If you are interested in purchasing a Kia Stinger, trying to figure out the differences between all the GT lines can be quite difficult. The Stinger GT, GT1, GT2 and GTS are all based around the 3.3-litre V6 version of the car, but what are the differences between these trim levels?
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GT vs GT1 vs GT2 Kia Stinger
To start with let’s ignore the GTS and just look at the GT to GT2 trim levels. Essentially, the GT is the base version of the 3.3-litre Stinger, the GT1 is the middle trim option, and the GT2 has all of the top features as standard.
While the standard features do seem to differ ever so slightly in some markets, here is a rundown of the standard features of each trim option.
On the GT you get a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, while the passenger gets an 8-way adjustable one. All the seats are trimmed in leather and there is a 9-speaker Kia sound system. Earlier GTs were fitted with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but this was later upgraded to a 10.25-inch unit for the 2022 model year. Kia also fitted the GT with a 3.5-inch display for the instrument panel, which was upgraded to a 4.2-inch unit for the 2020 model year.
Moving up from the GT is the GT1. To begin with we will look at the 2018 to 2021 GT1 as there were some big changes for the trim level from 2022 onwards.
The earlier GT1 was given quite a few upgrades including an 8-inch infotainment system (later upgraded to 10.25 inch like on the GT), a 7-inch instrument panel display, a 15-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, electronically controlled suspension, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, sunroof, and 19-inch wheels. Another big upgrade was the ventilated memory seats, however, the power adjustability was the same as on the GT.
Unfortunately, for the 2022 and 2023 GT1 models, Kia removed a number of features, and the car essentially became the base 3.3 Stinger in a number of markets. The main removed features included the Harman/Kardon sound system, the ventilated memory seats, and the power tilt and telescopic steering wheel.
Lastly, the GT2 was given all the features of the GT1 (sunroof, Harman/Kardon sound system, etc.), plus a few more. These extra features included Quilted Nappa leather seats with 16-way power-adjustability for the driver’s one and 12-way adjustability for the passenger’s seat. Other interior upgrades included heated rear seats and a heads-up display, and to help with better visibility Kia equipped the GT2 with auto-dimming mirrors.
One of the biggest benefits of going with the GT2 was the addition of all of the advanced driver assist features and technologies which included the following:
- Driver Attention Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lanee Keep Assist
- Forward Collision Warning
- Forward Collision Avoidance Assist
- Pedestrian Detection
- Blind Spot Collision Warning
- Rear Collision Warning
- Cruise control with stop and go
- 360-degree camera system for easier parking on 2019 onwards models
The driver assist features were available as an optional extra on GT and GT1 models, but at an additional cost.
Another feature of the GT2 is its limited-slip differential, however, in 2019 Kia made it standard on all rear-wheel drive Stingers with the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 (GT and GT1 included). The limited-slip differential was available as an optional extra on lower trim levels before it became standard.
GTS vs Other Stinger GTs
The GTS was launched in 2019 for the 2020 model year and it was designed to be a more track-oriented version of the Kia Stinger. It is essentially a GT, but with some unique features like a revised D-AWD system that was designed to be a bit more playful (“D” stands for dynamic). This revised all-wheel drive system sends 80 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear axle in Sport mode. However, for those who want a bit of tyre shredding fun, Kia included a Drift mode that sends 100% of the engine’s power the rear wheels.
Another big change on the GTS was its limited-slip differential. While other trim options came with one, the GTS was the only all-wheel drive Stinger to be equipped with an LSD.
Apart from those two major changes, the GTS also came with some smaller upgrades. It was given a Harman/Kardon 15-speaker sound system like the one of the GT1 and GT2, and the car also featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was later upgraded to a 10.25-inch one and a sunroof.
To round of the changes, Kia gave the GTS carbon-fibre inserts and trim pieces (wing mirrors, etc.), and an Alcantara steering wheel and arm rest. These final changes were only ever available on the GTS.
What About the GT-Line?
The GT-Line was introduced for the 2020 model year and while it has many of the features of the base GT, it has one big difference, the engine. It was given a 2.5-litre Inline 4 instead of the 3.3-litre V6 like in the other cars. It was also never available with a limited-slip differential and it didn’t come with electrically adjustable suspension.
