Kia Stinger: 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year Finalist

We Like: Stunning design, stirring performance, strong value

We Don’t Like: Porpoises a bit, noisy over rough roads, interior doesn’t match snazzy exterior

Kia’s Stinger was one of six all-new contenders for COTY this year, and other than the Model 3, it was the most anticipated. Since the Stinger’s debut at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Kia has been pretty mouthy about how its four-door coupe would lay wurst to the brats from Audi and BMW. Does it live up the hype? Oh ja.

“The Europeans better watch out because for a first effort at building a BMW beater, the Kia Stinger is impressively accomplished,” MacKenzie noted. Markus seemed to agree in his notes: “As grand touring conveyances go, this one ranks pretty highly in terms of grace, space, and pace. Korea is delivering German grand-touring performance at a substantial discount. High marks.”

Don’t miss all the latest Car, Truck and SUV of the Year content at MotorTrendAwards.com!

Opinions split on the performance of the turbo-four Stinger and twin-turbo V-6 GT. Some preferred the tactile handling of the less nose-heavy base model over the faster and power-slidable but heavier GT. Knocks? A few judges had issues with the lack of premiumness of the interior, especially when compared against the widely praised stance, surfacing, and overall design of the exterior. Rough, uneven roads also brought out complaints of pitching, porpoising, and road noise.

“The Stinger has a great combination of attributes,” guest judge Chris Theodore said: “Good looks, quality interior, a functional package for a fastback, sporting to drive, and a tremendous value. A modern take on timeless classics like the Maserati Ghibli; Kia has come a long way in a very short time.”

	2018 Kia Stinger (2.0 RWD)	2018 Kia Stinger GT (GT1 AWD)	2018 Kia Stinger GT (GT2 RWD)
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, RWD	Front-engine, AWD	Front-engine, RWD
ENGINE TYPE	Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head	Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads	Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	121.9 cu in/1,998 cc	203.9 cu in/3,342 cc	203.9 cu in/3,342 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	10.0:1	10.0:1	10.0:1
POWER (SAE NET)	255 hp @ 6,200 rpm	365 hp @ 6,000 rpm	365 hp @ 6,000 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	260 lb-ft @ 1,400 rpm	376 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm	376 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm
REDLINE	6,500 rpm	6,500 rpm	6,500 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	14.3 lb/hp	11.4 lb/hp	11.0 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	3.73:1/2.11:1	3.54:1/1.97:1	3.54:1/1.97:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	12.6:1	12.2-13.1:1	12.2-13.1:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.4	2.1	2.1
BRAKES, F; R	12.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in disc, ABS	13.8-in vented disc; 13.4-in vented disc, ABS	13.8-in vented disc; 13.4-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS, F;R	8.0 x 18-in cast aluminum	8.0 x 19-in; 8.5 x 19-in cast aluminum	8.0 x 19-in; 8.5 x 19-in cast aluminum
TIRES, F;R	225/45R18 95V (M+S) Bridgestone Potenza RE97 AS02	225/40ZR19 94Y; 255/35ZR19 96Y Michelin Pilot Sport 4S	225/40ZR19 93Y; 255/35R19 96Y Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	114.4 in	114.4 in	114.4 in
TRACK, F/R	62.8/64.8 in	62.8/63.7 in	62.8/63.7 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	190.2 x 73.6 x 55.1 in	190.2 x 73.6 x 55.1 in	190.2 x 73.6 x 55.1 in
TURNING CIRCLE	36.9 ft	37.5 ft	36.9 ft
CURB WEIGHT	3,649 lb	4,147 lb	4,005 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	52/48%	53/47%	52/48%
SEATING CAPACITY	5	5	5
HEADROOM, F/R	39.4/37.0 in	39.4/37.0 in	39.4/37.0 in
LEGROOM, F/R	42.6/36.4 in	42.6/36.4 in	42.6/36.4 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	56.4/54.8 in	56.4/54.8 in	56.4/54.8 in
CARGO VOLUME	40.9/23.3 cu ft	40.9/23.3 cu ft	40.9/23.3 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	2.4 sec	2.0 sec	2.0 sec
0-40	3.6	2.8	2.9
0-50	4.9	3.8	3.8
0-60	6.6	5.1	5.0
0-70	8.5	6.5	6.4
0-80	10.7	8.1	7.9
0-90	13.4	10.1	9.9
0-100	16.6	12.4	12.2
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	3.3	2.4	2.4
QUARTER MILE	15.0 sec @ 95.2 mph	13.6 sec @ 104.8 mph	13.5 sec @ 105.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	126 ft	104 ft	111 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.85 g (avg)	0.90 g (avg)	0.91 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.8 sec @ 0.67 g (avg)	25.2 sec @ 0.77 g (avg)	25.0 sec @ 0.78 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1,600 rpm	1,550 rpm	1,500 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$32,795 (est)	$41,595 (est)	$39,395 (est)
PRICE AS TESTED	$34,800 (est)	$47,800 (est)	$49,800 (est)
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee	8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee	8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee
BASIC WARRANTY	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	10 yrs/100,000 miles	10 yrs/100,000 miles	10 yrs/100,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	15.9 gal	15.9 gal	15.9 gal
REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB	19.9/30.5/23.6 mpg	16.7/29.0/20.6 mpg	14.4/29.2/18.6 mpg
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded premium	Unleaded premium	Unleaded premium

The post Kia Stinger: 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year Finalist appeared first on Motor Trend.

from Motor Trend http://ift.tt/2j7XoQn