2018 Kia Stinger 330S track review

We needed this. Without a Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon at Bang For Your Bucks we have welcomed the Kia Stinger with open arms.

This track review was carried out in conjunction with MOTOR's Bang For Your Bucks 2018

Mainly because a cuddle with a four door, long wheelbase, and brawny rear-drive sedan would help ease the absence of Aussie-made fast cars. Oh, and it’ll give the photographers an easy drift shot or two.

But we haven’t lobbed it into this battle for entirely selfish reasons. Kia has been keen to sink the Stinger’s teeth into our formula after a hiding at Performance Car of the Year (against exotic competition), especially since big cars have reaped solid results at this BFYB event before.

The Aussie Holden Commodore SS Ute bowed out last year with a category win and outright fourth place behind the SS Redline. Meanwhile, the Kia has proven its 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 packs just as much punch as our old V8 larrikins.

Its 5.07sec standing sprint to 100km/h here would have split the old LS3-powered pair’s 5.01 and 5.13sec acceleration figures in 2017, along with their 400m times. Additionally, its lap time, braking and handling data would have breathed down the SS Ute’s neck. So how’d our Stinger finish towards the back end of 2018’s order?

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You could cast suspicions on our choice for the bargain-based 330S. We’ve seen the Stinger go faster with wider rear rubber; the Si and GT variants get 255mm-wide rear Continentals on wider rear rims, versus the 225mm you’ll find on the back of the S. But the Si’s 4.89sec/13.01sec acceleration figures, as seen at PCOTY, would only move it up one place at BFYB this year.

The GT’s adaptive dampers aren’t a solution either. They would have to reduce its lap time by a second to overcome that variant’s $11K price hike just to maintain ninth at BFYB.

Nope, the Kia’s less-than-amazing result has been decided by much tougher competition. The hot-hatch breeding season over the past 12 months has moved the goal posts on cornering speeds, lap times, price, and straight-line figures so far forward the Stinger has had no chance to really sizzle.

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The judge’s scorecard has reflected that much. We rue that it has auto paddles, but no true manual mode and the fact stability control can’t truly be killed. But in contrast to the Infiniti, the Kia Stinger throws together a decent package for much less. It points true, with a nicely weighted tiller that’s geared well, and even though there’s a fair bit of roll, it handles like a Commodore SS, rather than an unlikeable oaf.

Maybe if Kia slashed the 330S’s price and made wider tyres and adaptive dampers an affordable option it’d make real waves here. But for now it’s ninth place.

Kia Stinger 330S BFYB 2018 Results - 9th place

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0-100km/h: 5.07sec (4th)
0-400m: 13.26sec @ 174.62km/h (3rd)
Lap Time: 1:40.80sec (10th)
Price: $48,990
Bang Index: 133.9
Bucks Index: 102.5
BFYB Index: 119.8

Judges' Comments

Warren Luff - 14th
“The Stinger’s chassis response and dynamics are really good at Winton. The 330S’s got great front-end feel and change of direction – as a driver it gives a lot of feedback. The engine is fantastic, it has plenty of power and low-down torque. The brakes are probably its biggest let down. The rear does get a bit lively, but it makes it that bit more fun to drive. Surprisingly, as a driver it’s a more rewarding package than some at BFYB 2018.”

David Morley - 11th
“Fast but flawed. Next model should be a ripper”

Dylan Campbell - 12th
“Kia’s made the new XR6 Turbo. On-limit handling is... exciting”

Scott Newman - 12th
“Fun up to around 8/10ths, a wild ride beyond that”

Louis Cordony - 10th
“The journey to sport sedan greatness is still a long one”

FAST FACTS
2018 KIA STINGER 330S

BODY: 5-door, 5-seat liftback
DRIVE: rear-wheel
ENGINE: 3342cc V6, DOHC, 24v, twin-turbo
BORE/STROKE: 92.0mm x 83.8mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.0:1
POWER: 272kW @ 6000rpm
TORQUE: 510Nm @ 1300rpm
WEIGHT: 1780kg
POWER-TO-WEIGHT: 152kW/tonne
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic
SUSPENSION: struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar (f); multi-links, coil springs, anti-roll bar (r)
BRAKES: 350mm ventilated discs, 4-piston calipers (f); 340mm ventilated discs, 2-piston calipers (r)
WHEELS: 18 x 8.0-inch (f/r)
TYRES: ContiSportContact 5 225/45 R18 (f/r)
PRICE: $48,990

Bang For Your Bucks 2018