Kia is giving the 2022 Stinger a nicer interior, more tech, and a worthy base engine

We already knew the Kia Stinger was due for a styling refresh and new 300-hp four-cylinder engine, but now that we’ve seen the final form we’re more impressed than we expected. This is a mild but nonetheless substantive mid-cycle treatment, complete with a handful of interior updates, new wheel designs, more standard equipment, and a new Scorpion Special Edition model.

Let’s start with the new four-cylinder. Whereas the outgoing base engine was an underwhelming 2.0-liter turbo-four making 255 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the new 2.5-liter turbo-four doles out 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. The new engine is also used in the heavier Genesis GV80, where it feels a little overtaxed and unbecoming of a luxury shuttle, but we’re hoping it will be better suited to the sporty Stinger. In any case, the extra output promises to be an improvement over the outgoing 2.0-liter (which is now dropped from the U.S. Stinger lineup) and Kia says the upgraded engine even yields the same fuel economy as the smaller engine. The 2.5-liter turbo-four will be the only engine for the base Stinger GT-Line, which can be ordered with either rear- or all-wheel drive and comes exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Stinger GT1 and GT2 models are mechanically identical, using the same 3.3-liter twin-turbo engine and eight-speed auto as before for both RWD and AWD variants. The powerful V-6 now makes 368 hp, a smidge better than the 365 it previously produced, and torque remains steady at 376 lb-ft. A limited-slip differential is standard, as are 19-inch wheels (compared to the GT-Line’s 18-inchers).

While the Stinger’s exterior remains essentially the same outside of a new look for the quad-port exhaust, the interior gets a few nice refinements. A 10.25-inch touchscreen display is now standard across the board, and GT2 models get a new 7-inch center cluster that includes a live-video-feed blind-spot monitoring system that’s initiated by the turn signal. All Stingers now boast LED mood lighting, plus new black gloss and chrome detailing throughout the cabin.

The Scorpion Special Edition incorporates some of the black-painted styling elements from the short-lived Stinger GTS. The Scorpion brings a rear spoiler, a blacked-out fender trim piece instead of the standard gray, unique black wheels, darker exhaust tips, and a bit of faux carbon-fiber trim inside.

For 2022, there are no major changes to the Stinger’s pricing structure. The GT-Line with rear-wheel drive starts at $37,135, including destination, with the GT2 at the top of the range costing $54,535—a touch more than before. AWD costs $2000 for each of the three trims. The updated Stinger should be in showrooms this spring, with the Scorpion to follow soon after.

The Stinger is a seriously ambitious sport sedan from an ever-changing automaker, and it’s fantastic to see Kia continually improve its aspirational liftback. The online configurator is live here—for our money, a GT1 in green with beige interior is quite the handsome corner carver at under $45,000.