Here it is, the facelift.

[David789]

#1. It looks like the sales lady is wearing a gigantic coat with nothing else underneath, very distracting

#2. New light bar is just “ok” IMO. It would not persuade me to upgrade.

#3. The quilted seats look way overdone. There is something off about their size and shape. IMO this is not an improvement

#4. The infotainment is nice, but as with the light bar, not a “must have” over previous.

#5. I didn’t see a demo of the analog gauges moving to full screen with the blind spot video assist. Now that is a significant upgrade IMO.

#6. Was hoping the new rims would be more exciting.

#7. I don’t understand the situation with the increased exhaust size and coffee-can look. Every Stinger enthusiast is going to replace the exhaust system anyway.

#8. Sad the front did not get any new treatment that significantly distinguishes it from prior model year.

#9. FINALLY.....where is the added V6 power?? I thought I read they were going to put the 3.5 in it. That would be worth the upgrade.

#10. PS: why couldn’t they have put the new Kia logo on it? I like it and hope to rebadge with it when it comes out. Steering wheel and exterior.

Overall, seems like a very low effort refresh. Not what I had hoped for. Now if they build this I’m all in and would upgrade no questions asked: GT Concept Car | Kia

 

[robz32]

Not bad. The majority of the changes were made on the interior, while the exterior remained mostly the same, which is a good thing. I still think Kia missed on the opportunity to really make the 3.3 a closer/better competitor to other luxury sporty brands, mainly the German ones.

We willl still have to wait until the 2nd quarter of 2021 to see what Kia North America decides to strip out of the fully loaded KDM version.....SMH



The difference on the two headlights are to denote a 2.5L configuration and a 3.3L configuration. The 2.5L being the one on the left of the photo (white car), while the 3.3L is on the right (blue car).

This feature (the seat adjustment buttons on the side of the passenger seat) is one of the many features that the North American market never got. It has been available since the Stinger was launched, but only available in the KDM and EUDM specs.

I don't think our friends from down under got the feature either. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Arive117]

It felt like we were waiting on this reveal forrrrreeeeevvvveeeerrrr. There were so many rumors about what engines would be used and changes to the interior and the Stinger’s hind parts.

Personally, I welcome some of the changes. The interior needed the larger infotainment screen as well as the option of an all digital cluster. I just wish it would’ve been shown in the videos. I like the seats in red and black with the contrast stitching (makes me think of Audi’s). I loved the old taillights but I don’t mind the new ones. I like the headlights of the white stinger (the 2.5L). The wheels made no difference, yes they look better but would be swapped out for aftermarket wheels anyway.

so I have to say I’m looking forward to purchasing one. Glad I waited a bit because I feel this changes give it a bit more value for your dollar, IF you didn’t have a stinger already.

just my 15 cents.

-Angel

 

[leecm]

The thing I want the most for my car is the “E” logo airbag. It just looks so much better than the Kia badged air bag.

I have one for sale in the classified

 

[ChaneRZ]

 

[xot1]

Not bad. The majority of the changes were made on the interior, while the exterior remained mostly the same, which is a good thing. I still think Kia missed on the opportunity to really make the 3.3 a closer/better competitor to other luxury sporty brands, mainly the German ones.

We willl still have to wait until the 2nd quarter of 2021 to see what Kia North America decides to strip out of the fully loaded KDM version.....SMH



The difference on the two headlights are to denote a 2.5L configuration and a 3.3L configuration. The 2.5L being the one on the left of the photo (white car), while the 3.3L is on the right (blue car).

This feature (the seat adjustment buttons on the side of the passenger seat) is one of the many features that the North American market never got. It has been available since the Stinger was launched, but only available in the KDM and EUDM specs.

I don't think our friends from down under got the feature either. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Correct.
All cars here have these buttons. Even lower priced cars (sonata etc.). Nothing new here. I bet US market cars won't have these buttons.

 

[Aero2001]

I'm glad they've added some safety tech to the revised Stinger, but I haven't seen anything about Automatic Emergency Braking or Forward Collision Warning as standard. I know those are optional on the current GT, but I believe they're standard on the new K5 so I figure they should be on the Stinger. Anybody have info on this?

 

[P22Tyler]

I read that the quilted leather will only be available in the Korean market. Hopefully that's not true, but it's not unbelievable since Kia does like to do stupid things like that.

 

[leecm]

Does anyone else think that the quilted seats would have looked better had KIA made the top part of the seat (below the headrest) unquilted to match the bolsters?

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Not bad. The majority of the changes were made on the interior, while the exterior remained mostly the same, which is a good thing. I still think Kia missed on the opportunity to really make the 3.3 a closer/better competitor to other luxury sporty brands, mainly the German ones.

It's real close, but better in some ways. With BMW you STILL can't get android auto at any price (there are hacks available but none work seamlessly). With the Audi S4, you are forced to choose between the sport seats OR ventilated seats. Kia wins over both.

We willl still have to wait until the 2nd quarter of 2021 to see what Kia North America decides to strip out of the fully loaded KDM version.....SMH

No kidding... and with BMW offering Android Auto by the end of the year... Kia had better get it right! Kia, stop stripping all the good stuff out of the US version!

The difference on the two headlights are to denote a 2.5L configuration and a 3.3L configuration. The 2.5L being the one on the left of the photo (white car), while the 3.3L is on the right (blue car).

Oh good - because the headlamps on the right are the ones I want. I was disappointed when I saw the spy photos of the style on the left and was hoping it was wrong, or that there was a choice. I'm glad the GT2 will get the gorgeous headlamps. The double hash ones look... meh.

This feature (the seat adjustment buttons on the side of the passenger seat) is one of the many features that the North American market never got. It has been available since the Stinger was launched, but only available in the KDM and EUDM specs.

I don't think our friends from down under got the feature either. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I love those quilted seats so I really hope we get those in the US - it may seem minor but it lends such an upscale feel that Kia would be damned fools to not offer those seats globally. That seat adjuster would be a nice-to-have so I'll be able to move the passenger seat back from the driver's seat.

Relaxing and globalizing color would be great too - why can I not get deep chroma blue in the US, or, why can I not get the micro blue car with the "red" leather interior? Let me order it how I want it, dang it!

 

[Sime]

Give me the bigger infotainment screen. They can keep the rest

We have that screen in our Seltos GT, and tbh, you don’t notice it after awhile. Me personally, I think the smaller one suits the car better, the stinger should be more driving focused over bling.

 

[Metalmania82]

The difference on the two headlights are to denote a 2.5L configuration and a 3.3L configuration. The 2.5L being the one on the left of the photo (white car), while the 3.3L is on the right (blue car).

I also like that (at least it seems like in the pictures) they changed the DRL's to be one solid light instead of the individual pin points. If that makes any sense.

 

[Jayphil]

I also like that (at least it seems like in the pictures) they changed the DRL's to be one solid light instead of the individual pin points. If that makes any sense.

Any comparison picture of the current Stinger to explain what you mean?

 

[Metalmania82]

Nope! Haha, I just tried looking at pictures online but you can't tell, which means it still might be the same with the new ones. But if you go out and look at yours, you can see where the individual LEDs have a sort of housing/socket inside the strip, rather than one solid strip of light it's made up of several LED housings/sockets.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Nope! Haha, I just tried looking at pictures online but you can't tell, which means it still might be the same with the new ones. But if you go out and look at yours, you can see where the individual LEDs have a sort of housing/socket inside the strip, rather than one solid strip of light it's made up of several LED housings/sockets.

My 2018 DRL's looks identical to those when illuminated so I'm not sure what you mean either. I'm happy they didn't move the new model to the the newer DRL for the 2.5T because it's a lot less aggressive looking to me.

 

[Sabs]

Does anyone else think that the quilted seats would have looked better had KIA made the top part of the seat (below the headrest) unquilted to match the bolsters?

Exactly my thought, especially on the red leather. The quilting pattern is nice, but it's just too much on the upper seat IMO.

 

[Mike_TX]

I guess my take is that my 2020 won't look out of date when these 2021's hit the streets.

 

[jazzdabb]

I guess my take is that my 2020 won't look out of date when these 2021's hit the streets.

A classic is a classic.

 

[PBennett18]

O it’s still gonna turn heads, honestly I was kind of pissed at first that they’re bringing it back but honestly it will only make aftermarket better and give the stinger a longer life span.

 

[Jayphil]

O it’s still gonna turn heads, honestly I was kind of pissed at first that they’re bringing it back but honestly it will only make aftermarket better and give the stinger a longer life span.

A short life car / name is not very good for resale value because of recognition (people see this as if the car was a mistake / not good enough), also not good for KIA support (things fixed on the facelift that could apply to the pre-facelift), aftermarket support, etc. The only place where it might be good if for rareness on the road.

The good news is that many current owners seems to enjoy their car and to not care much for the new stuff. On the other hand potential future owners (like me) seems to appreciate most of the new stuff equally or more vs the pre-facelift version.

For me the only pace where prefer the old one is the visible real exhaust exits in the fake outlets.

For the rear light and I am not sure if I prefer the old vs new is the rear lamp but I do like the look of both in general.

I guess KIA could have gone the Porsche 911 (991 version left) way instead of the 911 (992 way right)