The 2020 Kia Stinger is a GT sedan that is quietly rising over its competitors. It’s got a powerful V6 engine with all-wheel drive capabilities and excellent handling. It’s not just a one-trick pony though. The 2020 Kia Stinger has more interior space than its rivals, too. Base models come well-equipped with features and there’s very little parceling of amenities like most luxury brands.

There are four model trims available for the 2020 Kia Stinger. The base model GT-Line has a starting MSRP of $33,090. It comes well loaded with advanced safety features, a 7-inch touchscreen display, and a turbo engine. However, there’s a big leap from the GT-Line to the GT2 version of the Stinger. That model has a starting MSRP of $50,300.

If you thought the 2020 Kia Stinger was a big body sedan from German automakers, that wasn’t an accident. The Stinger was designed to emulate the performance levels of M sedans at a price that would make consumers think twice about buying a BMW.

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2020 Kia Stinger Performance Options

One of your first choices to make with the 2020 Kia Stinger is whether you want rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. For the Kia Stinger with a turbo 4-cylinder engine, applying power to the rear wheels is perfectly suitable for the amount of power your vehicle is producing. However, when you consider the additional power of the twin-turbo V6 engine in the GT2, then it might provide some additional peace of mind to have all-wheel-drive performance for better handling and slippery conditions.

The GT2 comes with a 3.3 Liter V6 twin-turbo that produces 365 horsepower. Those V6 Kia Stingers with all-wheel drive also come with a limited-slip rear differential and brake-based torque-vectoring. As an additional handling bonus, you get launch control and over-sized Brembo brakes for stopping power. It’s a delight to spin around the track, but the 2020 Kia Stinger makes mincemeat of long, curvy roads.

The 2020 Kia Stinger GT2’s performance numbers look a lot like the 2020 BMW M4 coupe, at least on paper. That comes as little surprise when you consider that one of Kia’s design engineers is none other than Albert Biermann from the M Division over at BMW. There aren’t any coincidences here when it comes to how closely the Stinger emulates the performance of the M series.

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Tech Features

The maxed-out 2020 Kia Stinger comes with a Harman/Kardon premium audio system with 15 speakers and an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen display. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard features on all Kia Stingers so there’s no bonus for choosing the pricier model. The GT2 does come with navigation, a heads-up display, and smart cruise control.

Safety Features

There are quite a few collision avoidance features that you won’t get on a base model Stinger in 2020. So, opting for the GT2 would be the best choice if you want all the best safety tech. It comes with lane change assist, driver attention warning, blind-spot detection, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The surround-view camera gives you a 360-degree perspective of your vehicle to better gauge spatial awareness. LED headlights with high beam assist put a clear view squarely in your field of focus.

Exterior Style Points

The Kia Stinger hasn’t made many stylistic changes in the past few years. The exterior design is certainly bold with its short hood, chrome-laced air intakes on the profile and a chunky rear quarter with dual exhaust. The GT2 model Kia Stinger comes with 19-inch wheels, a sunroof and a smart trunk that opens automatically. Otherwise, there’s not much that the top tier Stinger does better than its more affordable versions.

Interior Amenities

The 2020 Kia Stinger GT2 swaps out regular leather seating for genuine Nappa leather guts. You get 12-way power-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger seats. Both seats also get 4-way lumbar support and the rear bench is heated.

The entire rear quarter of the Stinger’s body swoops downward due to the fastback design, but it never compromises the rear headroom. Everyone inside the cabin has adequate space. Fold-down the rear bench and you’ve got 41 cubic feet of cargo space back there. All told, the 2020 Kia Stinger has more cargo volume, headroom, and legroom than the 2020 BMW 430i.

Upgrades and Add-ons

There aren’t many additional features that you can add to the 2020 Stinger from Kia. There isn’t anything that can make it faster or more stylish straight off the showroom floor. However, you can add some nifty items like a remote start for about $500.

The rest are simply vanity items like puddle lights, door sill graphics, and bumper appliques. A cargo tray, cargo net, and cargo mat will make the most of the Stinger’s fifth door hatch and don’t cost very much to add to the build. Another nice add-on is the paint protection package for an additional $200. With everything added, including mudguards and wheel locks, the MSRP climbs to $54,395.

Summing it Up

The 2020 Kia Stinger leans a bit closer to the 5 Series in terms of size but performs more like a 2020 BMW 430i with its V6 engine. The Stinger wants to be a true track fiend but falls just short somehow. Perhaps a manual gearbox or an even more powerful powertrain would help the Stinger reach such Olympian heights. It’s simply not necessary.

The 2020 Kia Stinger packs a big punch – all-wheel drive, 365 horsepower, a spacious interior with standard safety and tech features included. There is a large divide though between the base model and the top-of-the-line MSRP. When you fully equip a 2020 Kia Stinger, the price hovers around $54,000. That’ll make you compare the Stinger a bit more closely to a BMW or Audi, and in that case, it’s a true toss-up. The feature list is nearly identical. So, stick with the 2020 Kia Stinger if you want to surprise yourself and everyone else with a vehicle that’s truly a winning underdog in the GT game.