Kia Stinger 2.2 CRDi 2018 UK first drive

By now, chances are you’ll be pretty familiar with the Kia Stinger. You will have heard all about the range-topping 365bhp 3.3-litre V6 GTS, and perhaps you will have read our full road test on the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model. The car you see here, though, is the third iteration of the Stinger: the 2.2-litre diesel version.

That oil-burning lump is part of Kia’s R family of engines. In the Stinger, it develops 197bhp at 3800rpm and 325lb ft of torque at 1750-2750rpm, allowing for a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.3sec. While that does make it the slowest-accelerating Stinger available, the flipside is that it’s also the most economical; Kia claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 48.7mpg, while CO2 emissions stand at 154g/km.

As with the the 2.0 petrol, the diesel is available in a choice of two trim levels. There’s the standard GT-Line, which starts at £34,225, and the £37,725 GT-Line S model you see here. Being a Kia, factory-fitted equipment is generous; the only cost option fitted to our test car was the £645 Midnight Black exterior. Everything else — the 18in alloy wheels, 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system and heated and ventilated seats, for example — are all included in the asking price.

The only real noticeable difference between the diesel and the equivalent petrol is the exhaust. Where the petrol car gets a quad arrangement, the diesel makes do with twin pipes.

For all of its economical benefits, this 2.2-litre CRDi diesel isn’t the most exciting engine in the world. It’s a rather vocal unit at idle and under acceleration, although it does pipe down when you reach cruising speeds. While it’s not quite as quick as its petrol-powered range mates, it still has enough poke to safely perform overtaking manoeuvres in a respectably brisk fashion.

As with the other two Kia Stinger variants, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters allow you to swap ratios on the eight-speed automatic transmission manually, although it will revert back to D if left to its own devices.

Its ride errs on the firmer side of things at lower speeds, but pick up the pace and it becomes far more fluid and comfortable. Combined with a driving position that’s impressively adjustable and the fact that the powerplant is hushed when travelling at speed, the diesel Stinger makes for a likeable grand tourer. Our only gripe here — and it is a small one — is the noticeable amount of road roar from the 18in wheels, as well as some wind noise around the wing mirrors.