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower replaces the older 2.0L engine.
- Modernized exterior with revised bumpers, new LED headlights and taillights.
- Interior enhancements include a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, upgraded materials, and new leather upholstery options.
- Improved 3.3L V6 GT exhaust system for a better sound, with a new variable exhaust valve system available in some markets.
- Advanced safety features added: blind-spot collision-avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning.
- New 18-inch and 19-inch wheel designs introduced.
- Scorpion Special Edition released, featuring exclusive black trim, rear spoiler, and unique interior details.
To say the Stinger is Kia’s best vehicle ever produced would not be a stretch — bagging a few awards along the way while putting the Germans on notice. Now, four years since the Korean 5-passenger fastback sport sedan first arrived, the Stinger has gained a healthy list of upgrades and changes for 2022, showcased during its Canadian debut.
Some of these significant 2022 Stinger enhancements include a new GT Elite trim, new 19-inch alloy wheels, a frameless rear-view mirror, a 10.25-inch navigation screen, and a more powerful 3.3L twin-turbo V6 engine making 368-hp paired to Kia’s second-generation all-wheel drive system, burlier exhaust notes, and more aggressive rear appearance.
Release date and pricing
The 2022 Kia Stinger will reach dealerships sometime in spring 2021. US pricing hasn’t been released, but in Canada, the GT Limited will start at C$50,495 and C$52,995 for the GT Elite.
2022 Stinger Gains Enhanced Performance and Handling
- Engine: 3.3L twin-turbo V6 engine
- Horsepower: 368 horsepower
- Torque: 376 lb-ft of torque
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
- Drivetrain: Standard rear-wheel drive (RWD); available all-wheel drive (AWD)
- Suspension: Sport-tuned suspension
- Brakes: Brembo performance brakes
- 0-60 mph Acceleration: Approximately 4.7 seconds
- Top Speed: Estimated at around 167 mph
Back in 2018, the Stinger hit the market as Kia’s highest performance production vehicle ever produced. While it keeps the 3.3L TwinTurbo V6 for 2022, Kia felt the need to ramp up the power while improving its all-wheel drive system for better driving performance — and we’re ok with that, not like this sport sedan was lacking in that department, to be honest.
The 2022 model produces 368 horsepower, compared to the outgoing 365 horsepower. Here’s a look at the 2018 Stinger GT specs. It also now gains the new and optional limited-slip differential for improved drive power and better handling, while standards include Brembo Brakes, Shift-by-Wire, and Electronic Suspension Control. The exhaust tips are now larger in diameter with louder burlier exhaust notes, which is a nice and fitting touch.
More Aggressive Rear Styling for 2022
Exterior styling, the Stinger’s rear gets most of the attention with an upgraded, polished look with a much more aggressive diffuser housing those larger diameter quad exhaust outlets. The design appears slightly wider as well courtesy of rear combination lamps with an expanded luminous area with those connected LED taillights.
Add new 19-inch alloy wheels with a multi-spoke design and seven exterior colours including a new New Ascot Green for 2022.
The 2022 Stinger Interior Gains New Elite GT Touches
Overall, the new Stinger’s cabin looks more refined with some added premium touches, including more red for a sportier look. Below is a quick interior look at the 2018 Stinger GT versus the 2022 model:
The biggest addition is the new GT Elite trim, which adds Nappa leather with an optional red leather option. It also offers an optional suede package, including suede seat inserts with red stitching and red seat belts. The GT Limited is still available and now comes with all the refreshed design features.
Driver front-and-centre is an updated new cluster housing with high-gloss black and black finishing. The steering wheels gain a new metal bezel integrated into the design. The frameless rearview mirror trend is alive and well, and the new Stinger is in on it—it looks clean and sharp while maximizing visibility.
When a sleek, powerful 4-door car like the Stinger continues to improve and still garners this much attention in a sea of sport utilities, it definitely puts a smile on the faces of us sport sedan lovers.
On the tech side, the major improvement over the outgoing Stinger is the new 5th-generation 10.25-inch touchscreen wrapped in a high-gloss facia panel offering split-screen functions and multi-device connectivity. The new, larger screen is more rectangular with a much more streamlined look for 2022 and looks pretty sharp with the optional suede surrounding it in red stitching.
Other notable interior upgrades include new mood lighting on the passenger side, smart key remote engine start, and heated seats courtesy of Kia’s Remote UVO Intelligence app.
Like everyone else, Kia is focusing on its SUV lineup. But when a sleek, powerful 4-door car like the Stinger continues to improve and still garners this much attention in a sea of sport utilities, it definitely puts a smile on the faces of us sport sedan lovers. This small group still exists, and Kia has their backs.
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