Stinger Electronic Stability Control System - Beware!

[Ty Davis]

I find that Kia has programmed the stability control system to be VERY lenient and relaxed.
The computer has no problem with allowing significant wheel spin and consequently, severe oversteer. Even with the stability control in its strictest setting, the car can still spin out.

My previous vehicles have been BMW models that neatly curtailed wheelspin and prevented any sense of oversteer. On those cars, it was nearly impossible to spin the car even if you tried. The impression was that of being glued to the road, whether dry/rain/snow/or ice. The cars simply wouldn’t allow oversteer.

Back to the Stinger... ESC is late to act, and then does so lazily.
I wonder if Kia made the ESC so lenient in an effort to afford drivers the ability to really feel and experience the LSD rear axle. The rear end of this car is VERY playful.

As an enthusiast, I like this sporty behavior.
However, if I had kids or a wife that drove this car too, I might be less amused as the ESC simply doesn’t provide the safety net of some other systems out there. The Stinger stability control, in Comfort mode, allows more wheelspin and yaw than a BMW/Audi/Mercedes system in Sport mode.

It would not set a teenager loose with this car, because he could surely do damage with it do to the relaxed ESC calibration.

Put another way, Stinger ESC is very unobtrusive (bordering ineffective, in some situations). This is not a car you can just chuck around and expect the computers to drive it out of the corner for you.
It does require that the driver actually drive the car.


Just something to think about, before you toss your keys to your teenager, friends, or anyone else who may try to push the car...

RWD driving dynamics are fully present in this car and are uninhibited by the electronics.
Anyone who drives spiritedly, or in bad conditions, need to be informed of that BEFORE they drive the car. People new to this very sporty looking/high hp vehicle, will (understandably) be tempted to test its power and abilities. It can bite back if they are inexperienced, unaccustomed, or caught off guard.

Kudos to Kia for providing sporty driving dynamics...
Shame on Kia for not offering a mode that controls wheelspin and oversteer a bit more tightly.

On another note... These days, my automotive pet peeve is a car that offers a multitude of modes, but all being to similar. Everything is computer controlled today. Steering, shocks, brakes, transmission, stability control, etc.
With 5 modes to choose from (Eco/smart/comfort/sport/custom), most every whim should be catered too. The Engine/tranny respond marvelously to the selected driving mode. The Steering, Shocks, and Stability control could all use a bit more difference between the different modes. It is here, that Kia could have slipped in a more “family friendly” stability control program.

 

[Soca Boy]

Good info, I seen a few reviews of it driving around in snow and ice with no trouble, don’t think it’s something to be too worried about.

 

[Ty Davis]

Good info, I seen a few reviews of it driving around in snow and ice with no trouble, don’t think it’s something to be too worried about.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the Stinger system, at all.
I’m pointing out that this system is more lenient than some others.


P.S. I see from your sig you have a 98 Accord EX V6. I love those cars bro! I had a 98 ExV6 sedan and a 00 Ex V6 Coupe, back in the day. Very refined vehicles, that could give most vehicles sold today a run for their money.

 

[Soca Boy]

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the Stinger system, at all.
I’m pointing out that this system is more lenient than some others.


P.S. I see from your sig you have a 98 Accord EX V6. I love those cars bro! I had a 98 ExV6 sedan and a 00 Ex V6 Coupe, back in the day. Very refined vehicles, that could give most vehicles sold today a run for their money.

I agree with you, yeah it’s got everything and easy to use.

 

[robz32]

Very interesting info. Did you find this out through the Kia diagnostic tool?

 

[Ty Davis]

Very interesting info. Did you find this out through the Kia diagnostic tool?

No. I just bought my Stinger, so it is new to me. It is wet and cold here in Arkansas. Additionally, I have a GT2 with summer tires. It didn’t take much driving to find that the Stinger allows wheelspin, much more than I am used to in my BMW.

That prompted me to find an empty parking lot, so that I could acclimate myself with the way the Traction control and stability control systems work on the Stinger. Doing so, I found that the stability control system really lets me do whatever I want, noticeably intervening only after the car is very well sideways. This is truly the least intrusive stability control system I have ever experienced. So far, it NEVER gets in the way. But the downside of that is the “safety net” it provides is reduced too.

I haven’t seen the need to even switch the Stability Control or Traction Control off, because in all situations so far, it doesn’t intrude offensively with it on and in its basic setting.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Alternatively, in my opinion, the AWD Stinger (I assume yours is RWD since you mention spinning the rear) feels "normal" in terms of intrusiveness. I've had situations that have pulled power when I did not want it to. From an enthusiast's perspective, I feel my AWD with TCS off and Stability on is a good compromise for stability while still being able to spin the wheels off in a straight line. All nannies off allow a good amount of fun and sliding on slick roads. All nannies on is well balanced enough, but can cut power when you don't want it. I think the addition of "stability" I find on the AWD is the brake based "torque vectoring" wheel to wheel since all wheels are driven (aside from the fact our AWD cars have open diffs). You can definitely feel the vectoring keeping the car in a desired line rather than just RWD stability control that can't "send power" to other wheels since only two are driven.

 

[Ty Davis]

Alternatively, in my opinion, the AWD Stinger (I assume yours is RWD since you mention spinning the rear) feels "normal" in terms of intrusiveness. I've had situations that have pulled power when I did not want it to. From an enthusiast's perspective, I feel my AWD with TCS off and Stability on is a good compromise for stability while still being able to spin the wheels off in a straight line. All nannies off allow a good amount of fun and sliding on slick roads. All nannies on is well balanced enough, but can cut power when you don't want it. I think the addition of "stability" I find on the AWD is the brake based "torque vectoring" wheel to wheel since all wheels are driven (aside from the fact our AWD cars have open diffs). You can definitely feel the vectoring keeping the car in a desired line rather than just RWD stability control that can't "send power" to other wheels since only two are driven.

Yes. The AWD models do have a more traditional calibration.
The non LSD RWD may have a different calibration too.

Mine is RWD with LSD.

 

[Fboost]

Aggressive tc/sc can be just as dangerous, few things worse then trying to accelerate out of a t intersection then having the car cut power completely.

 

[Doel]

Interesting, much like the active suspension, it seems the traction and stability control is really inconsistent between cars. A lot of people find the system too intrusive even with it turned completely off.

 

[Ty Davis]

Aggressive tc/sc can be just as dangerous, few things worse then trying to accelerate out of a t intersection then having the car cut power completely.

That is true...

 

[Ty Davis]

Interesting, much like the active suspension, it seems the traction and stability control is really inconsistent between cars. A lot of people find the system too intrusive even with it turned completely off.

Very perplexing, indeed. I’ve seen people refer to the system as intrusive. I just assumed those were AWD or non lsd models.

 

[MerlintheMad]

This is not a car you can just chuck around and expect the computers to drive it out of the corner for you.
It does require that the driver actually drive the car.

That pretty much duplicates what the manual says about "driving your car". Don't demand more than the car is designed to give vis-à-vis safety features.

The Steering, Shocks, and Stability control could all use a bit more difference between the different modes. It is here, that Kia could have slipped in a more “family friendly” stability control program.

thanks for the insights. I agree with that. More safety in the more sedate driving modes would theoretically be a good thing.

It is wet and cold here in Arkansas.

Could you please include your location in your membership info?

 

[Doel]

Very perplexing, indeed. I’ve seen people refer to the system as intrusive. I just assumed those were AWD or non LSD (Limited Slip Differential) models.

that was my theory was well but there are people saying even with LSD, they can't completely turn it off. I have a rwd non-lsd and if I try to do a donut, it kicks in even when it's off.

But then there are people that can completely turn it off, very confusing.

 

[Socalstinga]

I find very little wheel spin unless i've got TC off. I also feel the nannies intruding when I'm trying to be on bad behavior and take a curved fwy offramp faster than the nannies liking. mine feels intrusive.

my other sedan is a g37 and I get way more wheel spin there, but much less nannies.

 

[Callum]

So based on this post, and other postings.

There really isn't an TC/SC standards on the Stinger. It's whatever you get, you get!

I can't spin anything even with TC off lol. Nothing cooler than trying to show off and all you get is a little chirp and the power is cut

 

[Fboost]

I have had my car kick the backend out a few times on hard acceleration but it straightens back up fairly quickly.
I guess my tc is a bit lazy

 

[Doel]

I have had my car kick the backend out a few times on hard acceleration but it straightens back up fairly quickly.
I guess my tc is a bit lazy

yeah.... with mine ON I can easily get the tail to kick out in first or if it's wet, but with it off it'll still stop me from swinging it all the way around. Makes no sense.

 

[Ty Davis]

I don’t drive in track conditions, only around town. But In this track test at 1:05, they mention and show the Stingers slow to react ESC, which allows the back end to slide around quite a bit.

P.S. That Sunset Yellow looks fabulous in slow motion!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I don’t drive in track conditions, only around town. But In this track test at 1:05, they mention and show the Stingers slow to react ESC, which allows the back end to slide around quite a bit.

P.S. That Sunset Yellow looks fabulous in slow motion!

I'm such a baby driver! I'd never throw my car around like that "for fun". Now, if I knew HOW to do that, I'd probably change my mind. But running over cones would really make me cringe.