Kia made quite the splash when it pulled the wraps off the Stinger a few years back. The shapely sport sedan offers coupe-like lines, a choice of turbocharged engines, and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive—and Kia has more in store for the Stinger.
Kia last summer unveiled an updated Stinger in its home market of Korea. Originally thought to be arriving in the United States for the 2021 model year, Kia said Tuesday that its updated Stinger will reach dealerships here this spring as a 2022 model.
There are some minor tweaks to the exterior, including the addition of LED head and taillights as standard. The taillights are now joined by a strip of LEDs spanning the width of the rear, like on so many other cars these days.
2022 Kia Stinger
For the interior, there are new trim and color options, as well as a 10.25-inch infotainment screen fitted as standard. The infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as voice activation for common functions. The instrument cluster still features a small 4.2-inch screen as standard but this can be upgraded to a 7.0-inch unit.
The big news is the addition of a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 good for 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, or enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.2 seconds. It replace the current 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 as the Stinger's base powertrain, and we're told gas mileage will be the same despite the new engine delivering an extra 45 horses.
2022 Kia Stinger
Above this is the familiar 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, though with a new rating of 368 hp and 376 lb-ft versus the 365-hp and 376-lb-ft rating. That extra 3 hp is courtesy of an adjustable exhaust valve that can make the exhaust louder on demand. The 0-60 mph time for this powertrain is 4.7 seconds.
The sole transmission is a paddle-shifted, 8-speed automatic, and buyers will have the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.
A final update worth mentioning is the expanded suite of electronic-driver assist features. There are all the usual items like forward collision, blind spot, and rear cross traffic warning systems, as well as a navigation-linked adaptive cruise control that lowers the speed for upcoming curves and also adjusts the speed to be within the posted speed limit.
The 2022 Stinger will be available in GT-Line, GT1 and GT2 grades. A special Scorpion model will also be available later this year. It will be offered with the choice of several exclusive colors, as well as a rear spoiler, custom black wheels, and a carbon-fiber-look for some of the interior trim pieces.
Pricing information will be announced closer to the market launch this spring, though dealer order guides point to a starting price of $37,135, including destination. That's up $3,000 on the 2021 model's starting price, making the Stinger similar in price to the related Genesis G70 sedan. However, the G70's price may soon move upward, too, as an updated version is also in the way, likely for the 2022 model year as well.
For more on the Kia Stinger, read the in-depth reviews at The Car Connection.
