When you hear the name Kia, the first thing that comes to mind might be cheap, reliable cars aimed at commuters and families on a budget. But with a sports sedan and upscale trims included in the 2022 lineup, driving a Kia doesn’t have to be boring.

If you want to learn more about Kia’s flashiest cars—you’ve come to the right place. In this guide from

super app

and

car insurance

expert

Jerry

, we’ll go over the automaker’s best options for car buyers who want something more than just a daily driver.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

Does Kia make sports cars?

While most people still think of Kia as the go-to brand for affordable but perhaps somewhat uninteresting cars, the automaker’s reputation began to change with the introduction of the Kia Stinger for the 2018 model year. And in 2022, the brand’s only sports sedan earned impressive ratings of 8.5/10 and 8.1/10 from Car and Driver and Edmunds.com. The automaker also offers a sport-tuned GT trim for both the K5 and the Forte.

Ready to learn more about Kia’s sportiest cars? Let’s take a closer look.

2022 Kia Stinger

Inspired by the 2011 GT Concept, the Kia Stinger hit the market in 2018 and quickly became a favorite with car buyers on a budget who wanted the benefits of a good driving experience and upscale features. The Kia Stinger might be the automaker’s most-expensive car, but the 2022 model still costs about $10,000 less than competitors like the

Audi S5

and

BMW M430i Gran Coupe

when similarly equipped.

Sharing some of its parts with the pricier

Genesis G70

, a base-model Stinger starts at a reasonably affordable cost of $37,395. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, but the GT2 trim improves performance even more with a punchy 368-horsepower twin-turbo V6 that can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. All models come with an 8-speed automatic transmission with selectable drive modes and an active exhaust system that makes fun sports car sounds under throttle.

2022 Kia K5 GT

The

Kia K5 GT

takes the automaker’s family-friendly mid-size sedan and turns it into something that (almost) resembles a sports car, with added performance features and track-inspired exterior styling.

The K5 GT can be distinguished from its lower trim counterparts by its unique bumpers, grille, and rear spoiler. It also has bigger brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, performance tires, and a gutsy 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque to hit 60 mph in 5.2 seconds—that’s faster than both the

Hyundai Sonata N-Line

and

Toyota Camry TRD

, which move from 0 to 60 in 6.1 and 5.6 seconds, respectively. The 2022 Kia K5 GT starts at $32,245.

2022 Kia Forte GT

If the Kia Stinger’s $37,000-plus price tag is out of reach, the

Kia Forte GT

offers an attractive compromise. With a starting price of just $24,545 and a look that can only be described as a Stinger, but smaller, the Forte GT includes stylized features such as red grille inserts, rear diffuser accents, black mirror caps, side spills, and a rear lip spoiler.

The Forte GT isn’t as powerful or as fast as the Stinger, but it does offer one perk that the sports sedan doesn’t—the option to replace the standard automatic transmission with a 6-speed manual. A 201-horsepower turbocharged engine with 195 lb-ft of torque gives the GT an edge over a lower-trim Forte, and takes it to 60 mph in a respectable 6.7 seconds.

MORE:

Should I buy a sports car?

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

Kia sports cars in history

Although

Kia

is South Korea’s second-largest automaker, the brand is relatively new when it comes to the American automobile market. Since the carmaker first introduced the

Kia Sephia

to U.S. car buyers in 1994, the brand only sold one other sports car in its 28-year history—the short-lived Kia Elan, which never even made it to U.S. shores.

The Kia Elan was born after British carmaker Lotus abandoned production of its tiny roadster—the Lotus Elan—in 1992, after selling fewer than 4,000 units of the vehicle. A few years later, Kia bought the rights to the Elan. They kept the name and made a few minor tweaks, like swapping its taillights for a different style and replacing its turbocharged engine with a 180-liter four cylinder with 151 horsepower. The Kia Elan was available to Asian markets from 1996 to 1999, when Kia decided the car was a flop and retired it with only about 1,000 units sold.

MORE:

The best selling sports cars in the U.S.

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How to save money on Kia insurance

Whether you’re about to buy a new Kia Stinger or just trying to decide whether it’s worth splurging for the highest trim on a new K5 or Forte, don’t forget to upgrade your ride with great

car insurance

. You might be nervous about shopping for coverage—after all, sports cars usually have higher premiums—but with a little help from

Jerry

, you’re guaranteed to find the lowest rates available.

Shopping for car insurance with Jerry means you’ll never need to visit a broker office or make a phone call. Just download the app, answer a few quick questions, and browse your coverage options. When you find a plan that fits your budget, just give it a tap and sit back when Jerry handles all the hard work of getting you signed up for your new policy and canceling your old one.

No long forms. No calling around. No hard work. Just savings. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.

“I usually hate all the phone calls that come with getting car insurance quotes, but with
Jerry
I was able to do everything over text. I went from $224 with my previous provider to $193 with Nationwide. Such a relief!” —Gabby P.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry