Consumer Reports rating is out

[mcmckuf]

So far only the Premium has been tested.
Overall Score: 69 (middle of the pack)
Road Test: 75 (also middle)
Owner Sat: Very Good

Highs:
-Handling
-Front Seat Comfort
-Hatchback Versatility

Lows:
-Ride (not sure I agree with that)
-Tight Rear Seat
-Difficult Access
-Unintuitive shifter on GT2

-M

 

[mldavis2]

Consumer Reports should stick to can openers and vacuum cleaners. Have them check virtually every other professional car reviewer on earth for how to review a vehicle. You can't be an expert on everything ever sold.

 

[xot1]

I cannot agree with these cons...
The ride is super nice for this category of car...

 

[Rufus]

Holy moley! It took them 7.5 seconds to get to 60mph with the 2.0?!! How many reviewers were in the car?!?!

 

[Merkur720]

So far only the Premium has been tested.
Overall Score: 69 (middle of the pack)
Road Test: 75 (also middle)
Owner Sat: Very Good

Highs:
-Handling
-Front Seat Comfort
-Hatchback Versatility

Lows:
-Ride (not sure I agree with that)
-Tight Rear Seat
-Difficult Access
-Unintuitive shifter on GT2

-M

Seems strange they would comment on the GT2 shifter as a "low" when they tested the Stinger Premium 2.0T -- To me, they had to look pretty hard to find low points. EVERY sports sedan with exception to the Panamera and A7 have fairly tight rear quarters. At this point, nothing has "easy access" compared to boring SUVs.

 

[Weareblondi]

as for the cramped rear seats, if i, at 6'3" and 238, i wear a 50 for a jacket and 36 waist for pants, just for reference in how wide my shoulders are, if i can fit easily back there, those reporters have to be a sasquatch. or my aunt maria. shes a big girl

 

[eljay]

I haven't checked, but I'm guessing this video is posted elsewhere on the Forum; I'm posting it here for its relevance. Pick up at 10:30 for the segment comparing the Buick Regal to the 2.0 Stinger, but more importantly at 12:40 for an admission that CR's numbers don't really tell the whole story. Two of these guys would evidently happily buy Stingers in spite of their own company rating it lower than the Regal.

 

[Rufus]

I haven't checked, but I'm guessing this video is posted elsewhere on the Forum; I'm posting it here for its relevance. Pick up at 10:30 for the segment comparing the Buick Regal to the 2.0 Stinger, but more importantly at 12:40 for an admission that CR's numbers don't really tell the whole story. Two of these guys would evidently happily buy Stingers in spite of their own company rating it lower than the Regal.

Thanks so much for posting! The middle host was coming from a different pov than his 2 co-hosts IMO, but I found it interesting that neither of his co-hosts agreed with him in regards to his "JC Whitney" crack. The other 2 enumerated what most driving enthusiasts who are looking for a car want, minus their impression of the suspension. My 2.0 isn't an AWD premium like it sounds their tester is, so I can't speak to that setup, but mine feels nothing like what they're describing...

Also wondering if their tester as spec'd is somewhat accounting for the 0-60 times? 7.5 is well off most reviews I've seen for the 2.0....

 

[LeoDragon]

I have the top end GT2 and I disagree with the ride and the shifter. Both are fine to me and those who have driven in my car!

 

[phxgt]

I have the top end GT2 and I disagree with the ride and the shifter. Both are fine to me and those who have driven in my car!

The ride is great but for a vehicle where everything else has been so intuitive the shifter is taking some getting used to for me. Its not "bad" but it is different.

 

[mcmckuf]

I have to agree on the shifter. Every morning when I'm backing out of the launch bay it feels like I have to put it in D first, then R. Not to mention the reverse tone is waaaay to loud.

 

[Rufus]

Base models get the old school, Musclecar "T-bar" shifter--mine even has the foot operated e-brake, just like my Chevelle had!

 

[A Member Who Left]

Consumer reports is not worth the paper it’s written on......unless you’re wiping your butt with it. Just my opinion. Haven’t followed their car reviews for years.

 

[eljay]

I have the top end GT2 and I disagree with the ride and the shifter. Both are fine to me and those who have driven in my car!

I've had no problem with the shifter. After driving nothing but Fords and GMs with traditional shifts since college, I thought that maybe this would be a new trick that this old puppy might not adjust to easily. Past the first drive, the learning curve was instant; like so much else in the Stinger's design, it's pretty intuitive. (Note on my lack of adaptability: I was so intimidated by the Acura's buttons that I wouldn't even test drive one.)

What has CR said about all the other quirky shifters out there? (Dang, Mercedes has one on a steering wheel stalk? I haven't driven one of those since I was on my learner's permit!) Or are they just picking on the Stinger?

Base models get the old school, Musclecar "T-bar" shifter--mine even has the foot operated e-brake, just like my Chevelle had!

I have to admit, sometimes while I'm setting the parking brake on my GT2, my left foot is simultaneously reflexively reaching for the foot brake.

 

[twig2121]

I don't understand the tight back seat comment...with so much legroom (more than any other vehicle we are considering) that's a positive for the car

 

[mcmckuf]

I don't understand the tight back seat comment...with so much legroom (more than any other vehicle we are considering) that's a positive for the car

Completely agree...I shopped a lot of cars and for the features/performance at this price point, you won't find bigger. Not a fair comparison.

 

[A Member Who Left]

The Regal GS looks worse than an Optima.......which looks Great IMO. It’s a plain Jane boxy look compared to the Stinger. Yeah, the backseat legroom thing is for the birds. CR has had Toyota and Honda so far up their backsides for years you can’t even see their shoes anymore. We all know who has the better initial quality and is rated higher in longer term quality anyway. GM or Kia? Hmmmmmmm.

 

[Rufus]

The Regal GS looks worse than an Optima.......which looks Great IMO. It’s a plain Jane boxy look compared to the Stinger. Yeah, the backseat legroom thing is for the birds. CR has had Toyota and Honda so far up their backsides for years you can’t even see their shoes anymore. We all know who has the better initial quality and is rated higher in longer term quality anyway. GM or Kia? Hmmmmmmm.

To be fair, Buick has the best reliability of all GM brands. It may have even cracked the top 10, but definitely not as reliable as Kia.

 

[LeoDragon]

The ride is great but for a vehicle where everything else has been so intuitive the shifter is taking some getting used to for me. Its not "bad" but it is different.

Oh for sure. The shifter is different and it’s really unique! I actually love the shifter!

 

[YEH]

Consumer Reports should stick to can openers and vacuum cleaners. Have them check virtually every other professional car reviewer on earth for how to review a vehicle. You can't be an expert on everything ever sold.

Think they are generally fine w/ their reviews as long as one understands that they take a more holistic view (as opposed to say, C&D which places a premium on driving dynamics and performance) - where things like passenger and cargo space are more important factors than for most auto publications (Motor Trend actually started to take a more holistic approach in their Big comparison tests).

And as the Talking Cars ep shows, the personal opinions of CR's testers may differ w/ what is published and from each other.

Usually Toyota and Lexus models score well w/ CR (tho, there have been a # of models, like the IS250, which have gotten a horrible score), but that's b/c Toyota/Lexus tends to do other things well.

But a # of years back, CR did a list of their 10 least fun vehicles to drive and Toyota/Lexus made up half the list.

I don't understand the tight back seat comment...with so much legroom (more than any other vehicle we are considering) that's a positive for the car

The Stinger has a good amount of leg-room (more than most of the competition in the compact luxury segment), but the problem seems to be w/ space in the footwell and for some passengers - headroom (which is a given due to its fastback design).