The Kia Stinger is a compact executive car that is manufactured by Ka Motors, the second largest car manufacturer in South Korea. The Stinger was first programmed to be similar to the GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show and the Kia GT4 Stinger from the auto show in 2014. First designed by Peter Schreyer, this car was inspired by the Coca-Cola Bottle.
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The Stinger can reach 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 7.7 seconds, with a pre-production Stinger GT reaching a top speed of 167 miles per hour. Despite these impressive specs for a popular and worldwide car, the Kia Stinger problems have overshadowed some of its success.
In order to determine if this car is safe for you, we will go over the 2018 Kia Stinger problems and reliability, the 2019 pros and cons of the KiaStinger, the 2019 Kia Stinger problems, how safe the Kia Stinger really is, the recalls for the Kia Stinger, and the overall rating for the newest model, the 2020 Kia Stinger. After you go over this information, you can then decide if the Kia Stinger is right for you.
2018 Kia Stinger Problems & Reliability
The 2018 Kia Stinger problems are put to the test with the pros of a dynamic performance, roomy interior, and luxurious and upscale features. However, it still ranks in the middle of the pack for luxury small cars due to some prevalent problems. The rivals of the Kia Stinger had less issues, earning higher reliability ratings and better fuel economy rankings.
The pros of the 2018 Kina STinger include a strong engine options, balanced and smooth handling, a large space and cargo hold, and user-friendly features that make the car easy to use.
The cons of the Kia Stinger in 2018 include just an average fuel economy, and the rivals of the Kia Stinger having better predicted reliability. The overall US News rating for the 2018 Kia Stinger comes in at 8.1, with a critics’ rating of 9.2, the performance rating of 9.0, an interior rating of 8.3, the total cost of ownership coming in at 8.2, and the overall ranking hitting 8.1 out of 10.
Even though this ranking is fairly promising, other similar cars fared better in terms of reliability and safety. This made the Kia Stinger problems cause it to be just #5 in the 2018 Luxury Small cars and #18 in Used Luxury Small Cars 20K and up.
The key weaknesses and the issues with the Kia Stinger in 2018 involve the lower than average fuel economy and the rivals having a higher predictability rating however, the strong base engine, balanced ride and handling, standard features, ways to use technology, comfortable seats, ample cargo space, and low average list price try to overshadow these common Kia Stinger problems.
2019 Kia Stinger Pros & Cons
The Kia Stinger according to Edmunds.com has received an average vote of 4.7 out of 5 stars, with the main cons regarding the fuel efficiency, visibility, climate control, warranty, and transmission.
The complaints regarding the fuel efficiency deal with the gas tank being small for the gas mileage, so you will have to add more frequent trips to refill your tank during trips. In addition, there are some user reports of poor gas mileage, below average fuel efficiency, and the Stinger being very thirsty and taking up a lot of premium gas when it shouldn't.
Regarding the visibility, the user complaints focus on the visibility out of the back is much poorer when compared to other similar hatchback cars, the rear side view mirrors being needed to see out of the back, and the design and aesthetic of the car lessening the efficiency and visibility.
The user complaints about the transmission in the 2019 Kia Stinger revolve around the shifting being a little bit jerky while in sport mode, which can make the shifting not very smooth and difficult to do quickly.
The pros of the 2019 Kina Stinger that try to counteract the Kina Stinger problems include the appearance, interior ,value, comfort, driving experience, and the engine. The appearance of the car was applauded by users, saying that the style is sleek, the color combination is an attention grabbing combination, the dashboard and the screens are designed well and functionally, the red leather interior and black exterior is appealing, and the color combination is aesthetic.
The pros of the interior of the Kia Stinger involve the fully loaded option of the GT trim, the stereo system working well and providing ample sound even while cruising down the highway, the interior feeling very luxurious and high quality, and the interior is spacious enough for families and cargo space.
2019 Kia Stinger Reliability
Although the Kia Stinger has numerous pros, but also has some prevalent Kia Stinger portable, is the 2019 Kia Stinger ranked #3 for the Used Luxury Small cArs $20K and Up category, #3 in the 2019 Luxury Small CArs category, and won in the category for the 2019 Best Luxury Small Car for the mOney.
The rating for US News earned an 8.6 overall out of 10, with the critics’ rating coming out to 8.8, the performance coming out to 9.1, the interior ranking 8 out of 10, the total cost of ownership being 8.2, and the safety reaching a perfect 10 out of 10, making the overall reliability rating a promising 8.6 out of 10.
The pros on this site include two different engine choices that offer plenty of performance options, agile and quick handling, lots of cargo and interior space, great safety ratings, and high predicted reliability ratings. The only con on the US News site of the 2019 Kia Stinger problems includes the limited rear headroom for taller people.
The specs of the Kia Stinger in 20198 include 5 setas, 17-22 miles per gallon in the city and 25-29 miles per gallon on the highway, the rear wheel drive and all wheel drive drivetrain options, and an overall horsepower of 255 to 365.
The new features in the 2019 Kia Stinger which can outweigh some of the Kia Stinger problems include blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, and heated rear seats, wireless device charging, and parking camera systems for ease of parking.
How Safe is the Stinger?
Although there are some Kia Stinger problems that can deter families and those who are concerned about safety from purchasing this car, the Stinger earned a top rating of Superior for the vehicle to vehicle front crash prevention system, while the vehicle to pedestrian rating earned the second highest rating out of the ranking system with an Advanced score.
The standard advanced safety features in the Kia Stinger include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear view camera. If you want to make your Kia Stinger even safer to avoid some of the Kia Stinger problems, you can add pedestrian detection, emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, adaptive headlights, and head-up display.
Kia Stinger Recalls
The Kia Motors corporation was forced to undergo some recalls for their Kia Stinger due to the prevalent issues and the noticeable Kia Stinger problems. One recall involved the electrical system and the wiring under the front under hood, with the front wiring harness in the engine and the passenger compartment possibly becoming damaged from contacting a burr and the left fender body panel.
This damaged wiring can increase the chances of a short circuit, leading to the higher likelihood of a fire in your car. Kia should notify owners and dealers should replace the wiring harness and cover free of charge.
Luckily for Kia owners, there has only been one recall for the Kia Stinger models, which occurred in late 2018. Since the car has been produced for three model years now, from 2018 until the present, this is a pretty good and reliable track record for Kia Stinger owners.
2020 Kia Stinger Problems & Reliability
The Kia Stinger in 2020 ranked near the top of the listings for the luxury small class cars. With a roomy and luxurious interior, plenty of innovative technological features, smooth and easy to use handling, muscular engine performance, and good safety and reliability ratings, this car became the #4 spot in the Luxury Small Cars category.
For the overall US News Scorecard ranking, the 2020 Kia Stinger earned 8.9 out of 10 for the critics' rating, 8.4 for performance, 7.6 for interior, 9.8 for safety, and came out to an average of 8.5 overall for the scorecard J.D. Power gave the 2020 Kia Stinger car reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Even though the 2020 Kia Stinger Is a good sports car and is known for its agile handling, it can also be used as a sensible family car or work vehicle. The STinger has a huge cabin for the class it is in, providing plenty of room for passengers and all of your gear for weekend trips away. Along with the great safety score, this could be a great choice for a family vehicle.
However, the big knock against the 2020 car that is showing most of the Kia Stinger problems includes the poor fuel economy, with the Stinger earning just 17-22 miles per gallon in the city and 25-29 miles per gallon on the highway.
Kia Stinger vs Audi A5
When comparing the 2020 Kia Stinger to the competition, you have to take into account the pros and cons of the model so that you can know the Kia Stinger problems before purchasing the car. The pros of the vehicle include turbocharged and powerful engines, balanced ride and smooth handling, large and spacious cargo area and interior, an easy to use and simple touch screen, and simplified trim levels. However, the big con is the below average fuel economy.
When compared to the Audi A5, the Audi A5 Sportback is one of the best vehicles when ranked in the luxury small car class. It has a high-quality and top notch interior, upscale and intuitive driving dynamics, easy to use technical features, and features a hatchback for ample space.
However, one thing that could make you choose the Stinger is that the Kia model is substantially less expensive than the Audi A5, with a base price being lower by over $!1,000, and has a longer powertrain warranty. The other side of the coin can argue that the Audi is more luxurious than the Kia, and the RS 5 trim option offers intense performance and can overshadow the prevalent Kia Stinger problem of low fuel economy.
Kia Stinger vs. BMW 4 Series
Now that you know how the Stinger fairs in comparison to the Audi A5, the BMW 4 Series is another direct competitor that can definitely put up a fight. The BM@ 4 Series Gran Coupe is a sleek and stylish hatchback that is fun to drive, luxuriously styled, and offers plenty of space for seating and cargo space. It has a user friendly infotainment system and is upscale. However, the Kia is a better value.
The Kia Stinger, when compared to the BMW 4 Series, is $11,000 less money, and is backed by a longer warranty. However, similar to the Audi A5, the BMW feels a bit more upscale and luxurious while you are driving, providing a nicer interior.
Kia Stinger Problems Overall
When looking at the Kia Stinger problems and the various models as a whole, the Stinger has great reliability ratings during all model years, offering a great value for the price you will pay. According to Kelley Blue Book, the Koa Stinger in 2020 earned a 4.6 out of 5, earning the following scores: 4.4 for value, 4.6 for performance, 4.4 for quality, 4.4 for comfort, 4.4 for reliability, and 4.6 for styling, showing a reliable and functional vehicle that is a smart choice for any driver.