The Kia Stinger is barely three years old as of 2020, but the Korean automaker decided it's time for facelift. As most mid-cycle upgrades, it doesn't add much in terms of styling, but it brings a brand-new engine and some tech. The range-topping, 3.3-liter V-6 remains largely unchanged, while the old 2.0-liter four-banger carries over with no changes, but the Stinger now comes with a new mid-range option in the form of the 2.5-liter turbo-four.

The 2021 Kia Stinger features a new, powerful four-cylinder

This is a big upgrade over the Theta II 2.0-liter four-cylinder, rated at 252 horses and 260 pound-feet. That's an extra 48 horsepower and 51 pound-feet for the new engine, which makes it the perfect mid-ranger. It also slots below the Lambda II, 3.3-liter V-6, now rated at 368 horses and 376 pound-feet, only three horses more than the outgoing version.

The really good news is that this engine will be offered in the United States alongside the bigger V-6.

Just like the 3.3-liter V-6 and the 2.0-liter four-pot, the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

There's no word on performance for the 2.5-liter model, but it should be significantly quicker than the base version. The latter hits 62 mph in six seconds, so expect the mid-range sedan to get there in less than 5.5 clicks. However, it won't be as quick as the V-6 model, which reaches the benchmark in 4.9 seconds. Top speed should be around the 155 mph mark.

The 2021 Kia Stinger looks slightly different

The Stinger carries over mostly unchanged design-wise, but look close enough and you'll notice small upgrades to the front and rear fascias. Up front, it sports revised headlamps with a crisper LED pattern and a slightly reshaped lower corner. The same applies in the rear, as the taillight bar now features red lights at the top and reverse lights at the bottom, toward the outer corners. There's also a bigger "Stinger" badge on the trunk lid, as well as larger exhaust pipes in the bumper.

The 2021 Kia Stinger boasts new technology

The cabin also carries over in terms of design and materials, but it's been upgraded on the technology front. This one comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and also adds voice control. The instrument cluster went through a similar upgrade, with the old 3.5-inch screen replaced by a 4.5-inch unit. You can also opt for a fully-digital cluster with a 7.0-inch screen with better graphics.

Kia also added a remote engine start system, the option of activating the car's heating and ventilation function remotely through the UVO app, and a range of new and upgraded active safety features. Brand-new system include Safe Exist Warning, Lane Following Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Rear Occupant Alert.

The list of standard and optional safety systems you can have includes:

-* Forward collision-avoidance assist

-* Lane keeping assist

-* Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist

-* Intelligent speed limit assist

-* Driver attention warning

-* Navigation-based smart cruise control

-* Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist

-* Blind-spot view monitor

-* Safe Exist Warning

-* Lane Following Assist

-* Highway Driving Assist

-* Rear Occupant Alert