Kia Stinger Gets “Enhanced” For 2022

After a successful run from 2017 to 2021, it’s come time to update (“enhance” in Kia-speak) Kia’s successful, award-winning, handsome and fast Stinger GT hatchback for 2022.

The GT Limited trim returns for ’22, but its spot at the top of the line-up has been taken by the GT Elite – in fact, not only is the GT Limited no longer at the top, its effectively at the bottom as the entry-level GT trim is no longer for 2022.

While the styling changes for ‘22 are very much of the nip n’ tuck variety, you probably don’t want to change things up too much if you’re Kia as they were already working with some modern, handsome and well-received styling.

Nevertheless, they have added new black 19-inch alloy wheels, new rear combination lamps and more aggressive diffuser with larger quad-outlet exhaust and all-new Ascot Green exterior colouring.

Inside there have also been a few tweaks but three stand out from the rest: the availability of a red leather interior, a new suede insert option with red contrast stitching and seatbelts on GT Elite and an enlarged widescreen infotainment display that grows from 8-inches to 10.25-inches and can be used in split-screen layout. The gauge cluster remains an analogue affair, but for 2022, it has been augmented by the addition of Kia’s world-renowned blind spot view monitor that effectively turns the display in-between the gauges into a blind-spot camera whenever you activate a turn signal. The screen is the outward-facing piece of the new fifth-generation UVO infotainment system that also delivers a remote app so you can switch on the seat heating or ventilation before you step into the car.



The ’22 Stinger still makes use of a twin-turbo V6, although it has seen a minor horsepower boost, to 368 hp. It also gets second-generation all-wheel-drive as standard and a new mechanical limited-slip differential on the GT-Elite. So, if you like to hang the tail out a little, the Stinger GT looks like it will be more than happy to oblige. It also has the vocals to back all that up, as those new quad exhaust outlets provide a more aggressive exhaust note as well.

When it comes time to put a pause to the tail-out hijinks, there’s a full suite of safety features including forward collision warning with junction assist, which prevents drivers from advancing through an intersection if there is risk of a collision with oncoming traffic. There’s also active blind-spot assist and intervention, lane-centering assist and navigation-based smart cruise control which will modify drive parameters depending on what it senses is coming up on your route with regards to traffic and other fuel-costing details like steep climbs.

Look for the ’22 Kia Stinger in dealers in the spring.