The writers at The Drive adamantly proclaimed that “the new kid isn't playing around” last week when talking about the pull and power of the Kia Stinger GT. A brand-new quarter-mile test shows that this addition to the sports sedan market may actually be quicker than one of America's most recognizable and muscle-clad icons: the Ford Mustang GT. The scene of the crime was an independent test set up in Australia, and as such it was very dependent on important aspects such as weather, conditions of the lanes, and the individual skill of the driver.
Kia came out in top in a head-to-head battle, pulling down a 12.83-second quarter mile, compared to the Mustang's 13.32-second run. Even though the Stinger's engine is two cylinders less, it completed the task of finishing the race first. Previous Car And Driver testing showed the Mustang GT racking up a 12.6-second quarter-mile at 115 mph, and this is an event that really solidifies the claim that the Kia Stinger is seriously quick, and capable of going toe-to-to with a Mustang in its purest stock form. Another rumor that we have heard is that the police in Australia are considering the car for the job of high-speed pursuit duty, a challenge that only the quickest and most competent of cars can carry out.
When Digital Trends provided their very close-up look at the Stinger on their web forum lately, they deemed it “handsome, potent, and luxurious in all the same ways as its German-made rivals”. One of the things you definitely want to put on your agenda while checking out the stinger here at Jim Butler of St Louis is the offerings of the GT2 package: it includes Nappa leather, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with voice commands, a premium 15-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, entire suite of driver aids, and a 7.0- heads-up display.
Even after a very long commute, these seats leave you feeling fresh, and the available cargo volume with the rear seats in place is a class-leading 23.3 cubic feet. Once inside, the Stinger GT absolutely feels like it comes from a company with a long history of constructing sports sedans. The GT borrows its 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 from the Genesis G90, with the ability to deliver 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque by means of an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Stinger GT has a 0 to 60 MPH sprint of 4.9 seconds, and a top speed of 167 MPH. (Just in case you were really feeling like making some serious and aggressive moves on your favorite quasi-abandoned strip of road during the later hours !)
The folks at Digital Trends also said that regarding the handling, “The GT is so dialed in, we swear the car can read minds. Turn the drive mode dial to Sport, find your nearest curvy road, and prepare to giggle like a child”. When you're checking out this car that had the strength and gusto to one-up the Mustang, ask us about the 5-year/60,000 – mile new car warranty, and 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty: you'll have the confidence that comes with knowing choosing Kia for your next car exercises powerful protection for you at every step.
