2021 Kia Stinger review
Kia Stinger highlights
Customer rating
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)
Pros
- Even the entry-level model boasts lots of standard equipment
- Entertaining to drive, great to look at
Cons
- Rear passengers have limited headroom
- As great as it is to drive, it lacks the brand image of European rivals
Mileage (EPA estimate)
17 city, 25 highway, 20 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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2021 Kia Stinger sport sedan is enjoyable from behind the wheel
Kia has achieved what many thought impossible: It created a sport sedan that's as good as the traditional European premium competition. Besides Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz, the Kia also competes with cars from Cadillac, Genesis, and Lexus, among others. That's quite a distinguished group, but the Stinger has the driving dynamics to match, or better, most of them. It's powered by either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 hp or a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 with 365 hp in the GT trim level and above. All Stingers are rear-wheel drive and come with an eight-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is optional.
Since it's a Kia, the standard equipment is extensive, and even the base GT-Line model comes with a long list of desirable features. Add to that Kia's excellent warranty and attractive pricing, and the Stinger makes a great deal of sense economically. That it's great to drive only helps its case—all Stingers offer nice balance, enjoyable handling, and good performance. The interior is nicely finished, and the exterior looks sharp and distinctive. Only its lack of brand allure and lack of rear passenger headroom count against it. Otherwise, the Stinger is a very appealing, very capable, and impressive-to-drive performance sedan.
All Kia Stinger years
What is new for the 2021 Kia Stinger?
- Stinger trims have been upgraded with Automated Cruise Control as standard equipment this year.
- The GT1 trim now comes with Android Auto as standard equipment.
- The GT2 trim now comes with Android Auto as standard equipment.
- The GT-Line trim now comes with Android Auto and Heated Steering Wheel as standard equipment.
2021 Kia Stinger trims
The 2021 Kia Stinger is available in four trims.
GT-Line: Includes a 255-hp 2L turbo four-cylinder engine, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, leather seats, 18-inch wheels, wireless charger, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, seven-inch touchscreen, and more.
GT: Adds 365-hp 3.3L twin-turbo V6, launch control, limited-slip differential, Brembo® brakes, paddle shifters, LED lights, 19-inch wheels, and more.
GT1: Adds 8-inch touchscreen, smart cruise control, lane departure warning and other driver-assist features, premium audio, ventilated front seats, and more.
GT2: Adds navigation, surround-view monitor, heads-up display, heated rear seats, Nappa leather, 16-way adjustable driver's seat, and more.
Kia Stinger photos
5 reasons to buy the 2021 Kia Stinger
1. Powerful engines
If you love to hear the purr of an engine accelerating or want to be pushed back into your seat when you press the gas pedal, the Kia Stinger is the everyday driver for you. The 2021 Stinger comes with two engine options: a 2L turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.3L twin-turbo V6. Both engines are peppy, but the V6 will thrust you from zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds (when new), solidifying the Stinger's place among sports sedans.
2. Lots of space
Sports cars are fun but to get the most use out of them you need to be able to fit your friends, family, and cargo. The 2021 Kia Stinger lets you do just that. The Stinger has seating for five and four doors, making it easy to access the back seats and even install car seats. The rear hatch gives the Stinger 23.3 cu-ft of cargo space, so there's always room for your golf clubs, instruments, or a stroller.
3. Ready for all weather
Adding to the practicality of the Stinger, every model is available with all-wheel drive. The base trim offers a basic all-wheel drive system. All other trims offer all-wheel drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring. That system distributes torque and power to the specific wheels that need it, boosting stability and traction in the slickest weather conditions.
4. Tons of standard tech
The 2021 Kia Stinger has loads of standard tech and driver-assist features. All 2021 Stingers come standard with Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, and Bluetooth® connectivity. The Stinger has two USB ports, in addition to a standard wireless smartphone charging pad for compatible devices, so you never need to worry about running out of juice. The base model comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert, while higher trims offer additional driver-assist features like emergency braking and pedestrian detection.
5. Luxury interior
Kia isn't necessarily known as a luxury brand but the Stinger undoubtedly has a luxurious interior. Leather seats are standard, as are heated front seats. A hand-stitched steering wheel and contoured seats add to the comfort in the cabin. Available options like a sunroof and heads-up display allow you to find a 2021 Stinger that meets all your wants and needs. Higher trim levels have ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2021 Kia Stinger, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Jaguar XE is a luxury small car that was produced from 2017 to 2020. The XE was introduced with seating for five and three engine options. The base engine is a turbo four-cylinder, while a four-cylinder turbodiesel or supercharged V6 are available up until the 2019 model year. The XE comes standard with leatherette upholstery and plastic finishes in the cabin.
Here's what you'll find on all 2017–2020 Jaguar XEs:
Standard eight-inch touchscreen
Standard Bluetooth; Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity standard on 2020 model
15.9 cu-ft of cargo space
The BMW 3-series is a small luxury car that seats five people. It's available as a sedan, sports wagon, or hatchback. The BMW 3-series has a long-running production and was most recently redesigned in 2019. That year, a 255-hp 2L twin-turbo four-cylinder was introduced as the base engine, with another four-cylinder and a six-cylinder engine as available options. Here's what you'll find on all BMW 3-series in model years 2017–2020:
Standard leatherette upholstery
Standard 6.5 inch touchscreen
Available all-wheel drive
The Volvo S60 is an upscale sedan that was redesigned in 2019. The S60 comes standard with seating for five people and has available all-wheel drive across all model years. Model years 2017–2020 come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Following the 2019 redesign, the S60 comes standard with tons of features.
Here's what you'll on the S60 in mode years 2019 and later:
Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
Standard panoramic moonroof
Standard driver-assist suite, including automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist
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Ratings & reliability
Kia Stinger features and specs
GT-Line 2WD 4D Hatchback
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Parking Sensors
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Spoiler
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Harman Kardon Sound
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Leather Seats
- Navigation System
- Sunroof(s)
Drive Wheels
Rear Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
255
Torque (ft-lbs)
260
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
15.9
Wheelbase
114.4"
Overall length
190.2"
Width
73.6"
Height
55.1"
Leg room
F 42.6"/R 36.4"
Head room
F 38.3"/R 37"
Front tires
P225/45HR18
Rear tires
P225/45HR18
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2021 Kia Stinger FAQ
The 2021 Kia Stinger GT with the twin-turbo V6 engine has a top speed of 167 mph, and will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds (when new).
Yes, the 2021 Kia Stinger comes standard with a smart key that allows you to remotely start the car from up to 500 feet away. Additional remote start options that allow you to control the climate control in the Stinger are available via an app for a subscription fee. Functionality may require the purchase of a subscription plan and/or a compatible device like a smart phone. See the owner's manual or manufacturer website for more information.
No, the 2021 Kia Stinger does not come with a Wi-fi hotspot.
The 2021 Kia Stinger comes standard with rear-wheel drive in all trims. However, all-wheel drive is available in all trims.
More about the 2021 Kia Stinger
Color options
Exterior colors:
Aurora Black
Ceramic Silver (GT1, GT2 only)
Hichroma Red
Micro Blue
Panthera Metal
Snow White
Interior colors:
Black
Interior details
The 2021 Kia Stinger comes with seating for five people. Leather seats are standard. All 2021 Stingers come standard with heated front seats, while the GT1 and GT2 trims also come with ventilated front seats. In terms of interior tech, the Stinger comes standard with a seven-inch touchscreen display, increasing to eight inches in the GT1 and GT2 trims. The GT2 trim also has a heads-up display too.
If you're looking for something sporty but practical, the rear seat of the Kia Stinger has a 60-40 split, allowing you to utilize more cargo space. On top of this, the Stinger is spacious, with 42.6 inches of legroom in the front, and 36.4 inches in the rear.
Child seat details
The 2021 Kia Stinger has two car seat LATCH connections, on the outboard rear seats. You can fit two car seats in the rear, but you won't be able to fit three. The Kia Stinger is well-suited for rear-facing seats because of the large among of rear legroom, but if you have rear seats installed, the front seats will likely need to be moved forward.
Performance
If you're looking for top-notch performance, you should choose a Kia Stinger with the twin-turbo V6 engine, which is standard on the GT, GT1, and GT2 trims. With that engine, the 2021 Kia Stinger has a top speed of 167 mph and can accelerate from zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds (when new). With the 3.3L V6 engine, the 2021 Kia Stinger gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg of combined fuel economy on both rear-wheel- and all-wheel drive models.
The GT-Line trim comes standard with a 2L turbo four-cylinder engine that accelerates from zero to 60 in 5.9 seconds (when new). With that 2L four-cylinder engine, the 2021 Kia Stinger gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined fuel economy with rear-wheel drive, and 24 mpg combined fuel economy with all-wheel drive.
All 2021 Kia Stingers come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive is available across all trims.
Year comparison
2018-Present Kia Stinger (First Generation)
The 2021 Kia Stinger is part of the first generation of the vehicle, which launched in 2018. Since 2018 the Stinger has come with the same two engine options: the 2L turbo four-cylinder and the twin-turbo V6. Initially, the Stinger came in five trims, but in 2020 the trims were reshuffled into four levels. In 2019 blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert became standard on the Stinger.
In 2022 the Stinger got a refresh. The base engine remains a turbo four, but it now produces 300 hp. In addition, the standard touchscreen size increased from seven inches to 10.25 inches, and more driver-assist features were made standard.
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