BREAKING FREE FROM A LOCKDOWN IN STYLE WITH NEW 2020 KIA STINGER FASTBACK

After nearly two months of self-imposed isolation for you-know-what with trips limited to the grocery and drug stores and takeout food runs, we managed to escape Miami over the Memorial Day weekend to visit our daughter and son and their families near his home in Tampa.

She drove down from Illinois while we had a comparatively short jaunt from our home to her rental house on Florida’s West Coast, which was in the early phases of the state’s re-opening as compared to where we were coming from.

Groceries and restaurants in Tampa weren’t requiring customers to wear masks, unlike in Miami which was still pretty much in total lockdown at the time.

Though the number of tables were limited, you could even eat in at a restaurant if you desired. It would be another week before that was being permitted on the Southeast Coast.

It was almost as if we had broken out from prison, or at least that was the feeling. What made it even better was the new, 2020 Kia Stinger sedan that our friendly media fleet servers delivered to our driveway the morning for our escape, er, trip.

Since it is in just its third year of production, you may not be familiar with the Stinger, but if you have been paying attention at all you should know about Kia and the high quality of vehicles it has been producing in recent years.

With the Stinger, Kia has packed a long litany of standard features in a classy, upscale package that fits in comfortably among traditional luxury vehicles from Europe. 

Sporty performance? Check.

Rear-wheel drive? Check.

Lots of techno features? Check.

Premium audio? Check.

Navigation with touchscreen and voice controls? Check.

Room for five passengers and their stuff? Check.

Classy exterior? Check.

Upscale cabin? Check.

It was especially comfortable cruising on the interstate when I set the adaptive cruise control at the desired speed (OK, perhaps technically a bit over the posted limit) and let the technology take over.

Though a couple of instances it seemed like it slowed rather abruptly to adjust to the speed of the vehicle ahead, overall it operated rather smoothly. After slowing for a car or truck ahead, it picked right back up to my selected speed when I moved to the left lane to make a pass.

The Stinger is available with either a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a twin-turbo V6 engine and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The base model GT-Line gets the 4-banger and starts at $34,125 including the destination and deliver charge.

For my trip, I had the GT2 RWD which has the 3.3-liter V6 and starts at $50,200, putting it at the top of the heap. Each engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, though gear ratios vary slightly to match the specific engine.

The 4-cylinder engine is rated at 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and earns EPA ratings of 22 miles-per-gallon city, 29 highway, and 25 combined with RWD and 21/29/24 with AWD drive.

The V6 is standard in GT, GT1, and GT2 trims and delivers more performance at 365 hp and 376 lb.-ft. but is thirstier with mileage numbers of 17/25/20 for both RWD and AWD models. 

Standard equipment on my test Stinger GT2 included a surround-view camera, head-up display, Harman Kardon Premium audio, navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a wireless charger, push-button start, Nappa Leather trim, heated and ventilated front seats, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, multi-color LED mood interior lighting, adaptable (Smart) cruise control, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, driver attention warning, LED headlights with high-beam assist, a power sunroof, power rear deck lid opener, and forward collision warning.

The Ceramic Silver Paint (the second consecutive vehicle I had that reminded me of Navy gray fleet vehicles) and a cargo mat ran the total for my test vehicle to $51,815.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Stinger as a Top Safety Pick recognition earlier this year.

One thing I should note: Kia refers to the Stinger as a “fastback sport sedan” and that is what it looks like, but but technically it is a hatchback, which is good. Opening the rear liftgate provides a wide opening for up to 23.3 cubic feet of rear storage room. That’s more than double that of many of its direct competitors.

What I liked about the 2020 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD: The infotainment system is both very plentiful in the way of standard features (like navigation) and all are very user-friendly. The “Smart” (or adaptive) Cruise Control is very effective and easy to adjust. The interior is upscale and the overall ride is very comfortable and peppy even when driving in Eco mode.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD: Fuel economy is only so-so. Hard to find fault with anything else!

Would I buy the 2020 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD?: Definitely, yes. The Stinger offers everything you want in a luxury sedan except perhaps brand cachet. It has lots of room for passengers and their stuff and plenty of infotainment functions as standard. Pricing is very competitive in its class.