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The Straits Times Car of the Year past winners
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2003: Volvo XC90
2004: Honda Odyssey
2005: Volkswagen Golf GTI
2006: Honda Civic
2007: Audi R8
2008: Jaguar XF
2009: Volkswagen Scirocco
2010: Jaguar XJ
2011: Range Rover Evoque
2012: Porsche 911
2013: Volkswagen Golf
2014: BMW i3
2015: BMW i8
2016: Volvo S90
2017: Lexus LC500
The Straits Times Car of the Year 2018: Kia Stinger is the champion
The performance saloon is first Korean car to clinch The Straits Times Car of the Year title
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The Kia Stinger has beaten a field of strong contenders to become The Straits Times Car of the Year 2018 - the first Korean model to clinch the top spot since the awards started 16 years ago.
The performance saloon scored 315 point - 21 points ahead of runner-up, the Audi RS4 Avant. The RS4 was merely a point ahead of third-placed BMW M5.
Last year, only two points separated the winner (Lexus LC500) and the runner-up (Peugeot 3008).
The Stinger won with its uncommon and uncompromising blend of sportiness, comfort and refinement. Like all contenders, it was judged against its peers for nine key attributes: performance, handling, ride, build quality, efficiency, ergonomics, styling, value for money and X-factor.
Equipped with a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the car gets 365bhp and 510Nm of torque going to its rear wheels. In short, thunderbolt and lightning - very, very frightening.
Yet, it is extremely balanced and civilised, hurtling towards the century mark in 4.9 seconds without wheelspin and with just a hint of a wayward rear even with its traction control switched off.
Lawyer Edric Pan, one of 11 judges in this year's panel, says: "Out of nowhere, Kia has landed a stinging blow to the sports saloon establishment.
"The Stinger looks great, delivers storming performance and has a genuinely superb chassis, combining a well-sorted ride with agile handling and entertaining rear-driven balance."
Torque associate editor Jeremy Chua adds: "Kia has executed this fabulous fastback with absolute flourish. The design is right, the driving position is spot-on, and that tail-happy handling - it has unquestionably nailed this one. Utterly compelling."
Another judge, freelance writer Lynn Tan, says: "The Kia Stinger possesses the beautiful proportions of a gran turismo and the performance which lives up to its name.
"Compared with Continental rivals with similar specifications, it is a smaller sting to your wallet."
Two other cars deserve special mention in this year's awards - which lined up new models launched by authorised agents. Namely, the Skoda Kodiaq sport utility vehicle and Skoda Superb sedan.
Skoda, a Volkswagen-owned Czech brand, has just returned to the Singapore market after a four-year hiatus. Yet, two of its cars made it to the top 10 list (out of about 50 new models launched). A third, the Octavia compact sedan, missed making the mark by just a whiff.
Of the Superb, Mr Chua says: "Talk about having a name to live up to. But the Superb does, with a blend of space, refinement and equipment you would normally find only in luxury cars."
Ms Tan adds: "The Kodiaq 'Czechs' all the right boxes with little touches which make a big difference.
"The fact that it is quick on its feet and handles like something half its size simply makes it all the more endearing."
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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 29, 2018, with the headline The Straits Times Car of the Year 2018: Kia Stinger is the champion. Subscribe
