2018 Kia Stinger First Drive | Review | Edmunds

For the better part of this year, the 2018 Kia Stinger has had a lot of buzz surrounding it. We sent Edmunds Senior Writer Mark Takahashi to see if all the hype was justified. His short answer: yes!

With a graceful yet aggressive exterior and a refined interior, the Stinger represents an excellent touring sedan at a reasonable price. It's also an impressive performer in its own right, making it as fun to drive as vehicles costing quite a bit more. This is due in large part to Kia's recent acquisition of BMW's chief engineer, giving the Stinger both sporty handling as well as a comfortable ride quality.

The 2018 Kia Stinger is pretty much in a class by itself since there aren't any direct competitors at this price with this kind of performance and features. Mark was skeptical going in to the drive but came out a believer.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The 2018 Kia Stinger starts around $32,000 for the base model, all the way up to $52,000 for a fully loaded example.

Q: When does it go on sale?
A: The 2018 Kia Stingers are showing up in dealerships now.

Q: What engines are available?
A: The base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 255 horsepower. The 2018 Kia Stinger GT gets a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 365 hp.

Q: Is all-wheel drive available?
A: Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is an option on all models for $2,200.

Q: How quick is it?
A: The 2018 Kia Stinger GT should reach 60 mph in about 4.7 seconds. The four-cylinder is estimated at 5.9 seconds.

Q: What does it compete against?
A: At this price, there really isn't a direct competitor. Minus the prestige, the 2018 Kia Stinger stacks up well against the Audi A7 or BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe.

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