Large car under $70,000

Kia Stinger 200S

What a change a year can make. Recent previous winners in the Australia’s Best Cars large car category have been conventional sedans, such as the VF Commodore and Hyundai Genesis, with rear-wheel drive and big naturally-aspirated engines.

This year, the winner has a liftback instead of a separate boot, and a longitudinally mounted 2.0-litre turbocharged engine sending drive to the rear wheels.

All of this makes the Kia Stinger’s specification rare in the Australian marketplace, and it is so well executed it became a sensation as soon as it arrived here, especially in 3.3-litre twin turbo form. However, it was the Stinger with the smaller engine and cheaper price that took home the trophy for large cars under $70,000 in Australia’s Best Cars 2018.

While so many Australians continue to flock to SUVs without even considering the other options, the Kia Stinger offers almost SUV-like practicality but with the handling of a low-slung sports sedan. It’s still a big vehicle, and from the front seats it definitely feels that way.

There’s a wide transmission tunnel and plenty of room either side of it. A long bonnet reaches out ahead as per the grand tourer tradition, and the driver sits low and pleasingly ensconced. The engine produces 182kW and 353Nm, with all of that torque available from just 1400rpm.

Given that grunt comes in from just a tickle above idle speed, and with it being sent through Kia’s eight-speed auto, the Stinger is just so good at getting down a winding road with maximum driver satisfaction and minimal fuss. In the large car category, and indeed the new car market as a whole, the Kia Stinger has been a breath of fresh air.

At 4830mm long and 1870mm wide, the Stinger is 67mm shorter but 7mm wider than the current ZB Holden Commodore. Space in the rear seats is reasonable but its sporty styling means it’s no Hyundai Genesis back there. The interior fit and finish is excellent and far better than most people would expect, especially if they haven’t been in a Kia of any kind for a while.

Those familiar with late model European cars may get a sense of déjà vu from the design of the gear shifter and the air vents, but they nonetheless look good and function well. The entertainment system in the 200S includes a six-speaker sound system, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and, of course, Bluetooth compatibility.

After an upgrade in early 2018, the Stinger 200S is now very well equipped with safety gear. All models built after March 2018 have autonomous emergency braking and lane support systems, both of which are critical in helping drivers avoid crashes.

The 330S received the upgrade at the same time, and as such the ANCAP safety ratings for both vehicles were lifted to the maximum five stars.

The Stinger scored particularly well in its warranty and dealer access, thanks to Kia’s seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. It’s still among the best standard factory warranties in the business and another reason why the Stinger topped its class this year.