2.0 Kia Stinger vs Kia Optima

[StingerGT68]

People buying the Stinger want the power...people not interested in that are buying Optimas or Fortes and saving money.

edit by admin: Split from another topic...

 

[Kamauxx]

The 2.0t Stingers are RWD hatchback Optimas. Plain and simple.

 

[Chris]

The 2.0t Stingers are RWD hatchback Optimas. Plain and simple.

Exactly, except they are missing some of the features you get with the Optima.

 

[Waynerm002]

Come on man, you going to start that here? It's not an Optima, it not on the same platform. I will agree that they should have given that car (2.0T) more power from the factory as well as making it quieter.

 

[westcoastGT]

someone will do it , but if what you guys are saying is even close to being right , it would be cool to see a side by side comparison on a closed loop , I'm hoping the the RWD , Bierman set up on the Stinger would be better but who knows .............. maybe close !!

 

[Kamauxx]

someone will do it , but if what you guys are saying is even close to being right , it would be cool to see a side by side comparison on a closed loop , I'm hoping the the RWD , Bierman set up on the Stinger would be better but who knows .............. maybe close !!

The Stinger has a better transmission too, come to think of it. It should definitely be quicker than an Optima.

But still...

 

[westcoastGT]

The Stinger has a better transmission too, come to think of it. It should definitely be quicker than an Optima.

But still...

I would like to see straight line 0- whatever , lateral , braking , a measured lap on a real track etc . I cant see the 2 cars being built to be direct competitors , just the suspension and RWD alone in the Stinger makes me think it has to perform better , but I have never even sat in an Optima let alone driven one and I know those cars have a passionate following so lets see if we can get this thing done to answer the questions ...............

 

[Kamauxx]

Come on man, you going to start that here? It's not an Optima, it not on the same platform. I will agree that they should have given that car (2.0T) more power from the factory as well as making it quieter.

I don't think you should take that as an insult. The Optima is a great car. I've owned two of them.

But if we look at this objectively we have to acknowledge the impact that an Optima SXL could have on the Stinger's sales numbers.

Consider for a second that an Optima SXL is the same size as the Stinger, has the same engine as the Stinger, has more features than the Stinger, and can be had for $5-8k less than the Stinger Premium.

Optimas can potentially ruin 2.0 Stingers' lifespan.

 

[Kamauxx]

I would like to see straight line 0- whatever , lateral , braking , a measured lap on a real track etc . I cant see the 2 cars being built to be direct competitors , just the suspension and RWD alone in the Stinger makes me think it has to perform better , but I have never even sat in an Optima let alone driven one and I know those cars have a passionate following so lets see if we can get this thing done to answer the questions ...............

Easily I would think the Stinger wins in those categories. But how many people are buying a base model 2.0 Stinger because of it's performance?

 

[Waynerm002]

The Stinger 2.0T suspension feels better than the Optima SXL in my opinion. I only drive the hybrid variant but did test drive the EX and SX. There are a few folks here from the Optima forums that own the SXL and can speak to that better I can but knowing that the Stinger was purpose built to be a GT car and the Optima a family sedan, I don't see them handling the same.

 

[Kamauxx]

The Stinger 2.0T suspension feels better than the Optima SXL in my opinion. I only drive the hybrid variant but did test drive the EX and SX. There are a few folks here from the Optima forums that own the SXL and can speak to that better I can but knowing that the Stinger was purpose built to be a GT car and the Optima a family sedan, I don't see them handling the same.

I'm one of those people. I traded a 2017 Optima SXL for my Stinger. But I didn't even consider buying a 2.0t Stinger because they are too similar.

Again, are buyers of a base model 2.0 Stinger really buying it for performance?

 

[Scotty@SherwoodKia]

I like what Canada did by only bringing in the 3.3TT in for the first year and only the AWD variant at that...



However I do think there is a place for the 2.0T in the Stinger Lineup to compete with the likes of the 3 series. A4. while having the fastback look

 

[Rufus]

The 2.0t Stingers are RWD hatchback Optimas. Plain and simple.

Couldn't disagree MORE. My 2.0 rwd blows away any Optima, Accord, Camry, or Mazda6 for driving experience FULL STOP...and for the same price or thereabouts. As someone who has owned and worked on several cars of varying performance levels, this model is the perfect fit for an enthusiast who also has to juggle family and a budget. While most average family sedan buyers may not care, you can bet there are those who do. The 2.0 is an AMAZING alternative to those cars, and trying to dismiss it as "a rwd optima w/ a trunk" is dismissive, snotty, and NOT what this forum is about!!!!

 

[westcoastGT]

Easily I would think the Stinger wins in those categories. But how many people are buying a base model 2.0 Stinger because of it's performance?

I'm simply saying there has to be a point of comparison , if someone wants a truely sports tuned suspension , transmission etc then maybe a Stinger is their choice, for Lux features maybe an Optima is better . The Optima guys have laid out a pretty solid case that their cars have "more features/stuff" than the base 2l Stinger , but I dont think we have seen a direct drive/performance measure yet . No wrong answers on this one , if the Stinger proved to be a "Better" performance car then we could conclude you can justify some of the extra $$ . In earlier days of BMW ///M cars they had way less features than the base models they were built on and were priced significantly higher because they charged for the Engineeing and parts bucket . Lets see if we cant find some members to put this to the test , all in good spirit !

 

[Kamauxx]

Couldn't disagree MORE. My 2.0 rwd blows away any Optima, Accord, Camry, or Mazda6 for driving experience FULL STOP...and for the same price or thereabouts. As someone who has owned and worked on several cars of varying performance levels, this model is the perfect fit for an enthusiast who also has to juggle family and a budget. While most average family sedan buyers may not care, you can bet there are those who do. The 2.0 is an AMAZING alternative to those cars, and trying to dismiss it as "a rwd optima w/ a trunk" is dismissive, snotty, and NOT what this forum is about!!!!

You've let your emotions get the best of you. I don't consider the Optima a bad car, at all. So I don't consider a comparison between the two cars to be insulting to either.

You're speaking with your feelings. I'm speaking indisputable numbers.

And the only thing "snotty" about any of this is you feeling insulted when compared to an Optima driver.

 

[Waynerm002]

I don't think you should take that as an insult. The Optima is a great car. I've owned two of them.

But if we look at this objectively we have to acknowledge the impact that an Optima SXL could have on the Stinger's sales numbers.

Consider for a second that an Optima SXL is the same size as the Stinger, has the same engine as the Stinger, has more features than the Stinger, and can be had for $5-8k less than the Stinger Premium.

Optimas can potentially ruin 2.0 Stingers' lifespan.

No worries, not taking it as an insult. I'm over on the Optima Forums as well and have read the post on the cars being the same. LOL! I agree that the Optima SXL feel more "Premium" than any of the 2.0T Stingers. I think folks that are into driving (us, enthusiasts) will buy the Stinger because it RWD and they can mod it for better performance and handling. The average person in the snow belt hears RWD and think it's not good in the winter and want the AWD version. Then again a lot of folks seem to want AWD for all weather traction but most will stick with a FWD vehicle and for family duties, the Optima is more like an entry level luxury car or a Premium sedan, with it's quiet and roomy cabin. The Stinger is larger than the 4GC and Audi A5, the cars it was designed to compete with but not as roomy as an Optima.

On the other side of this, if you are coming from any regular car, the noise level may not be an issue and as we know some folks just buy on styling so they might pick Stinger over Optima because it looks and drive like a European Sport sedan for a lot less. If this was my first time going to KIA, I would want the Stinger because it looks nicer, has RWD and AWD as an option and the fuel economy isn't that bad. After having the Optima hybrid, I would take a Stinger hybrid if they had one in performance guise (electric up front RWD). The market will tell what really will occur once the numbers are in.

 

[MarkyMark]

Again, are buyers of a base model 2.0 Stinger really buying it for performance?

@Kamauxx, GREAT question. I'm on the fense, have test driven both 2.0L and GT versions. Clearly, the 2.0L is a much peppier machine than any mainstream 4-door sedan, and sports great looks.

Once I drove the GT I was sold. Wow... Thus, maybe the way the car looks is actually an issue for the 2.0L version? That is, an Accord, Camry, Optima, and soon, 2018 Mazda6, all have 250hp-range engine options. No, they don't handle the same as the 2.0L stinger, but some are pretty decent... But that look – The Stingr look! It looks like an absolute world-beater of a machine, but the performance reality is that the 2.0L isn't really what it looks like. It's almost TOO flashy for what it is...

My fear for Kia is the base model becomes a "pretender." Could consumers think to thmselves "This is an amazing looking car, and really peppy, but I'll get a lot of looks, and it really isn't a supercar or something... I'm just pretending it is... I might as well get a new powerful Accord, that won't get me all the stares, has great gas mileage, great resale, and it costs less."

Maybe that is not what people quasi-unconsciously sift through, but I think many will.

Not sure what else Kia could have done with the base model, but it needed to be priced above the Optima, but much lower than the GT. Hmmm...

 

[Kamauxx]

No worries, not taking it as an insult. I'm over on the Optima Forums as well and have read the post on the cars being the same. LOL! I agree that the Optima SXL feel more "Premium" than any of the 2.0T Stingers. I think folks that are into driving (us, enthusiasts) will buy the Stinger because it RWD and they can mod it for better performance and handling. The average person in the snow belt hears RWD and think it's not good in the winter and want the AWD version. Then again a lot of folks seem to want AWD for all weather traction but most will stick with a FWD vehicle and for family duties, the Optima is more like an entry level luxury car or a Premium sedan, with it's quiet and roomy cabin. The Stinger is larger than the 4GC and Audi A5, the cars it was designed to compete with but not as roomy as an Optima.

On the other side of this, if you are coming from any regular car, the noise level may not be an issue and as we know some folks just buy on styling so they might pick Stinger over Optima because it looks and drive like a European Sport sedan for a lot less. If this was my first time going to KIA, I would want the Stinger because it looks nicer, has RWD and AWD as an option and the fuel economy isn't that bad. After having the Optima hybrid, I would take a Stinger hybrid if they had one in performance guise (electric up front RWD). The market will tell what really will occur once the numbers are in.

I thought your name looked familiar. Aren't you the poster that made the detailed write up of the Stinger on the Optima forum a couple of months ago? You're partly responsible for me owning a Stinger.

I hope you're right about this. I want Kia to keep building on the success they've found over the last 7 or 8 years. The K900 was a huge stumble. I really hope Kia doesn't face another.

 

[Rufus]

You've let your emotions get the best of you. I don't consider the Optima a bad car, at all. So I don't consider a comparison between the two cars to be insulting to either.

You're speaking with your feelings. I'm speaking indisputable numbers.

And the only thing "snotty" about any of this is you feeling insulted when compared to an Optima driver.

What indisputable numbers are you referring to, then? Your exact words were it' a rwd optima w/ a hatchback. I agree you get a lot of kit with the Optima, and it' a nice car. I take issue with your statement because the engineering between the 2 is night and day. And I'm happy to do some testing vs a stock Optima of the same price. Bring it. I live just outside Seattle. Bring on the comparo!!! It's Kia's lack of marketing to the family man/woman who wants a truly engaging car that doesn't need a 365hp motor under the hood that is the issue, here. But the 2.0's are selling pretty well around this neck of the woods.

 

[Kamauxx]

What indisputable numbers are you referring to, then?

The cars are the same size. They have the same engine making the same power. An Optima SXL can be bought for $31k. A base 2 Stinger for $33k. The Optima at $31k is fully loaded with an absurd amount of features/tech for the price. The Stinger at $33k isn't.

With the two cars sitting side-by-side in a show room you can bet they will be cross shopped. Sure, enthusiasts may go into the dealership knowing they want the rwd car that's been tuned for performance but the other 95% of Kia's market are going to look at what each have to offer and how much money it's going to cost.