How Good Is the Kia Stinger? The Kia Stinger is an excellent vehicle, yes. It dazzles with two top-notch engine choices: There is a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that is even more potent than the normal power plant, which has 300 horsepower, which is more than practically every other base engine in the premium small vehicle class.
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Do Kia Stingers experience issues?
Many Kia Stinger owners have experienced electrical system problems in the past.
These were brought on by damage to the front wire harness, which might have resulted in short-circuiting and fires.
You may check to see if the vehicle you drive or are considering purchasing is included in the recall, which took place in late 2018. If it happens, the recall entitles you to a free replacement wiring harness.
The Kia Stingeris it a failure?
The Stinger’s poor sales are hardly a secret in the industry, claims Motor1. The Stinger was Kia’s least popular vehicle in the country. In America, Kia sold fewer than 14,000 Stingers in 2019. Sales decreased to roughly 12,500 in 2020. The Stinger doesn’t seem to be recovering well in 2021, despite the recovering economy.
According to Motor1, Stinger’s year-to-date sales have increased by just 147 units in comparison to 2020. It wouldn’t be shocking if Kia discontinued the Stinger due to weak sales, like many other discontinued vehicles before it. According to Motor1, that is the current rumor. Although Kia hasn’t explicitly stated this, plans published by a Korean auto site stated that Kia would stop manufacture the Stinger in early 2022, according to Motor1.
The Kia Stinger is it a success?
Sales of the Kia Stinger never met expectations, and changes in the automobile industry have made a replacement impossible, at least not directly. There is no denying that, despite how fantastic it is, the Kia Stinger never met sales targets.
How much does it cost to maintain a Kia Stinger?
During the first ten years of ownership, a KIA Stinger will require roughly $6,281 in maintenance and repairs.
This is $815 less expensive than the industry average for popular sedan models. Additionally, there is a 17.53 percent likelihood that a Stinger will need a significant repair within that time. Compared to comparable automobiles in its sector, this is 3.97 percent better. The following graph shows how these expenses and the likelihood of repairs will rise over time.
Why aren’t Kia Stinger sales up?
According to information coming out of South Korea, the Kia Stinger as we know it may be nearing the end of its useful life and may no longer be produced starting in December 2022.
Kia will stop producing the Stinger starting in December, according to a post on the Korean forum Autospy. This confirms a claim from the country’s DailyCar website from July 2021, which predicted that production would end in the second part of this year.
According to a story from August, Kia’s design chief Karin Habib hinted that the car would continue to exist, adding that the firm is “working on a new model for the Stinger… we want the Stinger spirit to stay at the core of hunger.”
The Hyundai Vision FK, a 500kW hydrogen-powered concept car that bears an eerie resemblance to the Stinger given that Kia is a member of the Hyundai Motor Group family, will be the most obvious reincarnation.
According to reports from Korea, the Stinger is built at the Sohari Plant, which will be converted to produce electrified vehicles starting in 2023.
More rumors that the rear-wheel-drive sedan may switch to a battery-electric powertrain have been sparked by a silhouetted image from Kia showing a future electric car with a shape similar to the Stinger.
The Kia Stinger 2.0: Is it pricey?
Similar to the Telluride, the Stinger 2.0T is pleasant and smooth to drive. Think of it as a grand tourer that is perhaps not that great. The suspension is comfortable by sports car standards, the handling is light, nimble, and balanced, and the engine has some life. The Stinger is a great, refined companion if you’re merely strolling around town or taking a Sunday cruise. However, the 2.0T lacks that little bit of extra vigor when operating outside of that range.
The Stinger 2.0T might be ideal if all you want is a sporty-looking vehicle. It is svelte, muscular, striking, and not overly toned-down compared to the more aggressive form. It looks something like a sports car, a muscle car, a hatchback, and a sedan were combined. The Stinger, though, avoids sounding overly derivative; it skirts the line where owning one would make you appear desperate for attention but never crosses it.
Watch Out For
Speaking of boomer-like comments, the Stinger is difficult to climb into because of how low it is to the earth. Even for this 35-year-old yogi, entry and leave were not enjoyable. If you park on the street and have to enter from a curb, the problem is made worse.
And while some may say I’m repeating myself when I talk about sloping rooflines and blocked back windows, the Stinger’s window is particularly offensive. It is pointing up. Although my brother, who drives a Stinger GT on a regular basis, assured me that you grow used to it, I didn’t feel secure negotiating dense traffic at night in the rain with all the headlight glare.
Other Options
There are numerous options because the Stinger touches on so many different areas. Many have already been mentioned. Desire a sedan? The Subaru WRX costs $27,495 at launch. You want a hatchback. With a little less power, the Volkswagen GTI costs $27,595. You desire a muscle automobile. The EcoBoost Mustang costs $26,670 at launch. The Honda Accord is another vehicle that comes close to the figure; for $31,060, you can have a 252-hp 2.0T Sport with a six-speed manual transmission.
Verdict
The GT is unquestionably the superior option within the Kia lineup. Although the $6,310 difference is significant, you receive a far better bargain. Instead of the $3,000 Sun and Sound package and $495 paint that came with my test vehicle, spend your money on the bigger engine.
Comparatively speaking, you can find alternative well-equipped, sporty-looking cars in this price range that have a better track record and are more enjoyable to drive. I find it challenging to provide an argument for not looking elsewhere.
The safety of Kia Stingers
The updated 2022 Kia Stinger sportback receives a higher safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a result of revised headlamps. The car now has the highest possible grade from the IIHS: Top Safety Pick+.
The Kia 2022 Stinger receives a number of updates for the next model year. A new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque is added to the base GT-Line model. According to Kia, an 8-speed automatic drives the car to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds whether the power is sent to the rear or all four wheels.
The Stinger GT1 and GT2’s twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6’s output is increased to 368 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, slashing the vehicle’s 0-to-60-mph acceleration time by half a second. Rear-wheel or all-wheel drive as well as an 8-speed automatic are also utilized.
New LED reflector headlights replace the old halogen headlights in GT-Line and GT1 trim. The IIHS awards the Stinger its highest grade as a result of this modification and the Good rating that follows for the new lighting. Curve-adaptive LED projector headlights with an Acceptable grade are still available on the Stinger GT2.
The 2022 Stinger comes standard with Kia Drive Wise advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), in addition to its top-notch crash safety and headlamps. Highlights consist of:
- Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control
- pedestrian detection in the forward collision warning
- Help with intersection turns
- Emergency braking on demand
- Warning for lane deviation
- providing lane guidance
- aid with lane centering
- caution for blind spots
- Automatic rear cross-traffic braking and warning
- system for monitoring drivers
In order to make long highway travels easier, the 2022 Kia Stinger also comes with Highway Driving Assist, a Level 2 hands-on driving aid that combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance.
A standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system is another upgrade for 2022. It offers UVO Link connected services like 911 Connect, which can immediately notify emergency responders in the event of a collision, among its many other capabilities.
Additionally, the 2022 Stinger comes equipped with an ultrasonic rear-seat recall system that can track motion in the vehicle for up to 24 hours and inform the owner via a smartphone app. This is helpful if you’ve forgotten that it’s your day to drop off the kids at daycare but have someone important in the rear seat.
The sportback body shape of the Stinger has a capacious 23.3 cubic-foot trunk behind the back seat and offers supportive seating for a family of four. The vehicle can hold more cargo if needed if the back seat is folded down.
The 2022 Kia Stinger is currently available for purchase, starting at $36,090 including a $1,045 destination fee.
Information for this article was gathered from Kia America and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. On June 23, 2021, it was correct; but, since then, it might have altered.
Is a Kia Stinger a high-end vehicle?
Unfortunately, the 2022 Kia Stinger is probably toast in the world of high-end vehicles. It’s a very competitive market, and the Kia Stinger, particularly in its GT configuration, was a daring new contender when it made its debut in 2017. Although it was highly received by the media, the Stinger just wasn’t up to the task.
Recently, it has been claimed in numerous news sources and blogs that Kia will discontinue the Stinger. That’s a crying shame, really, considering the 2022 Kia Stinger is an excellent vehicle at a great price.
Will a 2023 Kia Stinger be released?
When combined with exterior performance features like a drag-reducing outer A-pillar, the iconic GT proportions of the long hood, deeply raked windscreen, and low-slung interior provide the impression of motion even when motionless.
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The 2023 Stinger versions come with a choice of 18-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels on the GT-Line, 19-inch black alloy wheels on the GT2 Grand Tourer, and available 19-inch alloy wheels on the GT2.
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The vehicle comes standard with LED headlights, turn signals, and the option to add LED Bi-function headlights with Dynamic Low Beam Assist, all of which are intended to help drivers better navigate the challenges of nighttime driving and increase visibility under a variety of circumstances.
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The Stinger’s demise by Kia: Why?
The Stinger’s dismal sales performance at the time led many people to believe it would be discontinued. According to recent reports, the Stinger won’t be phased out.