Kia Stinger

The midsize luxury sport sedan segment has grown increasingly crowded. The long-time class leader is the BMW 3 Series. Mercedes has it's elegant C Class cruiser; there's also Audi's conservative A4, and Alfa Romeo's flashy new Giulia. Jaguar just rejoined after a long hiatus with the XE, Cadillac sells the ATS, Volvo still makes the aging S60, and there's also the Japanese brands: the Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, and Acura TLX.

And now, there's the brand new Kia Stinger.

Wait, what? Kia and luxury, that seems like an oxymoron, but it is real. Kia, and sister brand Hyundai, have been expanding upwards into the luxury market over the past several years, having started with the Hyundai Genesis and Equus in the early 2010s. The full-size luxury Kia K900 was launched in 2013. Despite sluggish sales of the K900, Kia has pushed forward with the new mid-sized Stinger.

The sharp-looking Stinger shows the Korean brand can hold its own among the European heavyweights. The Stinger was a long time coming. It was previewed in 2011 by the GT Concept, a rear-wheel-drive, turbocharged V6-powered sedan, and the 2014 Kia GT4 Stinger Concept, a rear-drive turbocharged I4-powered coupe. Both concepts were dynamic and redefined what a Kia could be. But they were just concepts, unrestricted by budgets and safety regulations. No one was sure how a production version would come out.

Piercing headlights begin the aggressively elegant styling on the Stinger. The headlamps are comprised of two HID bulbs and a series of LED lights, creating a detailed, sleek appearance.  Kia's corporate grille, the Tiger Nose, sits between the sharp lights, thin and wide, looking like a menacing smile. While that may be a negative comment on a lot of cars, it works here. This is mirrored by a gaping vent below, which features two fierce chrome teeth sticking up at the edges. Both grilles feature a visually arresting dotted pattern. Flanking these grilles and slotted beneath the headlights are functional, cavernous air ducts, which feature a bold character line that extends out of the front splitter. Overall, the Kia Stinger's front fascia has an assertive mien.

The Stinger is most beautiful in profile, mainly due to the fastback body style. This swooping roofline is accentuated by the top window trim piece, which extends beyond the daylight opening, alongside the rear window, and into the trunk lid. Furthermore, a soft character line runs back from the headlights, creating a graceful belt line. The side view doesn't lose touch with the Stinger's performance intentions, however: polished grey window trim, blacked-out mirrors, and striking five-spoke wheels remind you of the Kia's athleticism. This image is bolstered by a large side vent, with sharp creases cutting through the doors behind it.

The tasteful mix of elegant and powerful design continues on the rear of the car. The full-width taillights, like the grille, employ the thin-and-wide look to make the car appear lower to the ground and more muscular. The taillights also sport a unique design element originally found on the GT Concept: the narrow strip that wraps around onto the rear fender. While the Stinger would have looked just fine without it, the extra-long taillights help distinguish it in a packed market. The lower rear fascia is full of character, with small faux vents sandwiching a piano black diffuser and quad exhaust pipes.

The Kia Stinger GT is a pretty direct interpretation of the GT Concept for the road. While some of the concept's looks were toned down, the Stinger's exterior still exudes performance, but doesn't overdo it. Instead, the fastback roof and ornate headlights and grille help the Kia stay classy. Let's just hope that the Stinger, which is set to be powered by a 360 hp twin-turbo V6, is as fast and fun to drive as it looks.

Grade
Front: A
Back: A
Overall: A

2017 Kia Sportage

Designer Peter Schreyer is best known for his work on the original Audi TT, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cars of the early 2000s. He is also responsible for turning around Kia's bland, low-end image by pioneering the bold and stylish "Tiger Nose" grille in the late 2000s. He oversaw the attractive designs that caused the new perception of Kia as modern, fashionable vehicles: the third generation Optima, Forte Koup, Soul, and third generation Sportage. As chief designer of Kia, the Korean automaker has continued to churn out distinctive, appealing designs. The fourth generation 2017 Sportage is yet another striking, mostly handsome vehicle, although it does have a couple of minor faults.

Kia says the fresh design is inspired by modern fighter jets. Some of the design elements are reminiscent of military aircraft--the four round fog lights look similar to the rocket launchers on helicopters like the Boeing AH-64 Apache. Additionally, the orientation of the headlights also makes the SUV look a bit like a fighter jet, creating a distinct, set back cockpit and a seemingly pointy front. However, the fact the headlights are significantly higher on the front fascia than the grille gives it a bug-eyed look. This makes the Sportage stand out in the ever-growing herd of crossovers, but also makes the Kia quite odd looking. Luckily, the intricate details of the front end make up for the slightly awkward orientation. The aforementioned fog lights look phenomenal, and the piano black surfacing in the fog lamp housings and grille looks clean and luxurious. The bi-xenon headlights are beautifully complex, and the light of the inside unit looks like a radioactive symbol--perhaps my favorite detail on the Sportage.

Soft, elegant character lines flow rearwards from the front fender, and defined wheel arches give this crossover a slight off-road presence.  Black plastic cladding wraps around the Sportage, from the front bumper, over the wheel wells, under the doors and back to the rear bumper. Plastic can often make a car look cheap if applied in large quantities, but the Sportage's cladding actually adds to the all-terrain image. Chrome lining surrounds the windows, which end abruptly at the rear wheels, leaving a large C-pillar. While this makes the car look more athletic, it could create a very large blind spot.

The rear fascia of the Sportage looks extremely classy and far more premium than the competitors from Ford, Chevy, Honda, and Toyota. The full-width taillight, with its upscale LED components and chrome strip, is reminiscent of the taillights on the current crop of Lincolns. However, it still gives the the Sportage a sophisticated attitude. This is complemented by the sculpted contours on the trunk and bumper. Two large chrome exhaust pipes adds to the Kia's sporty image, while the silver plastic in the bumper contributes to the luxurious appearance. Despite a slightly awkward front end, the new Sportage features an exquisite, high-end design for an affordable price.

Grade
Front: B+
Back: A-
Overall: A-