DRIVELIFE
2021 KIA STINGER GT SPORT GT by name, GT by nature Written by DriveLife online
It’s one of those hero cars that everyone looks at. When launched in 2018, the Kia Stinger turned heads with a design that seemed more European than Korean. And that’s not to mention the performance. While it was offered with a turbocharged, 2.0-litre fourcylinder engine, most buyers went straight to the 3.3-litre, twin-turbo V6 model - and who could blame them. 2021 brings a slight refresh for the Stinger, and Kia sent us a V6 model to test for a week. For this year, there’s a ‘full-width rear lighting signature’, redesigned tail trim and exhaust outlets, a new 10.25” infotainment system, and additional safety systems like Lane Follow Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance with Junction View, Safe Exit Warning, and Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist.
the updated Kia Stinger GT Sport to make sure it’s still as good as it ever was.
The engine is unchanged for this year, other than an Electronic Variable Exhaust Valve system fitted only to the GT Sport model, helping the car to produce a deeper exhaust note in Sport mode and a more subdued exhaust note In Eco or Comfort mode. This does give the car a small bump in power. There’s also remote engine start fitted to the 2021 models. The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder Stinger motor is completely unchanged.
This means the standard equipment list is very long, and makes the Stinger excellent value. That standard equipment includes Launch Control, Forward Collision Avoidance (with cyclist, pedestrian and junction capablity), Lane Keep Assist (using a line or the road’s edge), driver attention alert, Lane Follow Assist, blind spot collision avoidance (rear), rear cross traffic alert, Blind Spot View Monitor, Safe Exit Assist, Hill Start Assist, an electric park brake with auto-hold, tyre pressure monitoring, keyless entry and start, automatic high beams, front and rear
With my heart set on ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, I spent 600km behind the wheel of 1 6 C A P R I C O R N I G N I T I O N J U LY 2 0 2 1
THE RANGE You get to choose from two Stinger models, the GT Line and the GT Sport. Interestingly, there’s almost no trim differences between the two – it’s all about the drivetrain.
parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, LED projection headlamps with cornering function, LED daytime running lights, heated and electrically folding exterior mirrors, LED tailights, LED puddle lamps, chrome-coated quad exhaust pipes, leather seats, a heated steering wheel with 4-way electric adjustment, 8-way electric front seats with 4-way electric lumbar adjust, electric cushion adjustment for the driver’s seat, and electric bolster adjust for the driver’s seat. But wait, there’s lots more. Add to that LED interior lighting, an electric sunroof with an electric blind, a 10.25” central touchscreen display, a 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, SatNav with live traffic updates, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, a colour heads-up display, Qi wireless smartphone charging, adaptive cruise control with stop/start, dual zone AC, automatic headlights and wipers, and lastly an electric tailgate with handsfree operation.
