2021 Kia Stinger: Expectations and what we know so far

When people hear the automotive brand Kia, they instantly think of its wide variety of family cars such as the Sportage, Picanto hatchback, Sorento, and the best-selling Soluto. However, Kia actually has an entry to the sporty sedan that is little known called the Stinger.

There are numerous factors to consider why the Stinger isn’t exactly a popular model in the Korean car brand’s lineup. Two of the most common factors people point out are its high price point and somewhat “basic” styling inside and out. For those who go for looks, the Stinger won’t be their first choice as it looks like a car worth less than Php 2,000,000.

Introducing Stinger l Kia

And as for those who actually read the brochure, they would know that the Stinger’s main selling point is its performance features. However, car buyers fail to see the Stinger pros since it is a “Kia.” This connotation disrupts the ambitious vision Kia has for its sporty Stinger sedan.

Fortunately, Kia addressed some of Stinger’s styling issues by launching the facelift version of the first-gen for 2021. With that being said, let’s take a look at the new changes on the 2021 Kia Stinger and see how it can help the Stinger thrive in the industry.  

2021 Kia Stinger: Exterior

Up front, the 2021 Stinger is still designed with the same front fascia. This means that the Stinger kept the brand’s signature tiger nose grille and striking bumper and headlight details. The car hood vents on each side are also carried over to the 2021 model.

One of the most notable changes for 2021 is the new wheel design that comes with a sportier appeal. In other markets, the Stinger can come in either 18 inches or 19 inches. As for the side profile, the 2021 Stinger still retained its sporty design details from the outgoing model.

The 2021 Kia Stinger facelift

Looking at the rear end, Kia installed a new full width led taillight for the facelifted model of the Stinger. This is a good detail since full-width LED taillights seem to be the trend in the automotive industry these days. With the new taillights, the new Stinger now comes with a more modern final look.

Another new feature at the rear end of the new Stinger is the enlarged quad exhaust pipes. Those changes alone help the Stinger provide a sportier appeal on the go. In consideration of all the exterior changes, we can say that Kia wants the 2021 Stinger facelift to look sportier and more modern.

As for the color options, the 2021 Kia Stinger can be finished in Snow White Pearl, Ceramic Silver, Micro Blue Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl, HiChroma Red, and Panthera Metal for all variants. All these color options are likely to be offered in the local as well once the facelifted Stinger is launched in the local market.

2021 Kia Stinger: Interior

The biggest downside people point out for the Kia Stinger is the interior. They say that price doesn’t match the interior look of the Stinger. For a car whose price exceeds the P3-million mark, car buyers have higher expectations for the sporty sedan.

The interior has been added with subtle features that made it look more luxurious

Luckily, the facelift got subtle changes in the interior as well. Kia is offering red maple quilted leather seats, which are way more luxurious than the bland black interior from the outgoing model. The Korean car brand is also offering customers a black Nappa leather interior finish if red isn’t their cup of tea.

2021 Kia Stinger: Engine and performance

Under the hood, the 2021 Kia Stinger is offered with two different engine options. The first engine option is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of making 255 hp and 353 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Striking rear end look

The other engine option is a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine capable of producing 365 hp and a whopping 510 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission as well. One can expect that Kia Philippines will be offering the larger engine only for 2021 as it is the option the PH-spec 2020 model currently offers.

The goal of Kia is to provide customers with a high-performance sedan driving experience. As such, the Korean car brand equipped the Stinger with sporty features such as launch control and a small butterfly valve that roars when the car is in Sport mode. For quieter driving, the Stinger can be switched to Eco or Comfort mode.

>>> Related: 2021 Kia Stinger gets subtle performance upgrades 

2021 Kia Stinger: On-board tech and safety features

The 2021 Kia Stinger facelift is equipped with a new and larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen that fits well on the dashboard. The new infotainment screen replaces the 8-inch from the outgoing model. It is complemented with new ambient lighting behind the screen that offers a total of 64 selectable colors.

The current Kia Stinger offered in the local market

As for safety, no significant updates are made. This means that the 2021 Kia Stinger facelift will still be equipped with automatic cruise control, smart key entry, seven airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control, blind-spot monitoring, and more.

2021 Kia Stinger: Final thoughts

The styling issues many car buyers point out on the Stinger are hopefully addressed by the facelifted version. If so, we can expect the Kia Stinger to gain more traction in the market and car buyers would feel that the price is justified.

What do you think of the facelift of the 2021 Kia Stinger?

As of this writing, Kia Philippines hasn’t released any statement regarding its plans for the 2021 PH-spec Kia Stinger. The facelifted version is already available in other markets. However, one can expect that the facelifted version of the Stinger could arrive in the country next year.

2021 Kia Stinger: Expected pricing

Despite having subtle changes in the tech and exterior styling, the 2021 Stinger is still offered at the same price in other markets. This makes sense since many people point out that the Stinger is overpriced. They said that they would rather pick sporty cars such as the Ford Mustang or a BMW 3 Series.

Increasing the price range of the Kia Stinger would potentially throw the sporty sedan off the competition. Currently, Kia Philippines is offering the only variant of the 2020 Kia Stinger which is the GT 3.3 V6 AT at Php 3,235,000.

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