2019 Kia Stinger

[Jayce]

So, I know there are some people that have been turned off by some of the decisions that Kia has made. It seems that this has spilled over into some of the other threads at times, especially for the US model. So what I want to know is, what don't you like about the 2018 model that you hope Kia will fix or improve with the 2019 model. I have pretty much all but decided that the 2018 Stinger isn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the car. I think it's beautiful, but there are some things that turn me off of it. Could I get a car from some other manufacturer, yeah I could, but at this point no one manufacturer hits all the points that I want for the price that I want. Could I compromise and get this year's model? Yeah I probably could, but I don't actually need a new car. My 2015 Optima runs well and my lease doesn't end until June anyway. So I've decided that I'm going to wait and see what the 2019 model brings. I'm hopeful that we'll get all the features next year, wireless charging, 360 camera, and rear heated seats, as well as some better color options. It would be nice if we at least could customize a little more and be given the chance to wait until they can build what we want.

So my plan is, wait to see what's going to happen with the 2019 Stinger. If it's largely the same and there are no real improvements, maybe I'll get a good deal on a 2018 Stinger that they're getting rid of before the 2019s roll in. If there are more options available that I actually want, then I'll go for the 2019. I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a Stinger because I believe it's the car for me. The only question is, which model year will it be.

With all that being said, what improvements/changes are the rest of you hoping to see in the 2019 version?

 

[damtachoa]

I don't think KIA will made changes to this car unless few things like throwing in 360 camera and wireless charging. However, if you look carefully, you still see here and there few plastic materials interior like drive mode nob. There are no options to have carbon fiber trim instead of aluminum.

 

[Chris]

So, I know there are some people that have been turned off by some of the decisions that Kia has made. It seems that this has spilled over into some of the other threads at times, especially for the US model. So what I want to know is, what don't you like about the 2018 model that you hope Kia will fix or improve with the 2019 model. I have pretty much all but decided that the 2018 Stinger isn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the car. I think it's beautiful, but there are some things that turn me off of it. Could I get a car from some other manufacturer, yeah I could, but at this point no one manufacturer hits all the points that I want for the price that I want. Could I compromise and get this year's model? Yeah I probably could, but I don't actually need a new car. My 2015 Optima runs well and my lease doesn't end until June anyway. So I've decided that I'm going to wait and see what the 2019 model brings. I'm hopeful that we'll get all the features next year, wireless charging, 360 camera, and rear heated seats, as well as some better color options. It would be nice if we at least could customize a little more and be given the chance to wait until they can build what we want.

So my plan is, wait to see what's going to happen with the 2019 Stinger. If it's largely the same and there are no real improvements, maybe I'll get a good deal on a 2018 Stinger that they're getting rid of before the 2019s roll in. If there are more options available that I actually want, then I'll go for the 2019. I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a Stinger because I believe it's the car for me. The only question is, which model year will it be.

With all that being said, what improvements/changes are the rest of you hoping to see in the 2019 version?

I'll put them in the order of how important they are too me.
1) alcantra headliner
2) 360 camera
3) deep chroma blue color (or colour for our Canadian friends)
4) remote start through the UVO app.
5) rear heated seats
6) wireless charging
7) wireless Android auto (note: I do not expect them to add this - but it would be super nice)

If they did 1-4 I would buy the car. Without those I wouldn't.

 

[CHC]

I'm glad you started a new post about this, because I know there is a specific group of us who are waiting for next year's model, given our disappointment with the year 2018 release. I have also pretty much decided that the Kia Stinger GT2 is the one for me, and I honestly haven't really found a suitable alternative that I am willing to go with, so for me, it's just the waiting game at this point. I also have not driven the car to speak to its testament, so I don't have an opinion about that yet.

The biggest turnoffs for year 2018 is the decontenting for the U.S. domestic market... period. I don't want to beat on a dead horse, but the biggest things that I was really looking forward to this car personally was the 360 SVM and the HUD. I think it's pretty ridiculous that Kia offers specific features in other models in their portfolio, and then to not offer them on purpose for solely financial gains is the biggest insult that I have ever come across when looking at a brand new launch model. Factor in the amount of money spent on the car and not getting what you really want... that kinda hurts, so I have decided that 2018 models are not for me. Besides, it realistically wouldn't hurt to wait to see what potential problems may creep up along the way, and what fixes there are.

What I would really like to see next year for 2019 Stingers are:

• Available 360 SVM for 2.0T trims and 3.3T trims
• Standard shift knob for all trims levels, as shown with the shift-by-wire
• Dedicated manual shifting override mode
• Available HUD for 2.0T trims (Korean spec 2.0T GT Line has this)
• Deep Chroma Blue for the US
• Wireless Charging
• Rear heated seats
• Better headliner materials
• Better fuel economy (although not likely)
• Better/smoother algorithms perhaps for the cruise-control traffic assistance
• Trickle down the proximity auto-open feature for the hatch for 2.0T Premium
• Ventilated seats options for 2.0T Premium

 

[CoconutRob]

The model I want is the GT2. I would like to see deep chroma blue or micro blue with Napa red interior option. I would also like all season tires or at least the option for all season tires on the standard 19-inch wheel staggered. I would like to see functional hood vents but doubt that would happen. Also the 360 camera would be nice and cup holder cover but those two aren't the deal breakers. A negotiable price or at least an incentive price to drop the GT2 under 50K. I hope I can hold out the more I read and look at the Buick Regal GS it's about tide at this point.

 

[Jumpy]

If they offered a trim level similar to the Korean 2.0 GT Line, with all color choices available, that would be much more enticing.

 

[Melissa Rothburg]

I'd like to see a more aggressive looking 4 cylinder model. I like the way Lexus does their F Sport packages and I think it would be a great idea for Kia to do something similar so people can have that aggressive look to the Stinger even if they don't want a fast car.

 

[Jayce]

If they offered a trim level similar to the Korean 2.0 GT Line, with all color choices available, that would be much more enticing.

If they had that, I would actually probably go with the 2.0 over the 3.3. I like the extra power, but don't really need it and I'm mostly aiming for a GT2 for the upgraded features and looks.

 

[oxide365]

wireless charging is slow, if you badly wanted it, just get a wireless charging pad and put it in.

 

[hej]

I actually think it's semi likely that Kia will "upgrade" the US with the same equipment everybody else is getting in 2019. Not holding my breath on the colors, though I'd like the Deep Chroma Blue.

 

[Jayce]

I actually think it's semi likely that Kia will "upgrade" the US with the same equipment everybody else is getting in 2019. Not holding my breath on the colors, though I'd like the Deep Chroma Blue.

This is what I think as well. They may not change anything else, but I could at least see the US version getting all the features next year. That's a big part of why I am waiting. I would be kicking myself for the next couple of years if I got the 2018 and then the 2019 got the features that I wanted. So I'll wait and see what they do. I hope we get more colors too, but I would be fine with a white one with black interior with all the features.

 

[STNGRNV]

Since my car is 20 years old anyway, most cars would be an upgrade. I'm looking at the 2.0 (haven't decided between base and premium. I don't really see a big advantage in the premium).

1) My biggest issue is the price they're asking combined with the lack of features, specifically the safety features. I think either most of the safety package should be rolled into the MSRP price or they should be cheaper. I was looking at the 2017 Accord Sport and they were only charging 1k for Honda Sense. Now in the 2018 base model it is included.

2) I would like the same aesthetic as the GT, but I can live with the looks of the base model.

 

[netmag]

If they take another year just to put back in the luxury items they took out for the US, that will just guarantee that the Stinger is further behind others.

KIA claims this vehicle is supposed to shock buyers into considering KIA, yet they purposely water it down compared to the Canadian model. They purposely make an effort NOT to offer their best here. Since they decided to save a few hundred bucks by trimming features, I assume that they're not really all that concerned about "taking a loss to make a big statement" here in the US.

As I said before, at the GT price range you're starting to get into the WANT area as opposed to the NEED area. If KIA claims to be willing to take a loss to climb into the WANT arena, then I don't see why they'd make an extra effort to lower the features in the vehicle.

Deal Killers for 2018 (all of which could have easily been offered if they wanted to)
1.) Deep Chroma Blue

yes, the color that they displayed across most of the US that then ridiculously became 1 of 2 colors that they simply would not offer as an option on any trim. And I'll keep pounding this as glaringly incompetent until I see an official statement from KIA soon saying that they will indeed offer this color as an option and when they'll offer it.​

2.) 360 Camera

This is not only a nice to have luxury feature. I think this is actually an important safety feature for this particular vehicle given the limited rear window viewing. To me, it's a double feature because of this and is good justification to get the higher trim. Also, we're not complaining about pie in the sky features that we feel they SHOULD have, we're talking about features that they DO have, but simply chose not to even offer here. So yes, a clear mess-up on KIA's part.​

3.) Rear Seat Heat

Another nice luxury feature that would actually be quite useful where I live. It was a real selling point for my wife as then the kids would also have heated seats. Again, something shown in the Deep Chroma Blue demo car, but deleted just for the sake of scraping a bit more profit. Oh well, so much for wanting to make the big opening splash.
​

That's my big 3. I'd get the GT2 now at the current price if it had those options. #2 and #3 they actually are offering in our neighbors to the north and south (Canada and Mexico) and at a much lower price too. Some other things that would be nice, but didn't kill the purchase for me:

• Wireless Charging
• The GT2 shifter knob style (even without shift by wire) as opposed to the 80's shifter knob they have on all trims below GT2
• remote start via app (gets cold here)

Anyway, given the incompetency I've seen just in the last few months, I'm not holding my breath for anything in 2019. Instead of being slightly ahead, they'll already be behind the competition anyway because they purposely hamstrung themselves in 2018.

 

[moinmoin]

That's my big 3

Fully agreed, and this coming from Canada.
If you have a look at the 2018 Sonatas and Optimas, you'll find that a lot of the same or similar engines/transmissions/technology/equipment are shared throughout the Hyundai/Kia vehicles, where the Stinger seemingly gets short changed:
12V outlets are not deleted because of wireless charging pads (2 in the Sorrento!).
Additional 12V outlets hidden in the console would also be advantageous.
Where are the 120V outlets, isn't that car conceived as a GT for long distance travelling?
How about the retractable sunshades of the Cadenza, which is sold at thousands less?
Or the covered console of the Korean edition?
Then the car is marketed without a full complement of accessories. Really the pits when you live in Canada.

Consider this: at the moment, I can buy a fully loaded 2018 Buick Regal Sportback GS for almost $3,000. less than what they are currently asking for a Stinger......
Consequently, as long as there are no considerations offered, I am hanging back.

 

[Jayce]

Fully agreed, and this coming from Canada.
If you have a look at the 2018 Sonatas and Optimas, you'll find that a lot of the same or similar engines/transmissions/technology/equipment are shared throughout the Hyundai/Kia vehicles, where the Stinger seemingly gets short changed:
12V outlets are not deleted because of wireless charging pads (2 in the Sorrento!).
Additional 12V outlets hidden in the console would also be advantageous.
Where are the 120V outlets, isn't that car conceived as a GT for long distance travelling?
How about the retractable sunshades of the Cadenza, which is sold at thousands less?
Or the covered console of the Korean edition?
Then the car is marketed without a full complement of accessories. Really the pits when you live in Canada.

Consider this: at the moment, I can buy a fully loaded 2018 Buick Regal Sportback GS for almost $3,000. less than what they are currently asking for a Stinger......
Consequently, as long as there are no considerations offered, I am hanging back.

Yeah, I don't understand why they would have less technology in it than some of their other lesser vehicles. Quite confusing to me. I'm hoping that they continually add things in the future so that it can be a true flagship.

 

[moinmoin]

Quite confusing

Kia is also confused. Severely. They think they thought they can sell the car on 3 words: "Schreyer, Biermann, Nürburgring". Fact is, it's just a car, and will have lost roughly 50% of what you paid for after 36 month. Vehicles from Hyundai/Kia represent generally a good value, the Stinger not so much. And de-contenting a car is certainly not the way to go. It also helps if you have your act rehearsed and know how to introduce a new vehicle to a new (to you) market.

 

[westcoastGT]

Fully agreed, and this coming from Canada.
If you have a look at the 2018 Sonatas and Optimas, you'll find that a lot of the same or similar engines/transmissions/technology/equipment are shared throughout the Hyundai/Kia vehicles, where the Stinger seemingly gets short changed:
12V outlets are not deleted because of wireless charging pads (2 in the Sorrento!).
Additional 12V outlets hidden in the console would also be advantageous.
Where are the 120V outlets, isn't that car conceived as a GT for long distance travelling?
How about the retractable sunshades of the Cadenza, which is sold at thousands less?
Or the covered console of the Korean edition?
Then the car is marketed without a full complement of accessories. Really the pits when you live in Canada.

Consider this: at the moment, I can buy a fully loaded 2018 Buick Regal Sportback GS for almost $3,000. less than what they are currently asking for a Stinger......
Consequently, as long as there are no considerations offered, I am hanging back.

So youre out ? Really .............................you know you wont get any deals so what consideratons are you expecting or have you already asked for your deposit back ?

 

[moinmoin]

youre out

More like our bears - retracting & hibernating LOL I may change my mind, come spring - who knows.
These cars won't be sold at MSRP forever.....and there are always other cars & technologies. And competition.

 

[westcoastGT]

OK , dont let the door hit your ass on the way out

 

[Jayce]

More like our bears - retracting & hibernating LOL I may change my mind, come spring - who knows.
These cars won't be sold at MSRP forever.....and there are always other cars & technologies. And competition.

I never thought you would be out lol. Well let's hope they get it together next year!