NG8 July/August 2020

Kia Stinger 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line S:
Say What I Feel
The Kia Stinger is the fi rst car in a
long time that has had people
stopping and staring as they go
about their daily business. Whether
it’s the supermarket car park,
driving along the High Street or
going to work, the Stinger turns
heads wherever you go. That is a
very a good thing.
The Stinger exudes presence and
power from the long bonnet,
aggressive intakes fl owing
beautifully from the signature tiger
grille, gaping air scoops and clever
full LED headlights. Combine these
with the dark chrome fi nished
outside mirror, dark chrome
fi nished trim & 19” alloy wheels and
you’re presented with what Kia
call, refi ned, performanceoriented
luxury.
The rear of the car is even more
striking with LED combination lamps
and quad oval exhaust pipes.
18” disc brakes with Brembo® red
brake calipers add even more
style and purpose, hinting at the
performance on offer and stand
out beautifully against the ceramic
grey of the 2.0 T-GDI GT-Line S
on test.
Sitting inside the Kia Stinger 2.0
T-GDI GT-Line S and you’re struck
by the quality looks and feel to
all that you come into contact
with. Leather seats offer up plenty
of the adjustability as well as
being heated and ventilated
for front passengers and heated
for the outer rear. There are
also exceptional circular vents,
metal-ringed gauges and satin
chrome trim. Access to essential
driving information can be had
courtesy of the supervision cluster
in the instrument panel or through
the unbelievably clear and
customisable Head-Up Display.
A feature that really comes into
its own when concentrating
fully on the road ahead as it offers
up driver speed, turn-by-turn
navigation, smart cruise control
settings, intelligent speed limit
warning and blind spot detection
information.
Centrally mounted is an 8”
touchscreen system that allows
access to the vast majority of
the car’s functions including
multimedia, sat nav, Bluetooth
streaming, DAB and so on whilst
the high defi nition 7” TFT LCD in
between the speedometer and rev
counter offers up driving essentials
such as average fuel economy
or turn-by-turn navigation
information. A simple to use system
that offers benefi ts above and
beyond for the driver. And have I
mentioned the optional 15-speaker
harman / kardon® premium audio
system with subwoofer, external
amp & front centre speaker yet?
Sport+ selected, fi rst gear engaged
using the fl appy paddles to move
up and down the super smooth
8-speed automatic gearbox
and away you go, the 2.0 T-GDI
delivering 353Nm torque from 1400-
4000rpm and more than enough
power for our tight and twisting
roads. Spin the turbocharged
4-cylinder towards it’s 6200rpm
redline and you’re rewarded with
ever increasing waves of power
and noise pushing you rapidly
towards the horizon at signifi cant
speed.
With rear wheel drive on offer for
the traditionally sporting driver,
you’re in a car that turns beautifully
due to the front wheels only having
to steer rather than handle the
engine’s power as well.
As you toggle through the driver
settings, preparing the car for a
long motorway slog, shopping trip
or just the commute to work you
have the knowledge that beneath
you and a turn of a dial away, is a
true sports saloon.
This is a car that could and really
should provide the family man/
woman with a way out, an escape
from monotony and dreariness,
the sounds of freedom barking
from the Stinger’s exhaust and
scrabbling traction control. Have
your cake and eat it? For £29,995
with Kia’s current customer saving
offer, absolutely.
Where will you go?