Kia Stinger Declining Sales

[StingerReborn]

Is anyone else worried about the massive drop in sales for Stinger the last few months? 20% drops in 2019 and 2020. I’m worried the rumor mill is true and Kia will be discouraged from updating the model as heavily! Also worried about aftermarket investment!

 

[Nuthadey]

I think what will ultimately determine the future of the Stinger is what exactly Kia wants from it. Kia has been reluctant to make any official statements of their sales goals so we have no idea if its doing more, less, or exactly what they want it to do.

I believe January may be the worst for Stinger sales since it entered full production for the U.S. market but if Kia was actually concerned one would think they might consider dropping 15 or 20 bucks on an ad or two.

*edit* I did a little research. January 2020 was the worst for Stinger sales since November 2017, when Kia sold 17 Stingers in the country. Previous low months have been September 2019 w/981 sales, April 2019 w/939 sales, January 2019 w/939 sales, December 2018 w/826 sales, and November 2018 w/17 sales.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Total yearly sales for 2019 were 82.5% of total 2018 sales. I think that's well within expected variability for a market that is losing customers (sedans generally). Why Kia gave us this amazing car in the first place remains the central mystery to me. It couldn't have been because Kia miscalculated the sedan market (thought their killer high performance GT would resurrect general public interest). So, I'm going with the idea that Kia uses the Stinger to point critics to what Kia does now: price point dominance. And that message is their first priority with the Stinger.

 

[Shrikecorp]

*Any* messaging. The least effectively marketed "Halo" car today.

 

[Helo58]

Sadly, the fact that the Stinger is one of the only <$50,000 cars in a GT sedan segment doesn't bode well for the future of the Stinger or any "fun" cars. It could be argued that the safety culture we currently live in has relegated the "sports sedan" to a thing of the past, unless you are willing to spend $75k. Poorly implemented solutions from car manufacturers have also hurt sales. How long did it take for Honda to get a 300hp car? How long did it take Lexus to embrace forced induction? Why can't a domestic produce a sports sedan that generates any interest? So many questions, so little time... haha.

 

[StingerReborn]

The thing that worries me the most is that the aftermarket parts business is based on sales... if the sales keep slipping, so does our aftermarket

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

They're going to have a hard time selling more until they start offering the features that they're holding back in various markets for no good reason other than utter stupidity.

If they hadn't gimped it by denying us UVO Link and with that stupid open diff in the rear, I'd have one in my garage already.

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

I have no idea why Kia doesn't advertise the car. I don't know why you would incur significant R&D costs to design, test, build, and certify a car and then let it languish on the vine with no marketing support. GM did this with the Chevy SS, but that car was just to fill a contractual obligation with GM Australia/Holden. I can't make heads nor tails out of what Kia really expects out of the Stinger. Maybe they were caught off guard by the Telluride's success, but at this point I think those things sell themselves I see so damn many of them.

I get people stop me in parking lots and gas stations and ask what the car is because they have don't have a clue and have never seen one before. For a "halo car" of a brand, that seems a little sad. Then again, look at the K900. Has anyone EVER seen an advertisement for that? Look on Kia's website, if you didn't know what you were looking for, you'd never find it. Telluride, Soul, whatever a Seltos is.. at the very bottom there's a banner for the GT Line Stinger, but that's it.

 

[StingerReborn]

I have no idea why Kia doesn't advertise the car. I don't know why you would incur significant R&D costs to design, test, build, and certify a car and then let it languish on the vine with no marketing support. GM did this with the Chevy SS, but that car was just to fill a contractual obligation with GM Australia/Holden. I can't make heads nor tails out of what Kia really expects out of the Stinger. Maybe they were caught off guard by the Telluride's success, but at this point I think those things sell themselves I see so damn many of them.

I get people stop me in parking lots and gas stations and ask what the car is because they have don't have a clue and have never seen one before. For a "halo car" of a brand, that seems a little sad. Then again, look at the K900. Has anyone EVER seen an advertisement for that? Look on Kia's website, if you didn't know what you were looking for, you'd never find it. Telluride, Soul, whatever a Seltos is.. at the very bottom there's a banner for the GT Line Stinger, but that's it.

one time on the ad, and I remember it vividly lol

 

[Chark]

The Sonata N is next up in HKG's "fun" vehicle stable, although it will be FWD only. I prefer an AWD option, and the Stinger's hatchback provides a lot more cargo capability/flexibility. The new 2.5T should be close to 300HP.

 

[GenesisG70]

Kia is not advertising more or doing more about the Stinger cuz they know the money is not in the Stinger I guess, these are companies for profit, if Kia knows the Stinger will bring lots of money they would do everything possible to beef up options, upgrades, etc.

 

[Silverfox]

I’ve heard that Kia are dropping the two 2.0l petrol and one diesel Stinger models and just selling the single 3.3l model in the UK.

 

[StingaGT]

I dealt with multiple dealerships when I was trying to purchase the vehicle and it wasn't very pleasant.
Also, when I dealt with Kia corporate to deal with my warranty issues, it wasn't very pleasant neither.

In my opinion, Kia isn't ready to sell luxury vehicles. this may be true for all non-luxury OEMs trying to sell their luxury vehicles.
I never thought about this until I drove in for my first warranty repair; same technicians that will work on Kia Rio will work on my Kia Stinger.
and of course, my 2 recent trips to dealership for service left scratches on my trims each time.

However, I still love my Stinger, I think this is the best looking car at this price range and you get the most out of it with the money you spend on it.

 

[Nasscar]

I’ve heard that Kia are dropping the two 2.0l petrol and one diesel Stinger models and just selling the single 3.3l model in the UK.

That would make sense. In Australia, only about 5 percent sold would be 2.0L Stingers. Very similar to the sales of the 4 cylinder Mustangs I assume.

 

[Callum]

Ditch the KIA badge like Genesis did.

Lower the MF on the leases. It's killing these cars.

 

[Soca Boy]

That would make sense. In Australia, only about 5 percent sold would be 2.0L Stingers. Very similar to the sales of the 4 cylinder Mustangs I assume.

Yeah, I have yet to see a 2.0L in my city r dealer lot.

 

[RonNSoCal]

Yeah, I have yet to see a 2.0L in my city r dealer lot.

I see them frequently here is SoCal at dealers, I assume because they are not selling as well as the 3.0T model. I agree with many of you that a little marketing could really help the car's sales and prestige. My wife is upset because she drives a Kia rather than a prestigious brand like her previous MB E350, a car that is used as taxi cabs in Europe! I explain to her almost daily that my Corvette is a Chevrolet. But to her, this is totally different. Everyone knows that a Corvette is a car with a following and status, whereas, no one knows that a Stinger GT2 is a lot more than a Kia econobox. Several people have made comments after seeing my Stinger along the lines of, " oh yeah, I understand Kia is making better cars these days". They are clueless. So I tell them, yes, this is one of them. It is a $50 K car that goes from O to 60 in 4.7 seconds and is loaded with everything anyone could want in a car.

 

[Moses]

I think most manufacturers have a vehicle in their line up that doesn't make any sense from a profit stand point. Ford Focus RS, Dodge Hellcat anything, Kia Stinger, Honda Civic Type R, etc, etc. If you really think about the R&D that went into producing those cars and then think about the price point they are sold at and how many are made, there is no way they are actually turning a profit on those particular lines. It's just to showcase what they can do. It's to spark interest. Hell, most of those line ups don't have much advertising either, but most come from established builds-cool-cars-sometimes-manufacturers. I think that is where Kia slipped up. No one thinks of performance and Kia going together.
Maybe they should do another hamster commercial but throw a Stinger in there, that would at least make people ask some questions.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

.
Maybe they should do another hamster commercial but throw a Stinger in there, that would at least make people ask some questions.

Maybe a jack rabbit this time!

 

[RonNSoCal]

I think most manufacturers have a vehicle in their line up that doesn't make any sense from a profit stand point. Ford Focus RS, Dodge Hellcat anything, Kia Stinger, Honda Civic Type R, etc, etc. If you really think about the R&D that went into producing those cars and then think about the price point they are sold at and how many are made, there is no way they are actually turning a profit on those particular lines. It's just to showcase what they can do. It's to spark interest. Hell, most of those line ups don't have much advertising either, but most come from established builds-cool-cars-sometimes-manufacturers. I think that is where Kia slipped up. No one thinks of performance and Kia going together.
Maybe they should do another hamster commercial but throw a Stinger in there, that would at least make people ask some questions.

While the average person may know little about these specialty cars, if you read the car magazines you will be very familiar with virtually all of them.