The Kia Stinger is a perfect example of what makes a fantastic car. What more could you want for than a rear-wheel-drive, 365-horsepower performance four-door that costs less than $40,000 and has a manual gearbox? The Stinger checked a lot of boxes, but aficionados didn’t swarm to Kia dealerships to buy one as the automaker anticipated, and now the brand’s flagship vehicle may be headed for the scrap heap.
The Stinger may be going out of business, according to Korean Car Blog, which cites industry speculations about the car’s possible post-facelift future. If the Stinger’s already-weak sales continue to decline, Kia might be thinking about discontinuing the model, the outlet’s reporting indicates.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly decreased auto sales, but given the Stinger’s historically low volume production and the necessity for automakers to concentrate on more profitable models, its demiseif necessaryseems like an unforgivably rational sacrifice for Kia to undertake.
Only 13,861 Stingers were sold in 2019, after all. Sales have fallen even further through the first quarter of 2020, and there were about 3,000 fewer than the previous year.
Only the Cadenza and K900 have outsold the Stinger since its introduction in 2017 in terms of sales volume. This trend has continued throughout 2018 and 2019. The Stinger is not a poor automobile, simply an inappropriate vehicle, as seen by its low adoption rate.
Comparing the Stinger to the Audi S5, BMW 3 Series, or Lexus GS feels unfair. It feels almost as incorrect to refer to what appears to be a performance sedan as a hatchback, even when a fastback has been skillfully tucked away within the sedan’s body lines. But in the end, the Stinger’s competitors are mainly high-end models, such as those made by Genesis, a sister company of Kia. However, unlike the aforementioned brands, some customers find it challenging to associate the Kia nameplate with a luxury product.
Kia made the decision to house the sportier sibling in order to set the Stinger apart from the G70. Genesis received the tuxedo, and Kia dressed its golden kid in a sports jacket in its place. Its improved brakes, suspension, and sportier package made it a choice for enthusiasts rather than just another luxury sedan, but the $52,500 sticker price was difficult to swallow given that the top-trim Stinger is actually more expensive to purchase than a G70 with a comparable configuration.
According to rumors, Kia is still working on giving the Stinger a mid-cycle facelift, so we could soon see the model with an improved jawline and more form-fitting bottoms. According to Korean Car Blog, the automaker has sculpted a new front end, reworked the taillights, and may have given the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 some fresh life.
Even though a second-generation Stinger is hardly defined by a few bells and whistles, the platform’s future now appears to be in the hands of new vehicle purchasers. Sales must match the hype if consumers want to see the Stinger continue and stand out from the sea of beige crossovers. If not, the Stinger might soon be a thing of the past.
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Is the Kia Stinger a good investment?
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.
Kia Stingers cost a lot of money.
In order to start with a bargain, let’s talk about the cost. The price of the 2022 Kia Stinger GT in full-fat is $37,125. For $36,090, you can have the GT-Line, which is akin to the Audi S Line. Since the price difference is so small, you should really get the full-on GT. Simply said, it is a better car than the GT-Line and has better parts on it.
You get a lot of car for $37,125. However, keep in mind that your GT will likely wind up costing roughly about $50,000 with extras, just like Car and Driver’s did. 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft are a lot of power even at that pricing point. This is BMW M340i territory, and at this point, it is the king of sports sedans. The Stinger is worthwhile just based on power per price.
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.
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.
Kia Stinger: Is it dead?
Despite the Kia Stinger’s lack of popularity, it wasn’t for lack of effort. With the Stinger GTS, Kia even briefly entered the exclusivity ring. The 2022 model year facelift does the Stinger a lot of justice, but regrettably it isn’t sufficient to dispel the earlier allegations that the Stinger is actually in peril. There won’t be a second generation of the Kia Stinger, which has finally been confirmed by none other than Kia design chief Karim Habib in an interview with Autocar. We have known for more than a year that the Kia Stinger would need to undergo significant evolution if there were to be a second generation.
In the interview, Habib predicted that the current Kia Stinger wouldn’t likely last much longer and that a second generation was becoming less likely. But when the EV6 GT is released, it’s possible that the new EV6 will serve as its spiritual successor and represent the already noted significant evolution.
“Stinger’s spirit is still with us and always will be. I like to imagine that the EV6 possesses GT DNA. We’re planning to make a GT of it, and it includes the Stinger.
Habib did acknowledge that the Stinger changed the company’s ideals and outlook on what it can be in addition to what it can do. “Stinger has been a revolutionary car and given a whole new perspective as to what Kia can be, sporty and a prevision driving tool. Overall, Kia could stop making the Stinger as early as next spring, with the present stock perhaps lasting through the end of 2022 or at most into the first few months of 2023. The stinger now comes with a choice of a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 or a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. With the latter, you’ll receive 368 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque instead of the former’s 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
Having said that, there may be a brief period during which Kia doesn’t sell the Stinger or anything substantially similar to it. At the earliest, the EV6 GT won’t reach American shores until the end of 2022. Even then, we won’t know anything about it until late in 2022. A stinger will cost you anywhere from $36,090 for the base model to as much as $51,290 for the GT2 trim level, which is the most available.
What vehicle can rival a Kia Stinger?
The Kia Stinger is fiercely rivaled by the Genesis G70. Five trim levels are available for the G70: 2.0T, 2.0T Prestige, 3.3T Sport, 3T Sports Advanced, and 3.3T Sports Prestige. Two engines are present: For the base grade, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 252 horsepower.
Which Kia is the most expensive?
For many years, Kia has been an accessible, entry-level car for the frugal. But during the past ten years, the quality has improved dramatically. The Kia Telluride is currently the priciest Kia. However, it is far less expensive than many of the other cars in its class, with a starting price of just $33,090.
It doesn’t, however, skimp on the goodies. Along with its seductive appearance and potent performance, the Kia Telluride includes a ton of luxurious features.
- The option of all-wheel drive
- V6 with 291 horsepower
- Up to 5,000 pounds of maximum towing capacity
- complete automation of the climate
- Touch screen of 10.3 inches
- 20-inch rims with black paint
- superb stereo system from Harman Kardon
- Leather interior in napa
- eight persons can fit
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Price: $31,900$51,400
The first model in the new lineup and the quickest Kia currently in production is the 2018 Stinger GT. With a top speed of 167 mph, the vehicle speeds from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. There are two different engine options for the Stinger GT.
The first choice is a Twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 engine with an automated eight-speed transmission that produces 365 horsepower and 376 pound feet of torque. The second option is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with the same transmission as the 365 horsepower version, producing 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
Interior
The all-new Kia Stinger GT has a head-up display, a multi-information display between the gauges, a Harman/Kardon premium edition audio system, leather upholstery, an in-house UVO infotainment system, and all of these features are standard.
Exterior
A mid-sized sports car with four doors, a big hatch, and a fastback roofline is called the Stinger.
The midsize sports four-door 2018 Kia Stinger has a fastback roofline and a big hatch. All-wheel drive is an option; rear-wheel drive is the default. The bodywork of the Stinger GT was modeled after the GT Concept car from Kia, which made its debut in 2011 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
New design features
With no antecedents, the 2018 Kia Stinger GT is the top model of its generation. It was created by engineers with a number of firsts. It is both the first sports sedan for Kia and the first Kia to have an adaptive suspension system.
All-wheel-drive versions of the rear-drive models have torque vectoring control in addition to the conventional mechanical limited slip differential. Rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, driver attention assistance, front collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance are all safety features. According to J.D. Power, this car ranks first among the best luxury small cars.
What should the price of a 2022 Kia Stinger be?
The 2022 Kia Stinger’s Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $37,435 for the GT-Line base trim with destination charge and common options.
Repair costs for Kia Stingers?
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.
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.