Forget the dull, sensible sedan — for under $30,000, you can step into a twin-turbo V-6 sedan that delivers far more excitement for the money. Once positioned as a premium performance model, it has now become one of the best-kept secrets on the used market, offering serious power and refinement at a price most shoppers wouldn’t expect.
What makes it such a standout is how well its performance has aged. The twin-turbocharged V-6 still packs strong acceleration, a smooth power band, and a driving feel that can rival far newer, and far pricier, sedans. Yet thanks to steep depreciation, this once-aspirational model now sits comfortably in the mid-$20k to 30K range on the used market, making it a rare blend of value and capability.
Add in a comfortable, well-appointed interior and everyday practicality, and it becomes one of the smartest alternatives for buyers who want real performance without sacrificing comfort or reliability. If you’re shopping for a thrilling sedan on a tight budget, this is one worth seeking out.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and CarEdge.
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You can get a three-year-old Kia Stinger for the price of a new Toyota Camry
As the year draws to a close, a lot of people are looking to replace their family sedans, which are getting a little long in the tooth. While there are plenty of safe and simple options out there that will get you from point A to point B, maybe you’re looking for something that will add a little bit of excitement to your life. Well, instead of going and buying yourself something dull, you can get a three-year-old sports sedan without having to stretch your budget.
2022 Kia Stinger trims and pricing
Model
Average used price
GT-Line
$26,544
GT1
$29,664
GT2
$32,458
The 2022 model year Stinger comes in three distinct flavors, with each offering different levels of comfort and performance. While it is an incredibly competent sports sedan that punched well above its weight, the Stinger hasn’t held its value fantastically, which, in our opinion, has a lot to do with its badge more than anything else. Its luxury badged sibling, the Genesis G70, comes very similarly equipped but is much better regarded. For those of you looking to buy something used, this is fantastic news, because it means that the Stinger has depreciated into a total bargain.
While the GT-Line is impressively affordable, it comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder, and we prefer the V-6. Thus, we’d spend a little extra money and grab a GT1. Not only does it come with the more powerful engine, but it gets a lot of extra kit in the cabin too. You get a sunroof, an eight-inch infotainment system, built-in navigation, heated and ventilated front seats, a premium sound system, and a bevy of driver assists. Back in 2022, this package would have cost you around $45,000, but now its as much as an entry-level Camry.
Why the 2022 model year?
Opting for the 2022 model year is a simple balance of price and features. The average 2022 model year costs around $29,170, while the average 2023 model year, which was the last model produced, lists for $33,931. Kia also slimmed down the Stinger trim lineup for the 2023 model year as the sports sedan was due to be phased out, and they got rid of the GT1 package, which is our package of choice.
We also wouldn’t go further back than the 2022 model year because it received a ton of upgrades over the models that came before it. The base four-cylinder powertrain went from two liters and 255 horsepower to 2.5 liters and 300 horsepower. The V-6 models also got a new variable exhaust system which bumped power up by a little bit. The Stinger also received a facelift, with better looks and materials used inside and out.
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It may wear a Kia badge, but the Stinger doesn’t mess around when it comes to performance
Credit: Kia
People have been pretty quick to accept the Genesis brand, with cars like the G70 getting a lot of praise for their balance of luxury and performance. The Stinger didn’t quite get the same level of praise. It’s funny how much power a badge holds. The 2022 model year of the Stinger delivers power and performance that is on par with premium sports sedans that would cost you thousands of dollars more back three years ago, let alone today.
2022 Kia Stinger performance specs
Engine
2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four
3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6
Transmission
8-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
Horsepower
300 HP
368 HP
Torque
311 LB-FT
376 LB-FT
Driveline
RWD or AWD
RWD or AWD
0-60 MPH
5.3 seconds
4.6 seconds
Top Speed
130 MPH
167 MPH
As mentioned above, the GT-Line models come equipped with a pretty potent turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It comes with an eight-speed auto and either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This model delivers enough of a punch to keep up with a BMW 330i, at least up to 60 miles per hour. If you’re looking for something more potent, the GT1 and GT2 come with the twin-turbo V-6. All-wheel drive is also optional here, but it does reduce the top speed down to 149 miles per hour.
The Stinger offers quite a lot for the money you pay, with acceleration and handling that makes it a genuine weapon. It might not deliver the same kind of precision or composure as top premium sports sedans when pushed to the limit, but we doubt that most buyers will be bothered by that. All GT models come with some extra performance kit as well, including a limited-slip differential, a launch control system, and torque vectoring on all-wheel drive models.
Fuel economy
Model
City
Highway
Combined
Turbo-four RWD
22 MPG
32 MPG
25 MPG
Turbo-four AWD
21 MPG
29 MPG
24 MPG
Twin-turbo V-6 RWD
18 MPG
25 MPG
20 MPG
Twin-turbo V-6 AWD
17 MPG
24 MPG
20 MPG
While the Stinger may cost as much as a Camry, there has to be some sacrifice when getting all that performance. Unfortunately, this Korean sports sedan is not the most efficient option out there. Even the four-cylinder engine is pretty heavy on fuel, and the V-6 is somewhat of a gas-guzzler. Rear-wheel drive models are slightly more efficient, with all-wheel drive models losing a mile per gallon in most scenarios.
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Kia made the Stinger feel awfully close to a luxury car on the inside
Credit: Kia
Those that are familiar with modern Kias won’t be all that surprised to find out that the Stinger actually offers an interior that comes very close to what many luxury automakers are offering. While it may be missing a few details here and there, you’ll find it much more stacked than new mainstream sedans like the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord. It might be a little smaller, but the added comfort and tech features definitely make up for it.
Interior dimensions and comfort
Front Row Headroom
38.3 Inches
Front Row Legroom
42.6 Inches
Second Row Headroom
37 Inches
Second Row Legroom
36.4 Inches
Cargo Capacity
23 Cubic Feet
Compared to other compact sports sedans, the Kia Stinger is impressively practical. While maybe not as spacious as the mid-size sedans we’ve compared it to throughout this article, there is still more than enough space in the front and the back for up to four adults to sit comfortably. In terms of cargo space, the Kia easily outranks most sedans, offering a ton of room in the trunk. The rear seats also fold down for when you need some extra space.
The Stinger’s interior is really well crafted, with nice materials used throughout the cabin. We won’t pretend that it is as well-designed or immediately impressive as the likes of the Audi A4 or the BMW 3-Series, but it is much more premium than just about any other mainstream sedan. Its seats are also easily among the most comfortable in this class, even compared to luxury rivals. If you opt for the top trims, you can also get things like heated and ventilated seats with 16-way power-adjustability. Premium nappa leather upholstery is also optional.
Infotainment and technology
Kia imbued their sports sedan with plenty of technology, once again aiming to compete with much more expensive luxury opponents. Coming standard is an eight-inch infotainment screen, but we’d look for a model with the optional 10.3-inch unit instead. Both systems come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Much like modern Genesis sedans, the Stinger finds a good balance between touch controls and physical buttons and dials scattered throughout the cabin.
The Stinger comes with plenty of other features standard, including automatic dual-zone climate control, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a nine-speaker sound system. Get the GT2, however, and you get yourself a 15-speaker Harman and Kardon premium stereo instead.
