Kia has been on a luxurious rampage and is a worthy contender in this space. This South Korean carmaker recently entered the sports-sedan domain with its Kia Stinger. The 2020 version has given us plenty to talk about, but the 2022 Stinger will offer even more boldness.

Background on the new Kia Stinger 

So, the new Stinger is kind of confusing. Kia originally announced that this year’s version of the sedan would carry over unchanged for 2021. But in another recent report, Kia doesn’t mention the model year at all for the new Stinger. That said, the Stinger is getting notable updates for the 2022 model year, which includes a facelift and a new engine. We’re still waiting for further comments from Kia on when the new model will hit U.S. dealerships. 

The new Kia Stinger now features three engines

We already thought that this year’s Stinger was a well-rounded sports car with two powerful engine options. The base GT-Line trim comes with 255-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. A 365-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 powers the upper-level trims. 

For 2022, Kia is adding a 2.5-liter turbo-four with 300-hp into the mix, and is exclusive to the North American market. While this new engine appears to bridge the gap between the two others, we wouldn’t be surprised if Kia got rid of the base engine. One thing that remains the same here is that each Stinger will still come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

More advanced safety features 

Much of Kia’s success with its award-winning Telluride has to do with the SUV’s impressive safety offerings. Now, Kia is looking to replicate some of its success with the Stinger. Like the Telluride, the Stinger will now be available with a safe exit warning. This feature can detect when vehicles are approaching the Stinger once it’s stopped, and alert occupants if they try to open a door. 

Kia has also added a lane following assist function to the Stinger, which helps the vehicle maintain control in its lane. The new Stinger will also be available with highway driving assist. This function aids the car to maintain distance from another vehicle in front of it on the highway. A rear occupant alert warning that reminds the driver of a child or pet in the backseat is also new for 2022. The Stinger again returns with many other safety features, including an updated blind-spot monitoring system and rear parking sensors. 

Additional convenience features too

In addition to its sporty performance offerings, the Stinger has also made a name for itself with its many convenient features. And what’s even better is that Kia is giving the Stinger a more significant edge here. Kia has replaced the Stinger’s standard 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with an 8-inch one. There’s also a new optional 10.25-inch screen that can connect two devices at once through Bluetooth. Depending on the market, the Stinger will also have a remote start engine, as highlighted by  TheNewsMarket.