If seeing an RS, M, or ZR1 badge presets high expectations for a car, the "Kia" badge has the opposite effect. Several judges fretted that we'd invited a spork to a knife fight. Well, the Stinger started last, as the 12th car Randy Pobst lapped, but he instantly declared it "the biggest surprise of the week, with better balance than some of the big names that I've struggled with."

Pobst recited the "B-word" (balance) eight times in his post-session download. Yes, the car is softly sprung and damped relative to this field, but it always laid over and took a nice, predictable set, carving corners with little need for steering correction.

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On the track, judicious use of the controls could easily induce controllable drifts. "I love a car that I can impose my own style on," Jethro Bovingdon said. "The Stinger was always willing to adopt the cornering attitude I wanted." Interestingly, it's the only car in which Pobst's fourth lap was his quickest, indicating that the brakes and tires never tired of slowing or turning the 3,906-pound sedan (third heaviest in the group). In case you're wondering, its 1:46.16 lap time ranks 96th of 119 BDC laps, ahead of Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru WRXs, and the like.

Driven hard on 198, overly soft springs meant hard cornering over bumps prompted bump-stop visits that induced unwanted slides. Adding more brakes meant we felt some diagonal pitching. "I want to stiffen the springs about 50 percent," Scott Evans said. But he also noted that the lusty twin-turbo never threatened to overwhelm the chassis.

Most criticisms apply to 10/10ths driving, but "once you calm down, smooth out feet and hands, and get into a rhythm," Ed Loh noted, "the Stinger's communicative steering and planted ride bubble to the surface." It earned its ranking by proving more confidence inspiring and/or fun to drive than those that trailed it.

Want EVEN MORE from 2018 Best Driver's Car? See the cars in action right here.

More 2018 Best Driver's Car Contenders and Winner:

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2018 Kia Stinger GT POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD ENGINE TYPE Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 203.9 cu in/3,342 cc COMPRESSION RATIO 10.0:1 POWER (SAE NET) 365 hp @ 6,000 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 376 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm REDLINE 6,500 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 10.7 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.54:1/1.97:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 12.2-13.1:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.4 BRAKES, F; R 13.8-in vented disc; 13.4-in vented disc, ABS WHEELS 8.0 x 19-in; 8.5 x 19-in cast aluminum TIRES 225/40ZR19 93Y; 255/35R19 96Y Michelin Pilot Sport 4S DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 114.4 in TRACK, F/R 62.8/63.7 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 190.2 x 73.6 x 55.1 in TURNING CIRCLE 36.9 ft CURB WEIGHT 3,906 lb WEIGHT DIST, F/R 52/48% SEATING CAPACITY 5 HEADROOM, F/R 39.4/37.0 in LEGROOM, F/R 42.6/36.4 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 56.4/54.8 in CARGO VOLUME 40.9/23.3 cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 1.7 sec 0-40 2.6 0-50 3.4 0-60 4.6 0-70 5.9 0-80 7.3 0-90 9.3 0-100 11.5 0-100-0 15.7 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 2.2 QUARTER MILE 13.1 sec @ 106.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 110 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.93 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 24.8 sec @ 0.79 g (avg) 2.2-MI ROAD COURSE LAP 106.16 sec TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,500 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $39,250 PRICE AS TESTED $41,250 STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes AIRBAGS 8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee BASIC WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 10 yrs/100,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 yrs/60,000 miles FUEL CAPACITY 15.9 gal EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 19/25/21 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 177/135 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.91 lb/mile RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium