Remember the times when Korean carmakers were the laughingstock of the automotive industry? Those days are long gone, and if you have any doubt about it, you only need to look at the Kia Stinger to see that the Korean carmaker has come a long way. Upon arrival, Kia’s sleek, four-door coupe proved more than a match for the German premium offerings from BMW and Audi. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and 2023 will be the last year of the Stinger. Of course, we have SUVs to blame since they are steadily eating away at most other segments. With that said, let me tell you why you shouldn’t miss out on the sleek Korean while it’s still around.

A Stylish, Four-Door Coupe Without The Brand Tax

Red and Black 2022 Stinger GT and GT-Line
Kia
Cinematic shot of the 2022 GT and GT-line Kia Stinger.

When the Kia Stinger debuted for the 2018 model year, it quickly became the bargain of the segment. The base Stinger had a starting price of just $31,900, which was way under the $47,400 starting price of the equivalent BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe or even the $43,775 starting price of the Audi A5 Sportback. To make matters even worse for the German premium models, the twin-turbo V-6-powered Stinger GT started at $38,350. You don’t need to be a mathematician to see that the Stinger offers way more for the money, both in terms of performance and in terms of standard equipment.

Related: How The Kia Stinger Dominates BMW, Mercedes, and Audi

The Stinger Evolved Over the Years

2022 Kia Stinger GT black interior
Netcarshow
A shot of a 2022 Kia Stinger black leather interior

It won’t take you long to see that the Koreans have copied some of the best design features of German premium models when styling the interior. The clear surfaces, on which the air vents were positioned are very similar to what Mercedes was doing at the time. The same goes for the brushed aluminum finish on some buttons. Unfortunately, small bits of the interior still featured some cheaper and harder plastics, the most annoying of which was the one located on the steering wheel centerpiece. For the 2020 model year, there were a few touch-ups here and there and materials became even better. Both the driver instrument cluster and infotainment screen were upgraded and enlarged to keep up with the competition. The annoying steering wheel centerpiece remains, however.

A Variety of Potent Engine Choices

2022 Stinger GT-Line Engine Bay
Kia
2022 Kia Stinger 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine bay.

Initially, the Kia Stinger’s base engine was a rather mediocre, 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four, which developed 245 to 256 horsepower (183 to 191 kilowatts) and 260 pound-feet. Some regions outside of North America, including Europe, got a 2.2-liter, inline-four, turbo-diesel with 200 horsepower (149 kilowatts) and 325 pound-feet (441 Nm). Aside from great fuel economy, the diesel unit had little going for it.

Related: An All-Korean Drag Race: Can The Hyundai Elantra N DCT Give The Kia Stinger GT a Run For Its Money?

The 2020 update of the Kia Stinger saw a new base engine. The 2.0-liter turbo-four was retired in favor of a 2.5-liter turbocharged, inline-four, which puts out 300 horsepower (227 kilowatts) and 311 pound-feet (422 Nm). With this engine, the four-door Korean coupe accelerates to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.2 seconds. Of course, the Stinger GT packs the most performance thanks to a 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V-6 with 365 horsepower (272 kilowatts) and 376 pound-feet (510 Nm), which allows for a 4.7-second 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint. Regardless of the engine, an eight-speed automatic sends power to the rear or, optionally, all four wheels (V-6 models only). An interesting fact is that the current, fastest DeLorean DMC-12 packs a 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V-6 from a Kia Stinger GT that makes over 500 horsepower to the wheels.

Spacious and Practical Interior

blue Kia Stinger driving on a straight road
Kia
an action shot of a dark-blue Kia Stinger driving on a straight road

The well-sculpted interior of the Stinger makes it one of the most practical, luxury, four-door coupes on the market. The interior provides ample space for four, although second-row headroom might be less than ideal for passengers over 6 feet, one inch (185.4 cm). Behind the second-row seats is a trunk with a cargo capacity of 23.3 cubic feet (660 liters), which is, by far, the biggest in the segment. If you fold the rear seats, cargo capacity grows to 39.3 cubic feet (1,114 liters). Moreover, there is a hatchback tailgate, which is also electric and push-button-operated. The car market is a cruel mistress, however, and even a well-rounded package isn't enough to ensure the Stinger's survival in the long run. Sadly, the ever-increasing demand for SUVs means that more manufacturers will be depriving us of stylish, sporty sedans and four-door coupes in the coming years.