Thoughts on the Kia stinger?

[green12]

Hey guys I was just wondering your thoughts on the Kia stinger, I’m looking to get my first car and I’ve test driven a few, not planning to do anything crazy with it but I was just wondering about the general thoughts, reliability etc. It comes out to abt 50k cad so it’s a little pricey. Any thoughts would be helpful!

 

[ChaneRZ]

Just get the base if you don’t need the extra nannies. I think it is a pretty reliable car. It hasn’t been out for a while so we don’t know how long it would last.

 

[Vonrichthofen]

I bought the GT Line and am vey happy with it. It has lots of features and if you keep the rpms in the 2-4 thousand range it will haul A**. Mine does have the sun and sound package and AWD, though.

 

[hummus]

50k cad ($41k US) for this level of car--assuming you are shopping for driving qualities more so than infotainment/tech--is a ridiculously good value proposition. I find it hard to wrap my mind around the combination of refinement, performance, comfort, space, and practicality, and how much you would have to spend for something comparable in those regards. Audi S5 sportback, BMW 440i Grand Coupe, Mercedes C43, maybe some of the crossover versions of these, and you'd have to option them up. Each of these have pros and cons compared to the Stinger, but the point is they are in the ballpark in terms of overall experience.

Yes, you can find deep discounts on the Germans at times, and you can also find fire sales on the Stinger.

 

[Legendsk]

50k cad ($41k US) for this level of car--assuming you are shopping for driving qualities more so than infotainment/tech--is a ridiculously good value proposition. I find it hard to wrap my mind around the combination of refinement, performance, comfort, space, and practicality, and how much you would have to spend for something comparable in those regards. Audi S5 sportback, BMW 440i Grand Coupe, Mercedes C43, maybe some of the crossover versions of these, and you'd have to option them up. Each of these have pros and cons compared to the Stinger, but the point is they are in the ballpark in terms of overall experience.

Yes, you can find deep discounts on the Germans at times, and you can also find fire sales on the Stinger.

Agree completely. Hands down, the best vehicle I have ever owned. Way ahead of my Corvette or Mustang, ride isn't quite as comfy as my Lincoln Town Car, but I'd prefer my Stinger for even long drives.

 

[Stingah]

Best bang for the buck by far. Also look used dealer lots because there are some great deals to be had especially now that 2022 facelift is out. No shame in base model as it's great overall, $$$ goes up depending on what extra bells and whistles you like so get whatever price point works for your budget there's a decent gap.

YOLO !

 

[YEH]

As stated above, have to compare pricing with the 4 Series GC, A5 Sportback and Arteon as opposed to the 3 Series, C Class and A4.

 

[Devin]

Don't buy one! They're terrible!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Howdy. Totally satisfied after over three years and c. 42K miles; no issues whatsoever. What sold me on a Kia is that even after all the stuff you get for thousands of dollars less than the competition, Kia vehicles are rated among the most reliable out there (I hadn't been paying attention: I still saw "Kill In Action", and had missed the memo that Kia had changed from econoboxes to really fine cars). I wasn't even thinking about getting a car, much less a brand new one (this is my only brand new car so far): but the combo of style, performance, quality ride experience (including surround sound with lots of bass to treble range), and practicality (that hatchback is incredibly commodious for a fastback GT design): and all of that buttoned down at The Green Hell, grabbed my attention, and then imagination: then after all winter thinking about it, more subconsciously than actively, I took that "fatal" test drive, and bought three days later.

 

[Robilar]

If its a car you plan to keep for awhile and buying it new, its virtually impossible to beat their warranty.

 

[SomeBlondeGuy]

Do not get the base model
Try and go nuts with the options, or you'll be kicking yourself down the road for not getting certain features.
My last car, a 2002 Mini Cooper S, I didn't get any options on it and I regretted it
When I got my Stinger I got the top of the line so I wouldn't suffer from option envy down the road.
If you can afford it go all in.

 

[hummus]

Do not get the base model
Try and go nuts with the options, or you'll be kicking yourself down the road for not getting certain features.
My last car, a 2002 Mini Cooper S, I didn't get any options on it and I regretted it
When I got my Stinger I got the top of the line so I wouldn't suffer from option envy down the road.
If you can afford it go all in.

Definitely more power to anyone who values and pays for options above a base model. I totally see how they can make a care much more enjoyable and satisfying.

However, I propose that this is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. In my opinion, the Stinger will be remembered more for its value proposition and shock value (i.e., "that's a kia?!!") rather than the toys you can get on it.

Touch screens and driver assistance logic can quickly become dated. Solid driving dynamics generally stand the test of time.

Having said that, apparently in Canada, the list price of the top of the line (GT Limited?) equivalent to the US GT2 model is priced like a base model. The only thing that would give me pause is the shifter that doesn't lock into manual mode. But I would probably get over it in a hurry at that price.

 

[SomeBlondeGuy]

Definitely more power to anyone who values and pays for options above a base model. I totally see how they can make a care much more enjoyable and satisfying.

However, I propose that this is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. In my opinion, the Stinger will be remembered more for its value proposition and shock value (i.e., "that's a kia?!!") rather than the toys you can get on it.

Touch screens and driver assistance logic can quickly become dated. Solid driving dynamics generally stand the test of time.

Having said that, apparently in Canada, the list price of the top of the line (GT Limited?) equivalent to the US GT2 model is priced like a base model. The only thing that would give me pause is the shifter that doesn't lock into manual mode. But I would probably get over it in a hurry at that price.

That is the only thing I don't like about my Stinger, over the less optioned ones.
The inability to put the transmission into a true manual mode.

 

[monusa]

GREAT CAR!!!!!! nothing else needs be said.....

 

[Legendsk]

For a first car $50k is a little spendy. However the Stinger is such a good buy, I think it's a pretty good investment. That $50k gets you a better car than $125k in a BMW, Porsche or Mercedes. You can get a base model for way less than $50k, but it is not nearly as good a deal. Get one as loaded as possible - you'll be glad later that you did.

The downside is most of the Kia dealers have terrible, awful service departments, left over from when the Kia's were junk 15 years ago. Plan on some frustration in finding a good service department within a reasonable distance from you.

 

[Robilar]

For a first car $50k is a little spendy. However the Stinger is such a good buy, I think it's a pretty good investment. That $50k gets you a better car than $125k in a BMW, Porsche or Mercedes. You can get a base model for way less than $50k, but it is not nearly as good a deal. Get one as loaded as possible - you'll be glad later that you did.

The downside is most of the Kia dealers have terrible, awful service departments, left over from when the Kia's were junk 15 years ago. Plan on some frustration in finding a good service department within a reasonable distance from you.

I have to say the service department for Kia here in Mississauga has been great so far. I'm having a number of things done to the car when it gets there and they even sourced a company to powder coat my rims cheaper than I could get direct.

 

[Devin]

I've had very few issues with my service department, aside from the standard gripe that is basically true about all dealers: cost. They haven't tried any shenanigans in the six years I've been using them.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

If its a car you plan to keep for awhile and buying it new, its virtually impossible to beat their warranty.

^ this

90% of the reason I went last year with my new 2020 Stinger over the used Audi or BMW or even Lexus was that if I was going to blow my savings on a new toy I wanted something I could keep for at least a decade and enjoy daily. Plus the Stinger has pretty low cost of ownership which helps a ton.

My family has normally almost always bought used cars and kept them at least a decade. I broke the magic rule twice (my WRX and my Stinger) but my logic is if I'm going to keep the cars for a very long time it is worth it.

Btw as others have said even a base model Stinger GT-Line is more than enough car. Heck... I even find myself rarely using even half of the power in my V6 lmfao!

Good luck!

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

Do not get the base model
Try and go nuts with the options, or you'll be kicking yourself down the road for not getting certain features.

Agreed! I regret this with my Saab; I bought the Linear because it was the only one on the lot that had stick. I have regretted not getting the Aero ever since.

I will not repeat that mistake with my next car (Stinger? Probably.)