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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda32020 Kia Stinger: Power Meets Luxury
The 2020 Kia Stinger offers power and luxury that makes it an obvious choice for a budget-conscious buyer.
What’s New for the 2020 Kia Stinger?
Making its debut in 2018, the Kia Stinger’s V-6 models were so popular that for 2020 Kia rebranded and condensed the lineup of four-cylinder models into one offering called the GT-Line. The GT-Line keeps the same base engine as before but adds sportier styling inspired by the GT V-6. A wireless charger is now standard on all models.
2020 Kia Stinger – kiamedia.com | Shop 2020 Kia Stinger on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Powerful V6 engine option
Upscale interior
Generous warranty coverage
Sub par gas mileage
Cramped rear seat
No manual transmission option
Why pay for luxury when you’ve got Kia?
2020 Stinger Specs
- 255 horsepower from base engine
- 260 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 23.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Optional AWD
- Heated front seats
- Leather upholstery
- Industry leading warranty
2020 Kia Stinger Powertrain
The 2020 Stinger comes with two available engines and your choice of rear or all-wheel drive. The base powertrain features a 255-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder while all other models are fitted with a 365-horsepower turbocharged 3.3-liter V6. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Those wanting a manual transmission may want to check out the Genesis G70 which is built on the same platform as the Stinger.
The base engine does an adequate job accelerating and passing on the highway, but the powerful twin turbo V-6 is where it’s at if you’re wanting a thrilling performer. It goes from zero to 60 mph in five seconds, has responsive steering, and takes bumps like a champ due to its balanced suspension system.
The Stinger isn’t the most powerful in its class, though. The Dodge Charger outperforms with a 300 horsepower V6 and a V8 option that gets 370 horsepower. Kia did take note, however, and for the 2022 Stinger they introduced a base 2.5-liter engine that gets 300 horsepower.
2020 Kia Stinger Fuel Economy & MPG
As its power suggests, the Stinger won’t be saving you at the pump, and in fact, it is less efficient than similarly equipped rivals. The base four-cylinder engine with rear-wheel drive gets an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. All-wheel-drive models drop slightly to 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The twin-turbo V-6 guzzles considerably more and gets an estimated 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway regardless of drivetrain.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The Stinger easily made our lists of best full-size cars and top 10 best family cars largely in part to its comfortable and upscale interior that rivals most luxury brands. All trims come standard with leather upholstery and the front seats are supportive and offer either 12 or 16-way power adjustability. Tall drivers and front seat passengers will have plenty of legroom but could find that their head brushes the roof on models with a sunroof. Rear passengers will be a little more cramped for space and may find it hard to enter the vehicle due to its low roofline. The cabin offers a quiet ride muffling out road and wind noise.
The Stinger has a wide hatchback opening that makes loading the trunk easy, and its volume is average for its class. The large center console offers generous storage space which makes up for the smaller-than-average front door pockets.
Entertainment & Technology
Kia’s infotainment system, called UVO, has easy-to-navigate menus but the touchscreen response tends to lag. We do like the integration of physical buttons for audio and climate settings that are situated below the screen. Wireless device charging is standard on all trims and connecting to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is straightforward and painless. Other standard features include a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, HD and satellite radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims get a larger 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a nine-speaker stereo or 15-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Safety Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2020 Stinger a five-star safety rating while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick. All models come standard with a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, but only the upper trims include active lane control, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. It’s a little surprising to us that all these features are not standard on the lower trims, something most of its rivals offer.
2020 Kia Stinger Trims & Pricing
GT-Line – $33,090
The base model, called the GT-Line, comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Standard features are plentiful and include leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power adjustable driver’s seat, a 7-inch touchscreen, a six-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, HD and satellite radio, two USB ports, wireless device charging, a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, 18-inch wheels, and paddle shifters. Some models come with the Sun and sound package which adds a sunroof, a 15-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, navigation, and an 8-inch touchscreen.
GT – $39,500
The GT model gets a more powerful turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine. It also adds a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a 9-speaker sound system, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, and a limited-slip differential on rear-wheel-drive models.
GT1 – $45,400
The GT1 model gets some technology upgrades including an 8-inch touchscreen, driver’s seat memory settings, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, a 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. Also included are ventilated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an adaptive suspension and several active safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and driver drowsiness monitoring.
GT2 – $50,300
The range-topping GT2 model gets Nappa leather seats with more adjustability, heated rear seats, a head-up display, a hands-free power liftgate, adaptive pivoting headlights, and a surround-view parking camera system.
Warranties
Unmatched by any other brand, Kia offers an impressive 10 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5 year/60,000-mile limited warranty. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
2020 Kia Stinger – kiamedia.com | Shop 2020 Kia Stinger on Carsforsale.com
If you don’t mind the Kia badge, the 2020 Stinger is a smart, budget-friendly choice for those wanting a powerful engine and luxury interior. We’re disappointed in Kia’s stinginess with its safety features in the lower trims, and for that reason we would go with the GT1 model to gain important features like adaptive cruise control. Still in its first generation, we see a bright future for this sporty sedan.
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