The base level, standard issue engine for the Stinger didn’t even bear the Kia name. Kia Motors is owned by Hyundai, and like General Motors or any other large company, it utilizes its engines across various brands. In this case, this engine was the Hyundai Theta II 2.0L T-GDi. Not only was this the standard engine in the Stinger, but it continues to be the same for the Genesis G70. That is the luxury arm of Hyundai, so its engine in a Kia says a lot.
The Theta II, which would remain the car’s standard engine for its whole lifespan, is an inline-four engine with a double overhead camshaft. In terms of power, it does pretty decent numbers for the Kia Stinger. The I4 was able to generate 255 hp and 260 lb ft of torque. That may not knock anyone’s socks off, but for a small engine in a mid-size hatchback, those are numbers you could be happy with. This wasn’t exactly meant to be a high-performance combination of elements. However, if you were someone who did want a bit more power under the hood, Kia had another option available for you at the launch of the vehicle as well.
