2018 Kia Stinger
02-10-18, 04:11 PM
#361
02-10-18, 06:21 PM
#362
Lexus Champion
CD's February trio test. Stinger, A5 Sportback and 430xDrive Gran Coupe with 2.0 liter turbo fours sitting at around 250 hp. The Kia tied with the Bimmer and the Audi edged them out with lighter weight and fatter tires. Just a few years ago, if anyone had mentioned Kia in the same sentence as a German luxury sport brand, they would have been laughed out of the room.
The conclusion:
Source
The conclusion:
Funny thing about physics: It usually wins. In this test, the Audi A5 Sportback carries the least weight, its engine delivers the most torque, its brakes are the largest, and it wears the widest tires. So it’s no surprise that it’s the quickest, handles the best, grips the skidpad at 0.93 g, brakes in the shortest distance, and gets the best observed fuel economy. This one wasn’t even close, folks....
About the only demerit for this engine is that it uses an iron block and that the mass hangs over the nose. When the Sportback finally exceeds its adhesion limits, it plows like a Clydesdale.
About the only demerit for this engine is that it uses an iron block and that the mass hangs over the nose. When the Sportback finally exceeds its adhesion limits, it plows like a Clydesdale.
Kia is reaching with the Stinger in general, and some of the effort shows. It’s a bit overdecorated on the outside, a touch stark on the inside, and the whole car feels a quarter-turn of the nut looser than its competitors. But its $37,000 test price is a spectacular $14,050 below that of the Audi and $16,885 below the BMW’s. That’s a more than 25 percent discount for a prestige-free Kia that competes ably with two of the luxury market’s acknowledged standard-bearers. A Kia that ties with a BMW—that’s dogs and cats sleeping together.
02-10-18, 06:24 PM
#363
Lexus Fanatic
CD's February trio test. Stinger, A5 Sportback and 430xDrive Gran Coupe with 2.0 liter turbo fours sitting at around 250 hp. The Kia tied with the Bimmer and the Audi edged them out with lighter weight and fatter tires. Just a few years ago, if anyone had mentioned Kia in the same sentence as a German luxury sport brand, they would have been laughed out of the room.
The conclusion:
Source
The conclusion:
Source
02-11-18, 03:23 AM
#364
Lexus Fanatic
Yes and no. Kia's build-quality has, IMO, been first-class for a several years now. But, you're correct that no American-market Kia product could realistically compete with the Germans at their game...sports sedans, though the Optima Turbo SX wasn't a bad alternative. The Turbo EX Optima, which had what was IMO a more comfortable suspension/tires than the SX (but with the same engine), was, IMO, a somewhat better alternative, but it was dropped.
02-11-18, 04:53 AM
#365
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by mmarshall
Yes and no. Kia's build-quality has, IMO, been first-class for a several years now. But, you're correct that no American-market Kia product could realistically compete with the Germans at their game...sports sedans, though the Optima Turbo SX wasn't a bad alternative. The Turbo EX Optima, which had what was IMO a more comfortable suspension/tires than the SX (but with the same engine), was, IMO, a somewhat better alternative, but it was dropped.
02-11-18, 05:41 AM
#366
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Another feature i'm pleased to see appearing more and more is this and others being useful 5 door hatchbacks. 
02-11-18, 06:38 AM
#368
Lexus Fanatic
02-11-18, 07:13 AM
#369
Racer
Thread Starter
Remember, the base GT is less than $40,000 and has all the go-fast goodies. The leases are indeed subsidized, something around $6000 for the GT2.
02-11-18, 07:21 AM
#370
Racer
Thread Starter
I'm not sure about you speaking for "most people". The "little extra" you pay is more than $10,000 on base models or about 33% more.
02-11-18, 07:50 AM
#371
Lexus Fanatic
Most people want the badge. KIA is not on the same level as other manufacturers. $10K won’t matter as most people will not settle for a base Stinger. They will however buy base luxury brands with faux leather and less than great infotainment systems. When it comes to even pricing, even when the options are in advantage of the KIA, people will still gravitate to the luxury brand.
02-11-18, 04:04 PM
#372
Lexus Champion
One thing that should be mentioned is that Kia is a large global corporation and they study local markets and see pricing as well as local competition for similar vehicles. If you research trim levels, powertrain options you see a pattern with pricing. It looks like Kia wants to make sure that you can get a full on loaded Stinger with the big turbo motor and awd for under or at 55K local pricing. This is probably just for the intro. If it flops, somebody is going to get a great deal with deep discounting. But if it wins then they'll hold the line.
In Australia and UK the Stinger is always at a psycological local currency number of 40s and 50s. This is the same in the US and Canada too. Motorweek just named the Stinger the Best of the Year in its awards. IMO the styling still needs to be tweaked and whether the general public will take up the enthusiast press' views remains to be seen. But to predict that it won't sell, is short sighted thinking.
In Australia, the Stinger is being ordered at 500/month while sales were projected at around 200-250, which is what Kia says it expects to settle on for its Australia sales.
In Australia and UK the Stinger is always at a psycological local currency number of 40s and 50s. This is the same in the US and Canada too. Motorweek just named the Stinger the Best of the Year in its awards. IMO the styling still needs to be tweaked and whether the general public will take up the enthusiast press' views remains to be seen. But to predict that it won't sell, is short sighted thinking.
In Australia, the Stinger is being ordered at 500/month while sales were projected at around 200-250, which is what Kia says it expects to settle on for its Australia sales.
02-11-18, 04:20 PM
#373
Lexus Fanatic
One thing that should be mentioned is that Kia is a large global corporation and they study local markets and see pricing as well as local competition for similar vehicles. If you research trim levels, powertrain options you see a pattern with pricing. It looks like Kia wants to make sure that you can get a full on loaded Stinger with the big turbo motor and awd for under or at 55K local pricing. This is probably just for the intro. If it flops, somebody is going to get a great deal with deep discounting. But if it wins then they'll hold the line.
In Australia and UK the Stinger is always at a psycological local currency number of 40s and 50s. This is the same in the US and Canada too. Motorweek just named the Stinger the Best of the Year in its awards. IMO the styling still needs to be tweaked and whether the general public will take up the enthusiast press' views remains to be seen. But to predict that it won't sell, is short sighted thinking.
In Australia, the Stinger is being ordered at 500/month while sales were projected at around 200-250, which is what Kia says it expects to settle on for its Australia sales.
In Australia and UK the Stinger is always at a psycological local currency number of 40s and 50s. This is the same in the US and Canada too. Motorweek just named the Stinger the Best of the Year in its awards. IMO the styling still needs to be tweaked and whether the general public will take up the enthusiast press' views remains to be seen. But to predict that it won't sell, is short sighted thinking.
In Australia, the Stinger is being ordered at 500/month while sales were projected at around 200-250, which is what Kia says it expects to settle on for its Australia sales.
This KIA is a great car. No questions about it. But the KIA brand is going to struggle selling it. Just my opinion
02-11-18, 04:36 PM
#374
Lexus Champion
^^^ That's more of an opinion about brands vs a specific car model. Yes, Kia carries baggage that tells people that they make inexpensive fwd vehicles. The vehicles you reference don't mean anything here for enthusiasts. Those were just dipping the toe in the water and totally mishandled. We're talking Stinger here, not Kia in general.
With this car Kia had to virtually "in-source" Germans to make it for them. It is an A5 Sportback impersonator and a Bimmer 4xxx rival. The question is: will badge snobs look at this car or will they do business as usual? The problem is not what you make it out to be, ie. reliability or shortcomings in material quality - but rather, can potential sports sedan buyers be persuaded to switch over to Kia vs their usual German choices? Cadillac tried and has failed with its CTS and ATS rwd twins. But that's a brand which is deeply flawed on some levels.
With this car Kia had to virtually "in-source" Germans to make it for them. It is an A5 Sportback impersonator and a Bimmer 4xxx rival. The question is: will badge snobs look at this car or will they do business as usual? The problem is not what you make it out to be, ie. reliability or shortcomings in material quality - but rather, can potential sports sedan buyers be persuaded to switch over to Kia vs their usual German choices? Cadillac tried and has failed with its CTS and ATS rwd twins. But that's a brand which is deeply flawed on some levels.
02-11-18, 04:47 PM
#375
Lexus Fanatic
^^^ That's more of an opinion about brands vs a specific car model. Yes, Kia carries baggage that tells people that they make inexpensive fwd vehicles. The vehicles you reference don't mean anything here for enthusiasts. Those were just dipping the toe in the water and totally mishandled. We're talking Stinger here, not Kia in general..