The 2018 Kia Stinger is available with either of two engine options to power its performance. With the base and Premium trims, the sports sedan comes equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 unit, which is good for 255 hp of power and 260 lb.-ft of torque. While the outputs from the base engine would suffice the requirements of the traditional buyers, Kia provides a more powerful V6 engine with all three GT trims, and by churning out 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft of torque, the sedan delivers an almost unmatched level of performance.
In all other mechanical aspects, both powertrains remain similar. The sedan sports a standard quick-shifting and lag-free 8-speed automatic transmission and is available with a standard RWD configuration. However, buyers do get an option to upgrade to an all-wheel-drive setup. Performance-wise, the Stinger with a base engine and rear-wheel-drive manages to sprint from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and can breach the quarter-mile mark in around 14.7 seconds, recording a top speed of 132 MPH.
Model
|
Kia Stinger
|
Alfa Romeo Giulia
|
Subaru WRX
|
Lexus IS 300
|
MSRP
|
$31,900
|
$38,195
|
$30,495
|
$38,210
|
Engine
|
2.0L turbocharged inline-4
|
2.0L turbocharged inline-4
|
2.0L turbocharged inline-4
|
2.0L turbocharged inline-4
|
Drivetrain
|
RWD
|
RWD
|
AWD
|
RWD
|
Transmission
|
8-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
CVT
|
8-speed automatic
|
Power
|
255 hp
|
280 hp
|
268 hp
|
241 hp
|
Torque
|
260 lb.-ft
|
306 lb.-ft
|
258 lb.-ft
|
258 lb.-ft
|
0-60mph (seconds)
|
6.1 seconds
|
5.1 seconds
|
6.9 seconds
|
6.9 seconds
|
Quarter-mile (seconds)
|
14.7 seconds
|
13.8 seconds
|
15.2 seconds
|
15.2 seconds
|
Top Speed (mph)
|
132 MPH
|
149 MPH
|
N/A
|
143 MPH
|
In comparison with its competitors, majorly all contemporaries have a similar setup under their hood, with the exception of the Subaru WRX. The 2018 WRX makes use of a CVT unit in place of the standard 8-speed automatic unit prevalent in all its rivals and transfer power to all wheels as standard. On the other hand, the Lexus, Alfa Romeo, Kia, are channeled as rear-wheel-drive options, but they do offer AWD configurations as optional to the buyers.
In terms of performance, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is the most powerful and also scores the highest scores in the acceleration test. It sprints from 0-60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, which is at least a second quicker than all of its competitors. At the other end of this spectrum, lie the Subaru and Lexus, both of which takes 6.9 seconds to achieve a similar feat, and are also evidently slower in the quarter-mile run, taking just over 15 seconds.
2018 Kia Stinger Ride and Handling
The drive experience and ride quality of the new Kia Stinger is almost inch-perfect. Unlike other options from the brand, Stinger’s oneness lies in its responsiveness, and a quick-shifting transmission unit helps it achieve its desired result. Likewise, Kia’s sport sedan benefits from a set of powerful engines, and with either of the inline-4 or V6 units, acceleration seems to be sure-footed, and exhilaration remains at its peak. The steering system has ample feedback to offer and the ride remains rather comfortable on uneven surfaces as well.
With the higher-level GT trims, the Kia Stinger benefits from an adaptive air suspension system, which improves the overall ride quality. Additionally, they also get equipped with a Brembo braking system and launch control system, for a true sports car-like performance. So, overall, the Kia Stinger is a delight to drive, and though in its Sports mode, the ride does seem to stiffen a bit, it would not be irksome for the drivers.
2018 Kia Stinger Braking Performance
Unlike its strong performance in the acceleration tests, the Stinger lurks at the bottom of the table when the braking potential is concerned. However, a major reason for the kind of performance it delivers can be attributed to its higher curb weight and smaller brake size. The Kia Stinger gets equipped with 13 and 12.5-inch brake rotors at the front and rear, and the sedan comes to a halt at 126 ft, when decelerating from 60 mph. But as you move up to the higher trim levels, a standard Brembo brake system improves braking prowess, and with the additional bite during braking, the halting distance is bound to be lesser than the current levels.
Model
|
Kia Stinger
|
Alfa Romeo Giulia
|
Subaru WRX
|
Lexus IS 300
|
Brake Rotors: front (inches)
|
12.6
|
13
|
12.4
|
13.2
|
Brake Rotors: rear (inches)
|
12.4
|
12.5
|
11.3
|
12.2
|
Curb Weight
|
3,611
|
3,521
|
3,322
|
3,583
|
60-0 (ft.)
|
126
|
124
|
113
|
117
|
In the market for compact sedans, the Subaru WRX is a sought-after option in all regards. And even when braking is concerned, it manages to deliver a stellar performance, taking only 113 ft to come to a halt, despite housing the smallest brakes in the segment. On the other hand, the Lexus IS 300 and Alfa Romeo Giulia, which are both heavy vehicles, also manage to stop at shorter distances than the Kia. But both these sedans come with larger brake options. While the Lexus has the largest rotors upfront of 13.2 inches, the Giulia’s brake rotors of 12.5-inches at the rear are larger than the segment standards and help aid the performance.