Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition 2020 Review

The new Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition is based on the twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6-powered Kia Stinger GT ($60,990 plus ORCs) but comes with two key extras in return for its $2710 price premium.

Priced at $63,700 plus ORCs, the Night Sky Edition adds a light grey Nappa leather interior that is currently exclusive to the special-edition, as well as a standard dealer-fit bimodal exhaust – a $2660 option on other V6 Stinger variants.

Where pure dollars are concerned, it seems like a no-brainer. If you’re in the market for a GT, it’s a small stretch and still cheaper than the Kia Stinger GT Carbon Edition ($64,990 plus ORCs).

The Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition is limited to a choice of three exterior colours – Micro Blue, Deep Chroma Blue and Aurora Black Pearl – all of which are available on other Stinger variants.

Carry-over equipment from the Kia Stinger GT is extensive and includes eight-way electric seat adjustment plus heating and ventilation for both front seats, in addition to two-position memory function and lumbar, bolster and thigh adjustment for the driver.

Front and rear LED lights, chromed quad exhaust outlets, tilt and slide glass sunroof, alloy scuff plates and pedals, and metal trim interior accents define the sedan’s sporty character.

The safety and infotainment technology in the 2020 Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition again follows the standard GT’s lengthy equipment list, including front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera to help negate the Stinger’s poor rear vision.

Autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and driver attention alert are just some of the standard active safety features.

Front, side and curtain airbags as well as a driver’s knee airbag are also standard and count towards the Stinger GT’s five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Adaptive cruise control can be engaged via the heated, multi-function and flat-bottom steering wheel. The 7.0-inch digital instrument display offers clear view of in-car information, much of which can be mirrored by the colour head-up display.

The Stinger’s 8.0-inch dash-mounted infotainment touch-screen is home to satellite navigation, digital radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which acts as a great leveller these days where infotainment wants and needs are concerned. The 15-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system fills the cabin with crystal-clear sound.

The Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition is powered by the same buxom 272kW/510Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 from the Stinger GT and remains paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Let the gearbox do its thing, or use the paddle shifts for greater engagement and control.

With a 0-100km/h time of just 4.9sec, this large performance sedan is no slouch. It’s also not too bad on fuel, a short-trip stop-start week of testing returning average fuel consumption of 12L/100km compared to its claimed 10.2.

Five drive modes – Smart, Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom – offer performance and handling nuances that many will simply not bother to explore. Much like the launch control function (well, maybe once).

With all that power sent to the rear wheels, the Stinger GT propels you with a shove from behind when you punch the pedal – response is fast, grip is good. Equally, the Brembo brakes are quick to bring this large sedan to a standstill.

Rightly or wrongly, the Stinger GT had big Holden Commodore SS-size shoes to fill when it hit the Australian market in 2017, when the rear-drive turbo V6 sports sedan offered a genuine alternative to a homegrown favourite at the end of its locally-manufactured life.

And when we put the Stinger GT head-to-head with its replacement, the imported Commodore VXR, the Kia came out on top. It was a great steer then and still is.

With look-at-me styling and a powerful V6 under the bonnet, the Stinger GT Night Sky Edition teases performance car enthusiasts and delivers in spades.

There’s a distinct sense of exhilaration that comes with any rear-drive car with a turbocharged six-cylinder and the Stinger GT is no exception. There’s plenty of power at hand, but with effortless torque on tap its handling can be soft and subdued when you finesse the pedal rather than plant it.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is both smooth and quick to change up or down. The eager and impatient among us may choose to use the paddle-shifts, but I rarely felt the need.

And the interior is nothing short of classy. The Night Sky Edition’s two-tone interior with chrome accents is thoughtfully designed and beautifully executed. Even the interior door grab handles show impressive design flair.

Three Mercedes-Benz-style circular air-vents dominate the centre stack in a form-meets-function win. The perforated leather-clad tiller, completely with flat bottom, feels great in yours hands and a push-button starter awaits.

Comfort and ergonomics are great too, but a sexy sloping roofline means rear vision is not so great. A small glass sunroof brings light into an otherwise cosy cabin.

The second row is really comfortable, but the middle seating position suffers from the large transmission hump. The black and light-grey leather colour scheme flows through to second row and looks lovely, even if it’s a little less family-friendly than darker hues.

Dual air-vents, a 12-volt outlet and USB charge point will keep your devices alive. The rear centre armrest has two cup-holders and robust front seat backs (with storage nets) will withstand the wear and tear of children’s feet better than fabric ones.

The lift back body style affords a generous amount of space (406-1114L) while the 60/40-split and folding rear seats not seen in the homegrown Commodore increase greater load flexibility. Surfboards? No problem. You’ll find four anchor points and a light, but no bag hooks.

For families battling child seats, there are two ISOFIX positions and three top-tether anchor points.

The 2020 Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition is your streetwise Jekyll and Hyde performance sedan. Drop the kids at school, pack the boot full of market-fresh produce, find an open road and engage Sport mode, then let the twin-turbo V6 and 19-inch Michelins do their thing.

This is a large sedan that wears many hats, but – importantly – the value-for-money one. A seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty adds to the formula.

Large sedans may be struggling to maintain a sales foothold as the rise and rise of SUVs continues in the Australian market, and there’s no guarantee the current Kia Stinger will be replaced, beyond the upgraded version coming later this year.

But with strong value for money and a guarantee to bring a smile to your face, the Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition makes a solid argument for the relevance of big sports sedans.

How much does the 2020 Kia Stinger GT Night Sky Edition cost?
Price: $63,700 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol V6
Output: 272kW/510Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 239g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)