THERE’S something terrible lurking in the Chronicle’s car park and it’s a pool car reporters sometimes use to get to and from jobs.

It’s a 2010-registered Kia Rio. Its list of wrongdoings is an endless one, while its list of positives must have been misplaced because I can’t seem to recall one redeeming quality. There’s acres of cheap, scratchy plastics and when you’re driving it you’re left questioning whether the steering column is actually attached to the front wheels as your inputs seem to get lost in translation. It represents the South Korean marque at its worst, but it also marks a changing point in its recent history because since then quality has been vastly improved across the board.

Kia’s been on a decent run in truth, with cars like the Picanto, Ceed and range-topping Sorento all becoming regular features on the UK’s roads. Sure, there remains some instantly forgettable models in its line-up, including the style-free, given-up-on-life Carens, but on the whole it’s a much more positive picture than it was when they signed off on the Chronicle’s hateful pool car.

There’s a new car in its range, something very interesting, which stands out in Kia’s range like a vegan at one of those American-style all-you-can-eat meat barbecue places. The Stinger, a striking car around the £30,000 mark, is Kia’s first crack at the German-dominated four-door coupe market and comes with three engine options: a 197bhp 2.2-litre diesel, a range-topping 365bhp 3.3-litre V6 and this version, a 244bhp 2.0-litre petrol.

Although two Kia badges adorn its front and rear, the design is unlike anything the brand has shown us before and it looks great. There’s a few stuck-on vents purely for show and a quad-exit exhaust, but on the whole its looks strike the right tone from every angle.

Kia’s been clever with its standard spec list, as almost everything you want is included, something you can’t say for its German rivals who would charge you extra for windscreen wipers if it wasn’t a legal requirement to fit them. You’ll find 18-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen, heated and air-conditioned seats and a head-up display in every version.

Slip inside and points are lost because, unlike the exterior, it’s a parts bin special with equipment you’d find on bog standard Picantos which really shouldn’t be in the Stinger. To me it feels like the budget has been lavished outside and savings have had to be made elsewhere. It’d be unfair to call it an ‘after thought’, but quality is lacking. The steering wheel, which is also heated, feels almost pliable because of its low quality and it’s like the heat has eaten away at its durability. The switchgear is typical Kia fare, albeit in a silver lacquer effect, and it simply doesn’t feel up to scratch.

It’s roomy, though, with ample space in the front and masses of room in the back for passengers, something which can also be said for its cavernous 406-litre boot.

On the move, any worries that the scrimpings made on the interior’s quality also hit the engineers responsible for its driving traits soon disappear as it’s a very good thing to drive. The steering’s weight is nice and although it’s not alive with feel (what is these days?) there’s a good connection through it and what its front wheels are up to. The eight-speed auto can be a tad lackadaisical when you’re wanting instant acceleration, but there’s steering wheel-mounted paddles which enables the driver a degree of interaction in what is an otherwise soft-riding, well-judged car for the UK’s pothole-ridden roads.

Although the infotainment graphics are a bit naff, everything’s perfectly logical and you’re never left baffled, but my first few miles were a mixture of being impressed and annoyed by it. You can’t help but enjoy the way it wafts along, but my left elbow couldn’t find a comfortable position and nearly always nudged the heating controls for the driver’s seat.

Our test car, which is the middle version in terms of both price and speed, performs well on the performance front and its 244bhp is good enough for a six-second sprint to 62mph and a 149mph top speed, but don’t expect much more than 30mpg.

The car’s biggest test will be whether it can sway customers away from Audi and BMW, two of the most loyal bases in the car world. I fear for it because I know how prevalent badge snobbery is, but it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the Stinger when you clasp eyes on it. Sure, maybe the stuck-on bonnet vents are pointless and the quad-exit exhaust is a bit try-hard in a 244bhp car, but it’s different to the crowd, it’s cleverly priced and although it’s by no means perfect, I like the fact that it offers unbeatable spec for the money.

Go and try one. You won’t be disappointed.