Bay Harbour: September 22, 2021

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18 Bay Harbour News Wednesday September 22 2021 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Plenty of sting in feisty Kia sport sedan
THE FORECAST wasn’t good
– a weather bomb warning was
issued for Canterbury and the
predictions were right, we were
hammered by rain and wind on a
weekend when I had Kia’s Stinger
sport coupe for evaluation.
As a consequence, and in the
interests of safety, I took heed of
the advice to stay at home and
to travel only if necessary – the
Stinger was parked up for much
of the time it was in my care.
So for the first time in many
years I asked Kia New Zealand if
I could have another crack at the
Stinger, it was kindly rescheduled
and, what’s more, when my time
in it arrived again the roads were
dry, although being winter in
Canterbury you do have to be
wary of all day ice.
The mid-Canterbury roads
are perfect for the Stinger, it’s a
genuine tourer and with its fourdoor
design it is very desirable
with power to match its stunning
looks.
The appropriately-named
Stinger first landed in 2018
and it’s fair to say it’s not a huge
seller, but it is an affordable
niche market car that has appeal
for those who like rear-wheeldrive
and a strong turbocharged
engine.
For 2021 the Stinger has had
a bit of a refresh, there are many
trim and cosmetic changes inside
and out, and in the V6 variant
there’s a new exhaust system
designed to improve gas flow,
the latter also provides a mild
boost in power from the previous
model.
As I’ve alluded to, there are
actually two engine options
in Stinger – there’s a 2-litre
turbocharged four-cylinder
unit ($69,990) and the 3.3-litre
twin-turbocharged V6 that adds
$10k.
While I’d like to have a drive in
the four-potter, the GT Sport V6
variant is certainly very exciting.
Peak power is rated at 274kW (up
2kW), maximum torque is listed
at a beefy 510Nm and is available
all of the way from 1300rpm to
4500rpm.
Kia says that a standstill
to 100km/h time of 4.9sec is
possible and it also claims a
10.2-litre per 100km combined
cycle fuel usage rating; if you add
all of these figures together and
analyse them you end up with a
strong, quick performance car
and one that isn’t too hard on
fuel.
I returned the evaluation car
to the dealership with 11l/100km
showing on the fuel usage
readout, which I thought was
most acceptable. At 100km/h the
readout is listing a 7.1l/100km
instantaneous figure with the
engine working over slowly at just
1500rpm.
Drive is channelled through
a paddle-shift, eight-speed
automatic transmission, the
rear axles are guided through
an independent five-link set-up
STYLE: Four doors and a liftback rear gives the Stinger a
coupe-like look.
KIA STINGER: Plenty of power with turbocharged V6 engine, or a four-cylinder unit if you
prefer more sedate.
with the spring and damper
rates not overly firmed.
Engine management protocols
can be altered through various
drive modes, there’s even an
individual one which the driver
can pre-program to suit his or
her driving styles. Sport mode
isn’t overly aggressive, but it
does significantly enhance the
liveliness of the engine, the driver
is fully aware the power is being
directed to the rear wheels and
it’s a magical, natural feel that
constantly tantalises. Also, when
the car is in sports mode the seat
uprights move to grip your torso,
it feels very reassuring.
Engine power is such that with
forceful throttle openings the rear
tyres can be encouraged to break
grip; of course, traction control
settings override that quickly, but
there is an element of playfulness
built into the system, oversteer
is constantly possible. I never
removed TCS to explore the
extremes but I can definitely report
the Stinger is a full driver’s car.
What’s more amazing is the
tyres have significant grip in the
first instance. Michelin supplies
the rubber, and the rears at
255/35 x 19in have massive road
surface cover. The fronts are bit
thinner at 225/40, but they still
steer beautifully. The Stinger has
accurate turn-in and positive
directional accuracy, it’s a case of
point and turn.
When it comes time to slowing
the Stinger, four-corner Brembo
brakes provide massive braking
• Price – Kia Stinger GT
Sport, $79,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4830mm; width, 1870mm;
height, 1400mm
• Configuration – V6,
rear-wheel-drive, 3342cc,
274kW, 510Nm, eightspeed
automatic
• Performance – 0-100km/h,
4.9sec
• Fuel usage – 10.2l/100km
power, the pedal feels absolutely
delightful.
Inside, the layout is spectacular,
new-age gauges and all the
mod-cons you could imagine
come as standard spec. There’s
new leather trim, well it’s a nappa
leather meaning it’s quite soft
and cosseting, and there are seat
heaters for those cold mornings,
along with a heated steering wheel.
The in-cabin detailing is laid
out for ease of use, the controls
and display screen graphics are
intuitive and easy to read.
The specification list
is extensive and way too
comprehensive to list in detail
but to say the Stinger doesn’t
miss out on much and there’s
also a five-star Australasian New
Car Assessment Program safety
rating.
One of the features that is
worth noting is the smart key that
has a remote engine start option,
it would be good to get the air
conditioning cooling the car
down on a hot day before getting
in. Another clever piece of kit is
the hands-free powered tailgate
that will open automatically if it
detects you and the key in close
proximity for longer than three
seconds.
Comfort levels are also high
both front and rear, and there is
a surprising amount of interior
space. The low roof-line doesn’t
affect rear head room, well not for
my daughter anyway, she is tall,
so I guess unless you are a sixfooter
that shouldn’t be an issue.
The Stinger could well be
described as Kia’s best kept
secret, I haven’t seen many on
our roads and I’ve never seen
a four-cylinder version. That’s
quite sad really for the Stinger
is one classy car and a very
exciting sports sedan to boot. It’s
also an opportune time to buy,
from January the Stinger V6 will
certainly be a $4600 victim of the
Government’s tax to incentivise
buyers into electric vehicles.
Kia New Zealand is marching
along at a good pace with strong
sales, and Kia product is slowly
distancing itself from its Korean
partner Hyundai.
It’s wonderful cars like the
Stinger that are providing that
individualism and an almost
unique driving experience. I
applaud the company for going
to such lengths to develop that
rear wheel-drive platform, which
has most definitely pitched itself
against the high profile models
that sit in that part of the market.
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