KIA Stinger 3.3 T-GDI V6 AWD GT: Rafa Nadal's car

Rafa Nadal is KIA’s global brand ambassador, filming spots for the Korean manufacturer, posing for photos, and attending the occasional event… but nobody is forcing him to leave his Aston Martin in the garage to enjoy driving his KIA Stinger V6 GT, a very special car.

With an unmistakably KIA style, shaped by the manufacturer’s new design guidelines yet resembling a Aston Martin or a BMW, the KIA Stinger draws attention with its sporty exterior and also its luxurious cabin. A KIA with a V6 engine, all-wheel drive and 370 CV is the reason many surprised and delighted eyes are now turning towards the brand.

With the 3.3-litre V6 engine mounted longitudinally, the gearbox behind it and a driveshaft distributing torque between both axles, the Stinger has an impeccable layout.

The KIA Stinger presents a sporty silhouette in saloon architecture with a four-door coupé style, in which the occupants of the front seats, far better served, find an attractive dashboard covered in soft black plastics of pleasant feel, leather and aluminium. In addition to a large multifunction touchscreen (climate control, audio, navigation, etc.) presiding over the centre console. This KIA saloon achieves a high overall impression of luxury and sportiness, both inside and out, with very comprehensive equipment that includes everything imaginable. And we assure you we have a great imagination…

A saloon coupé… or a coupé with saloon airs

To mention a few details: from the different driving modes, such as Smart, ECO, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ (with traction and stability controls switched off), to the intelligent cruise control with automatic speed regulation. We can also count on speed and navigation indications projected onto the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight, not to mention the perhaps less interesting steering wheel heating system. But without doubt, this car is reserved for very sensitive hands or those accustomed to being pampered, whether Rafa Nadal’s after matches or others less accustomed to hard work.

Its 4.83 metres of length and 1,909 kilos of weight give it an excellent presence, and it is an ideal car for travelling… and also for enjoying a winding mountain stretch

The suspension shows good effectiveness, with bump comfort prioritised over control of body movements. With more dynamic settings, and even different steering assistance calibrations depending on the driving mode selected at any moment. This is especially evident in Sport and Sport+ mode, which is particularly enjoyable when you want to go fast, although it comes at a small cost in comfort. Stability and sportiness are also aided by the 19-inch wheels with 225/40 tyres, featuring a striking five double-spoke design that reveals the imposing red calipers signed by the specialists at Brembo. Four-piston calipers that do not easily give up, even under intensive use on a circuit.

The engine pulls strongly, and the Stinger devours the kilometres, relying more on the thrust of its power than on the weight it carries. It stops tremendously well, because the four-piston calipers allow you to push braking quite hard and show no signs of fatigue easily

The KIA executives are proud of the character of the 3.3-litre V6 engine, and rightly so… because the 24-valve twin-turbo unit delivers 370 CV of pure breeding with a pleasant sound, not especially sporty or loud. It feels very elastic, with torque available from almost idle, and fuel consumption that rarely drops below ten litres per 100 km, a reasonable figure considering it is a two-tonne car with all-wheel drive and the aforementioned 370 CV. The KIA Stinger features an eight-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter. Sensational for smoothness of operation, and also for speed of engagement. Our test unit, fitted with paddle shifters, worked so well that it felt more like a dual-clutch than a torque converter. Moreover, this gearbox is entirely designed and manufactured by KIA, which adds a considerable plus in our eyes.

The engine is a 3.3 six-cylinder V configuration supercharged by two turbos, made of aluminium, with direct injection and variable intake.

On the less positive side, the electronic stability control is somewhat restrictive. You cannot overrev, and it will not drop a gear until there is enough margin in engine speed. This does not inspire the confidence one would want when pushing to the limit. But nobody is perfect, and this is not exactly a car its owners will be taking onto a circuit much. Permanent all-wheel drive to all four wheels is capable of sending between 60 and 100 percent of torque to the rear axle depending on the needs of the moment, through the torque vectoring control system. Traction capability is excellent and the sensation is that there is always a little more torque at the rear, so the steering feels lighter and more pleasant.

370 CV twin-turbo engine, all-wheel drive, behaviour with clear sporting undertones… That is the Stinger, KIA’s interpretation of what a general-purpose Audi S5 Sportback could be.

The overall package is really good. Against Audi or BMW it has a hard time, mostly on prestige, and because it is unlikely a buyer will want to spend more than fifty thousand euros on a car that is not from a premium brand. But the KIA Stinger is a clever option, a demonstration of the power of Korean engineers, and a car from a mainstream brand that has little or nothing to envy from a premium marque.

The price and range of the KIA Stinger

When a brand like KIA makes such a big leap to compete directly with major premium brands, both in performance range and build quality, luxury equipment and driving technology, the question is: will it still offer a price advantage?

It comes as standard with knee airbag, unintentional lane change control, blind spot sensor, emergency braking with pedestrian detection, etc. The interior is very elegant and sporty. The multifunction touchscreen brings together the climate controls, the Hi-Fi system and the navigation, among other things.

The answer is yes. There is a KIA Stinger from 37,900 euros, the entry-level version, with the interesting 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 200 CV. And with standard equipment that can even be considered luxurious. The argument of a breakthrough entry price for such a car is undoubtedly one of its main draws. But the range is wide. After testing the different options, the one we liked best, and the one that multiplies its value-for-money advantage, is the petrol Stinger we tested, although its price approaches 55,000 euros. It in no way compares unfavourably with the BMW, Lexus or Mercedes against which the brand’s executives compare the Stinger.

To finish, here are some details about the Stinger worth knowing.

• Designed in Europe and perfected on the Nürburgring circuit by engineers and test drivers, the Stinger is the most powerful and high-performance KIA in history.
• 2.2 l / 200 CV “R” diesel version, four-cylinder turbo with 200 CV at 3,800 rpm. 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. Top speed 230 km/h.
• 2.0 l / 255 CV petrol engine, four-cylinder turbo with 255 CV at 6,200 rpm. 0 to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. Top speed 240 km/h.
• 3.3 l / 370 CV V6 petrol twin-turbo engine with 370 CV at 6,000 rpm. 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Top speed 270 km/h.
• The Stinger uses the second generation of the electronically controlled eight-speed sequential automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, designed by KIA.
• The electronic control system, Drive Mode Select, offers five driving modes: Eco, Sport, Sport+, Comfort and Smart, which affect gear shifting, steering, suspension and throttle electronics.
• Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The system applies more torque to the rear wheels and is equipped with Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control, which monitors the driver and road conditions to accelerate or brake each wheel to maintain the trajectory.
• Electronically controlled damping ECS. Through Drive Mode Select, it electronically adjusts the firmness of the suspension to adapt to road conditions and driving style. The steering is variable and assisted by an electric motor.
• DRIVE WiSE: front collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection; advanced cruise control; lane keeping assist system; rear cross-traffic alert; low-speed surround monitoring system; blind spot detection; and dynamic high-beam assist.
• The Head-Up Display (HUD) lets the driver see key information reflected on the windscreen: speed, navigation, audio, cruise control and blind spot detection.
• Standard with a 7-inch touchscreen for navigation, Android Auto and TomTom connectivity services. In the “GT line” and “GT” versions the screen is 8 inches.
• The base audio system has six speakers. The most luxurious versions fit an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a powerful Harman-Kardon surround system of 720 W and 15 speakers with two subwoofers under the front seats.
• 7-year or 150,000-kilometre KIA warranty.

KIA Stinger PRICES

Stinger 2.2 CRDI STYLE 200 CV 37,900 €
Stinger 2.2 CRDI XTREME 200 CV 41,650 €
Stinger 2.2 CRDI XTREME 4×4 200 CV 43,650 €
Stinger 2.2 CRDI GT LINE 200 CV 47,150 €
Stinger 2.2 CRDI GT LINE 4×4 200 CV 49,150 €
Stinger 2.0 T-GDI STYLE 255 CV 38,900 €
Stinger 2.0 T-GDI XTREME 255 CV 42,650 €
Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT LINE 255 CV 48,150 €
Stinger 3.3 T-GDI GT 4×4 370 CV 54,150 €

KIA Stinger image gallery

Images: Pedro Morera and KIA