STINGING MORE LIKE A BUTTERFLY (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 46

Yes, it's a Kia. Yes, you might want one. No, this 'Gran Turismo' model isn't merely a copy of something German. This is the Kia Stinger. The looks don't lie. Here, we look at the final updated 2021--2022-era version of this car as a used buy.

Modelsword count: 7

5dr Hatch (3.3 V6 petrol [GT-Line S])

Historyword count: 210

Back in 2017, we were offered a very different kind of Kia. The Stinger was a five-door performance GT that took on the German premium brands in the luxury sports Gran Turismo market. In the four years following this model's launch, it worked well as a rare but desirable halo model for the Korean brand and a respectable 10,000 global units of the original version were sold. Enough to justify a facelift in 2021, which brought us the car we look at here, a model with some useful updates. It featured a slightly smarter look, a few minor handling tweaks, much improved media connectivity and a big safety upgrade. And this updated version became an even rarer sight because the range was centred only on what had previously been the very top variant, the priciest, most powerful V6 petrol-engined GT S derivative. That was never likely to sell in any significant numbers - and so it proved, the end result being the end of Stinger sales for UK customers in the Autumn of 2022, this car effectively replaced by Kia's even faster 577bhp all-electric EV6 GT. The Stinger though, will be a car we'll remember, so let's take one last look at this updated 2021-2023-era Stinger as a used buy.

What You Getword count: 374

The Stinger is a 'Gran Turismo'-style five-door sports hatch that was aimed at the quickest versions of slinky premium-badged models like Audi's A5 Sportback and BMW's 4 Series Gran Coupe. With this post-'21-plate facelift model, not much changed at the front where, as before, the bonnet sported fake vents and the Stinger's 'Tiger Nose' grille sat between LED headlights. But in this updated design, the turn signals below those lamps were composed of ten individual LED units arranged in a chequered flag-like grid pattern. From the side, if you remember the original Stinger, you'll recognise this improved version by its restyled 19-inch alloy wheels with their Brembo brake callipers. And, at the rear, redesigned combination LED tail lamps stretch across the full width of the car, with a more distinctive light signature mimicking the shape of the subtle spoiler integrated into the boot lid. It certainly feels very opulent inside, where as part of this facelift, a proper level of screen tech finally arrived for Stinger folk. If you happen to be familiar with the restricted 8-inch centre monitor of the original model, you'll welcome the updated model's much more impressive 10.25-inch centre stack infotainment screen, which resides just above three rather unique jet engine-style centre vents. The chrome-bezeled instrument cluster remains defiantly analogue, but the two gauges are separated by a clear 7-inch screen that delivers most of what you need to know. And you view it all through a chunky flat-bottomed leather-stitched three-spoke wheel. There were no changes to cabin architecture in this updated model, but the dash and doors gained smarter contrast stitching, the centre console was finished in aluminium, there was a metallic finish to sections of the steering wheel, a frameless rear view mirror was added and buyers got a 64-colour mood lighting system. It's not especially easy to get in the low-slung back seat, but once you do, rear seat space is acceptable by class standards, with adequate legroom for even taller adults. Out back, the powered tailgate is of the sort you can access with a wave of your foot below the bumper. And once it's raised, there's a 406-litre boot. If you flatten the 60:40-split rear bench, you'll free up a modest 1,114-litres of total capacity.

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