In this video, Jenny reviews the often headlining all-new Kia Stinger.

STINGER is a pretty good name for a car packed with so many surprises, all of them way above expectation.

The stylish car from Kia lifts the brand to new heights with sparkling performance, great handling, comfort and a surprising amount of standard equipment.

It also neatly slots into the now near-extinct local rear wheel drive sector, where it should find a lot of fans.

Stingers come in 2.0 and 3.3litre forms, each in three spec levels: S, Si and GT with prices starting from $45,990 for the 200S and $48,990 for the 330S.

The top spec 200 GT is $55,990 and its 3.3litre equivalent $59,990.

We got the 330S to have a look at, and though some might refer to its as the base model, it’s far from that, with goodies such as dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, plus sat nav, a reversing camera, eight-way powered seat for the driver, six ways for the front passenger, rear parking sensors, cruise control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror thrown in.

Also standard are auto-on headlights and wipers, electric folding and heated door mirrors with puddle lights and attractive 18-inch machined-finished alloy wheels.

You also get two power outlets and two USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system with DAB+ radio.

Engine Specifications

3.3L Twin Turbo V6 Petrol

Engine: 3.3 l Petrol
Power: 272kW @6,000 rpm
Torque: 510 Nm @ 1,300-4,500 rpm
Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic

2.0L Turbo Petrol

Engine: 2.2 l Petrol
Power: 182kW @6,200 rpm
Torque: 353 Nm @ 1,400-4,000 rpm
Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic

Features

Safety /Security

  • ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
  • ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
  • VSM (Vehicle Stability Management)
  • HAC (Hill-start Assist Control)
  • ESS (Emergency Stop Signal)
  • Seatbelt warning chime & light on all positions
  • Rear parking sensors with dash display
  • Rear view camera with in-audio screen display & dynamic parking guidelines
  • Electrochromic rear view mirror
  • AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) with FCWS
  • LKA (Lane Keeping Assist)10
  • DAA (Driver Attention Alert)10
  • High-mount rear stop light (LED)
  • LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
  • LED Position Lamp
  • Dusk-sensing automatic headlights
  • Speed sensing auto door lock
  • Child restraint anchorage points
  • 3-point ELR seatbelts on all positions

Entertainment / Tech Features

  • 7” Touch screen infotainment system with MP3 compatible audio player and AM/FM tuner
  • DAB+ digital audio
  • Satellite navigation multimedia system with traffic information (SUNA™)
  • 6 speakers
  • Apple CarPlay™ with voice recognition†
  • Android Auto™ with voice recognition
  • AUX/USB input with iPod® compatibility
  • Bluetooth®
  • Steering wheel mounted audio controls
  • SDVC (Speed Dependent Volume Control)
  • Shark fin antenna
  • 3.5” Mono-type LCD instrument cluster
  • Digital Speedo & Multi-function trip computer
  • Digital clock in audio screen display
  • Digital clock in audio screen display
  • Front power windows auto up & down with safety function
  • Luggage area LED lamps
  • Wireless phone charging (Qi)
  • Driver & passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors & sliding function

Other Features

  • 4 x cup holders (front & rear)
  • 4 x bottle holders (front & rear doors)
  • Map pockets in front & rear doors
  • Sunglass holder
  • Glovebox with illumination
  • Centre console storage box
  • Front seat back pockets
  • Luggage net hooks (cargo area)
  • Luggage screen
  • Exclusive Black & Chrome ‘Schreyer’ grille surround
  • Exclusive exterior treatment
  • Body coloured outside door handles
  • Dark chrome finish outside door mirrors
  • Electric folding outside door mirrors (heated) with automatic folding function
  • Puddle Lamps
  • Outside mirror mounted side indicators
  • Projection headlights & manual leveling
  • LED rear combination lights
  • Quad-exhaust pipes
  • Windscreen with sunband
  • Front wiper & washer
  • Aero-blade wipers
  • Rain sensing wipers

What it does not have is autonomous emergency braking, which I was happy about. I much prefer to stay alert and do my own braking rather than expecting some software and electronics to do it for me.

Nor does the S have blind spot detection. So what? It does have excellent mirrors and any driver worth his or her salt is always aware of what’s behind or alongside.

However, the nanna safety ‘experts’ deducted two stars for those omissions, which are standard on the five-star upper spec models.

Of course it does have ABS, ESP, stability management and all the other driver aids of the day, plus a plethora of airbags.

What’s under the bonnet?

A 3.3-litre twin-turbo whacking out 272kW and 510Nm to the rear wheels through a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift.

That’s better than a lot of Euro thoroughbreds of similar capacity – and at a much higher price.

Plus there are five selectable drive modes: Smart, Eco. Comfort, Sport and Custom.

The spacious five-seater goes like a rocket, despatching the sprint to 100km/h in a smidgen under five seconds and there’s zero turbo-lag for rapid overtaking.

The chassis is well sorted and the Stinger oozes confidence through fast and tight bends, never putting a wheel wrong and with barely any body roll.

A limited slip differential is included as standard, likewise a set of serious Brembo stoppers and a quick steering, making it a real delight to drive.

The interior is also excellent, with comfy, supportive front premium sports seats, good visibility, comprehensive instrumentation and A-1 fit and finish.

If you’re into carting liquid refreshment around, you’ll find four cupholders, two in front, two in the back, and bottle holders in the doors. There’s also find a centre console bin under the centre armrest for the cashew nuts.

Shoulder and legroom are generaous but he sleek roofline makes rear seat headroom is a bit tight for tall folks.

The driving position is nice and low, befitting a performance model and controls and switches are well placed.

The boot, while not the world’s biggest, is pretty sizeable at 406 litres, and it can be more than doubled to 1114 litres with 60/40 split-fold rear seats laid flat.

Fuel consumption is an average10.2litres/100km.

We rated the Stinger as one of the best cars we’d driven in a while. There’s much to love, little to fault.

And the final sweetener is its seven-year, unlimited distance warranty.

Gallery

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