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Cars in the City

Kia Stinger

1/5/2022

The 2022 Kia Stinger sports sedan offers some get-up-and-go with its 2.5 liter turbo charged, 300-horsepower engine. It can go from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

There are dozens of car manufacturers, but I’ve only owned three different brands in my entire life. One car I’ve never driven or ridden in is a Kia. I wasn’t sure what to expect and how Kia compares with biggie imports such as Toyota and Honda. I was pleasantly surprised.

I test drove the 2022 Kia Stinger. It’s a 4-wheel GT line sedan. First off, I liked the color of the car — a Panthera metal that is sparkle-flecked gray. It seems to stand out among the sea of gray-colored vehicles. Next time you’re in a parking lot, take a look at all the 50 shades of gray vehicles.

Hopping inside, I found it offered a surprisingly sporty feel. Once I maneuvered the 8-point auto seat adjustment, I settled in the comfortable, ergonomic leather bucket seat.

Owners can set up a multi-drive account through Kia’s UVO app. It’s custom tailored for each driver, knowing their points of interest and preferences. You can even hook up grandma to the app, so when she’s babysitting junior, she knows the school route from your home.

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A Parking Minder feature is ideal for when you head into a big box store. No more wandering around a parking lot, aiming the remote, while listening for your honking horn.

Drivers can also sync their calendars to the account. So, as you’re driving along, a reminder pops up on the infotainment screen, and you breeze into your appointment with ease.

Taking off in the car was quick with a 2.5-liter, turbo-charged, 300-horsepower engine. It can easily go from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Although, for this test drive, it was more like 10 seconds because of the traffic on Merle Hay Road.

On a cold day, the heated steering wheel warms the hands, while heated seats warm the tushes. For anyone with icicle-like hands, it’s a great wintertime feature for Midwesterners. 

The Stinger handles quickly. The sports sedan has five drive modes, and keeping it in sport mode means quicker get-up-and-go (but less gas mileage savings).

The 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen includes “sound of nature.” This quirky feature offers a simple screen option. The Warm Fireplace sound with crackling sticks and logs sounded like ominous sleet pellets on the windshield. The Snowy Village produced crunching snow sounds, which to me, sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard. The Calm Sea, with lapping ocean waves, suited me best.

Pop the trunk for a surprise — it’s a hatchback cargo area! From the outside, the hatchback appears concealed. The back seats fold down for added trunk space.

The Kia Stinger goes head to head with other sedans in its class, according to a 2022 JD Powers Report that says: “The Stinger is a gem of a vehicle hiding in plain sight. It deserves more consideration than it gets.”

I agree with that assessment. The Kia is a solid import sedan for $39,490. ♦

2 Comments

  1. Rodd Branch says:

    0-60 on 4.7 seconds! No way! Definitely over 5.0 seconds, the Kia twin turbo, Kia 6 cylinder can do it in under 4.7 seconds!

  2. Ernest says:

    I hear that this’ll be the last one made,for some reason they are discontinuing the Stinger what a shame it’s a great car.

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