2018 Kia Stinger Features and Options (USA)

[westcoastGT]

Lets see , We have established launch/intro pricing for both Canada and Australia so we have bench marks from a price strategy perspective ,The top model Stinger in Austaralia is virtually parity with a loaded Sorento . Over $50,000 is the danger zone for Kia , they have no trouble selling Sorentos at $49,000 , but K900 over $50,000 , not so much . I bet the US price strategy will be consistent , why disrupt US consumers with bargain pricing in two small(er ) markets like Canada and Australia .............................the boys in the US could use some good news these days !

 

[zoop]

Lets see , We have established launch/intro pricing for both Canada and Australia so we have bench marks from a price strategy perspective ,The top model Stinger in Austaralia is virtually parity with a loaded Sorento . Over $50,000 is the danger zone for Kia , they have no trouble selling Sorentos at $49,000 , but K900 over $50,000 , not so much . I bet the US price strategy will be consistent , why disrupt US consumers with bargain pricing in two small(er ) markets like Canada and Australia .............................the boys in the US could use some good news these days !

I agree... I'm in the market and waiting on the G70 sport and Stinger. As much as badge pricing sucks, simple fact is people in the 50k+ range do not want to get a "but it's a Kia" response when their buddies see their car, regardless of if it drives better and looks better. I personally dont care and just want the best car for the money but it is an uphill battle with the wife and friends. There's also the big downside of it sharing a lot of design appearance with the Optima although the cars themselves are night and day different. I really hope KIA puts the STINGER emblem on the back instead of KIA so that aftermarket the only things that need to be changed will be the KIA logos on the front, steering wheel, and 4 wheel cap covers.

 

[westcoastGT]

I agree... I'm in the market and waiting on the G70 sport and Stinger. As much as badge pricing sucks, simple fact is people in the 50k+ range do not want to get a "but it's a Kia" response when their buddies see their car, regardless of if it drives better and looks better. I personally dont care and just want the best car for the money but it is an uphill battle with the wife and friends. There's also the big downside of it sharing a lot of design appearance with the Optima although the cars themselves are night and day different. I really hope KIA puts the STINGER emblem on the back instead of KIA so that aftermarket the only things that need to be changed will be the KIA logos on the front, steering wheel, and 4 wheel cap covers.

For $30 you can buy a factory Stinger logo and put it on yourself , I've already got mine and the E badge

 

[zoop]

For $30 you can buy a factory Stinger logo and put it on yourself , I've already got mine and the E badge

Where did you get yours from, Ebay? Ill wait until I actually have the car ordered before I get them but right now Im seeing the wheel cap covers as $150, the E badge as $50, and the STINGER as $50-70. I dont see the steering badge anywhere yet. I got the full set for my Optima for $30-50 so Im hoping these drop in price once the car is out and demand/supply increases.

 

[Chris]

Where did you get yours from, Ebay? Ill wait until I actually have the car ordered before I get them but right now Im seeing the wheel cap covers as $150, the E badge as $50, and the STINGER as $50-70. I dont see the steering badge anywhere yet. I got the full set for my Optima for $30-50 so Im hoping these drop in price once the car is out and demand/supply increases.

The admin of this site is selling the stinger script badge. I think there is a link at the bottom of the main page.

 

[westcoastGT]

Where did you get yours from, Ebay? Ill wait until I actually have the car ordered before I get them but right now Im seeing the wheel cap covers as $150, the E badge as $50, and the STINGER as $50-70. I dont see the steering badge anywhere yet. I got the full set for my Optima for $30-50 so Im hoping these drop in price once the car is out and demand/supply increases.

Yup , E Bay , I got them before I joined this site ................I just saw those wheel cap covers today BUT they are NOT OEM so I'll wait until someone gets the real thing , the air bag covers will show up eventually ..........

 

[Never thought]

Ok so I just checked out a Stinger GT here in Gilbert, AZ at Horne Kia. It has the Kia badging on the exterior but the Korean E emblem on the steering wheel. It definitely has a 360 degree camera and heated rear seats. It has a sunroof but it's definitely not a panoramic sunroof. I am assuming it's the GT2 because it appears to be loaded. I am assuming it's a US spec car but it's odd it has the E emblem on the steering wheel (but one less emblem to takeoff!)

 

[eljay]

Ok so I just checked out a Stinger GT here in Gilbert, AZ at Horne Kia. It has the Kia badging on the exterior but the Korean E emblem on the steering wheel. It definitely has a 360 degree camera and heated rear seats. It has a sunroof but it's definitely not a panoramic sunroof. I am assuming it's the GT2 because it appears to be loaded. I am assuming it's a US spec car but it's odd it has the E emblem on the steering wheel (but one less emblem to takeoff!)

I don't think any of the dealers have U.S. spec cars--even the two at the recent O.C. auto show were Korean spec. So we can't accept that any features (or colors!) on the showroom cars will be on the cars sold here.

 

[Never thought]

I don't think any of the dealers have U.S. spec cars--even the two at the recent O.C. auto show were Korean spec. So we can't accept that any features (or colors!) on the showroom cars will be on the cars sold here.

The other thing I noticed is that it has normal looking dome lights unlike my 2017 Sorento or the Optima which have more high end looking LED dome lighting. Although, that shouldn't be a deal breaker for anyone. So you could be right that it isn't US Spec. If it was Korean spec it would have the E badge all around.

Just a note, to get ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, and HID headlights on the 2016 Sorento, you had to buy the SXL with a $2500 tech package. On the 2017 Sorento they were available on the EX (minus ventilated seats) and on the SX (including ventilated front seats). The 2017 Optima added LED headlights over the 2016 HID. So Kia has a history of adding more options on lower trims for the second year of a new model. Keep that in mind.

 

[jwhollan]

If it was Korean spec it would have the E badge all around.

There are pictures of the cars right out of customs, before being delivered to the dealers, that have the E badge on the front bumper. They pulled those off to put the KIA badge on, but didn't bother with the steering wheel (probably because it's more effort than it's worth). The Stinger script on the back is also not US-spec, but they likely left that because it was less confusing than the E Badge.

 

[david norman]

There are pictures of the cars right out of customs, before being delivered to the dealers, that have the E badge on the front bumper. They pulled those off to put the KIA badge on, but didn't bother with the steering wheel (probably because it's more effort than it's worth). The Stinger script on the back is also not US-spec, but they likely left that because it was less confusing than the E Badge.

What site are the pictures?

 

[jwhollan]

What site are the pictures?

8th or 9th post down on this thread: https://stingerforum.org/threads/stinger-arrival-date.665/page-3

 

[zoop]

Not having the panoramic sunroof is a big disappointment to me, that was a huge bonus.

EDIT: Looks like I was getting confused with a Genesis model. Seems like the Kia wasnt really going to have a panoramic sunroof.

 

[Bamm1]

Not having the panoramic sunroof is a big disappointment to me, that was a huge bonus.

I don't recall Kia offering a Stinger with a panoramic sunroof in any market. The sunroof is always described as "wide" or "full width" but never panoramic. I don't have the source at the moment but I believe there was some talk of not going the "full glass roof" direction in order to maintain their desired level of structural rigidity.

 

[david norman]

The GT I

I don't recall Kia offering a Stinger with a panoramic sunroof in any market. The sunroof is always described as "wide" or "full width" but never panoramic. I don't have the source at the moment but I believe there was some talk of not going the "full glass roof" direction in order to maintain their desired level of structural rigidity.

the Stinger GT I have visited several times sunroof goes to the back seat.

 

[Bamm1]

The GT I
the Stinger GT I have visited several times sunroof goes to the back seat.

Interesting. So the entire roof is glass? Did you happen to take any pictures?

That is in contradiction to additional information posted in this thread:

https://stingerforum.org/threads/kia-usa-stinger-presentation.762/#post-6157

 

[david norman]

Interesting. So the entire roof is glass? Did you happen to take any pictures?

That is in contradiction to additional information posted in this thread:

https://stingerforum.org/threads/kia-usa-stinger-presentation.762/#post-6157

No it wasn’t a full glass roof like the optima but the sunroom was really long. I’ll take pictures this week when I drive by after work.

 

[Bamm1]

No it wasn’t a full glass roof like the optima but the sunroom was really long. I’ll take pictures this week when I drive by after work.

Thanks! That would be great.

 

[moinmoin]

Thanks! That would be great.

From Kiamedia: I suspect the hatch back feature requires more strength in the roof and prevents a larger sun roof?



2018 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD
09/26/17 | ID: 12953

 

[tom]

Picking nits here:
I took the wife to see the Stinger over the weekend, she sat in an Optima SX Limited pack right before and commented that she wished the Stinger had the solid seatback pocket and the rear shades of the Optima.

I then went to search the German competitors and they have net style seaback pockets too.