Representative photo — may show another model year
2019 Kia Stinger
Independent review & score by Carivo
Representative photo — may show another model year
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Sports |
| Base Price | $31,862–$37,580 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2019 Kia Stinger at 7.8/10 overall, which translates to a Recommended rating for this sports. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 8.2/10. It's a solid all-rounder that delivers across most dimensions without obvious deal-breakers.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We score reliability at 7.7/10 — better than most direct rivals, if short of the segment's best. The safety score of 7.7/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance is a genuine highlight at 8.2/10. The Kia Stinger delivers engaging driving dynamics — responsive handling, meaningful power delivery, and a drivetrain that rewards spirited driving without sacrificing daily usability. Tech rates a reasonable 7.6/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $31,862–$37,580, 20 MPG, seating 5, the Kia Stinger sits in the mid-market bracket of the sports segment. The 7.8/10 value score says the pricing is fair rather than generous; cross-shop the segment before signing anything. At 7 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2019 Kia Stinger is a solid, well-rounded sports that covers the essentials without obvious deal-breakers. For most buyers in this segment, it's a safe, dependable choice.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2019 Kia Stinger ranks #121 of 316 sportss in the Carivo database — better than 62% of the segment. Its 7.8/10 overall score is 0.1 points above the segment average of 7.7/10. Its $31,862 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $46,090 by about 31%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sports ranking →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$13,125 ($2,625/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 3 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Across the Stinger model years we've scored, the 2019 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8.8/10 | $45,090 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 8.0/10 | $36,360 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 8.0/10 | $35,235 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.9/10 | $34,111 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.9/10 | $32,986 | Read review → |
| 2019 (this review) | 7.8/10 | $31,862 | |
| 2018 | 7.8/10 | $30,737 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Service brakes, hydraulic / Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / Control unit/module 27/08/2020 · 20V518000 | Kia Motors America (Kia) recalled certain 2019 Stinger vehicles equipped with 3.3L T-GDI engines on August 27, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Kia expanded the recall population and added certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. While driving, an engine… |
|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline / Delivery / Fuel pump 13/09/2023 · 23V634000 | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Stinger vehicles. The fuel control valve plunger may stick inside the high pressure fuel pump, causing over-pressurization and loss of drive power. |
| Engine and engine cooling / Engine / Gasoline / Turbo/supercharger / Hoses/plumbing 01/03/2024 · 24V169000 | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K900, and 2018-2023 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter turbo gasoline direct injection engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe and hose assembly may deteriorate and leak oil. |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2019 Kia Stinger that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2019 Kia Stinger's reliability 7.7/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
3 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.8/10 overall, ranking #121 of 316 sportss in our database (better than 62% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2019 Kia Stinger starts at $31,862 and ranges up to $37,580 across trims (MSRP when new). At 20 MPG, expect roughly $2,625/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest Stinger years we've rated are 2019 (7.8/10), 2018 (7.8/10), 2021 (7.9/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (8.8/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
The documented issues for the 2019 Kia Stinger are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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Explore the full lineup of Kia models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.