SOME of you might not have heard of this Kia model and the reason is simple. It arrived as a fully imported car and was priced very close to a BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class and so there were only a small handful of Malaysians who were willing to own it.
The product
Let us explain further. The Kia Stinger is no ordinary Kia. It is a car that was built out of passion. From its sleek front clip through its svelte flanks, and up to its powerful haunches, the Stinger exudes muscular confidence. Key to its road presence is its proportions, a long hood and short front overhang, an extended wheelbase to deliver a spacious cabin and a long rear overhang with strong shoulders. The Stinger’s stance and visual balance are designed to lend the car an air of elegance and athleticism, rather than boy-racer aggression.
The sales
At its Malaysian launch in July 2018, Naza Kia offered the Kia Stinger to Malaysians in two variants. There was a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 255hp and, in GT guise, with a 3.3-litre twin turbo V6 producing 365hp. The Stinger GT could accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds which put it side by side with sport sedans costing RM100,000 more and still it did not give any reason for Malaysian buyers to own one.
The price
The 3.3-litre V6 GT variant was priced at RM309,888 on-the-road without insurance while the 2.0-litre GT-Line variant was priced at RM239,888 on-the-road without insurance. Even with numerous global awards under its ‘belt’ , the 2017 Stinger saw little sales.
The facelift
Now for 2021 comes a revised Stinger. Still carrying the same sleek sexy design which has been copied by some other car manufacturers, this 2021 Stinger carries new LED headlight and taillight clusters as well new wheel designs for its 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels. New too, specifically on the outside of this Kia, is its new corporate logo adorning the bonnet and wheel caps, not to mention more aggressive exhaust tips hinting at the added power under said hood.
The Stinger GT-Line now boasts a new entry-level engine courtesy of a 2.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 300 hp and 422 Nm of torque. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and driving either solely the rear wheels or all four wheels, this new power plant delivers a respectable 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds while delivering a better fuel economy figure over the outgoing 2.0 litre engine.
The Stinger GT continues to be powered by the 3.3 litre twin-turbocharged V6, but now with more power at 368 hp and 510 Nm of torque. Updates include Brembo brakes, launch control and a new electronic variable exhaust system.
Step inside and Kia has upgraded the cabin with new stitching patterns, standard interior LED ambient lighting, new black gloss and chrome details on the instrument panel, larger standard 10.25-inch central infotainment display, a wireless charging pad and a larger 7-inch central screen that brings with it the innovative indicator-operated Blind Spot View Monitor and 360º surround view camera functionality.
Expectedly, Kia has also further enhanced its active safety suite with the inclusion of navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist. The Stinger continues to offer its UVO link telematics system and its Harmon/Kardon Audio system too.
Its arrival in Malaysia is still uncertain as Kia in Malaysia is in transition to a new brand guardian and we will have to wait and see if the new Kia sales and marketing team can change Malaysian premium car buyers to look beyond badge and branding. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021
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