Is The Kia Stinger A Sports Car? (Answered)

Kia Stinger is one of those cars that managed to steal the show when it was presented before the car lovers for the first time. It stood out since it was faster than many competitors for twice the price. With that being said, we will discuss it today in light of our research to answer whether it falls in the category of a sports car or anything else. So, let’s start the conversation.

In essence, the Kia Stinger is a mid-size car. You can also call it a luxury car in a technical sense. Although it is impressive with acceleration and horsepower to get recognized as a sports car, it lacks the overall design layout. It is a 5-door liftback with a stunning interior, but it’s not a sports car.

You might have already begun to realize that the answer is not unambiguous. In reality, the answer is not in black and white in the first place. Many people argue that it fulfills the category of a sports car. It is because it is fast, it contains a powerful engine, it is impressive with acceleration, and it has a propensity to zig-zag between hurdles. However, a sports car demands far more qualities than the mentioned attributes. The advocates of calling it a sports car dismiss the design aspect, among other things. Therefore, the answer requires a thorough analysis. So, we strive to answer the question in light of several factors.

Also read: Is The Dodge Charger A Sports Or Muscle Car?

What's Inside show

Engine

One of the factors to determine the criteria of a sports car is the engine. It is a pivotal part of a car and thus can help answer our question. Here we see the engine types of different cars of both generations launched until now.

First-Generation (2017 – 2021): 2.0 I4, 2.2 I4, 3.3 V6
Second-Generation (2021 – Present): 2.5 I4, 3.3 V6

Considering the engine types of both generations, it seems clear that both generations pass the criteria of a sports car. It is the case since sports cars can incorporate both I4 and V6 engines. But we want to put up a caveat here that engine type without a power-to-weight ratio is not enough.

Combining both factors gives us a clear idea of whether a car falls in the category of a sports car or something else. It is because sports cars do not only have the given engine types but are also powerful. In this case, the power-to-weight ratio helps find the strength of the engine.

Also read: Types Of Gas A Kia Stinger Takes (Explained)

Power-To-Weight Ratio

The power-to-weight ratio, coupled with engine type, helps us distinguish between sports cars and other cars.

In simple words, the power-to-weight ratio demonstrates how potent the engine is against the weight of a car. Fundamentally, a sports car is more potent against its weight when compared to other types of cars.

We can find out the power-to-weight ratio with two factors of a car. Firstly, we need to have the horsepower of a car. Secondly, we need to know the curb weight of a car. Roughly speaking, the curb weight of Kia Stinger stands between 3,611 and 4,217 lbs. On the other hand, the horsepower exists between 255 hp and 365 hp.

The way to find the power-to-weight ratio is simple. One has to divide the horsepower of a car with its curb weight, and that is all it gets. As a guideline, at least 0.07 horsepower for every pound is a power-to-weight ratio of a sports car.

Here we see the power-to-weight ratio of a few cars to learn whether any car meets the criteria of a sports car.

2017 Kia Stinger = 365 hp / 3924 lbs = 0.09
2018 Kia Stinger = 361 hp / 4096 lbs = 0.08
2020 Kia Stinger = 365 hp / 4096 lbs = 0.08

Our calculations show that nearly all cars calculated have hit the marker of a sports car. It is the reason many people insist on considering it a sports car.

Also read: 11 Common Problems Of The Kia Stinger

Design

The design is another crucial factor in deciding the type of car. The design of a sports car focuses on better handling and aerodynamics, while it consists of two doors.

When it comes to Kia Stinger, it is a 5-door liftback. It is one of the reasons why we cannot consider it a sports car.

It also has a refined cabin that you anticipate from a luxury car. Meanwhile, it includes heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Some models contain Nappa leather upholstery in addition to cooled and heated front seats. On the whole, the cabin of Stinger is accommodating. But remember, it can turn out to be a troublesome squeeze for over-six-foot passengers.

Moreover, the 2018 Stinger provides an abundance of in-car tech. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a seven-inch touchscreen are a part of the base infotainment system. In addition, the Stinger incorporates practical safety features.

All this suggests that we cannot call the Kia Stinger a sports car because all these features are unnecessary in a sports car.

Also read: Is The Ford GT A Super Or Muscle Car?

Drive System

The drive system is another primary aspect to evaluate the category of a car. When it comes to the drive system, a sports car has rear-wheel drive. Nowadays, though, it incorporates front-wheel and all-wheel drive as well.

Thankfully, the Kia Stinger contains rear-wheel as well as all-wheel drive. In this specific circumstance, we can contend that the Kia Stinger meets the criteria of a sports car as far as the drive system is concerned.

At the same time, we need to understand that all-wheel drive is not preferably a sports car, although it can qualify as a sports car in modern cars. Since the car we are discussing is considerably latest, we give it the benefit of the doubt.

Also read: Is The Toyota Corolla A Sports Car?

Is The Kia Stinger A Sports Car For Insurance Purposes?

Regarding whether Kia Stinger falls in the category of a sports car or something else for insurance purposes, we inform you that it is irrelevant in the first place. The reason is that an insurance company does not put a car into a particular category. In reality, they take into account various factors before deciding an eventual price.

Nevertheless, we consider our article incomplete without this portion. Therefore, let’s take a look at the insurance rates of Kia Stinger and the factors that affect them.

On average, the insurance rates of Kia Stinger cost around $1,588 a year with full coverage. When it comes to the monthly cost, it turns out to be about $132. Furthermore, rates for a teenager are astronomically high because of a high-risk factor in light of little experience. So, insurance rates may turn out around $5,804 annually or $484 monthly. However, it takes around $626 a year and $58 a month for a liability-only policy.

There is good news for good drivers concerning insurance rates. Delightfully, they can save up to $655 annually by earning policy discounts.

In the end, it is essential to highlight that insurance rates vary based on several factors. Credit history, traffic violations, your location, the car model, trim of your car, and recent accidents, to name a few, make a significant impact on the rates.

References

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!

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