Kia Stinger: Why This Discontinued Sports Sedan Is Suddenly a Future Classic

Kia Stinger (discontinued but in demand) is the kind of car that makes you question bland crossovers and boring commutes. It mixes rear?wheel-drive drama, hatchback practicality, and luxury-car tech in a package that the market only truly started to appreciate as it was leaving.

You know that sinking feeling when you look around a parking lot and everything blends into the same grayscale of SUVs and crossovers? The cars are fine, sure, but nothing makes your pulse jump. Nothing makes you want to take the long way home, or glance back over your shoulder as you walk away.

Thats the quiet crisis a lot of drivers feel today: performance is either crazy expensive, or wrapped in a body that looks like everything else. Enthusiasts miss the drama. Everyday drivers miss the sense that their car is more than an appliance.

And then, just as the market was drowning in sameness, a wild card appeared  and quietly disappeared.

Kia Stinger (Auslaufmodell aber gesucht)  translated: Kia Stinger, discontinued but still in demand  is that wild card.

The Solution: A Sports Sedan That Refused to Be Boring

The Kia Stinger was Kias brazen answer to a simple question: what if a mainstream brand built a rear-wheel-drive (or all-wheel-drive) fastback sports sedan to chase BMWs and Audis, then priced it like a car for real people?

Launched in 2017 and now discontinued in many markets (including Germany), the Stinger has become something of a cult favorite. It looks like a sleek European GT, hauls like a grown-up hot hatch thanks to its liftback trunk, and in 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 guise, it goes like something that should wear an M, S, or AMG badge.

On Kias German site, the Stinger still lives on as a discoverable model, almost like an archive to a bold era: a long hood, low roofline, and that unmistakable fastback silhouette. Underneath, you get a longitudinal engine, available rear-wheel drive (in most markets) or all-wheel drive, and a chassis tuned by former BMW M engineers. This was never just another Kia; it was a statement.

Why this specific model?

If youre wondering why people on Reddit and enthusiast forums keep telling others to "grab a Stinger while you still can," it comes down to a few key things that competitors struggle to match at the same price point.

• Real performance credentials: In GT trim, the Stingers 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 produces around 365 368 hp (market-dependent) and hefty torque. Owners report 04 mph launches that feel genuinely punchy, with highway passing power that borders on addictive.
• Rear-wheel-drive dynamics: Unlike most family sedans that are front-wheel drive, the Stinger is built on a rear-drive-biased architecture. Enthusiasts love the balance, the steering feel, and, with stability control loosened, the playfulness.
• Fastback practicality: The Stingers hatch-style trunk swallows luggage, strollers, sports gear, and Ikea boxes with ease. You get the stance of a coupe with the usability of a wagon-lite.
• Premium feel, mainstream badge: Inside, youll find high-quality materials, supportive seats, and a clean dashboard layout. Later models added a wide touchscreen, advanced driver-assistance systems, and a seriously good Harman/Kardon audio system in higher trims.
• Value and depreciation sweet spot: Because its a Kia and an out-of-production sports sedan, used prices often undercut German rivals significantly, while still offering comparable performance and equipment.

Put simply, the Kia Stinger gives you a slice of grand-tourer exotica without demanding a bankers salary or a second car for daily-life duties.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
Rear-wheel-drive architecture (AWD available)	More engaging, balanced handling than typical front-wheel-drive sedans; AWD adds traction in poor weather.
Up to ~368 hp twin-turbo V6 (GT models)	Serious straight-line performance and effortless highway passing; feels like a genuine sports sedan, not just a pseudo-sport trim.
Fastback hatch trunk design	Large opening and generous cargo space for luggage, sports gear, or daily family use while keeping a low, coupe-like profile.
8-speed automatic transmission	Smooth in comfort driving, responsive in sport modes; easy everyday usability with paddle-shift fun on twisty roads.
Advanced safety and driver-assistance features	Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and collision avoidance (equipment varies by year/market) support safer, less stressful commutes.
High-quality interior and premium audio options	Refined cabin for long-distance comfort, with available Harman/Kardon sound turning the Stinger into a rolling concert hall.
Competitive pricing vs. German rivals	Delivers performance and tech similar to BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe9 or Audi A5 Sportback at a lower purchase price, especially on the used market.

What Users Are Saying

Dive into Reddit threads and owner forums, and a clear pattern emerges: the Kia Stinger inspires the kind of loyalty and emotional attachment that spec sheets alone cant explain.

Common praises:

• Performance-to-price ratio: Owners frequently describe the Stinger, especially in GT/V6 form, as "the best performance deal Ive ever bought." Many cross-shop it against BMW 3/4 Series, Audi S5, and even Dodge Charger/Challenger.
• Under-the-radar appeal: Users like that the Stinger isnt everywhere. They call it a "sleeper"  a car that looks special but isnt cliché. It attracts compliments from strangers yet still flies under the radar of casual observers.
• Real-world practicality: Several owners mention moving from hot hatches or coupes and appreciating that the Stinger can fit kids, dogs, and cargo without killing the fun.
• Reliability: While no car is perfect, many long-term owners report solid reliability when maintenance is kept up, especially with the 2.0/2.5 turbo four-cylinder engines.

Common criticisms:

• Fuel consumption (V6 models): Not surprisingly, the twin-turbo V6 can be thirsty if you tap into its power often. Some owners report real-world mileage in the teens (mpg) when driven hard.
• Interior space for tall rear passengers: The sloping roofline looks fantastic but can limit headroom in the back for taller adults.
• Badge perception: A few buyers mention that friends or colleagues dont "get" paying this much for a Kia, highlighting that some still associate the brand purely with budget commuters.
• Discontinuation anxiety: With production winding down globally, some worry about long-term parts availability or future value, though Kias global size and support network (Kia Corp., listed under ISIN: KR7000270009) help ease that concern.

Overall sentiment? Strongly positive  especially among those who deliberately sought something different from the usual German trio.

Alternatives vs. Kia Stinger

So where does the Kia Stinger fit in the current landscape, especially now that its an end-of-line, sought-after model?

• BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe9: Sharper brand prestige and an excellent chassis, but typically more expensive like-for-like, with pricier options and maintenance. Many owners say the Stinger delivers 80 90% of the experience for much less.
• Audi A5 Sportback: Beautiful interior and strong quattro reputation. However, used examples with similar power and spec usually cost more, and youre less likely to find a V6 twin-turbo equivalent at Stinger prices.
• Genesis G70: Built on a related platform and also a compelling sports sedan, but with a more traditional trunk instead of a hatch. Great if you want a more luxury-oriented, compact footprint.
• Dodge Charger / Kia K5 GT: If you want straight-line speed and bold styling, these are options. But the Stinger sits in a sweet spot: more sophisticated than a muscle sedan, more purposeful and rear-drive-focused than a typical front-drive-based performance trim.

What the Stinger does uniquely well is combine versatility and verve. Its not just quick in a straight line; its a car that you can daily, road-trip, and canyon-carve in equal measure.

Is it a good buy now that its discontinued?

Thats the key question on many shoppers minds. Heres the reality:

• Demand is steady: Enthusiast chatter and used-market activity suggest the Stinger is holding a loyal following, particularly for well-kept V6 GT models.
• Modern tech: Even late-run models have the kind of safety and infotainment features that keep them from feeling dated: large screens, smartphone integration, and a full suite of driver assists.
• Support from a major automaker: This isnt a tiny boutique brand; its Kia Corp., a global manufacturer with a serious dealer and parts network.

If youre hunting for a used or remaining new Kia Stinger, prioritizing service history and a professional inspection (especially on tuned or heavily modified examples) is wise, but thats true of any performance car.

Final Verdict

The Kia Stinger is one of those rare cars that feels like it was built by people who love driving as much as you do. It doesnt exist to tick a crossover box or chase the latest trend. It exists because someone inside Kia asked, "What if we built something truly fun, and gave it room to live a real life?"

Now that its an end-of-line model, the Stinger has crossed from brave experiment to future classic territory. Its the car enthusiasts will point at in a decade and say, "Remember when Kia did that?"

If youre tired of anonymous crossovers, if you want rear-drive feel and hatchback utility, and if you appreciate getting more car than the badge suggests, the Kia Stinger (discontinued but in demand) belongs on your short list. In a world racing toward sameness, this is one of the last great left-field performance bargains  and it wont stay under the radar forever.