2019 Kia Stinger GT RWD Review (w/ video)

I want you think of a luxury performance sedan. What did you come up with? BMW? Mercedes? Maybe even Jaguar? Those are obvious choices. But what about a brand like Kia? Ok, maybe they aren’t you first thought or maybe even your second thought, but there is a pretty serious contender that should be up for consideration. The Kia Stinger.

This Stinger is equipped with a 3.3 L twin-turbo V6 engine producing 365 HP and 376 lb-ft of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic driving the rear wheels with stopping power provided by 4-piston front and 2-piston rear Brembo brakes. The Stinger sprints to 60 MPH in just 4.7 seconds.

First impressions were very good. I was quite impressed with the quickness I felt pressing down on the accelerator. Especially when engaging the sport mode. It also sounded pretty aggressive and really gave you a sense of being in a sports sedan. But as I drove the car more, I started to feel a significant lag caused by the automatic transmission. It was slow to shift and didn’t seem to like being manually shifted in manual mode. This was a bummer because the car is actually surprisingly good otherwise. I just wish the automatic was quicker to compliment the acceleration.

The brakes were nice and touchy, as expected while even with the RWD (and all traction aids turned off) the car really didn’t want to step out. Which I guess is a good thing for the average consumer….but it just makes me curious on the drift mode in the GTS.

The exterior of this Stinger is finished in Snow White Pearl with 19” GT style wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport P225/40R19 (front) and P255/35R19 (rear).

I definitely like the way the Stinger looks. From first glance you know it’s a Kia, but at second glance you take a second and go “wait, is it?” Every angle has some sort of aggressive element whether it be vents or scoops or the enticing rear end.

Inside the Stinger features a stunning black and red interior.

I was immediately impressed by the quality and style of the interior space. It honestly felt very much like a hybrid of an Audi and BMW with the best parts mixed together. It was a very comfortable car to drive around in for the week and really served its purpose when I needed to fold the rear seats down and fill the back to capacity.

While it’s a sporty sedan at heart, the noise inside is minimal unless you want to crank it up simply by pressing down your right foot.

I overall enjoyed the Stinger GT RWD. I would love to try out the GTS and see how good the drift mode really is. Other than the transmission, this is a pretty good contender when considering other luxury sports sedans in the segment.