Junk In That Trunk

[hej]

We all know that the Stinger is a hatch back. This shot from the Autogefühl was amusing to me...

But it also got me wondering, just how much could that trunk swallow up? What would this shot look like with the rear seats folded and cargo cover removed?

 

[Brian Keenan]

That is a hell of a roomy rear hatch. Kia did say the Stinger is supposed to be a very functional sports car. That appears to be an understatement.

 

[hej]

That is a hell of a roomy rear hatch. Kia did say the Stinger is supposed to be a very functional sports car. That appears to be an understatement.

Indeed. I'm seriously wondering if you could fit a medium sized refrigerator back there. I'm also intrigued by the idea of folding the seats down and using the trunk as a sleeper camper.

 

[Spaghetti Sandwich]

Indeed. I'm seriously wondering if you could fit a medium sized refrigerator back there. I'm also intrigued by the idea of folding the seats down and using the trunk as a sleeper camper.

Haha! Talk about versatility! Yeah I bet you could do that. You think you could fit a single bed in there? It looks like it would be a pretty tight fit. But yeah I think it could be done. I dont know how comfortable it would be for two people but camping isnt exactly about that kind of comfort anyway. I get this funny feeling youll need a custom sized mattress either its going to be too narrow or too short to fit a small bed in there.

 

[hej]

Haha! Talk about versatility! Yeah I bet you could do that. You think you could fit a single bed in there? It looks like it would be a pretty tight fit. But yeah I think it could be done. I dont know how comfortable it would be for two people but camping isnt exactly about that kind of comfort anyway. I get this funny feeling youll need a custom sized mattress either its going to be too narrow or too short to fit a small bed in there.

I'm pretty sure you could fit a twin sized mattress back there.

 

[Jenny Wang]

I'm pretty sure you could fit a twin sized mattress back there.

Yeah. I think you could. It looks like it. Make sure you get some limo tint on there if you're going to be sleeping in your Stinger.

 

[hej]

Yeah. I think you could. It looks like it. Make sure you get some limo tint on there if you're going to be sleeping in your Stinger.

Especially if you plan on having a "friend" with you.

 

[Jenny Wang]

Especially if you plan on having a "friend" with you.

Absolutely! "Camping" in trunk (hatch). LOL

 

[hej]

So, per this video, a trunk volume of 406L (I assume that's liters), or about 14.3 cubic feet. That's without the seats folded, apparently, and it's also ever so slightly more than my A6.

 

[Jenny Wang]

I'm sure the A6 has a pretty big trunk so it sounds like the Stinger really does have a lot of room back there.

 

[hej]

I'm sure the A6 has a pretty big trunk so it sounds like the Stinger really does have a lot of room back there.

Yup, definitely room for camping. Especially with that power lift for the hatch

 

[Bamm1]

So, per this video, a trunk volume of 406L (I assume that's liters), or about 14.3 cubic feet. That's without the seats folded, apparently, and it's also ever so slightly more than my A6.

This is actually kind of disappointing. Given that Kia Targeted the BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe (and all the talk of 4 passengers + their luggage for a weekend trip) I would have expected them to come much closer to the 17 cubic feet offered by the benchmark.

The Gran Coupe gives up some rear leg room compared to the Kia (BMW may have made some sacrifices there for additional cargo capacity). But the Gran Coupe is much shorter than the Stinger (in both OAL and WB). The Stinger actually compares more closely to the BMW 340i xDrive GT. The Stinger's wheelbase is slightly shorter but the Stinger is also slightly wider. The 340i GT has almost SUV-like ground clearance (6.5 in) so it is a good bit taller.

Here is comparison:

440i GC
183″ L x 72″ W x 55″ H
WB: 110.6″
Legroom: 42.2" / 33.7"
Cargo Capacity: 17 ft^3

340i GT
190″ L x 72″ W x 59″ H
WB: 115″
Legroom: 42" / 39.2"
Cargo Capacity: 18.3 ft^3

Stinger GT
190″ L x 73.6″ W x 55.1″ H
WB: 114.4″
Legroom: 42.6" / 36.4"
Cargo Capacity: 14.3 ft^3

 

[hej]

This is actually kind of disappointing. Given that Kia Targeted the BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe (and all the talk of 4 passengers + their luggage for a weekend trip) I would have expected them to come much closer to the 17 cubic feet offered by the benchmark.

The Gran Coupe gives up some rear leg room compared to the Kia (BMW may have made some sacrifices there for additional cargo capacity). But the Gran Coupe is much shorter than the Stinger (in both OAL and WB). The Stinger actually compares more closely to the BMW 340i xDrive GT. The Stinger's wheelbase is slightly shorter but the Stinger is also slightly wider. The 340i GT has almost SUV-like ground clearance (6.5 in) so it is a good bit taller.

Here is comparison:

440i GC
183″ L x 72″ W x 55″ H
WB: 110.6″
Legroom: 42.2" / 33.7"
Cargo Capacity: 17 ft^3

340i GT
190″ L x 72″ W x 59″ H
WB: 115″
Legroom: 42" / 39.2"
Cargo Capacity: 18.3 ft^3

Stinger GT
190″ L x 73.6″ W x 55.1″ H
WB: 114.4″
Legroom: 42.6" / 36.4"
Cargo Capacity: 14.3 ft^3

Are you certain this is an apples-to-apples comparison for the cargo capacity? I.e. the 406L for the Kia is apparently trunk only, rear seats not folded. Are the BMW numbers with the rear seats up or down?

 

[Bamm1]

Are you certain this is an apples-to-apples comparison for the cargo capacity? I.e. the 406L for the Kia is apparently trunk only, rear seats not folded. Are the BMW numbers with the rear seats up or down?

I will assume the Kia numbers are with the seats up as well (if that measurement is with the seats down then the trunk space is downright atrocious).

The BMW numbers are also with the seats up (so apples to apples).

Here are the numbers with the seats folded:

• The BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe provides 45.9 ft^3
• The BMW 340i xDrive Gran Turismo provides 56.5 ft^3

All that extra wheelbase coupled with the GT/hatch configuration nets me a trunk that is just 0.8 ft^3 larger than the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 AWD?!?! No bueno.

 

[Larry Denen]

I definitely see the advantage of having a hatch to get large objects into the "trunk" when they would normally FIT INSIDE but be too wide or tall to make it INSIDE. That's a big plus. Otherwise I'm not buying the car because it has a huge hatch. That's definitely not one of my primary reasons for buying the Stinger. However, I do see that if it's a very important aspect of a person's purchase then other offerings may make more sense.

 

[Bamm1]

I definitely see the advantage of having a hatch to get large objects into the "trunk" when they would normally FIT INSIDE but be too wide or tall to make it INSIDE. That's a big plus. Otherwise I'm not buying the car because it has a huge hatch. That's definitely not one of my primary reasons for buying the Stinger. However, I do see that if it's a very important aspect of a person's purchase then other offerings may make more sense.

I think for me personally I am taking on some negative attributes that a shorter wheelbase would negate. Things like more nimble handling, easier to park, etc. So with my longer wheelbase I expect all of the positive attributes that come with it, such as extra legroom and a big trunk.

 

[Spaghetti Sandwich]

I think for me personally I am taking on some negative attributes that a shorter wheelbase would negate. Things like more nimble handling, easier to park, etc. So with my longer wheelbase I expect all of the positive attributes that come with it, such as extra legroom and a big trunk.

It looks like they got the extra leg room but I dont know where the extra room went in the hatch back. Maybe they just didnt get it as perfect as the BMW is. Look at Cadillac and their ATS. Its a damn good car but the back seat is so small nobody wants it. Its certainly not easy competing with the Germans but it looks like Kia did a pretty good job at offering a good enough alternative. Good enough isnt what you want to hear especially from high end brands like Cadillac but I think Kia can get away with it. Only time will tell and well see.

 

[Bamm1]

It looks like they got the extra leg room but I dont know where the extra room went in the hatch back. Maybe they just didnt get it as perfect as the BMW is. Look at Cadillac and their ATS. Its a damn good car but the back seat is so small nobody wants it. Its certainly not easy competing with the Germans but it looks like Kia did a pretty good job at offering a good enough alternative. Good enough isnt what you want to hear especially from high end brands like Cadillac but I think Kia can get away with it. Only time will tell and well see.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't team 17 ft^3+ or bust. This is disappointing but not a deal breaker.

I will say that a large trunk could have been good marketing fodder for Kia. Missed opportunity.

 

[BahamaTodd]

...

 

[hej]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't team 17 ft^3+ or bust. This is disappointing but not a deal breaker.

I will say that a large trunk could have been good marketing fodder for Kia. Missed opportunity.

I think we need to consider what Kia is doing with the space under the floor if the trunk is shallower than expected. I imagine there's going to be a full size spare down there, where as BMW has quietly decided that their buyers don't need spare tires because the cars came with run-flats. Imagine discovering this the hard way in the middle of nowhere a hundred miles from home.

One might suspect there's also a pretty healthy sized fuel tank on the Stinger. I've also been trying to find out just how big it is to no avail, but I wouldn't be shocked if it's over 16 gallons.