@@WarriorOfEden3033 he’s doing us peasant folk a favor. With my recent tax returns I can now afford a slightly used 2019 Stinger GT2 on Carvana with only 21% APR and a kidney.
🤔he should do an honest review like this one for Audi SQ5 Sportback cause Audi interior trash for 2022 standard they have been using the same interior design for over 7 years now WTF.
You’re going to legitimately make these brands change their products with how real your videos are. It’s clear you don’t give a shit if you ever get another Kia / Hyundai product to review as long as you say what needs to be said. Much respect
@@jonathanb1987 It doesn't matter what he says. This Stinger is dead after 2022. That came from the horses mouth. There isn't even plan to replace it with a performance EV model.
@@gorgonismztruth1551 recent exec interviews said Kia was actually quite pleased with their sales, which were actually up at the end of last year. Consumer Reports' 2020 survey also found Stinger owners had the highest customer satisfaction of any sport sedan in the class. There was nothing wrong with the Stinger's price point.
as a KIA Stinger 4 banger owner, I have to admit. You nailed it. It is a touring car that's great for long commutes. It is not a drifting hooning machine despite what Kia would like everyone to believe. It works for me as I do 60 miles round trip on my work commute, usually in some sort of freeway traffic.
I also own a 4banger Stinger, use it as a work vehicle. The hatch is super handy, mine gets disappointing highway MPGs but it's overall a greater commuter vehicle.
Also own one of these (without the fancy stereo/sunroof). As an older driver, this car checks most boxes. I don't need/want the car going sideways on me any more. Want to have some fun in the corners here and there. And get good mpg.
After being a mini-van dad for a decade I wanted a fun to drive car that didn't beat me up with a stiff suspension and a loud exhaust. I don't need to do donuts or do quarter miles with the youngsters. I initially wanted and could afford a used a5 or 3/4 series. But with prices the way they are, I got this new for about the same price as a 3 year old german car. It's quick enough to make me nervous and good looking enough to turn heads. The AWD is decent in the snow. The stop and go cruise is almost self driving. The stereo is above average. It fits all my fly fishing equipment and then more and I can drive 4 people of moderate size AND get decent milage. It ain't perfect, but neither am I. But it puts a smile on my face every day....and I'm not up to my neck in crazy payments.
Somehow, your one paragraph was a far more appropriate review of this car than the host of this video. The way he sits around belligerently complaining about a bargain of a car and comparing it to vehicles that cost 1.5-2x as much was honestly downright annoying. I just saw one of these on sale pre-owned at the dealership for $30k with 12k miles on a 2022 model. Like that's a great deal for the nice interior, solid features, and drive train. A new Elantra costs only $5k less than that, for perspective. Sounds like a great deal to me.
@@senorpapasfritasconqueso You missed the point of the video. Like most folks here. KIA is marketing the car as an enthusiast's car. It's not. It's just a dressed up GT car. And that's okay. Mark even said this in the video. It's not a bad car. It's a sensible car. Don't market a turkey as an eagle. It's not. And that's why the car didn't sell and Kia has to kill it off. The hardcore drivers it was aimed at weren't fooled. But everyone knows it's a good car.
Is the issue Mark has with the Stinger more related to inaccurate marketing writing checks the product can't cash or that the product isn't good enough? I know it's both, but it comes across more as unrealistic expectations set by marketing people than the product underperforming.
Correct, when people claim its a performance/enthusiasts car then it gets reviewed as such. Moral of the story dont lie, i got a 2021 camaro 2ss and some thought it was a ZL1 and i told them it wasn't if i lied it would be a disappointment
@@seafooddiablo5686 reality is every car mfg over hypes their cars. so review the car not the marketting. What is savagegeese doing. I didnt see him criticize Acura on the TLX type S marketing. @savagegeese is trying hard to say smth negative and he blew it out of proportion. He always has had a slight korea bias. Review the car and the pricepoint. What tech reviewer takes any of those apple product launch propaganda seriously comeon.
@@Gandalf721 stinger is barely marketed as it is. What over the top marketting is he talking about? hes mostly disappointed because of the "over instrusive" traction control. Why have a RWD when you cant kick out the rear. But this is priced like a top trim Camry so what is the expectation here? This drives way better than the Camry or maxima... If you want all that you can get the 3.3L. Review the car to the price.
Yup koreans manufacturers are still immature in marketing that they think fake hype works, especially since it still works in Korea. Take a look at the commercial for kia telluride for example. It’s marketed as if it’s a serious off-roader when it isn’t. The manufacturer needs to learn that being honest about their limit is what makes them attractive
I own a 2019 GTS so my experience is limited to the 3.3TT. That being said, I understand Mark's perspective as a guy who wants a car to decide what it is and execute that well. However, many of the reasons why he hates this car is why I love it. I can only afford and have room for (1) vehicle, so the car I own has to be able to do everything. The Stinger looks great, is well appointed for the price, and has a dual personality. I drive a ton for work and get almost 30mpg in ECO mode on the highway. Then I can engage sport mode to send more power to the rear wheels and have fun on back roads when I want to. All while having the massive rear cargo room for big work samples. When these came out in 2018 I knew it would be my next car because it checked every box I had.
Exactly why I don't really like his "max disappointment" in this vehicle. For 40 grand you get literally little bit of everything but nothing too much! In reality it doesn't really "check" the box only on speed which is 5.75 seconds 0-60 and that is ridiculous fast. I did valet parking before for years and you get that crazy feel only if you drive ferrari and the rest of the "sports" car that are way over 150k.
Exactly what I'm saying I have a 2018 gt 3.3tt myself and it checks all the boxes and more. Leave it in comfort when you have your wife and kids in the car and when you want to be rowdy with the boys throw it in sport and let her eat. It's an awesome car overall.
@@chrisqross302s4he has too much of the enthusiast mindset. Kia making this car knows what this car is meant to be and what it isn't trying to fake itself being. Unlike the TLX type S it is trying hard to be something it's not
I love savagegeese, my favourite car reviewer. But as an owner of V6 Stinger I think the 2 Stinger reviews are wrong. If you approach the Stinger as a sports car then you'll be disappointed. It won't handle like a Porsche or have the ride quality of an S class Mercedes. It is an affordable niche vehicle offering performance, comfort, features, space, better than average cargo capacity and stunning looks. All for a price that offers value for money that is off the charts and the cherry on top is Kia reliability and long warranty. This entire package is absolutely unique in the motoring world. There is no other car for the price that offers so much.
I took a gamble and purchased the A 2018 GT AWD back when it came out. I would say that while I really liked the car (its very fun in the AWD 3.3TT version and fixes many of the cons of the turbo 4 version). The interior has held up well over 3 years, that hatch has been very functional, and the ride quality is good for DD. But *** god forbid you to have to take it in for warranty work or recalls (which the car has for an important few things wire harness, engine fire hazards, fuel gauge issues etc) it has been unforgivably terrible dealing with dealerships and KIA customer service on the car. Not just one bad apple dealership but 5 different ones in 3 different states. It has been more bad experiences than good ones across the board when you really need them to be on their A game. They are horrible to work with and really detract from ownership of this car and I don't say that lightly. You need to go in eyes wide open as a requirement for ownership of a car like this with the KIA brand currently.
Yeah...sigh...that's true. My dealer has an awesome service MANAGER but the dumbest techs I've ever seen. My car has come back worse every time they've worked on it. "Warped Brakes? Well fix it (chips the shit out of the brembos paint replacing pads)". "rattling sunroof? (Slathers in smelly axle grease and uses torn pieces of foam to shim bolts holding sunroof on)" "loose trim making wind noise? (Orders wrong part for a year and never replaces broken trim)". I've had some good experiences honestly but all the above are true. If I had paid anywhere near full price I'd be ticked. But I'm overall happy. Great bargain of a car for me
My goodness spot on.. I have a 2017 cadenza and the dealership is just so horrible to deal with.. there was small damage to the bumper when I bought it (which I guarantee was from the lot).. they were supposed to fix it that week no worries.. took 1.5 months, a rental car, and a private shop that they paid to fix it… then during that time they couldn’t find my license plate so that was another month.. then they claim free oil changes for life there.. fine print is it’s just 1 time a year.. I call and ask about tire rotation.. person is like yes of course they do all that.. I’m like okay.. cause I want it even if not included.. couldn’t get an appointment for a simple oil change for 2 weeks.. go it’s over 1.5 hours.. and they didn’t rotate the tires.. I’m of course arguing it and their solution was since it was late they would have to reschedule that.. another 2 weeks later.. I just said F it.. and that’s nothing compared to the sales process.. if I never deal with Kia again, it’ll be too soon.
The fact that so many people mis-classify this car is baffling to me. The 2.5 is a GT car 100% and nothing more. Its a quiet comfortable cruising machine that happens to be quick. Also very good on gas. I was thinking of getting an Audi A5 and a 3 series. This offers more power, more space/ practicality and better looks, for LESS money. Its not meant for enthusiasts and idk why this is difficult to understand for y'all. If you want to crash into a wall, get the 3.3 GT2, its that simple lol.
@@user59371 Actually no... I literally said I was considering an A5 Sportback which is the same price as a 3.3t. I didn't want the 3.3 because it only has 67 more hp than the "4 banger", and not worth it IMO. Besides I don't give a damn about performance. If so I would go get a 392 Challenger Scat daddy!!
Since I am in the northeast, I need an AWD car and can only afford one. Most people can’t afford a sports car in addition to a family car. I am looking at the Stinger GT Line which is AWD with the updated sound system because I like to cruise with my tunes blasting. I’m not gonna sit and listen to the engine and I won’t be beating the hell out of it at the track. The vast majority of dudes are more like me. We want something kinda sporty but practical and this car is a good choice for that.
If you expected performance from the gt-line, then you should’ve had some reservations beforehand imo. Even with Kia’s branding of it, this is after all the base version for 2022 whereas the regular gt versions with the tt v6 is where the car truly shines imo.
Nailed it in the final thoughts. I purchased the AWD 4-banger and have been living with it for the last month and it is an incredible car to daily. I am 6’6 and almost 300lbs and am so comfortable on my long commute (150mi or so round trip). My fuel economy numbers have been better that the EPA estimates on the RWD model and the Harman Kardon sound system does not disappoint. Daily, the GT-Line Stinger has been plush inside, and confidence inspiring under the hood. It has plenty of power to safely separate yourself from inattentive drivers on the highway, and tons of safety systems and tech to assist in your drive and give you peace of mind carrying your family. On the weekends, it’s a great GT, but not a sports car. Even with the AWD, it is still lighter than the 6 cylinders that I test drove and the pull from the front wheels makes it great in the corners. We have spent our last couple of weekends zipping down curvy country roads and for this, the paddle shifters and the 8-speed are plenty responsive and the rev-matching will keep you pushed into your seat. Even with my large self, we comfortably fit 4 adults, and two families’ worth of groceries under the hatch. We loaded camp chairs and coolers and my rugby bag for a match last weekend. Let’s just say I’m not missing my SUV one bit.
@@pinecity3234 Bro what? If he's actually 6'6", what do you expect him to weigh? 200 flat? I know guys at the Gym that are around 5'10" who are 250+ while being pretty dang lean at the same time. Granted they're friggin' jacked and on the sauce but I think you don't have a good sense of height to weight ratios. Edit: This is assuming this comment is even honest, because it sounds like an advertisement/paid review to me lol.
Also have a a 2022 GT-line AWD and have had no issues with it. The awd is decent and it's fast enough while still getting good gas mileage. Was cross shopping it and the sti and it blows the sti out of the water with tech, space and gas mileage. Also the lifetime warranty they offered sold me on it. The exhaust sound is very quiet but can be fixed easy aftermarket if you really want to.
"Disappointment" means that your expectations and the car did not match -- disappointment is not an absolute term. I have a 2022 GT2 3.3 liter and love it. It is not a sports car, it is a GT car... the differences being that a GT car has a smoother ride instead of more aggressive handling, and is less boisterous. As you stated, it's great for driving at 7/10, comfortably and quietly. And "GT sports car" is an oxymoron -- those are two different concepts. Yes, Kia marketing doesn't seem to articulate the difference. I had a first year Corvette C8 that I had to sell because the ride was too harsh for my surgically repaired spine. The Stinger gives all the performance I can possibly use around town, I'm not going to track the car, so it's much more usable than the C8. And maintenance should be much less expensive than the three BMWs I had. My dealer experience has been very good. I respect your reviews, but this one is clumsily mislabeled. Talk about what the car is, not what it isn't. That's the real disappointment.
I love your reviews and how much work you put into them, but this one was the first one where I sort of disagreed with you. I agree, the dynamics aren’t as fine-tuned as they are with the German competitors, but I still think this car brings tremendous value to the table. Compared to that Sonata N-line which is an overpowered FWD barge, this has chassis balance and a platform that’s borrowed from more expensive cars. It’s basically a 5 series sized vehicle for the price of a base 3 series. If you’re not driving at the limit, the RWD chassis brings a level of balance that’s distinctly missing in the FWD family cars that are at this price or slightly below. For someone living in Michigan, as long as this thing rotates in the snow where a FWD car would plow forward is really what matters to me. I haven’t driven a base Stinger, but I drove a GT2 a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. If you want an LSD, it’s available on the TT V6 model. I applaud Hyundai/Kia for offering a RWD alternative that’s practical and relatively affordable. Also, the styling is really nice on this car. It’s unique at this price point and it still turns heads after being on the market for a few years. Either way, I appreciate your take and still think this was a great video.
Agreed! To label a base car as "garbage" because it doesn't have an LSD, even though everything else is good, really doesn't make sense. Nobody will cross shop this with a TLX Type S?
@@CanadianMax Our friend @savagegeese is a bit of an enthusiast... I could see him suffering through that 90deg turn(8:28) trying to rotate it:). Can you imagine Jack the baboon?
@@savagegeese in the future may I recommend you review the car and the price point and not the marketting. You get hung up way to much on the marketting here. Acura TLX was way hyped also, i didnt see you comment about that? Coming out the last, and the heaviest with the least hp and the slowest. I really like your car reviews. But just look back at your korean reviews and think if you have been really fair and unbiased. The reality is every car mfg over hype their cars. Its their job too. This is priced like a top trim nissan maxima CVT FWD or a Camry. Its way better than that and deserves a better title than "max dissapointment"
@@leonsam84 We actually tore apart the TLX Type S for that very that very thing. Bottom line Im sorry but why have a RWD sports GT that neuters everything that makes it RWD absolute nonsense.
at 38K price point this car should not be compared to Mercedes or BMW. i see huge bias here in the review. All the good points you have stated in the review seems like u just did it for review purposes. Give me a BMW at 38K price point with 300HP with all the lane assist and safety features. This review was pure Garbage!
I have the AWD GT-Line; I bought it after leasing a GT1 for a year. The GT1 was fun, but it was bad on gas, and had super high insurance rates for me (I"m early 40's male with a perfect driving record). I had all that power but never was able to fully use it. I stepped down to the GT-Line because I love the looks, and the 300hp was plenty enough for me. It's a stylish car that drives very well as long as you aren't trying to do some performance stuff. I think that's the intent of it-not everyone prioritizes super car driving dynamics. Sometimes you want something that looks equally as rad and still drives well. For people like me, the GT-Line is perfect.
I had a GT AWD Stinger as well (did enough aftermarket work to make it legitimately quick), am also a 40 something, and am looking at an AWD GTLine for exactly the reasons you listened.
The car is very cool, but the truth is that the target demographic is not clearly defined Working professionals with the cash to buy a car for 38k will buy a luxury brand. People who want a stylish car from a mainstream brand but don’t care about RWD will buy a k5 or Camry or etc. that leaves the enthusiast market who will shell out the cash, which is comparatively smalL
I WAS a Kia fanboy and was looking at one. My 13 optima sxl is getting long in the tooth.... Well that was until my wife's new Sorrento bricks and was in the shop for a month. No loaner had to rent a car, they " couldn't recreate the problem". Even though I brought it to them when it did it, so we're out 500 for the rental. A few days later after a couple hundred miles BAM it effin bricks🤦🤦🤦. KIA told us to pound sand, probably gonna have to take it to court. It's been an absolute nightmare, if they stood behind their products and didn't treat us like 💩 I'd probably have a stinger in my driveway. I have a video from the last time and pictures I'll post. Also those SG shirts are phenomenal!!! So comfortable!!!
Thank you for posting this! People say I’m trolling when I point things like this out. It’s all fun and games until you get rejected by the corporate bureaucracy.
I had one of these for a short time, a short time because the dealer tried to steal my $30k down payment. The car is fine for a discounted 340i (GT model), but the dealer experience was obviously absolutely horrendous. I own an X5 and Toyota right now and have almost all popular brands in the last 10 years, never seen such a bad dealer experience. Totally unprofessional in almost every way. As for the LSD, I had an AWD which became floaty above 80mph, RWD GT with an LSD is the only way to get this car. I test drove that and should have bought that instead AWD.
Now I'm really curious, how can a dealer steal a down payment? Did they try to charge a suprise "market adjustment" tax on delivery and keep the down payment if you refused?
It's funny that you say that as I cross shopped the 340i GT and the full blown stinger GT. I paid 35 even for me 2018 340 GT (15kmiles) and I couldn't touch a new GT line stinger for under 41 and used GT1 stingers we're 42+ with the same year and miles. The 340 still felt like a new car where the Stinger with less miles and a year newer looked like it should have had 40+ k miles on it. Did NOT want a BMW, I hate BMW drivers but over the competition (S5 sportback was stupid expensive, and GT stinger) it was the best car
You said it rides nice and offers good value for money, yet you label a base 4 popper as garbage because of an open diff? Also, TLX Type S buyers won't cross shop a 38k base stinger?! Come on Mark... You can't even get into a European car for 38k, let alone a 300hp Sportback.
Serious question--how many RWD sedans in this car's price range (mid 35K to 40k) have an LSD? You can option up a base BMW 3 series for an LSD, but by the time you pay for it you're in Kia Stinger V6 RWD price territory. The 3 series would be like 1K less, and the V6 Stinger comes with LSD as standard now. This 4 cylinder car is an Audi A5 sportback competitor, especially when you equip it with AWD. That's what it should really be compared too. Use the Genesis G70 as the 3 series competitor and the Stinger as the A5/S5 competitor. I also feel like this car could be the evolution of the 4th gen Subaru Legacy GT, if Subaru had decided to keep it a little sporty. The Legacy used to be the grown up WRX, with good power, more comfort and a little less sporty. So that's how I kinda view the turbo 4 Stinger. Plus it straddles the practicality of the old Legacy sedan and wagon. I don't believe RWD drifting is what this car is about. It's like complaining that a base Impreza doesn't perform like a WRX. The drifting is reserved for the RWD V6 Stinger.
I wish they didn't sell the GT-Line just like I wish Hyundai hadn't sold the 2.0t Genesis Coupe. There is an LSD on the RWD GT2 and maybe the GT1 now. I think one should only buy this car in RWD V6 just like I felt about the Genesis Coupe.
@@andreigeorgesco I KNOW it drives better, and neither 320 or Stinger owners need an LSD. But everyone needs a refined engine and plastic free interior
@@Tomoyo0827 Dude, you have NO idea what you are talking about comparing a 180hp car with a 300hp car. Do you even comprehend the difference? You seem the type of person that buys an entry level 3-series and then acts like they're superior with their 0-100 in 8s and zero comfort options. 😅🤣
The true KIA fanboys won't find anything wrong with this cost cutting division of the KIA and Hyundai brands. They're fooling lots of people. The people looking for bargains get suckered into, well the car looks nice and they offer all these great features for this lower price. They're cutting corners somewhere. The engine fires issue is just one dangerous example. They're still dealing with that even on some 2022 models that have spontaneously caught fire. They also denied the problem early on and were blaming it on something else and not taking any responsibility. They didn't do a recall for a while.
I agree! Kia is totally hooking people on tech and style but that doesn't make them good cars. The moment my 2016 Sorento needed a repair for the valve cover gasket at 71K miles, I knew it was time to move on. Kia fixed it under warranty but sold it immediately while the used car market is crazy expensive.
Kia is #1 in all vehicle Makes right now in highest average dealer markups over MSRP and it isn't even close. That Kia doesn't seem to care about its image or customer satisfaction even a tiny bit regarding this fact keeps me far away from them.
Idk about that. Well they got no control over dealerships, none of the legacy manufacturers do. Dealers a third party protected by outdated laws from back when dealers were mom and pop shops. That's why their all getting pissed, because the markups are hurting their brands.
@@Channel-gz9hm Nah dog. Trying to make you see the big picture. It doesn’t matter if Ford is threatening not send out their already overpriced I-150 Lightning. All legacy manufacturers legally have to sell cars through dealerships. Stealerships got the upper hand here.
Way to review a car out of context. If you’re buying the GT line with the 4 banger you go in knowing you are compromising on performance. This whole video was click bait. I got an idea for a new video. Civic type R doesn’t accelerate like a super car. Garbage.
what ever happened to this car? i mean its been completely forgotten lol....it was all the talk then juts POOF after one week no one cared. Ive only seen like two of these in the wild since they been released. Frankly i would get the elantra N over this. The only car i would buy from KIA would be then old Kia K9....a v8 monster
you can get a v6 RWD w/ the LSD, the 4 banger is for the person that likes the car but cant afford the performance price admission. I have the AWD GT2 and have no complaints and get looks and compliments all the time.
but thats dumb - a 2,5 4 cyl turbo is plenty to make enough power for sporty driving. Also with the lighter front it would even make more sense. Leaving the LSD out is a real buzzkill.
Yeah I don't know why he chose to review a GT line instead of a full GT. Doesnt make much sense, anyone who's worried about the driving dynamics would get the 6 cylinder.
@@seanbond1008 100% agree, the 4 banger is the cost of entry for the looks and value but the v6 is aimed at the enthusiast...if such a thing really exist in a 4k Lb sedan, lets be honest anyone buying this car to hoon should be looking at Mustang's and Camaro's with very similar price tags.
@@kenny4128 Eh, the only hooning a Mustang does is hit curbs or crowds. lol Camaros are more straight line and track cars. The Supra it would be a better choice too hoon around in. Or save some money and get one of the really light sports cars.
Personally, I'm only interested in carving my car through some tight backroads from time to time; I have no interest in 'getting sideways' or burning through tires. So a car like the AWD GT2 with the LSD is actually pretty appealing. The main downside being the weight; it's really not as chuckable as I'd like, which becomes really obvious when you drive it back to back with something like a Golf R. BUT, at least for the weight, you get a lot of comfort, good interior use of space, and great cargo capacity. It also does little wrong; the tech is generally good ergonomically and has all the features I'd want, and the level of luxury is right about at the level where I'm not interested in paying for more. In this day and age, not screwing any of these things up is sadly very rare. To me the GT2 is a Q50S or TLX-S competitor, and I'd take it over the Infiniti 10 times out of 10. The Acura is a bit tougher a comparison, but cost (Canada) and inefficient use of power & space, plus ugly interior design in the acura would push me to the stinger. This GT line I'd expect to cross shop with a loaded camry, accord, maxima, or sonata n-line. I think I'd take it over all of those; none are going to be great drivers' cars, and the stinger probably at least matches the others in comfort/features/handling, and gives you the hatch. I also think Kia deserves a lot more credit for trying something new like this and falling a bit short of amazing, than Acura or Infiniti do for underwhelming with the latest versions of their signature models.
I have a stinger the v6. The performance stuff that you talk about isnt the case on that one. Thats like reviewing a c class and comparing it to a c53. This is the base model
I got the 2018 red-on-red GT1 and love it! To this day, people give the car compliments on looks. It is so fun to drive, but the tank is small and gas mileage is not good. I've dealt with three Kia dealerships over the time I've owned it and in retrospect, I would have never gotten the car if I had known what low rent these dealerships are. Consistently two or more hours for an oil change, disrespectful service managers, bus station waiting rooms. Most recently one of these Kia dealers wanted me to trade it in for another Stinger but was adding $7000 to MSRP because of "demand." LOL! Nope. Just ordered the Arteon SEL Premium R line, which may take 6 months to get here but I'm done with Kia.
Probably the same for me. I was shocked how bad the Kia dealer and corporate customer service is. I wouldn't say that it would prevent me from getting another one but it would be very large factor in the decision.
Mark gets really bitchy sometimes in these reviews. I’m looking at this for my wife. This is a lot of car for the low 40s price point. His aspirations for - as he puts it - the last 3/10ths, is too much to ask for this car’s price point. The idea of being ticked off with Kia’s marketing, doesn’t make it a bad car
After watching this review -- and noting the title -- 'Max Disappointment', I flew down to my Kia dealer when they finally dropped to below MSRP. Got a 2023 GT-Line AWD in Ceramic Silver w red interior. Drove a 330ix, Audi A4, and Cadillac CT-4 with base engine. They all were pretty decent. [The Cadillac was a bit rough sounding ]. You cannot beat the value proposition of the Stinger. Saved thousands $$ over the other cars you might shop. Very capable car, not 'an absolute piece of garbage'. ' ... 'feels like a front wheel drive Camry'. Really? So if your wife drives to the limit, foot on the floor, drifting in the local supermarket parking lot, then maybe this is not the car for her. I love this car.
Basically, it's a great car for normal people, driving normally and driving safely. Not a great car for idiots who think the public roads are race tracks.
This is a GT car, not a sports car. In that context it truely is a great value alternative to German brands when spec'd properly. Base GT with the V6, rear wheel drive, mechanical limited slip. MSRP around 40k in 2020. Brand snobs need not apply. Mark, 3rd review is the charm! You'll go sideways if you want too... P.S. 30 mpg with V6 on highway in ECO mode with a couple pulls thrown in the mix. 72 mph cruise, around 1700 rpm.
If you're an enthusiast, you don't by a GT-Line lol. Simple as that. You buy a RWD GT. That's what I did. 3 years into owning and don't regret one gallon of fuel consumed irresponsibly at full boost.
I can see the disappointment in this setup, that's really underwhelming. I've only seen a couple of them for sale near me and they are the gt2 with the scorpion package which looks awesome but, 62k? That seems a bit steep for a kia stinger.
2.5L RWD stinger has m-LSD option in here south korea. (2.5L AWD doesn't though) It give more aggressive driving experience then 3.3 TT RWD stinger. I don't understand why KIA decided to export non-LSD version. Very sad, poor decision.
Being one myself that about to get rid of my '20 camaro rs but still wanting something with a bit a power and room for the family. Those are my thoughts exactly, thinking about picking one up new of the lot and the review just back up that thinking.
Honestly, I kiiiiinda agree to some extent. I've test driven a ton of Stingers in the last 3-4 years and I think there's a reason why I could never pull the trigger each time, despite the car seemingly checking all of the boxes. This is a great vehicle that ~looks~ sporty, track-ready, and has excellent driving dynamics---but it really isn't that. It's moreso a comfortable, nicely appointed, and aggressive looking midsize vehicle that has a lot of character, value, and style but isn't quite what the enthusiasts looking for and not the type of "driver's car" are necessarily going to be happy with, despite the marketing.
I feel like a broken record with this comment, but the Hyundai/Kia products are always a bit on the soft side because of that pesky 10yr/100k mile warranty. They can't have their vehicles be too raw because they need to cover things that break for a very very long time.
Although Kia/Hyundai have obviously made strides as far as improving their products, I think putting lipstick on a pig is not enough. They need a few more years in the oven to be on the same level as the Japanese.
he literally focussed on the marketting and not the car, and he was dissapointed, Thats like buying a new iphone and being dissapointed that it didnt meet Apples launch propaganda. Review the car and the pricepoint, not the marketting.
It is a $36k base model. You can't expect Kia to put LSD in the base car. How many other companies make Sub-40k, RWD, 300 hp sporty car with most of popular options (leather, full safety tech, etc..) as standard? Answer: Zero. You are criticizing Kia for trying. Yet other companies are not even trying because they can't make any profit out of it. That is just not fair to Kia. Stinger is already a good deal and you shouldn't expect too much.
This isnt meant to be an enthusiast car no matter the marketing, if you come to this car expecting miata, m2/m3 driving dynamics cuz it has rwd youre not looking at it properly. Kia made this car as a touring, the marketing is just marketing to attract anyone to it more. Its a great tourer and super affordable used market. Cant discredit them on that. Ill agree in the invasive stability contorl but still
I get the point being made. You hear Albert B. having a hand in this car and it's easy to have delusions of grandeur. But I think your assessment lacks context. For the price of a Camry you are getting a much better driver car. Am I taking it to Nurbugring?! Of course not! Do I expect it to be an Audi or a BMW? This was a good first effort using admittedly humble parts. Did Kia overreach a bit? Yes, but in a good way. What's unfortunate is that there will be no further development on this platform, because it did show promise. To me this level criticism is appropriate for Hyundai's n-line, because I have yet to see or read anything that does anything for me as an enthusiast. If that is what's coloring your view of the Stinger, that would be understandable, if somewhat misguided, but you are entitled to your opine.
“People have asked me to re-do the review of my ex-wife. Listen, she’s average, but nowhere near as good as she looks, guys. A few things have improved since our last review, her back seat is more spacious, but other than that, her platform is one generation too old and it’s the same stuff you’ve seen before. You’ll be disappointed if you buy in. You can do better”
Been waiting for this video. Test drove the car two days ago (2.5l but with AWD). Honestly, in a vacuum the car was extremely impressive. You really can drive like an absolute idiot for $40k, and not be too worried about getting a felony. For someone who's coming from a base Civic, it's a considerable step up in power and performance, without being overwhelming or deadly. The problem with the car is when you start to consider what the other options are for the price point. However, if you really want automatic, those options at 40k are going to be fairly limited. You mentioned you'd buy this over the TLX Type S because you can get this RWD. I don't think most people are apples-to-apples cross shopping a $15k price differential. The Type S is nearly 40% more expensive than this in RWD form, and a little lower price difference in AWD form. This is the same price as a base FWD TLX with no options.
Interesting you said that, this is everything the TLX should've been, meaning RWD based , but Honda being so cheap and lazy they don't wanna put that car on a rwd platform...
I don't understand why the TLX Type S came up either. It's a direct competitor with the 3.3L TT where the awd Stinger even comes with drift mode, not this 2.5T
@@theyadmire511 the Type S is absolutely not faster than a g70. I was just cross shopping the Type S and G70. I bought the g70. The type S weighs quite a bit more and is down on HP and torque. It's also very obvious that they weren't trying to build a sports car. 4200 pounds? You kidding me? Why do you think it's faster and handles better? Because it's faster around a single track where it's AWD might be a benefit?
@@theyadmire511 I'm not sure the handling justifies The price premium by comparison unless you're hell-bent and track ready.. and the Acura is still lacking in the interior quality(ergonomica) , not to say it's awful or anything but certainly behind the pack.. If you're coming out of a Acura maybe it's a more usable
It's the bargain hunters that like them. Also it's against the grainers. It's always been about the Japanese for the Asian brands. Some have to be the breaking news that this is not the old KIA. They fall for the marketing which you have to hand that to KIA with doing a good job of fooling many. This is not to say that some have not had good experiences. Obviously there are enough to keep them afloat. There are always new customers to obtain. It's a matter of how many you can keep in the car industry. If the keep screwing up like with the engine fires and other issues it will catch up to them. I think there are more non believers now than even a couple of years ago. The SUV crossover market has also saved them. The Demand has been so high it's helping them. We'll see how many Telluride's are on the road in 5 years.
man watching that thing go around a corner with your foot buried in it was sad. i have a rwd v6 one with an lsd and its 100% a different car from this. the car never fails to put a smile on my face and its really comfortable. all that character that i love in mine would be gone if it didnt have that lsd though.
I agree. I enjoy my AWD Stinger GT. I drive 60miles round trip for work, and I live in an area with unpredictable weather, high winds and either heavy rain, or snow and ice year round. Having a heavy, low profile, AWD vehicle makes for a surprisingly good handling in that kind of weather. That, and the economy is better than committing to an SUV. Sure, it's not sporty enough to be a sports car and not luxury enough to be luxury, but it's sturdy, comfortable, and handles well in poor weather.
As a 20+ year master tech. Kia is garbage. I have worked on a lot of them through the year's. No comparison to Toyota, Subaru, or Honda as Qulatity goes. They try but they are to cheap!
Wish Wash of comments here..301 comments as im watching and every other comments sayin they own one. Yet In all the years this vehicle been out ive only prolly seen 4 on the road. hmm.. something off with so many sayin they own one lol. Just sayin. whats the next review you doin they own that too..lol interestsing. Serious look.. Comment then next person i have one comments next person i own one..wow
"Max disappointment" ..... clicks on the video immediately.... you guys are literally the best RU-vid car reviewers. You have blown past some of my other favorites!
Hyundai/Kia has made huge strides in dynamics, refinement and styling the last 5 years. The Veloster N, Elantra N and G70 are legitimate drivers cars with genuine enthusiast DNA. It’s a shame the Stinger got 90% right only to half-ass the final 10%.
Honestly, as a German, I will have to say this. South Korean cars are pretty dang good these days. Considering all the boring, tasteless cars I normally see here which come from Germany, your only opportunity to driving something nice and refreshing is either buying Japanese or South Korean. Considering how current german cars are, cars like the Stinger truely feel wonderful.
I love my Stinger V6. I had it for 2 years and 4 months now and it is a joy to drive every day. It really goes up to 270 km/h. I do not care about disabling any controls and making the Stinger into a sports performance car with full manual control.
Hyundai and Kia are their own worst enemies. They release a Stinger and then they go out and release a banger like the G70 which is a better stinger at the nearly the same price, and then release the Elantra N, which is a cheaper car that can do most of what the stinger can, and then some.
I have to agree with Mark on this one - if the RWD is neutered, why get the entry level stinger instead of the K5 GT, which has the same engine and a DCT but costs $6k less?
Couple of things - a DCT is not great for commuting with traffic and even though the RWD is neutered in the Stinger, the drivetrain is still much better suited for the torque delivery of the engine than the K5 GT until it gets AWD. Also, the hatchback is hella useful, and more subjectively, I think styling-wise the K5 is kind of a mess.
You reviewed the wrong Stinger. A lot of the complaints would've been addressed with a GT V6 RWD with LSD. This version in the video is the for the Camry commuter buyer who wants something different.
For my girlfriend and me, the base stinger AWD was a wayyyyy more fun option than the VW arteon, cx5 turbo, and 430i for substantially less money. She can't get comfortable in a Golf GTI and doesn't drive manual, and for me anything with a CVT was out. I just don't think there's anything else on the market that can do what this car can for that money. I haven't driven the RWD version however, so maybe the AWD is way better.
This car might be a trash as you said, but AWD version is pretty decent. And FYI, I test drove this car and this does not even drive as good as base TLX despite being RWD platform. With SH-AWD you can have some RWD feelings, superb handling
really? i disliked the TLX and rather enjoyed the (3.3tt) significantly more. Not to say i dislike the TLX, just that i appreciate the overall feel of the Stinger more
