The Kia Stinger was a remarkable vehicle that captured the hearts of many car enthusiasts. Its GT proportions, liftback design, and powerful twin-turbocharged V6 engine, combined with available all-wheel drive, made it a unique offering outside of the premium German brands. It was a delightful surprise from Kia, a brand not traditionally associated with such performance-oriented vehicles. However, due to factors like badge perception and the shift towards crossovers, the Stinger was sadly discontinued after the 2023 model year.
For fans seeking a “Kia Stinger New” model, the news of its discontinuation was undoubtedly disappointing. While Kia has moved on from the Stinger, the spirit of a performance-focused, four-door liftback sedan lives on, surprisingly in the form of the all-new Dodge Charger. Comparing a discontinued Korean sedan with a brand-new American model might seem unusual, but the Charger emerges as a compelling successor in many ways.
Dodge’s unveiling of the 2024 Charger revealed a vehicle that echoes the Stinger’s essence. At their core, they share a similar philosophy. The Kia Stinger offered a choice between a 2.5-liter 300 horsepower turbocharged I4 and a 3.3-liter 365 hp V6, both with optional all-wheel drive. The new Charger steps in with two versions of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane I6 engine, delivering 420 hp or a potent 550 hp in the high-output variant. Like the Stinger, all-wheel drive comes standard, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Both the Stinger and the Charger sedan embrace the four-door liftback design, offering hatchback practicality with sedan styling. In terms of size, the Charger sedan surpasses the Stinger, being significantly larger with a 121-inch wheelbase and a 206.6-inch overall length compared to the Stinger’s 114.4-inch wheelbase and 190.2-inch length. Despite its larger dimensions, the Charger’s cargo space is slightly less than the Stinger. The Stinger boasts 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 40.9 cubic feet with them folded, while the Charger offers 22.8 and 37.4 cubic feet respectively.
While there isn’t a direct “kia stinger new” model from Kia itself, the 2024 Dodge Charger effectively picks up where the Stinger left off. It provides an American interpretation of the beloved formula: a large, all-wheel-drive sedan with a liftback and a powerful straight-six engine. In a market where such vehicles are increasingly rare, the Charger stands out as a compelling option for enthusiasts who appreciated the Stinger’s unique blend of performance and practicality. If priced competitively, the gasoline-powered Charger, arriving in 2025, could very well become the enthusiast hit that the Kia Stinger was.
