as a KIA Stinger 4 banger owner, I have to admit. You nailed it. It is a touring car that's great for long commutes. It is not a drifting hooning machine despite what Kia would like everyone to believe. It works for me as I do 60 miles round trip on my work commute, usually in some sort of freeway traffic.
I also own a 4banger Stinger, use it as a work vehicle. The hatch is super handy, mine gets disappointing highway MPGs but it's overall a greater commuter vehicle.
Also own one of these (without the fancy stereo/sunroof). As an older driver, this car checks most boxes. I don't need/want the car going sideways on me any more. Want to have some fun in the corners here and there. And get good mpg.
You’re going to legitimately make these brands change their products with how real your videos are. It’s clear you don’t give a shit if you ever get another Kia / Hyundai product to review as long as you say what needs to be said. Much respect
@@jonathanb1987 It doesn't matter what he says. This Stinger is dead after 2022. That came from the horses mouth. There isn't even plan to replace it with a performance EV model.
@@gorgonismztruth1551 recent exec interviews said Kia was actually quite pleased with their sales, which were actually up at the end of last year. Consumer Reports' 2020 survey also found Stinger owners had the highest customer satisfaction of any sport sedan in the class. There was nothing wrong with the Stinger's price point.
After being a mini-van dad for a decade I wanted a fun to drive car that didn't beat me up with a stiff suspension and a loud exhaust. I don't need to do donuts or do quarter miles with the youngsters. I initially wanted and could afford a used a5 or 3/4 series. But with prices the way they are, I got this new for about the same price as a 3 year old german car. It's quick enough to make me nervous and good looking enough to turn heads. The AWD is decent in the snow. The stop and go cruise is almost self driving. The stereo is above average. It fits all my fly fishing equipment and then more and I can drive 4 people of moderate size AND get decent milage. It ain't perfect, but neither am I. But it puts a smile on my face every day....and I'm not up to my neck in crazy payments.
Somehow, your one paragraph was a far more appropriate review of this car than the host of this video. The way he sits around belligerently complaining about a bargain of a car and comparing it to vehicles that cost 1.5-2x as much was honestly downright annoying. I just saw one of these on sale pre-owned at the dealership for $30k with 12k miles on a 2022 model. Like that's a great deal for the nice interior, solid features, and drive train. A new Elantra costs only $5k less than that, for perspective. Sounds like a great deal to me.
@@senorpapasfritasconqueso You missed the point of the video. Like most folks here. KIA is marketing the car as an enthusiast's car. It's not. It's just a dressed up GT car. And that's okay. Mark even said this in the video. It's not a bad car. It's a sensible car. Don't market a turkey as an eagle. It's not. And that's why the car didn't sell and Kia has to kill it off. The hardcore drivers it was aimed at weren't fooled. But everyone knows it's a good car.
@@chrisqross302s4he has too much of the enthusiast mindset. Kia making this car knows what this car is meant to be and what it isn't trying to fake itself being. Unlike the TLX type S it is trying hard to be something it's not
@@WarriorOfEden3033 he’s doing us peasant folk a favor. With my recent tax returns I can now afford a slightly used 2019 Stinger GT2 on Carvana with only 21% APR and a kidney.
🤔he should do an honest review like this one for Audi SQ5 Sportback cause Audi interior trash for 2022 standard they have been using the same interior design for over 7 years now WTF.
I love savagegeese, my favourite car reviewer. But as an owner of V6 Stinger I think the 2 Stinger reviews are wrong. If you approach the Stinger as a sports car then you'll be disappointed. It won't handle like a Porsche or have the ride quality of an S class Mercedes. It is an affordable niche vehicle offering performance, comfort, features, space, better than average cargo capacity and stunning looks. All for a price that offers value for money that is off the charts and the cherry on top is Kia reliability and long warranty. This entire package is absolutely unique in the motoring world. There is no other car for the price that offers so much.
The fact that so many people mis-classify this car is baffling to me. The 2.5 is a GT car 100% and nothing more. Its a quiet comfortable cruising machine that happens to be quick. Also very good on gas. I was thinking of getting an Audi A5 and a 3 series. This offers more power, more space/ practicality and better looks, for LESS money. Its not meant for enthusiasts and idk why this is difficult to understand for y'all. If you want to crash into a wall, get the 3.3 GT2, its that simple lol.
@@user59371 Actually no... I literally said I was considering an A5 Sportback which is the same price as a 3.3t. I didn't want the 3.3 because it only has 67 more hp than the "4 banger", and not worth it IMO. Besides I don't give a damn about performance. If so I would go get a 392 Challenger Scat daddy!!
I own a 2019 GTS so my experience is limited to the 3.3TT. That being said, I understand Mark's perspective as a guy who wants a car to decide what it is and execute that well. However, many of the reasons why he hates this car is why I love it. I can only afford and have room for (1) vehicle, so the car I own has to be able to do everything. The Stinger looks great, is well appointed for the price, and has a dual personality. I drive a ton for work and get almost 30mpg in ECO mode on the highway. Then I can engage sport mode to send more power to the rear wheels and have fun on back roads when I want to. All while having the massive rear cargo room for big work samples. When these came out in 2018 I knew it would be my next car because it checked every box I had.
Exactly why I don't really like his "max disappointment" in this vehicle. For 40 grand you get literally little bit of everything but nothing too much! In reality it doesn't really "check" the box only on speed which is 5.75 seconds 0-60 and that is ridiculous fast. I did valet parking before for years and you get that crazy feel only if you drive ferrari and the rest of the "sports" car that are way over 150k.
Exactly what I'm saying I have a 2018 gt 3.3tt myself and it checks all the boxes and more. Leave it in comfort when you have your wife and kids in the car and when you want to be rowdy with the boys throw it in sport and let her eat. It's an awesome car overall.
I took a gamble and purchased the A 2018 GT AWD back when it came out. I would say that while I really liked the car (its very fun in the AWD 3.3TT version and fixes many of the cons of the turbo 4 version). The interior has held up well over 3 years, that hatch has been very functional, and the ride quality is good for DD. But *** god forbid you to have to take it in for warranty work or recalls (which the car has for an important few things wire harness, engine fire hazards, fuel gauge issues etc) it has been unforgivably terrible dealing with dealerships and KIA customer service on the car. Not just one bad apple dealership but 5 different ones in 3 different states. It has been more bad experiences than good ones across the board when you really need them to be on their A game. They are horrible to work with and really detract from ownership of this car and I don't say that lightly. You need to go in eyes wide open as a requirement for ownership of a car like this with the KIA brand currently.
Yeah...sigh...that's true. My dealer has an awesome service MANAGER but the dumbest techs I've ever seen. My car has come back worse every time they've worked on it. "Warped Brakes? Well fix it (chips the shit out of the brembos paint replacing pads)". "rattling sunroof? (Slathers in smelly axle grease and uses torn pieces of foam to shim bolts holding sunroof on)" "loose trim making wind noise? (Orders wrong part for a year and never replaces broken trim)". I've had some good experiences honestly but all the above are true. If I had paid anywhere near full price I'd be ticked. But I'm overall happy. Great bargain of a car for me
My goodness spot on.. I have a 2017 cadenza and the dealership is just so horrible to deal with.. there was small damage to the bumper when I bought it (which I guarantee was from the lot).. they were supposed to fix it that week no worries.. took 1.5 months, a rental car, and a private shop that they paid to fix it… then during that time they couldn’t find my license plate so that was another month.. then they claim free oil changes for life there.. fine print is it’s just 1 time a year.. I call and ask about tire rotation.. person is like yes of course they do all that.. I’m like okay.. cause I want it even if not included.. couldn’t get an appointment for a simple oil change for 2 weeks.. go it’s over 1.5 hours.. and they didn’t rotate the tires.. I’m of course arguing it and their solution was since it was late they would have to reschedule that.. another 2 weeks later.. I just said F it.. and that’s nothing compared to the sales process.. if I never deal with Kia again, it’ll be too soon.
"Disappointment" means that your expectations and the car did not match -- disappointment is not an absolute term. I have a 2022 GT2 3.3 liter and love it. It is not a sports car, it is a GT car... the differences being that a GT car has a smoother ride instead of more aggressive handling, and is less boisterous. As you stated, it's great for driving at 7/10, comfortably and quietly. And "GT sports car" is an oxymoron -- those are two different concepts. Yes, Kia marketing doesn't seem to articulate the difference. I had a first year Corvette C8 that I had to sell because the ride was too harsh for my surgically repaired spine. The Stinger gives all the performance I can possibly use around town, I'm not going to track the car, so it's much more usable than the C8. And maintenance should be much less expensive than the three BMWs I had. My dealer experience has been very good. I respect your reviews, but this one is clumsily mislabeled. Talk about what the car is, not what it isn't. That's the real disappointment.
Is the issue Mark has with the Stinger more related to inaccurate marketing writing checks the product can't cash or that the product isn't good enough? I know it's both, but it comes across more as unrealistic expectations set by marketing people than the product underperforming.
Correct, when people claim its a performance/enthusiasts car then it gets reviewed as such. Moral of the story dont lie, i got a 2021 camaro 2ss and some thought it was a ZL1 and i told them it wasn't if i lied it would be a disappointment
@@seafooddiablo5686 reality is every car mfg over hypes their cars. so review the car not the marketting. What is savagegeese doing. I didnt see him criticize Acura on the TLX type S marketing. @savagegeese is trying hard to say smth negative and he blew it out of proportion. He always has had a slight korea bias. Review the car and the pricepoint. What tech reviewer takes any of those apple product launch propaganda seriously comeon.
@@Gandalf721 stinger is barely marketed as it is. What over the top marketting is he talking about? hes mostly disappointed because of the "over instrusive" traction control. Why have a RWD when you cant kick out the rear. But this is priced like a top trim Camry so what is the expectation here? This drives way better than the Camry or maxima... If you want all that you can get the 3.3L. Review the car to the price.
Yup koreans manufacturers are still immature in marketing that they think fake hype works, especially since it still works in Korea. Take a look at the commercial for kia telluride for example. It’s marketed as if it’s a serious off-roader when it isn’t. The manufacturer needs to learn that being honest about their limit is what makes them attractive
Since I am in the northeast, I need an AWD car and can only afford one. Most people can’t afford a sports car in addition to a family car. I am looking at the Stinger GT Line which is AWD with the updated sound system because I like to cruise with my tunes blasting. I’m not gonna sit and listen to the engine and I won’t be beating the hell out of it at the track. The vast majority of dudes are more like me. We want something kinda sporty but practical and this car is a good choice for that.
I have the AWD GT-Line; I bought it after leasing a GT1 for a year. The GT1 was fun, but it was bad on gas, and had super high insurance rates for me (I"m early 40's male with a perfect driving record). I had all that power but never was able to fully use it. I stepped down to the GT-Line because I love the looks, and the 300hp was plenty enough for me. It's a stylish car that drives very well as long as you aren't trying to do some performance stuff. I think that's the intent of it-not everyone prioritizes super car driving dynamics. Sometimes you want something that looks equally as rad and still drives well. For people like me, the GT-Line is perfect.
I had a GT AWD Stinger as well (did enough aftermarket work to make it legitimately quick), am also a 40 something, and am looking at an AWD GTLine for exactly the reasons you listened.
Nailed it in the final thoughts. I purchased the AWD 4-banger and have been living with it for the last month and it is an incredible car to daily. I am 6’6 and almost 300lbs and am so comfortable on my long commute (150mi or so round trip). My fuel economy numbers have been better that the EPA estimates on the RWD model and the Harman Kardon sound system does not disappoint. Daily, the GT-Line Stinger has been plush inside, and confidence inspiring under the hood. It has plenty of power to safely separate yourself from inattentive drivers on the highway, and tons of safety systems and tech to assist in your drive and give you peace of mind carrying your family. On the weekends, it’s a great GT, but not a sports car. Even with the AWD, it is still lighter than the 6 cylinders that I test drove and the pull from the front wheels makes it great in the corners. We have spent our last couple of weekends zipping down curvy country roads and for this, the paddle shifters and the 8-speed are plenty responsive and the rev-matching will keep you pushed into your seat. Even with my large self, we comfortably fit 4 adults, and two families’ worth of groceries under the hatch. We loaded camp chairs and coolers and my rugby bag for a match last weekend. Let’s just say I’m not missing my SUV one bit.
@@pinecity3234 Bro what? If he's actually 6'6", what do you expect him to weigh? 200 flat? I know guys at the Gym that are around 5'10" who are 250+ while being pretty dang lean at the same time. Granted they're friggin' jacked and on the sauce but I think you don't have a good sense of height to weight ratios. Edit: This is assuming this comment is even honest, because it sounds like an advertisement/paid review to me lol.
Also have a a 2022 GT-line AWD and have had no issues with it. The awd is decent and it's fast enough while still getting good gas mileage. Was cross shopping it and the sti and it blows the sti out of the water with tech, space and gas mileage. Also the lifetime warranty they offered sold me on it. The exhaust sound is very quiet but can be fixed easy aftermarket if you really want to.
If you expected performance from the gt-line, then you should’ve had some reservations beforehand imo. Even with Kia’s branding of it, this is after all the base version for 2022 whereas the regular gt versions with the tt v6 is where the car truly shines imo.
I love your reviews and how much work you put into them, but this one was the first one where I sort of disagreed with you. I agree, the dynamics aren’t as fine-tuned as they are with the German competitors, but I still think this car brings tremendous value to the table. Compared to that Sonata N-line which is an overpowered FWD barge, this has chassis balance and a platform that’s borrowed from more expensive cars. It’s basically a 5 series sized vehicle for the price of a base 3 series. If you’re not driving at the limit, the RWD chassis brings a level of balance that’s distinctly missing in the FWD family cars that are at this price or slightly below. For someone living in Michigan, as long as this thing rotates in the snow where a FWD car would plow forward is really what matters to me. I haven’t driven a base Stinger, but I drove a GT2 a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. If you want an LSD, it’s available on the TT V6 model. I applaud Hyundai/Kia for offering a RWD alternative that’s practical and relatively affordable. Also, the styling is really nice on this car. It’s unique at this price point and it still turns heads after being on the market for a few years. Either way, I appreciate your take and still think this was a great video.
Agreed! To label a base car as "garbage" because it doesn't have an LSD, even though everything else is good, really doesn't make sense. Nobody will cross shop this with a TLX Type S?
@@CanadianMax Our friend @savagegeese is a bit of an enthusiast... I could see him suffering through that 90deg turn(8:28) trying to rotate it:). Can you imagine Jack the baboon?
@@savagegeese in the future may I recommend you review the car and the price point and not the marketting. You get hung up way to much on the marketting here. Acura TLX was way hyped also, i didnt see you comment about that? Coming out the last, and the heaviest with the least hp and the slowest. I really like your car reviews. But just look back at your korean reviews and think if you have been really fair and unbiased. The reality is every car mfg over hype their cars. Its their job too. This is priced like a top trim nissan maxima CVT FWD or a Camry. Its way better than that and deserves a better title than "max dissapointment"
@@leonsam84 We actually tore apart the TLX Type S for that very that very thing. Bottom line Im sorry but why have a RWD sports GT that neuters everything that makes it RWD absolute nonsense.
I had one of these for a short time, a short time because the dealer tried to steal my $30k down payment. The car is fine for a discounted 340i (GT model), but the dealer experience was obviously absolutely horrendous. I own an X5 and Toyota right now and have almost all popular brands in the last 10 years, never seen such a bad dealer experience. Totally unprofessional in almost every way. As for the LSD, I had an AWD which became floaty above 80mph, RWD GT with an LSD is the only way to get this car. I test drove that and should have bought that instead AWD.
Now I'm really curious, how can a dealer steal a down payment? Did they try to charge a suprise "market adjustment" tax on delivery and keep the down payment if you refused?
It's funny that you say that as I cross shopped the 340i GT and the full blown stinger GT. I paid 35 even for me 2018 340 GT (15kmiles) and I couldn't touch a new GT line stinger for under 41 and used GT1 stingers we're 42+ with the same year and miles. The 340 still felt like a new car where the Stinger with less miles and a year newer looked like it should have had 40+ k miles on it. Did NOT want a BMW, I hate BMW drivers but over the competition (S5 sportback was stupid expensive, and GT stinger) it was the best car
I love my Stinger V6. I had it for 2 years and 4 months now and it is a joy to drive every day. It really goes up to 270 km/h. I do not care about disabling any controls and making the Stinger into a sports performance car with full manual control.
I got the 2018 red-on-red GT1 and love it! To this day, people give the car compliments on looks. It is so fun to drive, but the tank is small and gas mileage is not good. I've dealt with three Kia dealerships over the time I've owned it and in retrospect, I would have never gotten the car if I had known what low rent these dealerships are. Consistently two or more hours for an oil change, disrespectful service managers, bus station waiting rooms. Most recently one of these Kia dealers wanted me to trade it in for another Stinger but was adding $7000 to MSRP because of "demand." LOL! Nope. Just ordered the Arteon SEL Premium R line, which may take 6 months to get here but I'm done with Kia.
Probably the same for me. I was shocked how bad the Kia dealer and corporate customer service is. I wouldn't say that it would prevent me from getting another one but it would be very large factor in the decision.
Honestly, I kiiiiinda agree to some extent. I've test driven a ton of Stingers in the last 3-4 years and I think there's a reason why I could never pull the trigger each time, despite the car seemingly checking all of the boxes. This is a great vehicle that ~looks~ sporty, track-ready, and has excellent driving dynamics---but it really isn't that. It's moreso a comfortable, nicely appointed, and aggressive looking midsize vehicle that has a lot of character, value, and style but isn't quite what the enthusiasts looking for and not the type of "driver's car" are necessarily going to be happy with, despite the marketing.
you can get a v6 RWD w/ the LSD, the 4 banger is for the person that likes the car but cant afford the performance price admission. I have the AWD GT2 and have no complaints and get looks and compliments all the time.
but thats dumb - a 2,5 4 cyl turbo is plenty to make enough power for sporty driving. Also with the lighter front it would even make more sense. Leaving the LSD out is a real buzzkill.
Yeah I don't know why he chose to review a GT line instead of a full GT. Doesnt make much sense, anyone who's worried about the driving dynamics would get the 6 cylinder.
@@seanbond1008 100% agree, the 4 banger is the cost of entry for the looks and value but the v6 is aimed at the enthusiast...if such a thing really exist in a 4k Lb sedan, lets be honest anyone buying this car to hoon should be looking at Mustang's and Camaro's with very similar price tags.
@@kenny4128 Eh, the only hooning a Mustang does is hit curbs or crowds. lol Camaros are more straight line and track cars. The Supra it would be a better choice too hoon around in. Or save some money and get one of the really light sports cars.
It is a $36k base model. You can't expect Kia to put LSD in the base car. How many other companies make Sub-40k, RWD, 300 hp sporty car with most of popular options (leather, full safety tech, etc..) as standard? Answer: Zero. You are criticizing Kia for trying. Yet other companies are not even trying because they can't make any profit out of it. That is just not fair to Kia. Stinger is already a good deal and you shouldn't expect too much.
I have to agree with Mark on this one - if the RWD is neutered, why get the entry level stinger instead of the K5 GT, which has the same engine and a DCT but costs $6k less?
Couple of things - a DCT is not great for commuting with traffic and even though the RWD is neutered in the Stinger, the drivetrain is still much better suited for the torque delivery of the engine than the K5 GT until it gets AWD. Also, the hatchback is hella useful, and more subjectively, I think styling-wise the K5 is kind of a mess.
Mark is my favorite reviewer. I own a Kia Stinger and I still love him. What they did to the 2.5 is inexcusable. But I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this. I feel like a celebrity in a car that’s been out for five years. Nobody knows what it is ….everybody can’t believe how great it looks. The GT doesn’t have those hangups that Mark mentioned. It has a LSD… it sounds great…. I put it sideways constantly and carry it through drifts. There’s also the tuning side of things …it is so cheap to get this thing to a whole other level.
> I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this Those are not in the same price range. A stinger starts at 10k over an accord or camry. The K5 is more in line as competition for the Camry/Accord market segment.
>I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this Because Camry or Accord buyers don't have to "lease it so they can run for their lives away from it before it becomes a reliability nightmare." Among a few other things.
@@tom_hoots it’s not a nightmare, I haven’t had any problems with mine, or any Kia I have owned. It’s the same thing with saying Germans make unreliable cars, they don’t it’s just the driver is shit at taking care of the car
@@HD_Kerino that’s not completely true. I agree that some owners of German cars don’t really understand what they are getting into when they buy them so they poorly maintain them, the German automakers have also released some poorly engineered, not well thought out components in their vehicles as well over the years.
I think the title should've been closer to like "Not a sports sedan". As a v6 AWD owner, I 100% agree with you on how invasive the traction & stability controls are. In the sportiest settings, the car will cut power (or apply brakes), 4/5 times I try hooning it at a turn. You get a little bit of tire squeal and then the power dies on you. But that 1 time when you get it perfect, it feels amazing.
Serious question--how many RWD sedans in this car's price range (mid 35K to 40k) have an LSD? You can option up a base BMW 3 series for an LSD, but by the time you pay for it you're in Kia Stinger V6 RWD price territory. The 3 series would be like 1K less, and the V6 Stinger comes with LSD as standard now. This 4 cylinder car is an Audi A5 sportback competitor, especially when you equip it with AWD. That's what it should really be compared too. Use the Genesis G70 as the 3 series competitor and the Stinger as the A5/S5 competitor. I also feel like this car could be the evolution of the 4th gen Subaru Legacy GT, if Subaru had decided to keep it a little sporty. The Legacy used to be the grown up WRX, with good power, more comfort and a little less sporty. So that's how I kinda view the turbo 4 Stinger. Plus it straddles the practicality of the old Legacy sedan and wagon. I don't believe RWD drifting is what this car is about. It's like complaining that a base Impreza doesn't perform like a WRX. The drifting is reserved for the RWD V6 Stinger.
"Max disappointment" ..... clicks on the video immediately.... you guys are literally the best TH-cam car reviewers. You have blown past some of my other favorites!
I like that you guys "review" the cars. Not just speak on features, but an actual critical look at everything. I don't care what engine it is, I care how to proforms and you guys do a great job of conveying what everything is really like.
The true KIA fanboys won't find anything wrong with this cost cutting division of the KIA and Hyundai brands. They're fooling lots of people. The people looking for bargains get suckered into, well the car looks nice and they offer all these great features for this lower price. They're cutting corners somewhere. The engine fires issue is just one dangerous example. They're still dealing with that even on some 2022 models that have spontaneously caught fire. They also denied the problem early on and were blaming it on something else and not taking any responsibility. They didn't do a recall for a while.
I agree! Kia is totally hooking people on tech and style but that doesn't make them good cars. The moment my 2016 Sorento needed a repair for the valve cover gasket at 71K miles, I knew it was time to move on. Kia fixed it under warranty but sold it immediately while the used car market is crazy expensive.
Hyundai/Kia has made huge strides in dynamics, refinement and styling the last 5 years. The Veloster N, Elantra N and G70 are legitimate drivers cars with genuine enthusiast DNA. It’s a shame the Stinger got 90% right only to half-ass the final 10%.
I wish they didn't sell the GT-Line just like I wish Hyundai hadn't sold the 2.0t Genesis Coupe. There is an LSD on the RWD GT2 and maybe the GT1 now. I think one should only buy this car in RWD V6 just like I felt about the Genesis Coupe.
I’ve owned 3 - 2019, 2021, and now I have a 2022 AWD. The 2022 is the best bang for your buck in 4cyl form. An LSD is standard with the RWD V6. Nevertheless, I stick out from the crowd and I love that feeling. I’m sure some fellow owners feel the same.
he literally focussed on the marketting and not the car, and he was dissapointed, Thats like buying a new iphone and being dissapointed that it didnt meet Apples launch propaganda. Review the car and the pricepoint, not the marketting.
If you're an enthusiast, you don't by a GT-Line lol. Simple as that. You buy a RWD GT. That's what I did. 3 years into owning and don't regret one gallon of fuel consumed irresponsibly at full boost.
Personally, I'm only interested in carving my car through some tight backroads from time to time; I have no interest in 'getting sideways' or burning through tires. So a car like the AWD GT2 with the LSD is actually pretty appealing. The main downside being the weight; it's really not as chuckable as I'd like, which becomes really obvious when you drive it back to back with something like a Golf R. BUT, at least for the weight, you get a lot of comfort, good interior use of space, and great cargo capacity. It also does little wrong; the tech is generally good ergonomically and has all the features I'd want, and the level of luxury is right about at the level where I'm not interested in paying for more. In this day and age, not screwing any of these things up is sadly very rare. To me the GT2 is a Q50S or TLX-S competitor, and I'd take it over the Infiniti 10 times out of 10. The Acura is a bit tougher a comparison, but cost (Canada) and inefficient use of power & space, plus ugly interior design in the acura would push me to the stinger. This GT line I'd expect to cross shop with a loaded camry, accord, maxima, or sonata n-line. I think I'd take it over all of those; none are going to be great drivers' cars, and the stinger probably at least matches the others in comfort/features/handling, and gives you the hatch. I also think Kia deserves a lot more credit for trying something new like this and falling a bit short of amazing, than Acura or Infiniti do for underwhelming with the latest versions of their signature models.
This is a GT car, not a sports car. In that context it truely is a great value alternative to German brands when spec'd properly. Base GT with the V6, rear wheel drive, mechanical limited slip. MSRP around 40k in 2020. Brand snobs need not apply. Mark, 3rd review is the charm! You'll go sideways if you want too... P.S. 30 mpg with V6 on highway in ECO mode with a couple pulls thrown in the mix. 72 mph cruise, around 1700 rpm.
This is why this channel is called SAVAGE Geese. Brutal honesty is what you get each time. It's videos like this that lends credence to when Mark lavishes praise on another vehicle. Plain and simple not all cars are even good. It's one thing if a car is complete and utter trash. It's another when there's a loyal base and the car is terrible. Good on SG to not mince words and call out this trash vehicle despite the loyal fanbase.
Kia is #1 in all vehicle Makes right now in highest average dealer markups over MSRP and it isn't even close. That Kia doesn't seem to care about its image or customer satisfaction even a tiny bit regarding this fact keeps me far away from them.
Idk about that. Well they got no control over dealerships, none of the legacy manufacturers do. Dealers a third party protected by outdated laws from back when dealers were mom and pop shops. That's why their all getting pissed, because the markups are hurting their brands.
@@Channel-gz9hm Nah dog. Trying to make you see the big picture. It doesn’t matter if Ford is threatening not send out their already overpriced I-150 Lightning. All legacy manufacturers legally have to sell cars through dealerships. Stealerships got the upper hand here.
The car is very cool, but the truth is that the target demographic is not clearly defined Working professionals with the cash to buy a car for 38k will buy a luxury brand. People who want a stylish car from a mainstream brand but don’t care about RWD will buy a k5 or Camry or etc. that leaves the enthusiast market who will shell out the cash, which is comparatively smalL
This isnt meant to be an enthusiast car no matter the marketing, if you come to this car expecting miata, m2/m3 driving dynamics cuz it has rwd youre not looking at it properly. Kia made this car as a touring, the marketing is just marketing to attract anyone to it more. Its a great tourer and super affordable used market. Cant discredit them on that. Ill agree in the invasive stability contorl but still
Honestly, as a German, I will have to say this. South Korean cars are pretty dang good these days. Considering all the boring, tasteless cars I normally see here which come from Germany, your only opportunity to driving something nice and refreshing is either buying Japanese or South Korean. Considering how current german cars are, cars like the Stinger truely feel wonderful.
Important correction: there is no last generation G70, it's still on its first generation, the same as the Stinger. Additionally, this DH-derived platform was developed for the Stinger first, and the G70 is a shortened variant, intended to be a sportier take to the Stinger's mission as a GT car. I think Mark also completely misses the mark in mission for the Stinger 2.5T: it's not a GT86 and was never designed to be. Why he's complaining about a rear open diff is beyond me. It's exactly the same on all the entry level RWD vehicles.
I agree. Think he's a bit too critical on this car. Sure, even the fully loaded GT2 is no M3, but no driving enthusiast is going to be fooled by that after a test drive. Like you said, even the base 3 Series drives like crap with I think an open diff too, so it's no different from that really. Also, not sure he made it clear that some of the problems he talked about were exclusive to the base model. SG has good nuanced reviews, but I still don't think this review is completely fair.
@@sonydominates yes, time and time again all the outlets say that dynamic handling package for the 3 Series is an absolute must, otherwise it doesn't live up to its reputation at all. Trying to flog a base model and then complaining it doesn't live up to the fully loaded fast one they use in all the commercials doesn't make sense to me.
I was told their were body improvements on the updated GV70 and G70, the specifics were fuzzy. The platform for this car was developed and as usually Kia and Hyundai went two different ways. Stinger may have been developed first?
@@savagegeese the G70 did not move to the new M3 platform with this recent refresh, so any mechanical updates would have been modest in that regard. The GV70 is also built using this DH-based variant.
My Wife has a 2018 Premium in Blue. We get so many compliments about how it looks. It's actually a pretty rare car and most folks have to ask what it is. The drivetrain feels kinda mushy. It's all show and no go. Has some really annoying creeks and rattles but it rides great, gets 31 mpg Hwy and the hatchback is just so convenient. I love how low and wide the car looks and IMO it looks better than the more pricey cars it draws it's styling from. It's a great alternative to an SUV.
I agree. I enjoy my AWD Stinger GT. I drive 60miles round trip for work, and I live in an area with unpredictable weather, high winds and either heavy rain, or snow and ice year round. Having a heavy, low profile, AWD vehicle makes for a surprisingly good handling in that kind of weather. That, and the economy is better than committing to an SUV. Sure, it's not sporty enough to be a sports car and not luxury enough to be luxury, but it's sturdy, comfortable, and handles well in poor weather.
For my girlfriend and me, the base stinger AWD was a wayyyyy more fun option than the VW arteon, cx5 turbo, and 430i for substantially less money. She can't get comfortable in a Golf GTI and doesn't drive manual, and for me anything with a CVT was out. I just don't think there's anything else on the market that can do what this car can for that money. I haven't driven the RWD version however, so maybe the AWD is way better.
Been waiting for this video. Test drove the car two days ago (2.5l but with AWD). Honestly, in a vacuum the car was extremely impressive. You really can drive like an absolute idiot for $40k, and not be too worried about getting a felony. For someone who's coming from a base Civic, it's a considerable step up in power and performance, without being overwhelming or deadly. The problem with the car is when you start to consider what the other options are for the price point. However, if you really want automatic, those options at 40k are going to be fairly limited. You mentioned you'd buy this over the TLX Type S because you can get this RWD. I don't think most people are apples-to-apples cross shopping a $15k price differential. The Type S is nearly 40% more expensive than this in RWD form, and a little lower price difference in AWD form. This is the same price as a base FWD TLX with no options.
Interesting you said that, this is everything the TLX should've been, meaning RWD based , but Honda being so cheap and lazy they don't wanna put that car on a rwd platform...
I don't understand why the TLX Type S came up either. It's a direct competitor with the 3.3L TT where the awd Stinger even comes with drift mode, not this 2.5T
@@theyadmire511 the Type S is absolutely not faster than a g70. I was just cross shopping the Type S and G70. I bought the g70. The type S weighs quite a bit more and is down on HP and torque. It's also very obvious that they weren't trying to build a sports car. 4200 pounds? You kidding me? Why do you think it's faster and handles better? Because it's faster around a single track where it's AWD might be a benefit?
@@theyadmire511 I'm not sure the handling justifies The price premium by comparison unless you're hell-bent and track ready.. and the Acura is still lacking in the interior quality(ergonomica) , not to say it's awful or anything but certainly behind the pack.. If you're coming out of a Acura maybe it's a more usable
Had the 2020 GT-line for nearly a year now. Sun and sound pack and agree sounds great and the sunroof is big enough. Just got back from a road trip!! yay! put 1900Miles across NV to CO at 70MPH average and returned home at 32MPG. Lots of two lane passing at 90MPH and 75MPH cruising. Luckily a bit before the gas price hike so figured 229.00 spent on gas. Nice trip! thx
I have owned many hatchbacks. I like the utility and versatility. Now, I’m 65 and I need a bigger vehicle than a Veloster (or Golf ect ) and I want something with more grunt than the Civic. This seems like a perfect choice for me. I also drive in a warm climate so rear wheel drive is ok for me. Thanks for your honest reviews. I find these extremely informative and most certainly helpful.
I'm 67, and previous GTI [2017] owner. Now own 2023 GT-Line AWD for 3 weeks and love it. Cheapening of interiors [more plastic, all touch haptics] in MK8 GTI and Golf R big turnoff, they're rare [hardly any at dealers here in Greater Cleveland] and top dollar MSRP. GTI Autobahn is $41,200 and the ASK for Golf R - when you can find one - is approaching $50,000. Stinger checked lots of boxes for me: AWD, 300hp, liftback/hatch, great color combinations [I got Ceramic Silver w/RED INTERIOR], etc, etc. MSRP $43,330 and OTD for $39,000. Test drive one.
Completely agree. I’ve owned one for 2 months now and I absolutely love it. It’s a great family car and it’s still super fun to daily. I look forward to the commute. I didn’t buy it to do donuts or drive it like I stole it, but it still handles great and is plenty fast. It definitely hugs the road although the stock tires leave a little to be desired. I have the ceramic grey with red interior and I get complements on it all the time. Non car folks have no idea what it is. At this price point with the 10 year warranty, it’s a great value. I’d love an S5, but that’s over 20k more.
Kia only sold the V6 model where I live. Sadly they have withdrawn even that from sale, and all they sell is compact cars and SUV's here now. Now there is literally nothing I can think of in my part of the world that I would want to buy new unless its insanely priced - everything is either a fucking SUV or a FWD blandomobile, or European overpriced trash.
@@ddjohnson9717 Very few American cars sold here as not many US manufacturers are interested in right hand drive markets. The Mustang is quite nice though with only 2 doors not really suitable for me at the current stage of my life.
i bought a gt line and so far i’ve loved every little thing yeah definitely some cutting costs over all but definitely still a fun car to drive im an agressive driver and love how the car rides
I always appreciate reviewers that aren't shy to give solid criticisms of cars, let alone say something is straight "garbage." We need more reviewers like this.
This is why I watch this channel. I appreciate the unvarnished truth. I come from the same camp as an enthusiast who loves tight twisty roads but also understands there are many types of driver who enjoy different aspects/sensations of driving. Some enjoy a good cruiser, others straight line high speed runs or off road antics. The Stinger was mis marketed it’s a cruiser not sports car.
My daily commuter is a 2019 Stinger GTS and the pros and cons discussed here are very fair. It's a great car for my 20 minute daily commute down the highway. It has the look and feel of a European sports car without the high cost of ownership. The V6 is a completely different animal from the 4-banger and fixes many of the cons voiced in this video. Kia definitely did cut corners in some areas. My lower deflector randomly ripped off at highway speed a few weeks back. I also developed the hatch rattle these cars are infamous for but that can be fixed in 5 minutes with a couple washers. That being said I'd say overall these cars are a great purchase.
@@moloono1 Not much drama there. I took it into the dealer and it took a few hours so they gave us a loaner. We had lunch and ran errands till it was done.
This car might be a trash as you said, but AWD version is pretty decent. And FYI, I test drove this car and this does not even drive as good as base TLX despite being RWD platform. With SH-AWD you can have some RWD feelings, superb handling
really? i disliked the TLX and rather enjoyed the (3.3tt) significantly more. Not to say i dislike the TLX, just that i appreciate the overall feel of the Stinger more
I bought a 2019 GT2 AWD brand new and it's due to come off lease in March, 2023. Trying to decide it I want to keep it or turn it in. It's been a great car and a daily driver. The twin turbo V6 is a beast and so much fun, but I run it in eco because it can definitely get extremely thirsty. No issues with the car at all but have a couple of small rattles, nothing major. Only issue unrelated to the car is that I now work from home because of the pandemic, and have done so since March, 2020. It only has a little over 13,000 miles and normally just sits in the garage. Thinking of moving to a small SUV for both cost and gas savings. I've enjoyed the time with my Stinger immensely, just thinking I'm going to move on.
I picked up a 2020 gt line 4wd with 13.5k on the clock for 31k. Needed a hatchback for work and this is a way better drive, way more spacious and comfortable than getting another Mazda 3. If you look on line there are some sweet low mileage deals on these cars. So happy not to be driving another front wheel drive car. I'm not looking drag or drift either. With two kids in school I can't even afford to say the words Audi or BMW. This car fits the bill for some of us who enjoy a taste of luxury and performance without breaking the bank. This car was supposed to change kia and the way people perceive kia. I think ultimately, they achieved that goal.
The Sonata N Line and Kia K5 GT would be choices than the Stinger GT Line. The 2.5T is better matched to the DCT and reduced weight not offered here in the stinger. Completely agree they should have offered an LSD to truly get the most performance out of the 2.5 cars but they are great dailies with 75-80% of the performance one would expect from a performance car.
i had a 22 sonata n line (night edition) and loved the car.. The car sucked at putting power down thanks to the over compensating TC, and with it off the open diff crippled its acceleration. I still very much enjoyed driving it overall.... Someone as of maybe 4 weeks ago now smashed head on into me in oncoming traffic and totaled my nline out..... So thats when i moved to a Kia stinger gt2 (rwd) fortunately this has the bigger fun motor and its got an LSD which made it very fun all around. That being said a K5 GT with the 2.5 AND awd (or sonata) would be amazing..
I WAS a Kia fanboy and was looking at one. My 13 optima sxl is getting long in the tooth.... Well that was until my wife's new Sorrento bricks and was in the shop for a month. No loaner had to rent a car, they " couldn't recreate the problem". Even though I brought it to them when it did it, so we're out 500 for the rental. A few days later after a couple hundred miles BAM it effin bricks🤦🤦🤦. KIA told us to pound sand, probably gonna have to take it to court. It's been an absolute nightmare, if they stood behind their products and didn't treat us like 💩 I'd probably have a stinger in my driveway. I have a video from the last time and pictures I'll post. Also those SG shirts are phenomenal!!! So comfortable!!!
Thank you for posting this! People say I’m trolling when I point things like this out. It’s all fun and games until you get rejected by the corporate bureaucracy.
I felt the same way about the GT2 as well, it's a great GT for normal daily driving. I would LOVE for Hyundai's new N division to get their hands on the Kia Stinger, they would make it drive like we all wish it would.
Looked at one of these a whole back. Ended up with a Ford Taurus SHO instead. The Ford would have been better as a hatch- or a wagon! But despite the very different layouts these cars have similar strengths: deceptively quick high way cruisers with plenty of room for 4 adults and a trunk big enough to hold all their luggage.
I can see the disappointment in this setup, that's really underwhelming. I've only seen a couple of them for sale near me and they are the gt2 with the scorpion package which looks awesome but, 62k? That seems a bit steep for a kia stinger.
You said it rides nice and offers good value for money, yet you label a base 4 popper as garbage because of an open diff? Also, TLX Type S buyers won't cross shop a 38k base stinger?! Come on Mark... You can't even get into a European car for 38k, let alone a 300hp Sportback.
Kia has never claimed it is a sports car. They have always said it is a GT car. I'm a fan of Savagegeese, but as an owner of the first gen GT1, I think your review of this car seem biased. Granted, my car never had any creaks or rattles, like the press car from the first review. Every other review of the GT that I've watched has been very positive, and my experience as an owner has been absolutely fantastic. This car puts a smile on my face every time I drive. If you want a track car, get a track car, but if you want an amazing daily driver that does everything you ask of it and makes you want to take the long way home every day, the GT is it.
@@bradleyscarreviews Oh please, There's nothing in my statement about trims or you, get over yourselves. Critical reviews are few and far in between, this was done with thoughtfulness and not just brand bashing or anything of the like. It's a fact that KIA/Hyundai does a great job with social media/YT and comps trips and other compensation for reviews.
@@FCM415 you have to give credit where it’s due, Genesis is excellent, K5 and Telluride are great, so is Santa Fe, Palisade, and Sonata. Don’t know about stinger though….mixed bag
@@bradleyscarreviews Of course. You gotta recognize how other brands are nitpicked though and these cars you mentioned get flawless reviews. They are not. And now that their MSRP are on par as well as their dealership network is the worst at adding premiums, they are neither perfect or value propositions like Redline etc makes them out to be. These reviews are bought.
@@FCM415 as I said. You say many on the road for a reason. I see tons of tellrudies and k5s. Also, why does that redline review dude always nitpick Lexus and Toyota?
I have the 2022 GT-Line AWD model in ceramic silver and red seats. It looks great and I get a lot of compliments. Every six weeks I do a 200-mile roundtrip to have lunch with my brother and the drive is fast, comfortable, and I get good mileage. For $42k you get a lot of high tech that is easy to use. The car is rock steady at 100mph. I have no interest in going to the track so all I can say is that it may be the perfect daily driver. So far I have 12,000 trouble-free miles. Thank you Kia....and oh, yes, the radio sounds great too.
Looking at that exact color combo. Local dealer [Cleveland area] marking down from MSRP $4k-$5k for end of month. Going to jump on it if they still have the silver and red. As far as this review, they make a G70 for those who feel there's too much gloss plastic and cheap interior materials. Never cross shopped this with Audi A5, BMW 440ix, etc ... because comparably equipped they are $55 or more. Again, check the G70 if you want the last degree of refinement, not the Germans. This car is an incredible value, especially if you can land the AWD w Sun and Sound for $40 or less. 'Absolute complete piece of garbage ...'. ?? Moving on.
@@stephenjablonsky1941 Wound up getting it. Ceramic Silver, red interior. AWD, Sun and Sound. $38330 out the door. Two weeks isn't a long time, but so far, it's great. Can't wait to take it out for a drive.
man watching that thing go around a corner with your foot buried in it was sad. i have a rwd v6 one with an lsd and its 100% a different car from this. the car never fails to put a smile on my face and its really comfortable. all that character that i love in mine would be gone if it didnt have that lsd though.
2.5L RWD stinger has m-LSD option in here south korea. (2.5L AWD doesn't though) It give more aggressive driving experience then 3.3 TT RWD stinger. I don't understand why KIA decided to export non-LSD version. Very sad, poor decision.
I have the 2022 GT-Line AWD version and love it! There are subtle changes on the exterior. The Kia Stinger offers great features for the money. In addition, Kia offers 10/100k powertrain warranty. Coming from owning German cars, the Stinger is a close match in driving experience, features, etc..... considering it costs $10k-25k less. I am a driver's driver, the Stinger did not disappoint. I chose the AWD due to the midwest winters and I am getting older. I enjoy your videos but I truly believe your Stinger review missed the mark.
I have a stinger the v6. The performance stuff that you talk about isnt the case on that one. Thats like reviewing a c class and comparing it to a c53. This is the base model
Hyundai/Kia has the resource to make a real STATEMENT with an FR Sport Coupe with the 2.5L Turbo and the V6. I am a Mazda person, but if they actually make an affordable Manual FR Coupe like the Japanese, I would seriously consider it.
It just sucks that they are stuck in the “it’s just a Kia” because they make very premium cars in other markets, and in their home market their cars are incredible.
As the owner of a BMW 535i GT X-Drive, I see a lot of similarities between it and this Stinger. After watching both of your reviews on this car, I will happily stick with the BMW. As a side note, the formula you use to review cars and the cinematography of your videos is second to none!
Living in snowy Northern Michigan, the RWD wasn’t even a consideration. I ultimately decided on a cheaper car (a Mazda3 AWD hatch) but was intrigued by the Stinger. Obviously, ultimate performance wasn’t my overarching goal. In that context, the AWD 2.5l stinger seemed like a pretty unique option. Good power, nice styling, AWD, practical body style, comfortable and NOT an SUV. Other than the weight difference, I would think the AWD option would eliminate much of the downsides mentioned here.
Since the Stringer was released I have not seen a lot of them on the road (I'm in N. Calif), I've never personally driven one so I can't speak from a hands-on experience perspective. There's been conflicting stories online about KIA killing this model later this year. It wouldn't surprise me if they do given how few I've noticed.
as a KIA Stinger 4 banger owner, I have to admit. You nailed it. It is a touring car that's great for long commutes. It is not a drifting hooning machine despite what Kia would like everyone to believe. It works for me as I do 60 miles round trip on my work commute, usually in some sort of freeway traffic.
I also own a 4banger Stinger, use it as a work vehicle. The hatch is super handy, mine gets disappointing highway MPGs but it's overall a greater commuter vehicle.
Also own one of these (without the fancy stereo/sunroof). As an older driver, this car checks most boxes. I don't need/want the car going sideways on me any more. Want to have some fun in the corners here and there. And get good mpg.
@@geepeezee5030 and look good while doing it
Not gonna lie I thought he was gay
The GT is a drifting machine. I don’t think anyone expected the 4banger to be lol
You’re going to legitimately make these brands change their products with how real your videos are. It’s clear you don’t give a shit if you ever get another Kia / Hyundai product to review as long as you say what needs to be said. Much respect
Oh he may never get a Kia/Hyundai car from those companies but it's not like there are not any other ways to review their products.
@@jonathanb1987 It doesn't matter what he says. This Stinger is dead after 2022. That came from the horses mouth. There isn't even plan to replace it with a performance EV model.
@@TheLogitech91 yup. Electrified GV series is a new business model for Hyundai motor group.
Stinger failed cause it was $53K for a damn KIA... for the GT@ which is the good one/.... should have been 30K
@@gorgonismztruth1551 recent exec interviews said Kia was actually quite pleased with their sales, which were actually up at the end of last year. Consumer Reports' 2020 survey also found Stinger owners had the highest customer satisfaction of any sport sedan in the class. There was nothing wrong with the Stinger's price point.
After being a mini-van dad for a decade I wanted a fun to drive car that didn't beat me up with a stiff suspension and a loud exhaust. I don't need to do donuts or do quarter miles with the youngsters. I initially wanted and could afford a used a5 or 3/4 series. But with prices the way they are, I got this new for about the same price as a 3 year old german car. It's quick enough to make me nervous and good looking enough to turn heads. The AWD is decent in the snow. The stop and go cruise is almost self driving. The stereo is above average. It fits all my fly fishing equipment and then more and I can drive 4 people of moderate size AND get decent milage. It ain't perfect, but neither am I. But it puts a smile on my face every day....and I'm not up to my neck in crazy payments.
Somehow, your one paragraph was a far more appropriate review of this car than the host of this video. The way he sits around belligerently complaining about a bargain of a car and comparing it to vehicles that cost 1.5-2x as much was honestly downright annoying. I just saw one of these on sale pre-owned at the dealership for $30k with 12k miles on a 2022 model. Like that's a great deal for the nice interior, solid features, and drive train. A new Elantra costs only $5k less than that, for perspective. Sounds like a great deal to me.
@@senorpapasfritasconqueso You missed the point of the video. Like most folks here. KIA is marketing the car as an enthusiast's car. It's not. It's just a dressed up GT car. And that's okay. Mark even said this in the video. It's not a bad car. It's a sensible car. Don't market a turkey as an eagle. It's not. And that's why the car didn't sell and Kia has to kill it off. The hardcore drivers it was aimed at weren't fooled. But everyone knows it's a good car.
Have a 4 cylinder Stinger - drive it 96 miles highway to and from work every day... I love it.
I have one as well. I've loved driving it. This guy is overdoing the negative.
@@chrisqross302s4he has too much of the enthusiast mindset. Kia making this car knows what this car is meant to be and what it isn't trying to fake itself being. Unlike the TLX type S it is trying hard to be something it's not
Tbh I think Mark made this to bring stinger prices down so he and his wifes bf can buy one and do open diff donuts on empty parking lots
Then he can race his Murano cabriolet against it with the top down #baller
Updated more like downdated
Don’t think he’s worried about the the cost 😂
@@WarriorOfEden3033 he’s doing us peasant folk a favor. With my recent tax returns I can now afford a slightly used 2019 Stinger GT2 on Carvana with only 21% APR and a kidney.
🤔he should do an honest review like this one for Audi SQ5 Sportback cause Audi interior trash for 2022 standard they have been using the same interior design for over 7 years now WTF.
This is what I subscribe to the Goose for: honest reviews that don’t pander to the manufacturer’s feelings/ego.
I love savagegeese, my favourite car reviewer. But as an owner of V6 Stinger I think the 2 Stinger reviews are wrong.
If you approach the Stinger as a sports car then you'll be disappointed. It won't handle like a Porsche or have the ride quality of an S class Mercedes. It is an affordable niche vehicle offering performance, comfort, features, space, better than average cargo capacity and stunning looks. All for a price that offers value for money that is off the charts and the cherry on top is Kia reliability and long warranty.
This entire package is absolutely unique in the motoring world. There is no other car for the price that offers so much.
If this car was a Toyota or had the new 86 badge this dude would be deep throating the shifter.
The fact that so many people mis-classify this car is baffling to me. The 2.5 is a GT car 100% and nothing more. Its a quiet comfortable cruising machine that happens to be quick. Also very good on gas. I was thinking of getting an Audi A5 and a 3 series. This offers more power, more space/ practicality and better looks, for LESS money. Its not meant for enthusiasts and idk why this is difficult to understand for y'all. If you want to crash into a wall, get the 3.3 GT2, its that simple lol.
even that 3.3L has good throttle control. never felt like i was putting myself in danger driving that car. but then again, i'm a cruiser.
Sounds like someone’s upset they can only afford the 4 banger…..
@@user59371 Actually no... I literally said I was considering an A5 Sportback which is the same price as a 3.3t. I didn't want the 3.3 because it only has 67 more hp than the "4 banger", and not worth it IMO. Besides I don't give a damn about performance. If so I would go get a 392 Challenger Scat daddy!!
I own a 2019 GTS so my experience is limited to the 3.3TT. That being said, I understand Mark's perspective as a guy who wants a car to decide what it is and execute that well. However, many of the reasons why he hates this car is why I love it. I can only afford and have room for (1) vehicle, so the car I own has to be able to do everything. The Stinger looks great, is well appointed for the price, and has a dual personality. I drive a ton for work and get almost 30mpg in ECO mode on the highway. Then I can engage sport mode to send more power to the rear wheels and have fun on back roads when I want to. All while having the massive rear cargo room for big work samples. When these came out in 2018 I knew it would be my next car because it checked every box I had.
Exactly why I don't really like his "max disappointment" in this vehicle. For 40 grand you get literally little bit of everything but nothing too much! In reality it doesn't really "check" the box only on speed which is 5.75 seconds 0-60 and that is ridiculous fast. I did valet parking before for years and you get that crazy feel only if you drive ferrari and the rest of the "sports" car that are way over 150k.
Exactly what I'm saying I have a 2018 gt 3.3tt myself and it checks all the boxes and more. Leave it in comfort when you have your wife and kids in the car and when you want to be rowdy with the boys throw it in sport and let her eat. It's an awesome car overall.
I just bought my 2022 kia Stinger with the 3.3 v6 and I cant be happier
I took a gamble and purchased the A 2018 GT AWD back when it came out. I would say that while I really liked the car (its very fun in the AWD 3.3TT version and fixes many of the cons of the turbo 4 version). The interior has held up well over 3 years, that hatch has been very functional, and the ride quality is good for DD. But *** god forbid you to have to take it in for warranty work or recalls (which the car has for an important few things wire harness, engine fire hazards, fuel gauge issues etc) it has been unforgivably terrible dealing with dealerships and KIA customer service on the car. Not just one bad apple dealership but 5 different ones in 3 different states. It has been more bad experiences than good ones across the board when you really need them to be on their A game. They are horrible to work with and really detract from ownership of this car and I don't say that lightly. You need to go in eyes wide open as a requirement for ownership of a car like this with the KIA brand currently.
See. This is what’s keeping me from buying a CPO GT2. I’ve heard this and With having prior dealer experience I need good customer service.
Yep, this is why I but used Honda's from private party and NEVER go to any dealership for anything whatsoever.
Yeah...sigh...that's true. My dealer has an awesome service MANAGER but the dumbest techs I've ever seen. My car has come back worse every time they've worked on it. "Warped Brakes? Well fix it (chips the shit out of the brembos paint replacing pads)". "rattling sunroof? (Slathers in smelly axle grease and uses torn pieces of foam to shim bolts holding sunroof on)" "loose trim making wind noise? (Orders wrong part for a year and never replaces broken trim)". I've had some good experiences honestly but all the above are true. If I had paid anywhere near full price I'd be ticked. But I'm overall happy. Great bargain of a car for me
My goodness spot on.. I have a 2017 cadenza and the dealership is just so horrible to deal with.. there was small damage to the bumper when I bought it (which I guarantee was from the lot).. they were supposed to fix it that week no worries.. took 1.5 months, a rental car, and a private shop that they paid to fix it… then during that time they couldn’t find my license plate so that was another month.. then they claim free oil changes for life there.. fine print is it’s just 1 time a year.. I call and ask about tire rotation.. person is like yes of course they do all that.. I’m like okay.. cause I want it even if not included.. couldn’t get an appointment for a simple oil change for 2 weeks.. go it’s over 1.5 hours.. and they didn’t rotate the tires.. I’m of course arguing it and their solution was since it was late they would have to reschedule that.. another 2 weeks later.. I just said F it.. and that’s nothing compared to the sales process.. if I never deal with Kia again, it’ll be too soon.
@@BrandoDrum dealer's hire the cheapest labor as their techs, often kids out of high school that failed everything but shop class.
"Disappointment" means that your expectations and the car did not match -- disappointment is not an absolute term. I have a 2022 GT2 3.3 liter and love it. It is not a sports car, it is a GT car... the differences being that a GT car has a smoother ride instead of more aggressive handling, and is less boisterous. As you stated, it's great for driving at 7/10, comfortably and quietly. And "GT sports car" is an oxymoron -- those are two different concepts. Yes, Kia marketing doesn't seem to articulate the difference.
I had a first year Corvette C8 that I had to sell because the ride was too harsh for my surgically repaired spine. The Stinger gives all the performance I can possibly use around town, I'm not going to track the car, so it's much more usable than the C8. And maintenance should be much less expensive than the three BMWs I had.
My dealer experience has been very good.
I respect your reviews, but this one is clumsily mislabeled. Talk about what the car is, not what it isn't. That's the real disappointment.
Is the issue Mark has with the Stinger more related to inaccurate marketing writing checks the product can't cash or that the product isn't good enough? I know it's both, but it comes across more as unrealistic expectations set by marketing people than the product underperforming.
Correct, when people claim its a performance/enthusiasts car then it gets reviewed as such. Moral of the story dont lie, i got a 2021 camaro 2ss and some thought it was a ZL1 and i told them it wasn't if i lied it would be a disappointment
@@seafooddiablo5686 reality is every car mfg over hypes their cars. so review the car not the marketting. What is savagegeese doing. I didnt see him criticize Acura on the TLX type S marketing. @savagegeese is trying hard to say smth negative and he blew it out of proportion. He always has had a slight korea bias. Review the car and the pricepoint. What tech reviewer takes any of those apple product launch propaganda seriously comeon.
@@Gandalf721 stinger is barely marketed as it is. What over the top marketting is he talking about? hes mostly disappointed because of the "over instrusive" traction control. Why have a RWD when you cant kick out the rear. But this is priced like a top trim Camry so what is the expectation here? This drives way better than the Camry or maxima... If you want all that you can get the 3.3L. Review the car to the price.
Yup koreans manufacturers are still immature in marketing that they think fake hype works, especially since it still works in Korea.
Take a look at the commercial for kia telluride for example. It’s marketed as if it’s a serious off-roader when it isn’t. The manufacturer needs to learn that being honest about their limit is what makes them attractive
Since I am in the northeast, I need an AWD car and can only afford one. Most people can’t afford a sports car in addition to a family car. I am looking at the Stinger GT Line which is AWD with the updated sound system because I like to cruise with my tunes blasting. I’m not gonna sit and listen to the engine and I won’t be beating the hell out of it at the track. The vast majority of dudes are more like me. We want something kinda sporty but practical and this car is a good choice for that.
I have the AWD GT-Line; I bought it after leasing a GT1 for a year. The GT1 was fun, but it was bad on gas, and had super high insurance rates for me (I"m early 40's male with a perfect driving record). I had all that power but never was able to fully use it. I stepped down to the GT-Line because I love the looks, and the 300hp was plenty enough for me. It's a stylish car that drives very well as long as you aren't trying to do some performance stuff. I think that's the intent of it-not everyone prioritizes super car driving dynamics. Sometimes you want something that looks equally as rad and still drives well. For people like me, the GT-Line is perfect.
I had a GT AWD Stinger as well (did enough aftermarket work to make it legitimately quick), am also a 40 something, and am looking at an AWD GTLine for exactly the reasons you listened.
i see this high insurance all the time im 35 with gt1 and my insurance is 109 a month full coverage also getting 27 mpg on interstate
better driving dynamics than a camry and its priced like it, dont know what hes complaining about.
I don't, i prefer the lsd diff, the AWD is just begging for problems as soon as you drive it out of the showroom.
@@lobsterwhisperer7932 awd has problems? since when
Nailed it in the final thoughts. I purchased the AWD 4-banger and have been living with it for the last month and it is an incredible car to daily. I am 6’6 and almost 300lbs and am so comfortable on my long commute (150mi or so round trip). My fuel economy numbers have been better that the EPA estimates on the RWD model and the Harman Kardon sound system does not disappoint.
Daily, the GT-Line Stinger has been plush inside, and confidence inspiring under the hood. It has plenty of power to safely separate yourself from inattentive drivers on the highway, and tons of safety systems and tech to assist in your drive and give you peace of mind carrying your family.
On the weekends, it’s a great GT, but not a sports car. Even with the AWD, it is still lighter than the 6 cylinders that I test drove and the pull from the front wheels makes it great in the corners. We have spent our last couple of weekends zipping down curvy country roads and for this, the paddle shifters and the 8-speed are plenty responsive and the rev-matching will keep you pushed into your seat.
Even with my large self, we comfortably fit 4 adults, and two families’ worth of groceries under the hatch. We loaded camp chairs and coolers and my rugby bag for a match last weekend. Let’s just say I’m not missing my SUV one bit.
300lbs dude time to go to the gym and change your diet.
@@pinecity3234 weight looks different on everyone pal. Being tall like that also helps a lot
@@pinecity3234 bud it’s a rugby player’s build. And sounds like you need to work on your own mental fitness
@@pinecity3234 Bro what? If he's actually 6'6", what do you expect him to weigh? 200 flat? I know guys at the Gym that are around 5'10" who are 250+ while being pretty dang lean at the same time. Granted they're friggin' jacked and on the sauce but I think you don't have a good sense of height to weight ratios. Edit: This is assuming this comment is even honest, because it sounds like an advertisement/paid review to me lol.
Also have a a 2022 GT-line AWD and have had no issues with it. The awd is decent and it's fast enough while still getting good gas mileage. Was cross shopping it and the sti and it blows the sti out of the water with tech, space and gas mileage. Also the lifetime warranty they offered sold me on it. The exhaust sound is very quiet but can be fixed easy aftermarket if you really want to.
If you expected performance from the gt-line, then you should’ve had some reservations beforehand imo. Even with Kia’s branding of it, this is after all the base version for 2022 whereas the regular gt versions with the tt v6 is where the car truly shines imo.
I found it quite dull after 5mins of driving. I was happy to go back to my Golf R and drive through Australia wet weather
the GT2 is a totally different car in so many ways. if you were thinking of those dont let a lot of this get you down
What is different?
Am I the only one that didn't expect the GT-Line 4 cyl to be a "performance" car? I really don't think that's a fair criticism.
I love your reviews and how much work you put into them, but this one was the first one where I sort of disagreed with you. I agree, the dynamics aren’t as fine-tuned as they are with the German competitors, but I still think this car brings tremendous value to the table. Compared to that Sonata N-line which is an overpowered FWD barge, this has chassis balance and a platform that’s borrowed from more expensive cars. It’s basically a 5 series sized vehicle for the price of a base 3 series. If you’re not driving at the limit, the RWD chassis brings a level of balance that’s distinctly missing in the FWD family cars that are at this price or slightly below. For someone living in Michigan, as long as this thing rotates in the snow where a FWD car would plow forward is really what matters to me. I haven’t driven a base Stinger, but I drove a GT2 a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it. If you want an LSD, it’s available on the TT V6 model. I applaud Hyundai/Kia for offering a RWD alternative that’s practical and relatively affordable. Also, the styling is really nice on this car. It’s unique at this price point and it still turns heads after being on the market for a few years. Either way, I appreciate your take and still think this was a great video.
I agree with you, mostly great alternate take.
Agreed! To label a base car as "garbage" because it doesn't have an LSD, even though everything else is good, really doesn't make sense. Nobody will cross shop this with a TLX Type S?
@@CanadianMax Our friend @savagegeese is a bit of an enthusiast... I could see him suffering through that 90deg turn(8:28) trying to rotate it:). Can you imagine Jack the baboon?
@@savagegeese in the future may I recommend you review the car and the price point and not the marketting. You get hung up way to much on the marketting here. Acura TLX was way hyped also, i didnt see you comment about that? Coming out the last, and the heaviest with the least hp and the slowest. I really like your car reviews. But just look back at your korean reviews and think if you have been really fair and unbiased. The reality is every car mfg over hype their cars. Its their job too. This is priced like a top trim nissan maxima CVT FWD or a Camry. Its way better than that and deserves a better title than "max dissapointment"
@@leonsam84 We actually tore apart the TLX Type S for that very that very thing. Bottom line Im sorry but why have a RWD sports GT that neuters everything that makes it RWD absolute nonsense.
I had one of these for a short time, a short time because the dealer tried to steal my $30k down payment. The car is fine for a discounted 340i (GT model), but the dealer experience was obviously absolutely horrendous. I own an X5 and Toyota right now and have almost all popular brands in the last 10 years, never seen such a bad dealer experience. Totally unprofessional in almost every way.
As for the LSD, I had an AWD which became floaty above 80mph, RWD GT with an LSD is the only way to get this car. I test drove that and should have bought that instead AWD.
Now I'm really curious, how can a dealer steal a down payment? Did they try to charge a suprise "market adjustment" tax on delivery and keep the down payment if you refused?
It's funny that you say that as I cross shopped the 340i GT and the full blown stinger GT. I paid 35 even for me 2018 340 GT (15kmiles) and I couldn't touch a new GT line stinger for under 41 and used GT1 stingers we're 42+ with the same year and miles. The 340 still felt like a new car where the Stinger with less miles and a year newer looked like it should have had 40+ k miles on it. Did NOT want a BMW, I hate BMW drivers but over the competition (S5 sportback was stupid expensive, and GT stinger) it was the best car
Stinger failed cause it was $53K for a damn KIA... for the GT@ which is the good one/.... should have been 30K
@@gorgonismztruth1551 that price still undercuts German cars with the same power figures. That's where the bargain comes from, even at $53K.
@@devongee1776 Power isn’t everything.
I love my Stinger V6. I had it for 2 years and 4 months now and it is a joy to drive every day. It really goes up to 270 km/h. I do not care about disabling any controls and making the Stinger into a sports performance car with full manual control.
I got the 2018 red-on-red GT1 and love it! To this day, people give the car compliments on looks. It is so fun to drive, but the tank is small and gas mileage is not good. I've dealt with three Kia dealerships over the time I've owned it and in retrospect, I would have never gotten the car if I had known what low rent these dealerships are. Consistently two or more hours for an oil change, disrespectful service managers, bus station waiting rooms. Most recently one of these Kia dealers wanted me to trade it in for another Stinger but was adding $7000 to MSRP because of "demand." LOL! Nope. Just ordered the Arteon SEL Premium R line, which may take 6 months to get here but I'm done with Kia.
Very true, good car, great looks, but lots of minor issues plus the shitty dealership experience killed it for me.
Probably the same for me. I was shocked how bad the Kia dealer and corporate customer service is. I wouldn't say that it would prevent me from getting another one but it would be very large factor in the decision.
i mean its a kia….. were you expecting lexus service levels….. hope you dont think vw is going to be better since your buying a vw(the people car)
@@tdub25 not to mention the unreliability.
Stinger failed cause it was $53K for a damn KIA... for the GT@ which is the good one/.... should have been 30K
Here in South Korea, you can get LSD with 2.5T RWD, 3.3T RWD/AWD. Only trim that has no LSD is 2.5T AWD.
Honestly, I kiiiiinda agree to some extent. I've test driven a ton of Stingers in the last 3-4 years and I think there's a reason why I could never pull the trigger each time, despite the car seemingly checking all of the boxes. This is a great vehicle that ~looks~ sporty, track-ready, and has excellent driving dynamics---but it really isn't that.
It's moreso a comfortable, nicely appointed, and aggressive looking midsize vehicle that has a lot of character, value, and style but isn't quite what the enthusiasts looking for and not the type of "driver's car" are necessarily going to be happy with, despite the marketing.
The madlads, they created a RWD Cadenza
Track ready Lmao
When you consider the price point for what you get from this car it blows everything out of the water in the market.
@@daebak7370 cadenza in a race car costume
you can get a v6 RWD w/ the LSD, the 4 banger is for the person that likes the car but cant afford the performance price admission. I have the AWD GT2 and have no complaints and get looks and compliments all the time.
but thats dumb - a 2,5 4 cyl turbo is plenty to make enough power for sporty driving. Also with the lighter front it would even make more sense. Leaving the LSD out is a real buzzkill.
Yeah I don't know why he chose to review a GT line instead of a full GT. Doesnt make much sense, anyone who's worried about the driving dynamics would get the 6 cylinder.
@@seanbond1008 100% agree, the 4 banger is the cost of entry for the looks and value but the v6 is aimed at the enthusiast...if such a thing really exist in a 4k Lb sedan, lets be honest anyone buying this car to hoon should be looking at Mustang's and Camaro's with very similar price tags.
@@kenny4128 Eh, the only hooning a Mustang does is hit curbs or crowds. lol Camaros are more straight line and track cars. The Supra it would be a better choice too hoon around in. Or save some money and get one of the really light sports cars.
How has your experience been with the recalls on this vehicle?
No surprise there, it’s a Kia product. Hyundai no different. Much respect to Mark for calling out crap and not being concerned about ramifications.
It is the base model lol
It is a $36k base model. You can't expect Kia to put LSD in the base car.
How many other companies make Sub-40k, RWD, 300 hp sporty car with most of popular options (leather, full safety tech, etc..) as standard?
Answer: Zero.
You are criticizing Kia for trying.
Yet other companies are not even trying because they can't make any profit out of it.
That is just not fair to Kia.
Stinger is already a good deal and you shouldn't expect too much.
I bought a 2021 GT1 RWD and Cantrell you the Stinger GT is a great value. I paid $44K out the door before the supply chain kinked up.
you use to be able to get a gt2 stinger for a tad over 40 before the market exploded. got my 2020 awd gt 2 months ago for 40k with 11k miles
I have to agree with Mark on this one - if the RWD is neutered, why get the entry level stinger instead of the K5 GT, which has the same engine and a DCT but costs $6k less?
K5 GT FWD
Design
Stinger failed cause it was $53K for a damn KIA... for the GT@ which is the good one/.... should have been 30K
@@gorgonismztruth1551 exactly. it's a kia.
Couple of things - a DCT is not great for commuting with traffic and even though the RWD is neutered in the Stinger, the drivetrain is still much better suited for the torque delivery of the engine than the K5 GT until it gets AWD. Also, the hatchback is hella useful, and more subjectively, I think styling-wise the K5 is kind of a mess.
Mark is my favorite reviewer. I own a Kia Stinger and I still love him. What they did to the 2.5 is inexcusable. But I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this. I feel like a celebrity in a car that’s been out for five years. Nobody knows what it is ….everybody can’t believe how great it looks. The GT doesn’t have those hangups that Mark mentioned. It has a LSD… it sounds great…. I put it sideways constantly and carry it through drifts. There’s also the tuning side of things …it is so cheap to get this thing to a whole other level.
> I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this
Those are not in the same price range. A stinger starts at 10k over an accord or camry. The K5 is more in line as competition for the Camry/Accord market segment.
>I cannot understand why anyone would buy a Camry or an Accord over this
Because Camry or Accord buyers don't have to "lease it so they can run for their lives away from it before it becomes a reliability nightmare." Among a few other things.
@@tom_hoots it’s not a nightmare, I haven’t had any problems with mine, or any Kia I have owned. It’s the same thing with saying Germans make unreliable cars, they don’t it’s just the driver is shit at taking care of the car
@@brianpoteat2733 When I bought my GT1 I got it for under 40k, both the Camry and Accord can be optioned to more than I paid for my car
@@HD_Kerino that’s not completely true. I agree that some owners of German cars don’t really understand what they are getting into when they buy them so they poorly maintain them, the German automakers have also released some poorly engineered, not well thought out components in their vehicles as well over the years.
I think the title should've been closer to like "Not a sports sedan". As a v6 AWD owner, I 100% agree with you on how invasive the traction & stability controls are. In the sportiest settings, the car will cut power (or apply brakes), 4/5 times I try hooning it at a turn. You get a little bit of tire squeal and then the power dies on you. But that 1 time when you get it perfect, it feels amazing.
Should have got the 6cyl rear wheel drive its a blast.
1 minute in and I can already smell the torches and pitchforks
U mean people disagree with this video? Cause I disagree too
None actually cares about KIA
@@ghoulbuster1 I do. They make great products now.
Serious question--how many RWD sedans in this car's price range (mid 35K to 40k) have an LSD? You can option up a base BMW 3 series for an LSD, but by the time you pay for it you're in Kia Stinger V6 RWD price territory. The 3 series would be like 1K less, and the V6 Stinger comes with LSD as standard now.
This 4 cylinder car is an Audi A5 sportback competitor, especially when you equip it with AWD. That's what it should really be compared too. Use the Genesis G70 as the 3 series competitor and the Stinger as the A5/S5 competitor.
I also feel like this car could be the evolution of the 4th gen Subaru Legacy GT, if Subaru had decided to keep it a little sporty. The Legacy used to be the grown up WRX, with good power, more comfort and a little less sporty. So that's how I kinda view the turbo 4 Stinger. Plus it straddles the practicality of the old Legacy sedan and wagon.
I don't believe RWD drifting is what this car is about. It's like complaining that a base Impreza doesn't perform like a WRX. The drifting is reserved for the RWD V6 Stinger.
I dont want it to drift I want it to rotate like a RWD car and not act like its FWD, including the neutring stability control system.
"Max disappointment" ..... clicks on the video immediately.... you guys are literally the best TH-cam car reviewers. You have blown past some of my other favorites!
One of the only honest car review channels on TH-cam. And also the BEST
I like that you guys "review" the cars. Not just speak on features, but an actual critical look at everything. I don't care what engine it is, I care how to proforms and you guys do a great job of conveying what everything is really like.
The true KIA fanboys won't find anything wrong with this cost cutting division of the KIA and Hyundai brands. They're fooling lots of people. The people looking for bargains get suckered into, well the car looks nice and they offer all these great features for this lower price. They're cutting corners somewhere. The engine fires issue is just one dangerous example. They're still dealing with that even on some 2022 models that have spontaneously caught fire. They also denied the problem early on and were blaming it on something else and not taking any responsibility. They didn't do a recall for a while.
I agree! Kia is totally hooking people on tech and style but that doesn't make them good cars. The moment my 2016 Sorento needed a repair for the valve cover gasket at 71K miles, I knew it was time to move on. Kia fixed it under warranty but sold it immediately while the used car market is crazy expensive.
Hyundai/Kia has made huge strides in dynamics, refinement and styling the last 5 years. The Veloster N, Elantra N and G70 are legitimate drivers cars with genuine enthusiast DNA. It’s a shame the Stinger got 90% right only to half-ass the final 10%.
can u adjust ride height on these
Talked to a guy with AWD 6 cyl. Twin turbo, he said he consistently gets 25 mpg. Driving it how he wants to.
I wish they didn't sell the GT-Line just like I wish Hyundai hadn't sold the 2.0t Genesis Coupe. There is an LSD on the RWD GT2 and maybe the GT1 now. I think one should only buy this car in RWD V6 just like I felt about the Genesis Coupe.
Gt1 trim had lsd standard in 2019 I believe
V6 AWD is the one to go with this car
I’ve owned 3 - 2019, 2021, and now I have a 2022 AWD. The 2022 is the best bang for your buck in 4cyl form. An LSD is standard with the RWD V6. Nevertheless, I stick out from the crowd and I love that feeling. I’m sure some fellow owners feel the same.
22' RWD can confirm! love this car
What I like about your reviews is the honesty, and focus on what matters. This is not a car commercial channel like some other reviewers.
he literally focussed on the marketting and not the car, and he was dissapointed, Thats like buying a new iphone and being dissapointed that it didnt meet Apples launch propaganda. Review the car and the pricepoint, not the marketting.
Glad I bought the real version of the car. The 3.3 liter is the only real Stinger in my opinion. ;)
If you're an enthusiast, you don't by a GT-Line lol. Simple as that. You buy a RWD GT. That's what I did. 3 years into owning and don't regret one gallon of fuel consumed irresponsibly at full boost.
Personally, I'm only interested in carving my car through some tight backroads from time to time; I have no interest in 'getting sideways' or burning through tires. So a car like the AWD GT2 with the LSD is actually pretty appealing. The main downside being the weight; it's really not as chuckable as I'd like, which becomes really obvious when you drive it back to back with something like a Golf R. BUT, at least for the weight, you get a lot of comfort, good interior use of space, and great cargo capacity. It also does little wrong; the tech is generally good ergonomically and has all the features I'd want, and the level of luxury is right about at the level where I'm not interested in paying for more. In this day and age, not screwing any of these things up is sadly very rare.
To me the GT2 is a Q50S or TLX-S competitor, and I'd take it over the Infiniti 10 times out of 10. The Acura is a bit tougher a comparison, but cost (Canada) and inefficient use of power & space, plus ugly interior design in the acura would push me to the stinger.
This GT line I'd expect to cross shop with a loaded camry, accord, maxima, or sonata n-line. I think I'd take it over all of those; none are going to be great drivers' cars, and the stinger probably at least matches the others in comfort/features/handling, and gives you the hatch.
I also think Kia deserves a lot more credit for trying something new like this and falling a bit short of amazing, than Acura or Infiniti do for underwhelming with the latest versions of their signature models.
Lmao. A Q50S destroys this pile.
Stinger is just a fun car for commuters. It's not supposed to be much more than just sporty. Compare it to an accord or camry.
then blows it turbos@@povertyspec9651
This is a GT car, not a sports car. In that context it truely is a great value alternative to German brands when spec'd properly. Base GT with the V6, rear wheel drive, mechanical limited slip.
MSRP around 40k in 2020. Brand snobs need not apply.
Mark, 3rd review is the charm! You'll go sideways if you want too...
P.S. 30 mpg with V6 on highway in ECO mode with a couple pulls thrown in the mix. 72 mph cruise, around 1700 rpm.
This is why this channel is called SAVAGE Geese. Brutal honesty is what you get each time. It's videos like this that lends credence to when Mark lavishes praise on another vehicle. Plain and simple not all cars are even good. It's one thing if a car is complete and utter trash. It's another when there's a loyal base and the car is terrible. Good on SG to not mince words and call out this trash vehicle despite the loyal fanbase.
Kia is #1 in all vehicle Makes right now in highest average dealer markups over MSRP and it isn't even close. That Kia doesn't seem to care about its image or customer satisfaction even a tiny bit regarding this fact keeps me far away from them.
That's not surprising. Kia/Hyundai was always notorious for having terrible dealerships.
@@wigletron2846 rumor has it their dealerships are still terrible.
Idk about that. Well they got no control over dealerships, none of the legacy manufacturers do. Dealers a third party protected by outdated laws from back when dealers were mom and pop shops. That's why their all getting pissed, because the markups are hurting their brands.
@@Channel-gz9hm As far as you know. Subaru didn’t make a big announcement, they just sent out letters.
@@Channel-gz9hm Nah dog. Trying to make you see the big picture.
It doesn’t matter if Ford is threatening not send out their already overpriced I-150 Lightning.
All legacy manufacturers legally have to sell cars through dealerships. Stealerships got the upper hand here.
I love that I can watch your videos and get a true experience… No fluff just reality
The car is very cool, but the truth is that the target demographic is not clearly defined
Working professionals with the cash to buy a car for 38k will buy a luxury brand. People who want a stylish car from a mainstream brand but don’t care about RWD will buy a k5 or Camry or etc. that leaves the enthusiast market who will shell out the cash, which is comparatively smalL
This isnt meant to be an enthusiast car no matter the marketing, if you come to this car expecting miata, m2/m3 driving dynamics cuz it has rwd youre not looking at it properly. Kia made this car as a touring, the marketing is just marketing to attract anyone to it more. Its a great tourer and super affordable used market. Cant discredit them on that. Ill agree in the invasive stability contorl but still
Q. How can we tell the car is no good right away? A. Jack skipped the review
Honestly, as a German, I will have to say this. South Korean cars are pretty dang good these days. Considering all the boring, tasteless cars I normally see here which come from Germany, your only opportunity to driving something nice and refreshing is either buying Japanese or South Korean. Considering how current german cars are, cars like the Stinger truely feel wonderful.
Important correction: there is no last generation G70, it's still on its first generation, the same as the Stinger. Additionally, this DH-derived platform was developed for the Stinger first, and the G70 is a shortened variant, intended to be a sportier take to the Stinger's mission as a GT car.
I think Mark also completely misses the mark in mission for the Stinger 2.5T: it's not a GT86 and was never designed to be. Why he's complaining about a rear open diff is beyond me. It's exactly the same on all the entry level RWD vehicles.
I agree. Think he's a bit too critical on this car. Sure, even the fully loaded GT2 is no M3, but no driving enthusiast is going to be fooled by that after a test drive. Like you said, even the base 3 Series drives like crap with I think an open diff too, so it's no different from that really. Also, not sure he made it clear that some of the problems he talked about were exclusive to the base model. SG has good nuanced reviews, but I still don't think this review is completely fair.
@@sonydominates yes, time and time again all the outlets say that dynamic handling package for the 3 Series is an absolute must, otherwise it doesn't live up to its reputation at all. Trying to flog a base model and then complaining it doesn't live up to the fully loaded fast one they use in all the commercials doesn't make sense to me.
I was told their were body improvements on the updated GV70 and G70, the specifics were fuzzy. The platform for this car was developed and as usually Kia and Hyundai went two different ways. Stinger may have been developed first?
@@savagegeese the G70 did not move to the new M3 platform with this recent refresh, so any mechanical updates would have been modest in that regard. The GV70 is also built using this DH-based variant.
The best reviewer! No sucking up to manufacturers, no marketing bs, just pure cold hard facts and views.
Test drove the awd. Was meh, dealer was nuts. Wanted 4K over sticker said it was a desired model lol
My Wife has a 2018 Premium in Blue. We get so many compliments about how it looks. It's actually a pretty rare car and most folks have to ask what it is. The drivetrain feels kinda mushy. It's all show and no go. Has some really annoying creeks and rattles but it rides great, gets 31 mpg Hwy and the hatchback is just so convenient. I love how low and wide the car looks and IMO it looks better than the more pricey cars it draws it's styling from. It's a great alternative to an SUV.
Have you race any car with the 2.0?
Have you race any car with the 2.0?
I wish he had reviewed the all-wheel-drive or GT rwd w/lsd version because those are the only ones worth buying in my humble opinion
Even those aren't that sporty , they are super heavy and soft
Yeah that's the one you want but I reckon most sales are the base models. One of the best 4 door roadtrip cars
I agree. I enjoy my AWD Stinger GT. I drive 60miles round trip for work, and I live in an area with unpredictable weather, high winds and either heavy rain, or snow and ice year round. Having a heavy, low profile, AWD vehicle makes for a surprisingly good handling in that kind of weather. That, and the economy is better than committing to an SUV. Sure, it's not sporty enough to be a sports car and not luxury enough to be luxury, but it's sturdy, comfortable, and handles well in poor weather.
@@VaunShizbecause it’s a GT. It’s supposed a comfortable ride that also has a bit of speed.
For my girlfriend and me, the base stinger AWD was a wayyyyy more fun option than the VW arteon, cx5 turbo, and 430i for substantially less money. She can't get comfortable in a Golf GTI and doesn't drive manual, and for me anything with a CVT was out. I just don't think there's anything else on the market that can do what this car can for that money. I haven't driven the RWD version however, so maybe the AWD is way better.
A Honda accord is better. For less.
@@MikeYurbasovich maybe, but the traditional trunk made it a no go. We have a dog, and want the ability to haul stuff like a chair.
@@MikeYurbasovich lol
Its time to add " Safety Impressions " .... which is more critical day by day .
You are driving a 4 Cylinder. Drive the GT2. It’s such an amazing car.
Been waiting for this video. Test drove the car two days ago (2.5l but with AWD). Honestly, in a vacuum the car was extremely impressive. You really can drive like an absolute idiot for $40k, and not be too worried about getting a felony. For someone who's coming from a base Civic, it's a considerable step up in power and performance, without being overwhelming or deadly.
The problem with the car is when you start to consider what the other options are for the price point. However, if you really want automatic, those options at 40k are going to be fairly limited. You mentioned you'd buy this over the TLX Type S because you can get this RWD. I don't think most people are apples-to-apples cross shopping a $15k price differential. The Type S is nearly 40% more expensive than this in RWD form, and a little lower price difference in AWD form. This is the same price as a base FWD TLX with no options.
Interesting you said that, this is everything the TLX should've been, meaning RWD based , but Honda being so cheap and lazy they don't wanna put that car on a rwd platform...
@@JDMHaze the TLX is one of the best handling cars in the segment and is faster than the Stinger/G70 around VIR, while being heavier than both.
I don't understand why the TLX Type S came up either. It's a direct competitor with the 3.3L TT where the awd Stinger even comes with drift mode, not this 2.5T
@@theyadmire511 the Type S is absolutely not faster than a g70. I was just cross shopping the Type S and G70. I bought the g70. The type S weighs quite a bit more and is down on HP and torque. It's also very obvious that they weren't trying to build a sports car. 4200 pounds? You kidding me? Why do you think it's faster and handles better? Because it's faster around a single track where it's AWD might be a benefit?
@@theyadmire511 I'm not sure the handling justifies The price premium by comparison unless you're hell-bent and track ready.. and the Acura is still lacking in the interior quality(ergonomica) , not to say it's awful or anything but certainly behind the pack.. If you're coming out of a Acura maybe it's a more usable
Had the 2020 GT-line for nearly a year now. Sun and sound pack and agree sounds great and the sunroof is big enough. Just got back from a road trip!! yay! put 1900Miles across NV to CO at 70MPH average and returned home at 32MPG. Lots of two lane passing at 90MPH and 75MPH cruising. Luckily a bit before the gas price hike so figured 229.00 spent on gas. Nice trip! thx
Thanks Mark for the honest review.
I have owned many hatchbacks. I like the utility and versatility. Now, I’m 65 and I need a bigger vehicle than a Veloster (or Golf ect ) and I want something with more grunt than the Civic. This seems like a perfect choice for me. I also drive in a warm climate so rear wheel drive is ok for me. Thanks for your honest reviews. I find these extremely informative and most certainly helpful.
I'm 67, and previous GTI [2017] owner. Now own 2023 GT-Line AWD for 3 weeks and love it.
Cheapening of interiors [more plastic, all touch haptics] in MK8 GTI and Golf R big turnoff, they're rare [hardly any at dealers here in Greater Cleveland] and top dollar MSRP. GTI Autobahn is $41,200 and the ASK for Golf R - when you can find one - is approaching $50,000. Stinger checked lots of boxes for me: AWD, 300hp, liftback/hatch, great color combinations [I got Ceramic Silver w/RED INTERIOR], etc, etc. MSRP $43,330 and OTD for $39,000. Test drive one.
Completely agree. I’ve owned one for 2 months now and I absolutely love it. It’s a great family car and it’s still super fun to daily. I look forward to the commute. I didn’t buy it to do donuts or drive it like I stole it, but it still handles great and is plenty fast. It definitely hugs the road although the stock tires leave a little to be desired. I have the ceramic grey with red interior and I get complements on it all the time. Non car folks have no idea what it is. At this price point with the 10 year warranty, it’s a great value. I’d love an S5, but that’s over 20k more.
Kia only sold the V6 model where I live. Sadly they have withdrawn even that from sale, and all they sell is compact cars and SUV's here now. Now there is literally nothing I can think of in my part of the world that I would want to buy new unless its insanely priced - everything is either a fucking SUV or a FWD blandomobile, or European overpriced trash.
@@Beer_Dad1975 well you can always get an American made, unless youre saying all US made sedans are blandomobiles?
@@ddjohnson9717 Very few American cars sold here as not many US manufacturers are interested in right hand drive markets. The Mustang is quite nice though with only 2 doors not really suitable for me at the current stage of my life.
where you at? Aus? New Zealand?
@@ddjohnson9717 NZ
i bought a gt line and so far i’ve loved every little thing yeah definitely some cutting costs over all but definitely still a fun car to drive im an agressive driver and love how the car rides
Did you beat any car with your 2.5?
I always appreciate reviewers that aren't shy to give solid criticisms of cars, let alone say something is straight "garbage." We need more reviewers like this.
This is why I watch this channel. I appreciate the unvarnished truth. I come from the same camp as an enthusiast who loves tight twisty roads but also understands there are many types of driver who enjoy different aspects/sensations of driving. Some enjoy a good cruiser, others straight line high speed runs or off road antics. The Stinger was mis marketed it’s a cruiser not sports car.
Calling it as you see it Mark. Well done, one of the reasons I subscribe/watch. Thx. 👍
My daily commuter is a 2019 Stinger GTS and the pros and cons discussed here are very fair. It's a great car for my 20 minute daily commute down the highway. It has the look and feel of a European sports car without the high cost of ownership. The V6 is a completely different animal from the 4-banger and fixes many of the cons voiced in this video. Kia definitely did cut corners in some areas. My lower deflector randomly ripped off at highway speed a few weeks back. I also developed the hatch rattle these cars are infamous for but that can be fixed in 5 minutes with a couple washers. That being said I'd say overall these cars are a great purchase.
What was your experience with the recall they had for the Stinger?
@@moloono1 Not much drama there. I took it into the dealer and it took a few hours so they gave us a loaner. We had lunch and ran errands till it was done.
@@scittw22 Nice! Glad to hear you live near a good dealership. That would have been a nightmare in my area.
This car might be a trash as you said, but AWD version is pretty decent. And FYI, I test drove this car and this does not even drive as good as base TLX despite being RWD platform. With SH-AWD you can have some RWD feelings, superb handling
really? i disliked the TLX and rather enjoyed the (3.3tt) significantly more. Not to say i dislike the TLX, just that i appreciate the overall feel of the Stinger more
I bought a 2019 GT2 AWD brand new and it's due to come off lease in March, 2023. Trying to decide it I want to keep it or turn it in. It's been a great car and a daily driver. The twin turbo V6 is a beast and so much fun, but I run it in eco because it can definitely get extremely thirsty. No issues with the car at all but have a couple of small rattles, nothing major. Only issue unrelated to the car is that I now work from home because of the pandemic, and have done so since March, 2020. It only has a little over 13,000 miles and normally just sits in the garage. Thinking of moving to a small SUV for both cost and gas savings. I've enjoyed the time with my Stinger immensely, just thinking I'm going to move on.
A review of a 2022 Alfa Giulia 2.0T RWD would be interesting. Biggest discounts rn.
What discounts are you seeing? Not saying you're wrong just out of curiosity
@@DennyJr22 $4.8k on average
Oh the cost of repairs 🤣
I picked up a 2020 gt line 4wd with 13.5k on the clock for 31k. Needed a hatchback for work and this is a way better drive, way more spacious and comfortable than getting another Mazda 3. If you look on line there are some sweet low mileage deals on these cars. So happy not to be driving another front wheel drive car. I'm not looking drag or drift either. With two kids in school I can't even afford to say the words Audi or BMW. This car fits the bill for some of us who enjoy a taste of luxury and performance without breaking the bank. This car was supposed to change kia and the way people perceive kia. I think ultimately, they achieved that goal.
The Sonata N Line and Kia K5 GT would be choices than the Stinger GT Line. The 2.5T is better matched to the DCT and reduced weight not offered here in the stinger. Completely agree they should have offered an LSD to truly get the most performance out of the 2.5 cars but they are great dailies with 75-80% of the performance one would expect from a performance car.
Yeah. I have a Sonata N-Line and love it despite the sometime difficulty putting the power down from a stop.
i had a 22 sonata n line (night edition) and loved the car.. The car sucked at putting power down thanks to the over compensating TC, and with it off the open diff crippled its acceleration. I still very much enjoyed driving it overall.... Someone as of maybe 4 weeks ago now smashed head on into me in oncoming traffic and totaled my nline out..... So thats when i moved to a Kia stinger gt2 (rwd) fortunately this has the bigger fun motor and its got an LSD which made it very fun all around. That being said a K5 GT with the 2.5 AND awd (or sonata) would be amazing..
I WAS a Kia fanboy and was looking at one. My 13 optima sxl is getting long in the tooth.... Well that was until my wife's new Sorrento bricks and was in the shop for a month.
No loaner had to rent a car, they " couldn't recreate the problem". Even though I brought it to them when it did it, so we're out 500 for the rental.
A few days later after a couple hundred miles BAM it effin bricks🤦🤦🤦.
KIA told us to pound sand, probably gonna have to take it to court.
It's been an absolute nightmare, if they stood behind their products and didn't treat us like 💩 I'd probably have a stinger in my driveway.
I have a video from the last time and pictures I'll post.
Also those SG shirts are phenomenal!!!
So comfortable!!!
Thank you for posting this! People say I’m trolling when I point things like this out. It’s all fun and games until you get rejected by the corporate bureaucracy.
love the honesty !
I felt the same way about the GT2 as well, it's a great GT for normal daily driving. I would LOVE for Hyundai's new N division to get their hands on the Kia Stinger, they would make it drive like we all wish it would.
if you want that get the g70, theres what it would be like.
The Stinger is getting discontinued
Looked at one of these a whole back. Ended up with a Ford Taurus SHO instead. The Ford would have been better as a hatch- or a wagon! But despite the very different layouts these cars have similar strengths: deceptively quick high way cruisers with plenty of room for 4 adults and a trunk big enough to hold all their luggage.
If you wanted to review this car as a drivers car and performance car... why didn't you review the top V6 version?
They are no longer in the fleet. Usually means they are scaling them down in our regions.
I can see the disappointment in this setup, that's really underwhelming. I've only seen a couple of them for sale near me and they are the gt2 with the scorpion package which looks awesome but, 62k? That seems a bit steep for a kia stinger.
LOL
52k starting. i got mine for 42k slightly used. its underwhelming compared to what? Be specific a Camry TRD? lol
You said it rides nice and offers good value for money, yet you label a base 4 popper as garbage because of an open diff? Also, TLX Type S buyers won't cross shop a 38k base stinger?! Come on Mark... You can't even get into a European car for 38k, let alone a 300hp Sportback.
It seems like most of the driving impression issues noted would be addressed by the V6 version. 🤷
Kia has never claimed it is a sports car. They have always said it is a GT car. I'm a fan of Savagegeese, but as an owner of the first gen GT1, I think your review of this car seem biased. Granted, my car never had any creaks or rattles, like the press car from the first review. Every other review of the GT that I've watched has been very positive, and my experience as an owner has been absolutely fantastic. This car puts a smile on my face every time I drive. If you want a track car, get a track car, but if you want an amazing daily driver that does everything you ask of it and makes you want to take the long way home every day, the GT is it.
Keep the impartial honesty coming. KIA/Hyundai has many of the popular YT reviewers like Redline Reviews in their pockets.
Oh please. He is talking about this trim. Not the whole stinger. The GT stinger has everything he complained about.
@@bradleyscarreviews Oh please, There's nothing in my statement about trims or you, get over yourselves. Critical reviews are few and far in between, this was done with thoughtfulness and not just brand bashing or anything of the like. It's a fact that KIA/Hyundai does a great job with social media/YT and comps trips and other compensation for reviews.
@@FCM415 you have to give credit where it’s due, Genesis is excellent, K5 and Telluride are great, so is Santa Fe, Palisade, and Sonata. Don’t know about stinger though….mixed bag
@@bradleyscarreviews Of course. You gotta recognize how other brands are nitpicked though and these cars you mentioned get flawless reviews. They are not. And now that their MSRP are on par as well as their dealership network is the worst at adding premiums, they are neither perfect or value propositions like Redline etc makes them out to be. These reviews are bought.
@@FCM415 as I said. You say many on the road for a reason. I see tons of tellrudies and k5s. Also, why does that redline review dude always nitpick Lexus and Toyota?
I have the 2022 GT-Line AWD model in ceramic silver and red seats. It looks great and I get a lot of compliments. Every six weeks I do a 200-mile roundtrip to have lunch with my brother and the drive is fast, comfortable, and I get good mileage. For $42k you get a lot of high tech that is easy to use. The car is rock steady at 100mph. I have no interest in going to the track so all I can say is that it may be the perfect daily driver. So far I have 12,000 trouble-free miles. Thank you Kia....and oh, yes, the radio sounds great too.
Looking at that exact color combo. Local dealer [Cleveland area] marking down from MSRP $4k-$5k for end of month. Going to jump on it if they still have the silver and red. As far as this review, they make a G70 for those who feel there's too much gloss plastic and cheap interior materials. Never cross shopped this with Audi A5, BMW 440ix, etc ... because comparably equipped they are $55 or more. Again, check the G70 if you want the last degree of refinement, not the Germans. This car is an incredible value, especially if you can land the AWD w Sun and Sound for $40 or less. 'Absolute complete piece of garbage ...'. ?? Moving on.
@@markdavenport8737 If the Stinger is discontinued then the G70 will be my next car when my lease is up.
@@stephenjablonsky1941 Wound up getting it. Ceramic Silver, red interior. AWD, Sun and Sound. $38330 out the door. Two weeks isn't a long time, but so far, it's great. Can't wait to take it out for a drive.
man watching that thing go around a corner with your foot buried in it was sad. i have a rwd v6 one with an lsd and its 100% a different car from this. the car never fails to put a smile on my face and its really comfortable. all that character that i love in mine would be gone if it didnt have that lsd though.
300 hp might sound like a lot, but this thing weighs more than a mid-range SUV
You are the only one giving honest reviews. Thank you
2.5L RWD stinger has m-LSD option in here south korea. (2.5L AWD doesn't though)
It give more aggressive driving experience then 3.3 TT RWD stinger.
I don't understand why KIA decided to export non-LSD version. Very sad, poor decision.
I have the 2022 GT-Line AWD version and love it! There are subtle changes on the exterior. The Kia Stinger offers great features for the money. In addition, Kia offers 10/100k powertrain warranty. Coming from owning German cars, the Stinger is a close match in driving experience, features, etc..... considering it costs $10k-25k less. I am a driver's driver, the Stinger did not disappoint. I chose the AWD due to the midwest winters and I am getting older. I enjoy your videos but I truly believe your Stinger review missed the mark.
What’s your 0-60?
I have a stinger the v6. The performance stuff that you talk about isnt the case on that one. Thats like reviewing a c class and comparing it to a c53. This is the base model
Still dookie, v6 Kia folks thinking they have sometimes special are a complete laughing stock
Best car reviewer out there for driving dynamics! Love the honesty!!
Hyundai/Kia has the resource to make a real STATEMENT with an FR Sport Coupe with the 2.5L Turbo and the V6.
I am a Mazda person, but if they actually make an affordable Manual FR Coupe like the Japanese, I would seriously consider it.
It just sucks that they are stuck in the “it’s just a Kia” because they make very premium cars in other markets, and in their home market their cars are incredible.
I would love if they made a Roadster, like a Korean S2K.
As the owner of a BMW 535i GT X-Drive, I see a lot of similarities between it and this Stinger. After watching both of your reviews on this car, I will happily stick with the BMW. As a side note, the formula you use to review cars and the cinematography of your videos is second to none!
BMW is best pick if you only intend on keeping it for the warranty period. However a 535 GT Xdrive is more than double the price lol
Living in snowy Northern Michigan, the RWD wasn’t even a consideration. I ultimately decided on a cheaper car (a Mazda3 AWD hatch) but was intrigued by the Stinger. Obviously, ultimate performance wasn’t my overarching goal. In that context, the AWD 2.5l stinger seemed like a pretty unique option. Good power, nice styling, AWD, practical body style, comfortable and NOT an SUV. Other than the weight difference, I would think the AWD option would eliminate much of the downsides mentioned here.
Charger GT?
@@Turshin That big dodge boat isn't moving very fast without a V8.
Passed on the Stinger for the 2022 Veloster N. Couldn't justify the 8K+ increase in price year over year.
Since the Stringer was released I have not seen a lot of them on the road (I'm in N. Calif), I've never personally driven one so I can't speak from a hands-on experience perspective. There's been conflicting stories online about KIA killing this model later this year. It wouldn't surprise me if they do given how few I've noticed.
You guys make the most real, tell it like it is car reviews out there with the highest quality sound and that's where I'm gonna leave it.