What exactly does the Stinger compete with?

[Brian Keenan]

Okay, I'm very confused. I see people comparing the Stinger to the Audi S4 AND the Audi S7. That's a little odd. Isn't it bigger than the S4? By quite a bit? I thought this car was G80-sized. That would make it a pretty decent sized midsizer. Right? So wouldn't it be the A6 to compare to the Stinger GT?

What are some other cars that it compares to??

 

[Larry Denen]

I think it's all over the place right now. Top Gear has an article where it's comparing the S4, 440i, Jaguar XE S, C43 AMG and Focus RS. Isn't the Ford Focus RS kind of tiny?

edit - I forgot the link. Here it is.
http://www.topgear.com/car-news/detroit-motor-show/five-cars-kia-stinger-has-beat#1

 

[hej]

Basically, the Infiniti Q50.

It's a much larger car than the S4, BMW 3/4, Jag XE, or any other compact sport sedans. I was surprised to see that the Stinger wheelbase is right on par with my Audi A6. Surprised and a little concerned, because longer wheel bases don't usually lend to sporty driving. I'm a pretty big car guy, and I actually can't think of anything else similar that's anywhere near the $40~50k price point that the Stinger will probably be sitting in. Outside the Infiniti, anything else with that wheel base and drivetrain layout is going to be from a premium brand and it will cost literally twice as much.

 

[Brian Keenan]

Basically, the Infiniti Q50.

It's a much larger car than the S4, BMW 3/4, Jag XE, or any other compact sport sedans.  I was surprised to see that the Stinger wheelbase is right on par with my Audi A6.  Surprised and a little concerned, because longer wheel bases don't usually lend to sporty driving.  I'm a pretty big car guy, and I actually can't think of anything else similar that's anywhere near the $40~50k price point that the Stinger will probably be sitting in.  Outside the Infiniti, anything else with that wheel base and drivetrain layout is going to be from a premium brand and it will cost literally twice as much.

Every time I hear Infiniti Q50 I think G35/G37 Coupe. Small! But it's the Sedan we're talking about here. Is the Q50 Sedan about the size of the Audi A6? I see what you're saying about the longish wheel base. I think they're looking for this car to be a true luxury sport. Meaning it's going to be big and comfortable but sporty at the same time. I've heard that Kia (and Hyundai) aren't the greatest when it comes to suspension. So you're probably right to be concerned that it won't be as sporty as they'd like it to be.

I think Kia should leave luxury to Hyundai and Genesis and be known more for sporty products than luxury.

 

[Larry Denen]

Basically, the Infiniti Q50.

It's a much larger car than the S4, BMW 3/4, Jag XE, or any other compact sport sedans. I was surprised to see that the Stinger wheelbase is right on par with my Audi A6. Surprised and a little concerned, because longer wheel bases don't usually lend to sporty driving. I'm a pretty big car guy, and I actually can't think of anything else similar that's anywhere near the $40~50k price point that the Stinger will probably be sitting in. Outside the Infiniti, anything else with that wheel base and drivetrain layout is going to be from a premium brand and it will cost literally twice as much.

I thought the Audi A6 was significantly larger than the Infiniti Q50. Maybe I'm getting my Audis confused but I thought the back seat of the S6 I sat in was noticeably larger than that of the Q50.

 

[hej]

Infiniti Q50 - 189" long, 112.2" wheelbase
Kia Stinger - 190" long, 114.5" wheelbase
Audi A6 - 194" long, 114.6" wheelbase

Part of that extra A6 "length" is the bigger nose from the front-drive based engine mounting (i.e. it's in front of the front strut towers, not between them).

 

[Kia Stinger]

Infiniti Q50 - 189" long, 112.2" wheelbase
Kia Stinger - 190" long, 114.5" wheelbase
Audi A6 - 194" long, 114.6" wheelbase

Part of that extra A6 "length" is the bigger nose from the front-drive based engine mounting (i.e. it's in front of the front strut towers, not between them).

The A6 is a long car. The Stinger does have a long wheel base. I'm mainly a luxury car kind of guy so I'm sure I'd appreciate that aspect of the vehicle. But as mentioned, I wonder how much it'll take away from the sporty feel. I think it'll depend on how well the suspension is laid out. Kia is really pushing "performance" with this car so I hope they've pulled all the right strings to make the Stinger a winner. I'm sure in most people's eyes, it will be. For those who are accustomed to driving high end vehicles, maybe less so. Time and test drives will tell!

 

[Brian Keenan]

Thanks for the explanations everyone.

 

[Jenny Wang]

Okay, I just did some studying. Here's what I came up with.

The wheelbase informed a lot of Kia’s decision making with the car. “Its 114 inch wheelbase (114.4 to be exact) is longer than anything else in the markets that it’s up against. The A4, the A5, even the GS 350, so the benefit there was, you get a lot bigger backseat,” said Hedrick. “The tradeoff is, you can’t twist, turn, and move like a 3 Series, or the ATS. And that was a deliberate tradeoff. I think for us, it was important, really, to be true to what the concept of the vehicle was. It’s not to be a 3 Series, it’s to be a GT.”

This confuses me a little more... They mention the Lexus GS350 and the Audi A4. Why not the A6? Is this what they call a "tweener"? Like the CTS used to be between the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series? The GS350 and A4 aren't competitors at all. Anyway, at least we have some idea what they were thinking when they went with a long wheelbase for the car.

I had to Google what a "GT" car is. Now I understand. So this car is meant for comfort on long trips and good performance simultaneously. It's definitely not sport or luxury but a luxury sports car.

it was also meant to be a versatile car that you could take on long trips or vacations. The hatch/trunk is very roomy. Something not true about cars like the BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS or Mercedes C-Class.

 

[hej]

This confuses me a little more... They mention the Lexus GS350 and the Audi A4. Why not the A6? Is this what they call a "tweener"? Like the CTS used to be between the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series? The GS350 and A4 aren't competitors at all. Anyway, at least we have some idea what they were thinking when they went with a long wheelbase for the car.

I'm guessing they don't mention the higher end cars as competition because the prices are so wildly different, and the comparison would seem completely ridiculous. Even if it's more accurate size-wise.

 

[Jenny Wang]

Basically, the Infiniti Q50.

It's a much larger car than the S4, BMW 3/4, Jag XE, or any other compact sport sedans.  I was surprised to see that the Stinger wheelbase is right on par with my Audi A6.  Surprised and a little concerned, because longer wheel bases don't usually lend to sporty driving.  I'm a pretty big car guy, and I actually can't think of anything else similar that's anywhere near the $40~50k price point that the Stinger will probably be sitting in.  Outside the Infiniti, anything else with that wheel base and drivetrain layout is going to be from a premium brand and it will cost literally twice as much.

The former head of BMW’s M division, Albert Biermann, was involved with the Stinger’s engineering about halfway through development. So that's a huge plus, I think. It can't be bad.

 

[hej]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling. Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling.  Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

In which way are you looking for more comfort? Interior amenities? Suspension/ride?

 

[hej]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling.  Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

In which way are you looking for more comfort? Interior amenities? Suspension/ride?

The comfort I'm referring to in this case is the comfort of the seats and the ride quality. It's clear to me that the Stinger is going to have most of the features I would want.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling.  Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

In which way are you looking for more comfort? Interior amenities? Suspension/ride?

The comfort I'm referring to in this case is the comfort of the seats and the ride quality.  It's clear to me that the Stinger is going to have most of the features I would want.

Seat comfort is a big one for me as well. In fact, the first thing I do is feel the seats when I look inside a car. Part of that is because I like soft, plush leather. And the cushion is, of course, very important. Are you more into plushness or snugness - like bolster support?

For ride quality, I tend to lean toward a soft suspension. I don't mind giving up some handling characteristics as long as the car is comfortable for myself and my passengers. I'm not into "floaty rides" anymore (I used to own a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham) but I do appreciate suppleness...

 

[Blitz118]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling.  Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

In which way are you looking for more comfort? Interior amenities? Suspension/ride?

The comfort I'm referring to in this case is the comfort of the seats and the ride quality.  It's clear to me that the Stinger is going to have most of the features I would want.

Seat comfort is a big one for me as well. In fact, the first thing I do is feel the seats when I look inside a car. Part of that is because I like soft, plush leather. And the cushion is, of course, very important. Are you more into plushness or snugness - like bolster support?

For ride quality, I tend to lean toward a soft suspension. I don't mind giving up some handling characteristics as long as the car is comfortable for myself and my passengers. I'm not into "floaty rides" anymore (I used to own a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham) but I do appreciate suppleness...

It has 19in rims with 35 and 40 series tires, so ride is going to be firm, but hopefully not harsh. It also has adjustable suspension, and you should be able to find a balance that meets your needs.

 

[Jenny Wang]

Can't be bad, no, and probably bodes well for the handling.  Hopefully they managed to make it more comfortable than my non-M BMW.

In which way are you looking for more comfort? Interior amenities? Suspension/ride?

The comfort I'm referring to in this case is the comfort of the seats and the ride quality.  It's clear to me that the Stinger is going to have most of the features I would want.

Seat comfort is a big one for me as well. In fact, the first thing I do is feel the seats when I look inside a car. Part of that is because I like soft, plush leather. And the cushion is, of course, very important. Are you more into plushness or snugness - like bolster support?

For ride quality, I tend to lean toward a soft suspension. I don't mind giving up some handling characteristics as long as the car is comfortable for myself and my passengers. I'm not into "floaty rides" anymore (I used to own a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham) but I do appreciate suppleness...

It has 19in rims with 35 and 40 series tires, so ride is going to be firm, but hopefully not harsh. It also has  adjustable suspension, and you should be able to find a balance that meets your needs.

The Stinger has an adjustable suspension? I didn't know that. Or maybe I forgot. I guess 35 or 40 series tires are "low profile"? And I'm going to guess that the adjustable suspension will be an option probably only available with the Stinger GT. What do you think?

 

[Blitz118]

Jenny,

Yes, 35 or 40 series tires are low profile. It also has adjustable suspension, and I think it is standard equipment on the GT. The drive mode knob pictured below is how, you would adjust the suspension to your liking. 

 

[Kia Stinger]

OMG my favorite feature! Auto Hold! Ahhhh!! I'm so happy to see that. And heated steering wheel. Jeez. This car has a lot of nice features. This is a high performance luxury sedan - without a doubt! All this car needs at this point is ventilated seats and I'm completely sold.

 

[Spaghetti Sandwich]

Infiniti Q50 - 189" long, 112.2" wheelbase
Kia Stinger - 190" long, 114.5" wheelbase
Audi A6 - 194" long, 114.6" wheelbase

Part of that extra A6 "length" is the bigger nose from the front-drive based engine mounting (i.e. it's in front of the front strut towers, not between them).

Thanks for those. Here are some more.
2018 Kia Stinger wheelbase: 114.4 inches
2017 Porsche Panamera wheelbase: 115 inches
2018 A5 Sportback wheelbase: 111.2 inches
2017 BMW 3-series GT wheelbase: 115 inches
2017 BMW 5-series GT wheelbase: 120.9 inches
2017 Audi A7 wheelbase: 114.7 inches
2017 Jaguar XF wheelbase: 116.5 inches