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Kia Stinger: 0-100km/h

The Kia Stinger came at a time where locally-made performance sedans were on the way out.

When the Kia Stinger was released in 2017 it was celebrated as a largely unexpected entry into the rear-wheel drive performance sedan world by the Korean automaker.

As a result, the Stinger has received much praise and media coverage, especially in Australia where it conveniently enough came at the time of the demise of the locally-manufactured rear-drive competition.

The Stinger launched with a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine in higher specs which produces an impressive 272kW and 510Nm of torque. So, what’s the Stinger’s 0-100km/h time?

Kia’s records indicate the six-cylinder Stinger will do 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.

It compares well to the similarly laid-out competition. The $55,990 ZB Commodore VXR (powered by a non-turbo 235kW/381Nm V6) will do 0-100km/h in a reported 6.2 seconds, while the $48,490 Skoda Octavia RS 245 (powered by a 162kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo) will do the sprint in 6.9 seconds.

Multiple real-world 0-100km/h tests of the Stinger have the six-cylinder confirmed at around 5.1 seconds, which is realistically not too far off the manufacturer’s claimed pace.

To go faster you’ll need to spend easily twice as much on something like the Mercedes-AMG C43 (287kW/520Nm) which has an official 0-100 time of 4.7 seconds, the Audi S5 (260kW/500Nm) with an official 0-100 time of 4.7 seconds, or the incoming BMW M340i xDrive (275kW/500Nm) which is touted to do 0-100 in just 4.1 seconds.

Given that you’re after those numbers, you’re probably also wondering about top-speed. The Stinger’s top speed is touted to be 267km/h - a number which Kia’s design boss, Peter Schreyer, is said to have personally reached in the car on an Autobahn.

 Price (MSRP)PowertrainkW/Nm0-100km/h
Skoda Octavia RS 245$48,4902.0-litre turbo (FWD)162kW/350Nm6.9 sec
Holden Commodore VXR$55,9903.6-litre V6 (AWD)235kW/381Nm6.2 sec
Kia Stinger GT$59,9903.3-litre V6 twin-turbo (RWD)272kW/510Nm4.9 sec
Audi S5 Sportback$105,8003.0-litre V6 turbo (AWD)260kW/500Nm4.7 sec
Mercedes-AMG C43$108,6003.0-litre V6 twin-turbo (AWD)287kW/520Nm4.7 sec
BMW M340i xDrive$TBA3.0-litre straight-six turbo (AWD)275kW/500Nm4.1 sec (TBC)

Do 0-100 times and top-speeds seriously influence your car-buying decisions? Tell us what you think in the comments below.