Representative photo — may show another model year
2020 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 | $32,986–$40,048 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2020 Kia Stinger is a sports that earns a Carivo score of 7.9/10 — rated Recommended. 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. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 7.7/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 7.9/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 8.2/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining sportss to actually drive. At 7.9/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $32,986–$40,048, 21 MPG, seating 5, the Kia Stinger sits in the mid-market bracket of the sports segment. At 7.7/10 for value, it delivers fair pricing for what's on offer, though the best alternatives in this price range score slightly higher. At 6 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: Nothing about the 2020 Kia Stinger will scare a sensible buyer off. It scores consistently across the board, and it does what a good sports should — quietly and competently.
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 2020 Kia Stinger ranks #100 of 316 sportss in the Carivo database — better than 69% of the segment. Its 7.9/10 overall score is 0.2 points above the segment average of 7.7/10. Its $32,986 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $46,090 by about 28%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sports ranking →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$12,500 ($2,500/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 6 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 2020 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 (this review) | 7.9/10 | $32,986 | |
| 2019 | 7.8/10 | $31,862 | Read review → |
| 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.
| Electrical system / Instrument panel / Fuel gauge 05/11/2021 · 21V862000 | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Stinger vehicles. A software error in the instrument cluster may cause an inaccurate fuel gauge reading. |
|---|---|
| Steering 22/07/2020 · 20V422000 | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Stinger vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Turbo-GDI engine. A component within the Rack Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, possibly resulting in the… |
| Fuel system, gasoline / Delivery / Fuel pump 16/09/2020 · 20V560000 | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Stinger vehicles. The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to the engine. |
| 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. |
Showing 5 of 6 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
Own a 2020 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 2020 Kia Stinger's reliability 7.7/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
6 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 7.9/10 overall, ranking #100 of 316 sportss in our database (better than 69% of the segment). A solid choice for most buyers — compare it against the segment leaders before deciding.
The 2020 Kia Stinger starts at $32,986 and ranges up to $40,048 across trims (MSRP when new). At 21 MPG, expect roughly $2,500/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 2020 Kia Stinger are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Electrical system, Steering, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic (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.