The Kia Stinger Could Be a Future Classic
Recently, I spent a week with the Kia Stinger and were reminded of all the things we appreciate about Kia’s sporty fastback. But its demise is right around the corner as Kia is pulling the plug at the end of this model year. This has me wondering, once production finally ceases, just how will the sporty fastback be remembered?
My best guess is that it’ll be one of those cars that gets more popular as the years go on. Here’s my two quick predictions.
In the Short Term
The Kia Stinger, especially those with the turbocharged V6, will become sought after used car buys for enthusiasts. Folks who missed their chance to buy one when the car was new, or couldn’t afford it at the time, will be clamouring for the Stinger on the pre-owned market.
I see the potential of it getting a bit of a cult following over the next 5 – 10 years. For reference and comparison, let’s look at semi-recent, low-volume, larger performance vehicles. The Pontiac GTO, G8, and Chevrolet SS were all discontinued due to low sales figures as well. But shortly after their discontinuation, they quickly became darlings of modifiers, enthusiasts, and those who just wanted power, comfort, and space at a reasonable price.
The Kia Stinger seems to fit this bill and I don't think current owners will have any trouble selling them down the road.
Over the Long Term
Over a longer period, I see the Kia Stinger becoming a bit of a future classic. I mean this within reason of course. I don’t think it will be crossing the auction block in 30 years’ time, commanding six or seven figure price tags.
But I also don't see it losing much resale value through the years. In fact, there’s a good chance it may go up in value over the coming decades. Not necessarily just because it was a fun car to drive, but more so due to its low volume numbers.
Only time will tell if either of these things come true, but if I have the chance to get a used Stinger at a reasonable price in a few years, I’ll gladly take it.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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Being an owner of a Stinger I don't mind it becoming a classic. I love the fact that I don't see them on every block. The SUV craze has certainly hurt car sales of these type of vehicles. And in Canada, my 2.0L Turbo Gt-Line that was only sold for two years here, is an underrated gem...actually a great balance of torque/power for our long winters.
As an owner of a '22 GT2 with the Scorpion package I agree with this assessment - the car marks a turning point in Kia's branding and shows that they can make a sporty luxury/GT car that keeps up with true luxury brands while beating them with reliability, and I suspect in the future people will be saying "I shoulda bought one" so as such I am not making any irreversible modifications to my car even when I tune it.