It's Here!! Consumer Reports.

[Dick Dastardly]

......they also listed it as a compact luxury sedan......instead of a sport sedan which it clearly is.....but I'll take the luxury tag any day....

It's certainly the most luxurious car that I have ever owned, so yeah I can agree with that!

 

[rocket23]

Oh yeah, for me as well........These cars have more bells and whistles than a Christmas choir....

 

[YEH]

If you take the review as being about 'white goods' rather than a pure car review it comes out pretty well, which I guess suits their target audience.
What I find strange is that they found the suspension "stiff" and "brittle" while at the same time saying it performed well as a sport saloon on the track - which is always the compromise on set up. If more compliant they would complain it was not handling properly at speed!
The complaint about the infotainment screen being a bit too far away is immediately contradicted by footage of a guy reaching it extremely easily.
The gear shifter comment was really looking for something to say - 24 hours with any new car and those issues disappear.
Otherwise a fair review about a car for non-car people.

The ''book'' also had handling as a ''high'' and ''ride'' as a low........seems a car that handles well, would also be a good ride......they also listed it as a compact luxury sedan......instead of a sport sedan which it clearly is.....but I'll take the luxury tag any day.....I always get bystanders saying...'' What kinda car is that?!

I think Cr did the same thing here.

A good # of reviews have had some issues w/ the Stinger's ride quality, so it's not like CR is off base here.

From the CR road test of the Stinger.

Kia has branched into sports-sedan territory with its new four-door hatchback Stinger. It was designed as a thoroughbred rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with an aggressive stance. In our tests, the Stinger proved to be a nimble car that combines performance, style, and practicality. But in terms of luxury and comfort, it’s not quite to the level of an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series.

The Stinger feels taut and agile when steering through corners, and it was a real hoot around the CR test track. The car demonstrated good tire grip and a balanced breakaway point at its limits, making it enjoyable to drive. Ride comfort is another matter. Impacts from pavement imperfections come through as stiff jolts, and the rear of the car can feel unsettled over large bumps. Other performance sedans strike a better balance between ride and handling.

2019 Kia Stinger Road Test - Consumer Reports

As for the category for which it was included, most of the compact luxury sedans are regarded as sports sedans (3er, A4, C Class, Q50, ATS, XE, Giulia, etc.), but here, CR isn't entirely correct as the Stinger is a Grand Tourer (the sports sedan being the G70).

Also, stiffness was probably the wrong term to use.

The G70 is actually stiffer, but has a more compliant suspension due to better tuning of the dampers and springs (not to mention having an adequately size rear sway-bar).

From the CR First Test of the G70.

From the first mile, the G70 is strikingly well-tuned, with a welcomed balance of performance, ride, and handling.

On the street and our test track, we found the car nimble, with an even-keel attitude through sharp turns and a good amount of steering feedback. And yet, the ride is compliant and well-controlled.

Impressive 2019 Genesis G70 Poised to Challenge European Sport Sedans

So, the G70 handles better (in part due to its smaller size and lower weight, but also to better tuning) and yet has a more compliant ride.

I'm sure the Biermann's team has tweaked the suspension for the 2019MY (Australia always does their own suspension tuning, so not surprising that there hasn't been as much criticism of the ride in Aussie reviews).

 

[YEH]

As for the CR auto testers/reviewers not being car people.

10:40 min mark - talk about the Stinger (and Regal).

Note their personal opinions (which don't always comes across as much in the reviews), esp. those of the 2 guys sitting at the sides.

26:50 mark - talk about the Stinger and Giulia (and the G70)

10:50 mark - talk about the G70 and bring up the Stinger

These guys not only want to save manuals, but only car guys/enthusiasts would appreciate the Pontiac G8 GT like these guys do.

5:48 mark

 

[YEH]

The G70 wins MT's Car of the Year for 2019; last year, the Stinger was a finalist and was edged out by the Giulia.

Genesis G70 is the 2019 MotorTrend Car of the Year - Motor Trend

Note MT's discussion about the suspension/ride.

Before delving into said criteria (and in particular Engineering Excellence), I'd be remiss to go one step further without mentioning the G70's platform cousin, the Kia Stinger. A finalist at last year's Car of the Year competition, two negatives held the Stinger back from top honors: Its interior design is too blandly similar to every other Kia extant, and its suspension does not befit its sporty-car pretentions. More impressively, we brought a 3.3-liter RWD Stinger GT with us to our 2018 Best Driver's Car party. There the Kia finished an honorable ninth place out of twelve. That may not sound like much—until you take into account that several bona fide six-figure supercars were ahead of it, and one (Corvette ZR1) finished behind it. Still, the Stinger has felt a bit unfinished.

Actually don't think the Stinger's interior is reminiscent of other Kia models (including the new Forte which took the round vent styling cue), aside from the quality of materials at certain points (like the steering/airbag cover).

The G70 makes a terrific all-arounder, but certain triumphal notes do stand out. If you want a seat at the 3 Series table, true sporting ability trumps a perfectly damped ride and NVH-free cabin. Some version of the word "balance" appears seven times in the notes from seven judges; any suspension complaints had to do with ride quality, not with handling.

 

[Dick Dastardly]

As for the CR auto testers/reviewers not being car people.

Thanks for uploading these - I have not seen CR before but very entertaining / informative - just wasted an hour of my life watching them!

Interesting that they placed the Stinger ahead of the Giulia based on ride & handling while MT thought the KIA suspension was not sporty enough, which usually means stiffer.
Having driven more 'sports' orientated saloons in the past (Golf R / BMW 3 Series) and more luxury saloons (Saab 9-5 / Audi A6), I think that KIA have got the balance about right for a GT car - comfortable for cruising but not too soft when pushing hard through corners.

However, as many threads on here attest, the number of tweaks to suspension spring rates / ride height / roll bars means we all want something different to stock and I guess car reviewers are the same.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The back and forth about "handling and comfort", comparing to other sports sedans and "gran turismo" models, has left me feeling very ambivalent. And none of it has changed my opinion about my car: that's no doubt largely because I am not empirically comparing the Stinger GT1 to any other "contender": only my previous rides. I like mine enormously as-is and am completely satisfied with this asserted "balance" between a sporty (stiff enough) ride and comfort, not to forget noise levels in the cabin. I accept that it is what it is, and it is a darn sight quieter than anything I've experienced as a daily driver. With the music on, most of the time I can hear even the quiet parts satisfyingly. When the road is particularly noise producing, I wish the Stinger's interior was more extraneous noise deadening.

 

[rocket23]

I agree, but ''balance'' is also and more prevently portrayed,by KIA, as weight proportioned in ALL the stinger offerings.....the 2.0t as almost equally from front to rear.

 

[MisterMac]

I just helped my daughter acquire a 2018 A4 PP, and compared to the 2.0 Stinger - I'd say CR got it right. The A4 PP is quite a bit nicer, though at 20% more price, it should be. However, my GT2 is quite an upgrade over the A4 PP.

 

[rocket23]

the gt2 is an upgrade over 80 % of the car market ...at the very least price wise!!