I was there when Kia pulled the covers off of the Stinger for the very first time and, in case you haven’t read my review, I was extremely pleased with the car inside and out. The seats were beyond comfortable and supportive. The fit and finish of interior and exterior panels were amazing, and there was plenty of high-end tech to compete with the big boys. When you add in the fact that It basks in the ambiance of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque or a 3.3-liter V-6 that’s good for 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet, we’re talking about a car that not only stole the show at its debut but will be a bur in the ass of every executive over at BMW and Audi. Why? Because BMW and Audi can’t afford to beat out Kia and its newest sports sedan.

It sounds crazy, right? BMW and Audi have officially been smacked down by Kia – a brand that was once known for its econoboxes and lackluster quality that was more than sufficient thanks to extremely affordable pricing. Well, even though Kia has been producing more premium cars as of late – the Optima is pretty nice too – we kind of expected the Stinger to fall a bit on the chubby side of the finance books. We couldn’t have been more wrong, and Kia has proven to the world that it can produce a truly attractive sports car with more than enough power to take on the big boys without having to overcharge or ask you to break the bank to buy one. That’s right; we’re talking about a true sports sedan that isn’t ungodly expensive. So, how cheap is it? Well, the base model beats out the BMW 430i by nearly $10,000 and the 440i xDrive Gran Coupe by more like $11,000… Sounds crazy, right? Well, there’s more. Keep reading to learn all about it.

Economy Pricing Crazy Style and Power

So, let’s talk about the official prices for a moment. The base model, which brings the 2.0-liter four-cylinder to the table comes in at just $32,795. If you want more power, you’re going to have to go with the Stinger GT, which delivers 365 ponies from a 3.3-liter V-6 and commands just $39,895. That’s right – less than $40,000 for a car with this kind of street rep. Have we entered the twilight zone yet? Well, you might think so when you realize that the Stinger’s main competition – the BMW 4 Series comes in hot with a base price of $41,950 for the 430i Gran Coupe. Move up to the more powerful 440i Gran Coupe, and you’ll shell out $48,300 – a far sight from that $39,895 price tag of the Stinger GT. And, guess what? The Audi A5 – another major competitor – is also getting the middle finger thanks to a starting price of $40,641 (nearly $8,000 more than the base Stinger) or $42,978 for the Sport trim or $45,007 for the Sportback S Line.

It Reigns Supreme in Power Too

So, the Stinger is cheaper and even looks better. And, let’s be honest, it’s definitely more attractive than the 4 Series and the A5 on any given day of the week. I know you haters are still going to hate, but deep in your heart, you know the Stinger is the pageant winner today. So with a significantly lower price and more impressive looks, one would assume that it would fall show on the power front too, right? It would only be logical in today’s world. Well, you’re wrong. The Stinger beats out the competition in every way. With the base model pushing 255 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 26- pound-feet at 1,400 rpm, it topples the 430i’s348 ponies and 258 pound-feet and tops out the RANGE-TOPPING A5’s 252 horsepower and 272.9 pound-feet of torque. But….but… what about the 440i? Yeah, I hear you over there you little hater, but your 440i gets schooled too. See, the 440i delivers 320 ponies at 5,500 rpm and 330 pound-feet at 1,380 rpm. It’s not bad by any means, but guess what? The Stinger is going to kick its ass every time with the 3.3-liter V-6 that’s good for 365 ponies at 6,000 rpm and 376 pound-feet at 1,300 rpm.

The Specs

What the Other Guys Offer

a 5.0-liter Rumor that Will Make Bimmer Fans Need a Safe Space

Kia didn’t play around when it designed the Stinger. The brand was very upfront about the car having a lot of potential in the future. The car is capable of handling a lot more power and could even be fitted with some electrification components as well. But, that’s not all. The rumor mill is always churning, and the most recent rumor points to the possibility that the U.S could see the Stinger get the option of a V-8. This setup could ultimately deliver up to 450 horsepower, which means all of you Bimmer fans crying that the M3 will still be the leader… sorry about your luck, Kia is coming for it too. Considering that’s enough to top the M3’s 3.0-liter that delivers 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet, Kia is sitting real pretty. And, what’s more? The M3 commands $65,500 as of the time of this writing. That’s $14,000 more than the V-8 Stinger’s rumored price of $51,000.

Final Thoughts

And here we are – I’ve pretty given a huge hand to Kia’s initial assault on the German automakers, and I don’t feel the least bit bad about it. For years, all of you have blindly followed makes like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes, willing to pay way too much because you think it’s necessary for the power and luxury offered by these automakers. But now, Kia steps into the fold with an exceptionally cheaper car with equal or greater luxury and comfort next to even more power. Kia has officially shown us that a stylish, comfortable, and powerful sports sedan doesn’t have to brank the bank. So, the question is, what happens now? Does Kia invade the German hold on the luxury sedan market or will the Germans manage to fire back in one way or another? One thing is for sure – none of them are going to cut down on pricing. So, if any of them are going to pull it together, then they’ll need to bring more power, better looks, and anything else that might help make up for that near-$10,000 difference in price. I don’t know about you, but my money is on the Kia. Tell me what you all think in the comments section below.

References

Kia Stinger

Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Stinger.

Kia Stinger GT Plus

Read our speculative review on the 2019 Kia Stinger GT plus.

Kia Stinger Coupe

Read our speculative review on the 2020 Kia Stinger Coupe.

Read more Kia news.