When it debuted in 2017, the Kia Stinger raised a lot of eyebrows and even converted a lot of prior skeptics over to the Korean brand. Its bold looks and rear-drive platform breathed new life into an otherwise non-descript lineup and showcased what Kia was able to do. While sales were good for the first couple of years, they dropped in 2019, to the point where we’re not sure if the car will live to see another generation.

And while the Stinger may or may not be doomed, it’s still a great-performing sedan that deserves a long look from anyone in the sports sedan market. Here are three reasons why.

It might be discontinued soon

While the Kia Stinger saw early sales success for the 2017 and 2018 model years, it’s hot-streak went cold in 2019 as the brand only sold 13,884 units the whole year. While sales slumps do occur, the possibility of having a big comeback this year is looking slim, especially considering the toll that the current pandemic condition is having on auto sales across the board.

This means that it’s possible that there won’t be a second-generation Stinger, so prospective buyers should act now to get the benefits of what the sedan has to offer.

And to recap, what the Kia Stinger has to offer is a sport sedan bargain that’s practical enough for the whole family while being sport enough to fulfill any needs for speed.

It’s practical

The Kia Stinger does have plenty of room for five and even has a sport-back style trunk, instead of a regular trunk as its body lines might entail. Offering a lift gate and hatchback style versatility, the Stinger has 23.3 cubic feet of storage space the rear seats folded up and 40.9 with them folded down.

In addition to the room, there is a performance factor. The Kia Stinger can be equipped with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque or a turbo 3.3-liter V6 that pushes out 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque.

The former engine will scoot the car to 60 mph in less than six seconds, while the latter will get it up to speed in less than five.

If that power doesn’t fit into the category of practicality, then the drivetrain will. It’s standard 8-speed automatic transmission routes power to the rear wheels, however, an all-wheel-drive configuration is available to make the sport sedan and all-weather performer.

It’s a Kia

Let’s be real, when was the last time anyone really criticized you for driving a consumer-brand car? Almost never? In that case, we think it’s a great idea to go with a Stinger because it’s unapologetically a Kia.

Given its price point of $30,000 to $40,000 as well as its equipment, the Stinger has been often compared to likes of the Audi S5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Those are some pretty high remarks considering those cars cost over $20,000 more.

But technically, it compares more favorably to the Acura TLX and the Nissan Maxima. In either case, the Stinger could get the award for being the “most unique” and since brand recognition is still a thing, we think that having a Stinger in the garage could ultimately be a good thing.

Who cares what kind of car you drive?

At the end of the day, while the Kia Stinger might not be in the front of everyone’s minds, it has done well for the Kia brand and most likely paved the way for the products that are yet to come.

Scoff, sneer, or sneeze, Kia has been making great headway into becoming a stand-out brand in a sea of automakers that are trying to copy each other. So why not own the piece of history that showed that Kia can perform with the best?