2018 Kia Stinger GT - My Long-Term Ownership Updates

[corradoMR2]

Thank you for the very detailed and informative review. Your point on the rear visibility continuing to be a challenge. Would that still deter you from keeping the car long term or is it just a slight nuisance?

Glad you enjoyed the read.
Rear visibility is a small nuissance since the side mirrors or rear camera compensate. It's not an issue for me that would affect my ownership duration.

Oh golly, looks like some drivers get in and out of their cars "weird". Since almost every car is not showing premature rubbing on the bolsters, it has to be individuals entering and exiting their cars that is causing the rapid wear. The Stinger Forum member from Oz who had his seats replaced was showing rapid wear in exactly the same place within two weeks of getting his new upholstery. What is the common factor here? Kia's "crappy leather/leatherette", or the individual driver?

I've owned a Lexus RC F (traded it for the Stinger) among other recent Lexus and Audi vehicles with aggressive bolsters and not a single point of wear. I enter the cars the same way.

I don't see any specific instructions in the Stonger's owners manual on how to get in and out the car or cautions on avoiding the bolster...

Owned over 20 cars in my lifetime, never had this wear in just a few months. Kia has a quality issue here they need to address it.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Owned over 20 cars in my lifetime, never had this wear in just a few months. Kia has a quality issue here they need to address it.

This is even less complained about than the paint chipping/flaking issue. I suppose it could be individual cars getting a poor "patch" of leather/leatherette on the bolster (why only the bolster? poor quality would show up at all the stress points). If this were a quality issue affecting the MY18s, we'd be hearing about it all over the place. Maybe we will. But not so far.

 

[westcoastGT]

This is even less complained about than the paint chipping/flaking issue. I suppose it could be individual cars getting a poor "patch" of leather/leatherette on the bolster (why only the bolster? poor quality would show up at all the stress points). If this were a quality issue affecting the MY18s, we'd be hearing about it all over the place. Maybe we will. But not so far.

I have the Black Nappa leather in my Sorento which I've owned for 3 years ...................no rubbing , I get into it the same way as the GT , there is a problem on the bolsters on the GTs , maybe not all of them but certainly some

 

[Waynerm002]

Knowing KIA, they will change it for 2019 and replace it for those having the issue. Let your dealer know about it. Anyone with issues should report them, they will look into it and find a solution.

 

[corradoMR2]

Knowing KIA, they will change it for 2019 and replace it for those having the issue. Let your dealer know about it. Anyone with issues should report them, they will look into it and find a solution.

I've showed mine along with the possessed radio volume. Dealer will get back to me since they are checking with Kia corporate.