Here's How Much a 2021 Kia Stinger GT Has Depreciated in Five Years

Even when new, the Kia Stinger's whole selling point was offering plenty of power in a long rear-wheel-drive sports saloon with a decidedly German luxury-adjacent aura for decidedly non-luxury prices. It's sadly no longer in production, but used examples have depreciated to the point where you can get a V6 2021 model for about the same money you'd pay for a new base Nissan Sentra, with a GT trim Stinger currently holding a Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price of $24,400.

That figure drops to $20,900 if you're happy with a four-cylinder GT-Line car, by the way. Conversely, expect to add a couple of grand if you'd like a more fully featured GT1 or GT2 model, with KBB average prices of $26,300 and $27,800 respectively. For reference, Kia charged at least $34,135 for the GT-Line when new, while the GT started at $40,635, and those are 2021 dollars.

A quick check on AutoTrader shows 54 2021 Stingers for sale nationwide as of this writing. The cheapest, most battered examples are asking as little as $17,000 or even slightly less, whereas low-mileage, clean examples seem to have a ceiling of around $30,000, which aligns with KBB's average figures.

The 2021 model is a Kia Stinger sweet spot

The 2021 model is something of a value sweet spot for the Stinger. It's the last model year before the 2022 facelift that brought tweaked styling, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen (pre-facelift cars got either a 7- or 8-inch display), a power increase for the four-cylinder, and, naturally, a higher second-hand market price today. So you get a car that Kia had already spent three years perfecting, while sidestepping the post-facelift premium. If you must have that big touchscreen, by the way, prepare to pay an average of $28,500 for a 2022 GT1 or up to $36,300 for an average final-year '23 GT2, according to KBB.

As a reminder, the 2021 Stinger GT-Line was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing 255 hp, while the GTs got a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 365 hp. Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive could be had with either engine, so make sure any car you're considering has the drivetrain you want. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, as were a wireless phone charger, heated front seats, and leather upholstery.

The last time Jalopnik reviewed a Stinger, then-features editor Raphael Orlove declared it simply "too good," and "one of the most perfect cars on sale." Add five years of depreciation, and it's also become one of the most perfect enthusiast bargains.