If this car was wearing a BMW, Mercedes or Audi badge, I quite well believe that this is not the question we would be asking. All the same because it is a Kia, let us ask the questions that every other person will ask. But before you judge this car; be warned that it is a slayer of many brands. Right off the bat, Kia got it right. The Stinger earns great reviews that clearly deem it is a good car. Dynamic handling, excellent road grip, and good engine power should provide tons of enjoyment for driving enthusiasts.
A choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive in every trim level also boosts the Stinger’s performance chops. Still, Kia wants this to be a practical vehicle, so passengers aren’t overlooked; leather seats are standard (which is actually still a novelty for luxury cars) and there’s lots of room for rear-seat passengers to spread out.
The Stinger also offers more cargo room than the typical small luxury sedan, thanks to its sport back design. Those of you who follow automotive news closely know that Hyundai, Genesis and Kia are owned by one company. Genesis Gs70 shares more with the Kia Stinger that makes it a very comfortable ride.
Should I Buy the Kia Stinger?
So you ask. You should buy the Stinger if you want a sporty, posh car that can easily pull daily-driver duty. The Stinger gets some of the best performance scores among luxury small cars, with engaging agility and two potent powertrains to choose from.
One of the Stinger’s downsides is its newness to the segment. Some shoppers might question if Kia has built an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports sedan that can run with class heavyweights like the BMW 3 Series. Others may have a hard time opting for a car wearing a Kia badge instead of a longtime luxury stalwart like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
However, with a starting price of about 3 million, the Stinger may be the best value in the class. It is lower-priced than nearly all of its classmates. And thousands less than a brand new 3 Series or C-Class. For your money, you’ll get standard amenities like a well-equipped infotainment system and leather seats, along with one of the longest warranties on the market.
Which Is Better: Kia Stinger or BMW 3 Series?
The BMW 3 Series is fun to drive and offers a wide range of powerful engine choices. It’s also backed by good crash test and predicted reliability scores. For spirited drivers, both of these vehicles are good choices. Though the 3 Series isn’t quite as good of a value as the Stinger.
It has a higher base price by a few hundred thousands, and you’ll have to pay more to get a peppier engine or options like leather seats, power-adjustable or heated front seats, satellite radio, or Apple CarPlay. In comparison, all of these come standard in the Stinger.
Which Is Better: Kia Stinger or Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more luxurious car in this class than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Opulent materials cover nearly every surface of its cabin. There’s also a long list of add-ons, like a panoramic sunroof, pre-entry climate control, and a 13-speaker premium Burmester audio system.
However, the C-Class starts at over 4 million, and prices can balloon quickly from there. It also doesn’t come standard with amenities that the Stinger does, such as leather upholstery.
The Mercedes’ performance is geared more toward comfortable cruising, while the Stinger is the agiler of the two cars.
Stinger Safety Features
Standard safety equipment on the Kia Stinger includes front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera.
Available in every model is forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist.
Driver drowsiness warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. A head-up display is standard in the Stinger GT2 model
