Usually, when people say “2022 Kia Stinger”, one’s first thought runs to value, and not performance. The fact of the matter is, it’s hard as all hell to get world-beating performance out of a sub-$50,000 car. That’s ok, because the Kia Stinger doesn’t need to be world-beating. It just needs to be a better value than the competition.

With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at what the trim levels mean on the 2022 Stinger, and which trim levels are going to give you the best value for money. And of course, the best smiles-per-mile.

The 2022 Kia Stinger GT-Line is a decaf Stinger

We’ll be starting with the Audi S Line equivalent of the Stinger: The GT-Line. However, there’s a little more here than some cosmetic changes like an S Line Audi. But first, the powerplant. For your $37,135 you get a turbocharged four cylinder motor making 255 hp and 260 lb-ft. Not bad, but the full-on GT makes more.

All that goes through your average 8-speed auto gearbox to an AWD system. Thankfully, while you’re losing out on the motor, you are getting much of the interior bits that make the Kia what it is. That includes things like leather surfaces and Android Auto/Carplay. However, the biggest plus is Kia’s 10yr/100,000 mile powertrain warranty that thankfully gets applied to all Stingers.

How much is a 2022 Kia Stinger GT?

The full-on Kia Stinger is where the (GT) lines get blurred a little. First, you’ve got the GT1 pack. That starts at $44,735 MSRP. The GT1 pack also gets you a nicer Harmon Kardon sound system and a sunroof, a must in my book. Critically for those of you in hotter climates, you’re also rewarded with ventilated seats, per Car and Driver. It’s also important to note that both the GT1 and the GT2 pack get the same 365 hp, 376 lb-ft turbo V6 and 8-speed auto we all love.

And that leaves us with the GT2 pack. Think of it like 2022 Kia Stinger GT finishing school. Basically, everything that comes in the GT1 pack gets turned up to 11. It’s the most luxury-leaning 2022 Kia Stinger with features like nicer headlights, a HUD, and auto-dimming mirrors. However, it does bring the price above $50k, at $52,335.

The GT1 pack Stinger offers the best value

But the GT2 pack isn’t really in the spirit of the Kia Stinger. The Stinger is supposed to offer shocking value, and the GT2 pack just doesn’t deliver on that in the way that the $44,000 GT1 Stinger does. The GT1 Stinger offers exactly what Kia says it does on the box. You get strong performance from a fun, interesting powertrain that you won’t see next to you at every light you pull up to. And for me, that’s more than enough to be sold on the Stinger.