Kia Stinger 2017

The Stinger is the production result of Kia’s GT concept, first shown at Frankfurt in 2011. Kia also says the car was designed under Peter Schreyer’s direction with major input from the company’s Frankfurt design studio. Its grand-touring brief was intended to suggest a fast long-distance car rather than a conventional family sedan.

Kia announced in 2017 that the Stinger would enter production during the second half of the year, ahead of its European market launch in the fourth quarter. The model was built in South Korea and sold in several markets with different engines, drivetrains and equipment levels. The sources reviewed do not provide a verified consolidated production figure for the 2017 Base version alone.

Kia later confirmed that Stinger production would come to an end after several years on sale and introduced the Tribute Edition to mark the model’s final phase. Regional sales figures, worldwide production totals and the number of cars built in a specific trim should therefore not be treated as interchangeable. A precise production total for this Base configuration is left unspecified because the available evidence does not establish one reliably.

Automotive publications generally viewed the Stinger as a significant and unexpected move into the large performance-car segment for Kia. MotorTrend praised the four-cylinder car’s distinctive character and value, while Car and Driver found the 2.0T convincing to drive, with balanced handling and an effective automatic transmission. Reviews also identified compromises, including interior materials that fell short of some premium rivals, noticeable road noise and less composure near the handling limit. The Base model attracted attention for combining a relatively accessible price with available rear-wheel drive and useful performance. At the same time, testers generally regarded the twin-turbocharged V6 GT as the version that delivered the most dramatic acceleration and the strongest performance identity.