Kia Stinger (2023)

The Straight Pipes remain very positive about the Kia Stinger, while admitting the refresh feels modest. They praise its satisfying launch control, strong 368-hp twin-turbo V6, balanced handling, practical hatchback cargo area, comfortable rear seat, and easy-to-use physical controls. The updated infotainment and camera display are welcome, though radio navigation and transitions can be frustrating. They also criticize noticeable turbo lag, slower paddle shifts, amplified engine sound, and styling details they prefer on the original. Overall, they still see the Stinger as an excellent value, but would personally choose an older model—or the refreshed Genesis G70—over this version.

TheTopher is strongly positive on the Kia Stinger GT2, calling it a comfortable, fast, and unusually practical grand-touring sport sedan. He enjoys its powerful twin-turbo V6, smooth eight-speed automatic, capable rear-biased AWD system, excellent ride, responsive driver aids, and hatchback utility. He considers it an easy car to drive quickly and a compelling alternative to European rivals, especially with Kia’s 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Still, persistent tailgate and sunroof rattles, economy-car switchgear, all-season tires, and a lack of emotional excitement keep it from feeling truly special. Overall, it’s a highly capable, well-rounded performance bargain rather than a thrilling standout.

Matt Watson is strongly impressed by the Kia Stinger, calling it a shortlist-worthy performance bargain. He praises the twin-turbo V6’s punch, rear-wheel-drive balance, connected steering, enjoyable handling, generous standard equipment, and seven-year warranty. His measured 0–60 mph run of 4.97 seconds reinforces the car’s pace. Still, he criticizes the cramped rear headroom, modest boot capacity, scratchy interior trim, dated USB ports, poor rear visibility, fake vents, and limited driving-mode customization. Overall, Watson sees the Stinger as comfortable enough for daily use yet genuinely fun, offering rare V6 performance and distinctive hatchback practicality at a compelling price.

ReDriven is highly positive about the Kia Stinger, calling it an “absolute bloody lootly” used-car buy. Its blend of rear-wheel-drive fun, comfort, hatchback practicality, strong equipment, and Kia’s seven-year warranty makes it unusually compelling against pricier European rivals. The review also appreciates its engaging everyday driving character, durable-feeling interior, and low ownership risk. Caveats include firm suspension, brake shudder on Brembo-equipped cars, possible air-conditioning and differential failures, and the need to inspect tires, modifications, and service history carefully. Overall, it’s presented as a distinctive, practical performance bargain with few meaningful alternatives.

Thomas and James remain clearly positive about the Kia Stinger, though its novelty has faded. They praise the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6’s urgent torque, balanced rear-wheel-drive-based chassis, distinctive styling, upscale materials, and genuine practicality. They also appreciate its underdog value and ability to out-power similarly priced German rivals. However, they criticize the aging technology, limited touchscreen controls, unchanged gauge cluster, somewhat busy ride, cabin creaks, and thirst for fuel. Their conclusion is measured but favorable: the Stinger no longer feels revolutionary, yet it remains a compelling, fun, unusual sport hatchback.

Automotive Anonymous is strongly positive about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD. He’s impressed by its punchy twin-turbo V6, nearly 5-second 0–60 run at high altitude, confident handling, Brembo brakes, luxury touches, roomy hatchback cargo area, and ability to carry adults comfortably. He sees it as an unusually fun, practical, and capable sports sedan with little compromise. Still, the $50,000-plus price brings serious competition, including the quicker Tesla Model 3 Performance and more visually dramatic Dodge Charger Widebody. Fake vents and limited rear-seat cargo flexibility are additional blemishes, but his enthusiasm clearly outweighs the reservations.

Zach Pradel is genuinely enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger, calling it an exceptional sports sedan and a luxury-car bargain. He praises the GT2’s twin-turbo V6, responsive automatic, confident ride, premium interior, physical controls, comfortable rear seats, and generous hatchback cargo space. The Grand Tour Edition’s suede trim and red accents add character without transforming the car. His main criticism is visibility, while his broader explanation for the Stinger’s demise is that Kia’s economy-car image undermined an otherwise compelling BMW 3 Series alternative.

Joe Brady is highly enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2, viewing it as a compelling alternative to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. He praises its distinctive sportback design, rear-wheel-drive balance, twin-turbo V6, Brembo brakes, smooth performance, comfortable seats, and roughly 23 cubic feet of cargo space. He also emphasizes its generous equipment and stronger value at about $53,000. The Mercedes has a more modern interior, sharper camera resolution, and better dashboard presentation, while the Stinger’s dated materials, fake rear vents, and non-panoramic sunroof disappoint him. Overall, he sees the Stinger as an unusually practical, upscale performance bargain.

TheSketchMonkey is highly enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2, calling it a future icon and an exceptional daily driver. He admires its distinctive fastback styling, upscale red-and-silver cabin, roomy rear seat, practical hatchback, adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, and thrilling 368-hp twin-turbo V6. The quick shifts and confident cornering make the drive especially exciting, while available all-wheel drive adds year-round usability. He does notice turbo lag and wishes he could compare the GT2 with lower trims, but those are minor caveats. Its discontinuation, rarity, and potential to hold value further strengthen his admiration.

Anthony from Hawkeye Rides is highly enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2. He praises its 368-hp twin-turbo V6, throaty exhaust, Brembo brakes, confident handling, upscale features, and unusually practical hatchback cargo space, arguing that it delivers near-luxury performance for roughly $50,000. Compared with the BMW M340i, Audi S4, and Mercedes-AMG C43, he sees it as slightly slower but dramatically better value, with comparable real-world acceleration. Reservations include noticeable wind noise, a less-effective Sport mode, a high seating position, reduced passenger-seat adjustability, and a $1,000 special-edition surcharge. Overall, he considers it an exceptional performance bargain.

April’s Garage is genuinely impressed by the Kia Stinger GT2 and strongly favors it over a similarly priced Maserati Quattroporte. After driving this 111,000-mile example, the hosts praise its striking fastback styling, unexpectedly upscale Nappa-leather interior, comfortable bolstered seats, effective cooled seats, strong acceleration, responsive eight-speed automatic, and composed grand-touring ride. They appreciate that it feels like a sports car without becoming harsh and remains a relatively safer ownership bet than an aging Maserati. Reservations include fake vents and center-lock-style trim, some exterior wear, a somewhat muted engine note, and an occasionally finicky electronic shifter. Overall, their enthusiastic verdict is that the Stinger is a compelling, underappreciated performance bargain.

W.T.F Car Reviews is highly enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2. The review praises its sharp handling, strong acceleration, low driving position, limited body roll, Brembo brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, upscale cabin, excellent Harman Kardon audio, and practical liftback cargo area. The reviewer calls it one of the best performance bargains available, especially against pricier BMW and Cadillac alternatives. Mild drawbacks include noticeable road noise, an older infotainment display, and traction-control intervention on low-grip pavement, but these barely temper an emphatic recommendation.

JQ Cars is enthusiastic about the 2023 Kia Stinger GT2, calling it an easy 8-plus out of 10 after a month of ownership. He especially enjoys its twin-turbo V6, quick acceleration, surprisingly capable handling, adaptive comfort, premium features, and liftback practicality, viewing it as a compelling alternative to his larger Charger Scat Pack and luxury rivals. Criticisms include fake hood vents and exhaust outlets, fading exterior trim, limited cabin storage, piano-black glare, awkward pedal and shifter design, and restricted rear footroom. At $39,999 CPO, though, he considers its performance, comfort, and value exceptional.

Keshawn is highly enthusiastic about the Kia Stinger, rating it 9/10 despite several quality issues. He loves its speed, sporty character, hatchback practicality, and especially the clear difference between Sport, Eco, and Normal modes compared with his Genesis G70. However, the red leather seats are already beginning to warp, the remote start has never worked because of an unresolved software problem, and the ambient lighting feels undersized and nearly pointless. Even with those shortcomings, his excitement remains strong, and he is already planning new rims.

LeXx Dynamic views the Kia Stinger as an affordable, reliable, and genuinely fun car. They appreciate its quick performance, hatchback practicality, roomy cabin, and strong value, with an assistant calling it “a lot of bang for the buck.” The review stays lighthearted and conversational, including a look at the spacious back seat while loading synthesizers. The main criticism is the suspension, which both describe as somewhat rough and in need of improvement. Overall, LeXx Dynamic’s tone is clearly favorable, though the brief review offers only limited detail beyond its practical strengths and ride-quality drawback.

Jacob takes a moderately enthusiastic view of the Kia Stinger’s supposedly dated interior. He prefers its physical controls, noting that heated seats and climate settings are immediately accessible instead of buried in menus. He also favors the analogue-style dials over a fully digital dashboard and considers Android Auto enough to offset the older infotainment screen. His broader point is that the cabin is simple, functional, and genuinely driver-focused. While he acknowledges the dated design and limited digital tech, his confidence that everything works well makes the overall verdict clearly positive, though measured rather than glowing.