2018 Kia Stinger takes the Kia brand to a whole new level

Everything you think you know about Kia is wrong.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I was wrong, too, until yesterday, when I logged a couple of hundred miles in a 2018 Kia Stinger GT that was fresh from hitting 167 m.p.h. on Germany’s famed Nürburging race course.

I had the bright red, 365-hp twin-turbo Stinger for 48 hours, and I want more. The test was too brief for a full review, but more than long enough to know that the Stinger fulfills its corporate mission: Change how people think of Kia with a car that handles like a top sport sedan and looks like nothing else on the road.

More autos:

First drive: 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir

Why does one dealership charge more for the same car?

The Stinger rolls into Kia dealerships later this year with prices starting at $31,900 for a base 253-hp rear-wheel-drive model with a 253-hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. I tested a nearly fully loaded Stinger GT with a 3.3L twin-turbo V7 that pump out 3.3T 365 hp, 376 pound-feet of torque and accelerates to 60 m.p.h. in 4.7 seconds. It stickered at $49,500. A sport-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. All-wheel drive is a $2,200 option on all models.  

That’s a lot of money for a Kia, the brand best known for commercials featuring spunky hamsters and the cute and boxy $16,100 Soul.

It’s tempting to assume the Stinger, with its Euro-style looks and chassis, is Kia’s prelude to a premium brand. That’s the strategy Kia’s corporate sibling employed with Genesis, which debuted as a single sport sedan and morphed into a luxury brand.

Kia executives swear that’s not the case. They say the Stinger exists to improve the whole brand’s image, ushering in other premium models and making everything from the Soul to SUVs such as the Sportage and Sorento seem just a bit more special.

The next step in Kia’s evolution is likely to be a luxurious and sporty SUV, possibly based on the classy Telluride concept the brand unveiled at the North American International Auto Show a couple of years ago.

First, the Stinger must make its mark. Key to that are more power, more room, a longer wheelbase and overall length than established luxury models such as the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4-series Gran Coupe and Infiniti Q50 3.0L. Those cars and others, including the Lexus GS, are the Stinger’s official targets, but it’ll be a long, difficult road before many Audi, BMW Lexus or Infiniti owners are willing to consider Kia, despite the Stinger’s lower prices. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Kia initially target shoppers moving up from cars such as the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry.

Available features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, heated and cooled front seats, 720-watt Harman Kardon audio and much more.

The Stinger’s performance and value make a strong case for buyers looking to step up.

The steering is sharp and responsive. Acceleration is definitely in the big leagues. The bi-turbo V6’s 4.7-second 0-60 time is quicker than the supercharged Audi A7 Sportback, BMW 4- and 6-series Gran Coupes, Q50 3.0L and Lexus GS 350. EPA fuel economy ratings aren’t available yet.

The Stinger’s base curb weight is 3,611. My loaded rear-drive GT weighed 3,829. All-wheel drive adds about 180 to 200 pounds to the four-cylinder and V6, respectively. Weight distribution is 52/48 for rear-drive, 53/47 for AWD. That’s a bit nose-heavy compared to the best-balanced small sport sedans, but the Stinger’s handling and acceleration are excellent.

The Stinger’s interior is accommodating and attractive, with leather trim and controls that include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, touch screen, buttons and dials. The interior of my test car was nearly all black, a solemnity that will be familiar to owners of German luxury brands.

The Stinger’s sleek shape cleverly disguises a hatchback’s cargo space with sedan-style looks, á la the Porsche Panamera.

The hood, nose and front fenders pose the question, “How many air vents with glossy black and shiny chrome trim are too many?”

Answer: This many.

Despite that, the Stinger’s performance, handling and value take Kia to a whole new level. Shoppers should be happy to follow it there.

2018

Kia Stinger GT at a glance

Base price: $31,900 (excluding destination charges)

Price as tested: $49,500

Engine tested: 3.3L twin-turbo V6

Power: 365 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 379 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300-4,500

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

EPA fuel economy rating: NA

Wheelbase: 114.4 ins.

Length: 190.2 ins.

Width: NA

Height: 55.57.1

Curb weight: 3,829 lbs.

Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.