Car & Driver Stinger GT AWD (Full Test) - Almost a Sport Sedan

[Chris]

difference" and how Canadians are supposedly getting the big breaks is irrelevant and not objective. Because nobody can take advantake of the "price breaks".

I don't think it is irrelevant at all. The whole point is is if Kia can sell the car for 50k Canadian they should be able to sell it for just over 40k US. Both those numbers translate to the exact same amount of South Korean won. I would doubt they are losing money selling it for 50k Canadian. I'm not sure why they think they should be able to profit 25% more by selling it to us suckers in the US. I can see some difference but not that much. I have done some research and have not been able to find any other car where there was that big of a price difference between the two markets. None of the Genesis cars I looked at are even close. Looked at a couple of BMW's, same thing not even close to a 25% markup.

 

[Buttercream]

I don't think it is irrelevant at all. The whole point is is if Kia can sell the car for 50k Canadian they should be able to sell it for just over 40k US. Both those numbers translate to the exact same amount of South Korean won. I would doubt they are losing money selling it for 50k Canadian. I'm not sure why they think they should be able to profit 25% more by selling it to us suckers in the US. I can see some difference but not that much. I have done some research and have not been able to find any other car where there was that big of a price difference between the two markets. None of the Genesis cars I looked at are even close. Looked at a couple of BMW's, same thing not even close to a 25% markup.

Similarly equipped, all prices listed are without destination cost

Audi S5 Sportback
USA Price: $67,150
CAN Price: $74,550.00
CAN Price in USD: $59,766.74
USA "Markup": 12.3%

Camry XSE V6
USA Price: $36,395
CAN Price: $39,945
CAN Price in USD: $32,023.91
USA "Markup": 13.6%

Accord Touring 1.5T (2.0 not available on US website yet)
USA Price: $33,800
CAN Price: $36,090
CAN Price in USD: $28,933.35
USA "Markup": 14.2%

Optima SX/SXL
USA Price: $36,090
CAN Price: $38,945
CAN Price in USD: $31,210.52
USA "Markup": 15.6%

Genisis G80 Sport
USA Price: $57,750
CAN Price: $61,000
CAN Price in USD: $48,903.70
USA "Markup": 18%

Stinger GT2/GT
USA Price: $51,700
CAN Price: $50,000
CAN Price in USD: $40,085.00
USA "Markup": 28.9%
Theoretical USA Price With 15% "Markup": $46,097.75

 

[CoconutRob]

Similarly equipped, all prices listed are without destination cost

Audi S5 Sportback
USA Price: $67,150
CAN Price: $74,550.00
CAN Price in USD: $59,766.74
USA "Markup": 12.3%

Camry XSE V6
USA Price: $36,395
CAN Price: $39,945
CAN Price in USD: $32,023.91
USA "Markup": 13.6%

Accord Touring 1.5T (2.0 not available on US website yet)
USA Price: $33,800
CAN Price: $36,090
CAN Price in USD: $28,933.35
USA "Markup": 14.2%

Optima SX/SXL
USA Price: $36,090
CAN Price: $38,945
CAN Price in USD: $31,210.52
USA "Markup": 15.6%

Genisis G80 Sport
USA Price: $57,750
CAN Price: $61,000
CAN Price in USD: $48,903.70
USA "Markup": 18%

Stinger GT2/GT
USA Price: $51,700
CAN Price: $50,000
CAN Price in USD: $40,085.00
USA "Markup": 28.9%
Theoretical USA Price With 15% "Markup": $46,097.75

I feel the same way, but was shocked to see a fully loaded 18 Mustang gt premium over 50k.

 

[Bamm1]

Sorry, BAMM, could you clarify the last sentence? You won't be moving to a GT or GT1 and move on? Or IF you don't move to a GT or GT1, you'll move on? Thanks.

Sure, sorry for the confusion. There are three trim levels for the 3.3T Stinger in the US: GT, GT1 and GT2. If the pricing for the GT2 trim is not advantageous I won't "downgrade" to a lower trim level (re: GT or GT1) to get a better price. I will accept my "content loss" and move on to another make/model (likely with improved performance and fuel economy).

I'm not sure dealers will have much of a choice in selecting their inventory, at least at the outset.

Kia has been mostly focused on marketing their GT specced Stingers internationally (e.g. Australia and Canada), and of those, primarily the versions with most of the options. I see them doing the same here in the US.

Additionally, the car is going to market at the beginning of winter, so at least in areas like the northeast, the majority of Stingers will likely have AWD. I'd expect GT1 + GT2's to represent the bulk of the inventory in the first few months after launch.

If that is the case then I can see them languishing on lots. I just can't see Kia dealers ordering a bunch of "top spec" models by choice. I don't know of any dealers that do that. Also, there appears to be a good amount of interest in the 2.0T model on this forum. That doesn't bode well for them. I guess they will have to wait it out.

On the other hand, you are not comparing your imaginary prices with Korea, Australia, Austria, Germany, and where applicable, considering yourself so lucky that US prices are so low in comparison (if they were).

"loaded" GT:
Korea: $43,300 USD
Australia: $47,216 USD

I tend to not compare US prices to the EU because they have VAT, etc., which skews them significantly. Plus, it is not the manufacture's "fault" the taxes are so high.

(Yes, a was an early adapter )

I would likely be bothered by negative information after the fact as well.

But more importantly......review it for us and take pics!

My prediction is, for what it's worth, that the GT2 will be priced below the US$50K mark.

Apparently Kia thought the same thing about the GT2+AWD at some point as well.

USA "Markup": 28.9%

Simply atrocious!

Theoretical USA Price With 15% "Markup": $46,097.75

Fair and back into the "too compelling" to pass up realm.