Kia Stinger

Dangerous incompleted integration of new safety features – I purchased a new 2019 (MY20) and drove it until the last model MY23 (plated 2022) was delivered to Australia. These were great vehicles and Kia had no idea what they had originally designed and built. Then sadly as they did not market it to the right buyers, they started changing displays and adding safety features which they did not fully… Read more

integrate. Then it appears they ran out of right-hand drive parts so some of the centre console is for a left-hand drive. The following was my second email to Kia (note the comment to me from Kia mechanics; "that is what you bought");

Dear Sir/Madam,

After owning a 2019 Kia Stinger GT 3.3Ltr I updated it to a 2022 build Model J5S6J5G1JHH08A (Stinger GT 3.3Ltr) purchased in March 2023 from Wagga Wagga.

I am writing to ask if Kia intends to produce and install a software update for this model. I have previously written my early concerns to Kia and was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer. Upon doing so and identifying the issues I was told by the technical department of the dealership; “that is what you bought”.

I have also identified that there was no handook delivered with the vehicle unlike the 2019 model. On the MY23 Scanning the QR code within the entertainment system displays a previous model which only addresses the operation of that physical vehicle. It does not address any of the infotainment system or the safety features controlled through that system.

My early concerns were about the lack of information in the documentation and programming issues. The programming issues I found at that time were mostly inconvenient or a distraction (eg 24/7 school zones which worked in the 2019 model) or where the driver had to take their eyes off the road (and interpret) for more time than was necessary with the 2019 model (eg now gauges are displayed whereas they were bar lines in the early model - fast to read and integrate). These were features that were changed/added to the vehicle after the 2019 model release.

In January 2025 I had 3 circumstances where the vehicle safety features did not operate in a manner which appeared to be in line with its intended function/feature.

1. Driving up (Winbourne St E, Denistone West) a reasonably graded hill when a car going fast pulled onto my side of the road heading straight for me and no collision alert or automatic braking occurred. Luckily the car swerved back at the last minute just in time to avoid the collision narrowly missing me. 2. Driving on the highway in Singleton heading south when a car didn’t give way from a side street on my right and sped towards me and just before colliding they turned up the oncoming side of the road (lucky no oncoming vehicles were on the road) and continued to drive up the wrong side of the road beside me to the next intersection and then turned right into it. At no time did I receive any cross-collision warning or automatic braking, 3. However, at Ermington shops last week I was reversing into a parking spot (nothing was behind the spot) and a car started to drive around the front of the car (not the back as I was reversing) and the collision warning was given and the car braked automatically – almost like the car wanted the other car to hit mine. Logic indicates that this would indicate that the programming for this feature is incorrectly integrated into this vehicle as this feature (using front sensors) actually works when reversing but not when the car is driven forward. It should be using the rear sensors.

In November/December 4. Traveling down M4 on the left lane beside a small truck which was travelling slightly faster than me and then my collision alarm went off and it hit the brakes in the middle of traffic. 5. The programming issue is reinforced when I was sitting at a set of traffic lights going straight ahead and when the lights went green, a car facing me on the other side of the road took off and turned directly in front of my car and very nearly collided with me - no alarm or braking by the car was provided. 6. Also re-inforced while reversing and a person walked behind from the blind spot to behind my car and then hit the rear door (boot) – no alarm or braking by the car was provided.

Ergonomic design (as advertised by Kia) 7. Kia has TV commercials advertising the ergonomic design of their vehicle controls. After updating from the 2019 Stinger to the 2022 (MY23 model) I found some of the centre console switches were on the wrong side. It appears Kia has used parts for a Left-hand drive in the Australian right-hand drive vehicles. This is also enhanced by Kia not updating the programming of the controls (eg when using manual radio frequency search pushing the steering wheel control up decreases the frequency) I know these functions worked on the old Stinger as a lot of my driving is way out in country areas where only AM stations are received with no phone coverage. Issues 4 to 6 are features which were added after the 2019 model and are safety-related (not only to the Stinger occupants but also to others around the vehicle and others in other vehicles). It would appear these functions were not tested for functionality not only by Kia but also by the Australian regulator.

I hope to hear back from you. ____________________________________

The best value Stinger – This Kia Stinger 330S had no options, and was priced at $57,890 drive away. You can get into the Stinger range for a little less, at $54,090 drive away, which you shouldn’t do, since that is the 2.0L four cylinder Stinger. Sure, the motor is still strong in that car, but just do yourself a favour and opt for a 330S, it’s going to bring… Read more

everything to the table in the performance department. If you’re going to compare the Stinger 330S to other cars in this class, you’re going to come up short with other brands not offering this much power, performance or even versatility of boot space. Here in the base Stinger 330S, you get 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, a bi-modal exhaust, radar-cruise control, semi-autonomous active lane-keep assist and of course, the 274kW twin-turbo V6, all under $60,000. I can’t recommend a vehicle that could match the Stinger across all of these segments or come out on top when cross shopping for a performance four-door grand-tourer. Instead, I’d have to push you down to a smaller hot-hatch such as a Toyota GR Yaris, which wouldn’t offer the same rear-wheel drive or larger engine experience. The Stinger is serious about being an attainable high-performance Sports-sedan, however it faces an uphill battle with getting new customers to overlook the three letters on the hood of the car. Look past the badge, and you have more car than you’d know what to do with at this price-point.

Kia offers the Stinger with a ultra competitive 7 year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which adds to the value for money sales pitch of this car. Total price of servicing over 7 years is $4,243.

Sound isolation is a solid 8/10, with the last points being lost for some mechanical whine from the limited slip differential found in the rear, the occasional knock emanating from the boot, and the unused front passenger seat belt, which has a tendency to knock against the hard plastic behind it.

When you do decide to step on it, there is a healthy amount of distinct V6 tomfoolery that pronounces under hard acceleration. Although, this addicting noise quickly subsidies unless you’re higher up in the rev-range, even when in ‘Sport’ mode. The addition of a bi-modal exhaust system for the 2021 model year certainly helps produce more theatre from the outside.

Shame you can’t hear what that exhaust sounds like from the inside.

It’s likely that you’re looking at buying a 330S purely for that motor, as it does miss out on some options that the more expensive trims get. That means you’re going to be reading this section a little more carefully than the others, and I can tell you straight away that this is a fast car. 274kW, 510Nm and a 0-100km/h time in a claimed 4.9 seconds. Yeah, that fast. This twin-turbocharged V6 immediately makes that torque known to you, the driver, the second you begin to search a little deeper in the accelerator pedal. To extract all that power as quickly as possible from the motor, you’re going to want to put the car into Sport mode, completely turn off the traction-control system, and begin the launch control sequence. The Stinger creates no fuss about activating launch control. Foot on the brake, foot pressed down on the accelerator at the same time. ‘Launch Control Active’ pops up on the screen, and lifts that brake pedal for one of the fastest rides of your life (for $57,890). All relative of course, if this is your first time owning a car with this much power and pace. The back tires will roll around a little if they’re too cold, or the surface you're launching on is a little tricky. Aside from that, the 8-speed auto will help you rocket to 100km/h swiftly, and would definitely keep powering through to your top speed if you’re not a fan of keeping your license. The induction noise from those twin-turbos is incredible, and outside the car, that bi-modal exhaust is doing everything it can to generate excitement in the surrounding area. Mid-range pulls are very strong, however, so remain in Sport mode for the best response times. Even better, pull on those paddles for optimum turbo response, as occasionally you’ll notice a slight lag in response before the Stinger is ready to roll.

It’s a really nice ride, it truly is. The Stinger is comfortable, ironing out bumps and rough surfaces. However, if it’s a plush luxury car you’re looking for, the Stinger may prove to be a tad more aggressive than I’d like. Even out of Sport mode, the car likes to respond to the bumps in the road a little more directly. While you’d prefer in Sports mode, it does the same in Comfort mode. As for ironing out those bumps, instead of making them invisible, it translates that to your bum, so you can braille read the roads, something not ideal in a luxury GT.

I’m not even going to pretend this is an economical motor, with Kia claiming 14.9L/100km in the city.

The Stinger actually uses a hatch operation, so it’s more of a ‘Sportback’ than it is a sedan. This is extremely useful as it allows for easy entry and access for your items in the boot’s 406L of storage space. The rear seats fold in a 60/40 split and are flat where the back of the seat meets the boot floor, making sliding items in and out a little easier. However, they do slope up a fair bit, which can encroach on your vertical storage space. Fold all of these seats down, and you’ll have 1114L of boot space, which provides a spacious and usable space. It’s a usable boot for more than you’ll most likely need to carry around. However, considering that the Picanto had over 1000L of storage with its seats folded down too, it’s not a mind-bending amount of space.

If you’re not looking for a sports-sedan, you may not appreciate the Stinger for all it’s worth. However, you can certainly still enjoy the Stinger for all its luxury and comfort features.

The 2021/22 Kia Stinger 330S is so convincing in its affordability and reliability that if I didn’t review cars for a living, I’d certainly take one home in this exact trim.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

Undercuts German rivals and a fantastic sporty gran touring option – This isn’t a cheap car, but it does significantly undercut its European competitors. Weighty doors, a solid interior construction, premium materials and accurate panel and trim fitment are obvious signs of great build quality. That’s in addition to minimal road noise, rattles and squeaks being noticed over hours of driving. Screens and dials… Read more

are quick to respond and provide a great user experience.

In this top spec GT model, you’re looking at just over $70,000 drive away ($64,960 before on-road costs). Like I said, it’s not cheap, but it is a whole lot cheaper than other rivals like the BMW 340i XDrive, Audi S5 Sportback and the Mercedes Benz C43 AMG.

You get a sea of creature comfort and safety features, rear-wheel drive, a twin-turbocharged petrol V6 and a practical lift-back body shape (versus a traditional sedan).

You can opt for the slightly more affordable 330S trim of the Stinger, but you miss out on some creature comforts that I think make the Stinger a whole lot more fun to live with.

The Stinger also wins points for being offered with a 7-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and capped price servicing over this period.

Total servicing costs over 7 years or 70,000km (whichever comes first) come to $4243. It’s a little expensive, but at least you have full transparency with how much each service will cost.

As a luxury car, the Stinger ticks all the boxes.

I took the Stinger GT away for the weekend, and it couldn’t have been a more suitable gran turismo vehicle. I could easily have conversations without ever having to raise my voice, and the Stinger muted any irritating external road noises.

The Harman/Kardon speaker system matches this luxurious driving experience too, providing clear highs, deep bass and plenty of adjustability.

The bi-modal exhaust system does add some theatre when jumping into Sport or Custom mode, although it doesn’t quite have the bark and burble of those European rivals.

Brembo brakes are fitted as standard to the Stinger GT, and they’re a welcome addition. They’re an excellent option for the Stinger, as they operate buttery smooth around town, but have some serious bite for moments of enthusiastic driving.

The 3.3L twin-turbocharged petrol motor produces 274kW and 510Nm! That’s good enough to launch the Stinger to 100km/h in a mere 4.9 seconds.

This is a certified sleeper for anyone who doesn’t anticipate a Kia to move this fast. Those Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres and traction control allow for easy launches.

There’s never a moment that the Stinger struggles to put down all that power and torque, unless you’re on loose surfaces or have cold tyres.

It’s planted on launch, and really feels like a budget Porsche Panamera as it surges through to 100km/h.

The shifter design is a little bland, but the shift-by-wire action is seamless and far from being complicated.

Power is sent via an 8-speed automatic, with manual shifting made possible via the paddles on the steering wheel.

Sadly, you don’t get full control of the gears. The Stinger will upshift at redline even when using the paddles, which can be a little frustrating.

Developed at the Nürburgring and tuned for Australian roads, the Stinger’s ride was nailed by Kia. For a car so low to the ground and riding on 19-inch alloy wheels, it really does an amazing job of soaking up everything, aside from deep potholes.

Even on dirt roads, the Stinger was able to clear all ruts and dips in the road, if driven cautiously.

Plus, it’s even easy to navigate in tight streets, despite its length.

For greater road feel, in Sport mode the suspension adjusts to become stiffer. It’s wildly uncomfortable for daily driving, but it’s a great way to increase suspension responsiveness.

Through corners, the Stinger really comes alive. Steering is a little vague, but it’s not all that distant from the driving experience. A stiff front end allows for a ‘point and shoot’ effect, so the Stinger rarely suffers from any obvious understeer.

There’s a playful amount of oversteer available, but for the most part, the Stinger wants to use its weight and length for speed and flow.

Over several hundred kilometres of driving, the Stinger returned an average of 14L per 100km and around 500km of estimated range.

At least the Stinger doesn’t exclusively sip 98 octane, making your frequent trips to the pump just a little less expensive.

You should definitely invest in a loyalty card at your local petrol station.

There’s a 7-inch display between two analogue dials which is well integrated and doesn’t make me lust for a fully digital display. Again, it’s Porsch-esque since they also leave an analogue dial in their gauge clusters for some visual flair.

The 10.25-inch display is a copy paste from every other Kia product, which is a good thing. It’s responsive, bright and easy to use, but it looks a little ‘stuck on’ the dashboard.

There’s also plenty of stitching to lay your eyes on around the cabin, some brightwork trim in the form of metal/plastic, and a tiger-nose interior design where the screen sits, which is a nice touch.

The fact that this is a lift-back rather than a traditional sedan makes this a whole lot more practical than the design suggests.

There’s a generous 406L of space with all the seats up, and 1114L with all the seats down. Under the boot floor, there’s a spare tyre and everything you need to change one.

Seats fold in a 60:40 split, which is a bit annoying, as this would have really been a great gran tourer if you could pass skis through the middle.

If you’re in the front, you’ll enjoy heated/cooled seats and electric seats which offer even more comfort for long trips.

The Stinger GT is the budget Porsche Panamera experience that only brands like Audi offer. That sportback practicality, combined with the comfort of a gran tourer really makes for a promising offer. It’s far from the likes of the Holden Commodore, rather, it shows off how composed and capable Kia’s sports cars can be.

That power plant under the bonnet is a tonne of fun to have at your disposal, but it could have done with a little more theatre when it came to exhaust sound.

I found the Stinger GT a delight to live with and road trip in, and found plenty of opportunities for fun driving.

Yes, the major trade off here is the fuel consumption, but that’s a low priority when seeking this much power from a petrol V6.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

Lovely vehicle with oomf but so far 7 year warranty and after service lacking – Bought from new during COVID. Less than 600km and left back indicator stops working on a Friday. We call the closest dealer to be told they will call back in 30mins to an hour. No call back, we call back 2pm the same day and are told can't take the car in until next week- Weds. Told to drop it off in the morning before 8:30am and leave with us all day. Not Happy. Show details