How I Would Buy It: 2020 Kia Stinger

The Stinger GT was released for the 2018 model year by Kia and features a liftback similar to an Audi A7.

Let’s flashback: The year is 2018 and the Kia Stinger has taken the world by storm, with its 365 HP TTV6 and successfully beating competitors such as the BMW 4-Series in 0-60 contests. To this day, the Stinger is still a sharp sedan, although the hype around it has seemingly cooled off. Sales are trending down, and this was BEFORE the coronavirus pandemic. A refreshed/restyled Stinger is due in 2021 with more power, but word is it’ll use the same 2.0T 4-cylinder and 3.3TT V6 engines.

Honestly, I won’t lie - I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Kia Stinger... I was hoping it’d grow on me, but it hasn’t. I like its sibling, the Genesis G70 better and would get a 2.0T version of that car ultimately. For me, the Stinger’s styling is somewhat overdone (fake vents, the long red taillight accent, etc.) and for such a large car, it feels like you get less room inside than you’d expect, especially in headroom w/the available sunroof and in cargo space. To top it off, I drove the twin-turbo V6 Stinger around a track Kia set up at SEMA in 2017 and it just didn’t blow me away… It felt too heavy in turns to be “sporty”, but it was definitely very powerful with strong brakes in a straight line. The Stinger drift competition that was held at SEMA was very cool. In contrast, the G70, which rides on the same platform, drives and handles more like a “true sports car” in my opinion. Plus, you have the added benefit of owning a “luxury branded vehicle” and all associated dealer benefits (for those of you that care). 

To the Stinger’s credit however, it’s meant to be a “GT car” - a smooth driving, stylish, long-haul cruiser type of sedan that also just so happens to handle relatively decently. Not a full-blown "sports car" per se. It’s possible I wasn’t fully aware of that definition and that has caused me to be biased against the Stinger some. When considered under the definition of a GT car, Stinger largely succeeds at its intended mission.

…But you didn’t come here to hear me talk about why I don’t care for the Stinger. You came to hear about why I WOULD get one. Its on my shopping list for 2021-2022. There’s really only a few reasons: Overall, I DO like the Kia brand, you can get Stingers for a decent deal now, it has optional AWD and it’s the “coolest Kia”. So, given that, and assuming I have a change of heart about the Stinger vs. G70, here’s how’d I’d personally buy a Stinger:

My Build

I added a few extra accessories on Kia's build tool, such as "paint protection" to equal $600, which would roughly be the price of getting my rims painted black on the Stinger GT-Line I'm guessing. Its interesting, because there are many competitive incentives available that make the Stinger a good deal now. This was NOT the case when the car came out in 2018.

-2020 Kia Stinger GT-Line AWD, 2.0T I4 255 HP 8-speed automatic

-Color: Panthera Metal (Grey), no charge; Black Leather, no charge

-Features: AWD ($2,200), wheel locks ($60), mudguards ($115), cargo tray seat back ($130), alloy door sill plate ($130), carpet floor mats ($150), remote start push ($495), black rims (~$600? - I added extra accessories for this since it's not listed on the Kia website)

Price: $38,005

I spec’d the car this way for a few reasons. I don’t normally like cars with black leather, but the only way you can get red leather on this car is to add the Sun & Sound Package for $2,900. This package also includes Harman/Kardon premium speakers and navigation among other features. However, you can only get red leather with three paint colors on three trim levels – grey, white or black paint on the GT-Line, GT or GT2 trims for 2020. Thus, you literally cannot get a Stinger with red paint and red leather (not since the 2018 model year). You also get a sunroof if you add this package, and that reduces your headroom in an already cramped feeling interior. I say skip this package, settle for black leather. You may save some weight too, allowing the Stinger to handle better - ya never know. We'll see if Kia changes this configuration up for 2021.

You don’t have to pay extra for Panthera Metal paint, and to me it’s the most interesting color between the black, white and grey hues. Snow White Pearl paint costs an extra $495. I’d black out the rims, which from what I can tell will cost about $600. I also would add a black spoiler to the car, yellow brake calipers, and would consider blacking out the roof and tinting the windows. I’m not sure what it would cost to add all these things.

One of my pet peeves with Kias is how they limit you to certain colors or packages based on trim level, even more so than other automakers. This limits the amount of customization you can really do with your Kia. But this allows Kia to keep build complexity and inventory down, especially on a low volume product like the Stinger. That’s better for dealers/profits in an era where SUVs and trucks rule supreme.

Verdict

Between the two cars, I say the G70 is the sportier pick (bottom).

The Kia Stinger remains a unique car for a unique few. The idea of a “$40,000 to nearly-$60,000 high-performance Kia that competes with BMWs, Audis and Dodge Chargers” may still make some people chuckle and roll their eyes. But Kia truly makes a variety of solid cars these days, Stinger included. If you’re craving something “different” with a moderate dash of sporty, the Stinger might be for you. Keep the price in the high $30,000 to low $40,000 range, and I think you have a nice deal. But any more than that, I say you should consider other options as well, including its sibling vehicle – the Genesis G70.

Pros: Eye-catching styling (but looks are subjective…), available AWD, price undercuts some competition, 10-year/100,000 mile Kia warranty, powerful twin-turbo V6 engine and Brembo brakes, hatchback and SUV versatility in a sedan bodystyle, you bought the “coolest and fastest Kia”

Cons: Cramped feeling interior, gets expensive, lack of color/feature customization options, competes with other luxury and sports cars with more “badge credibility” than Kia has, doesn’t drive quite as sporty as its been hyped up to be (in my humble opinion), declining sales means this car may not survive much longer… get one while you can!

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