Slow selling models from all of the manufacturers are on the bubble. The coronavirus crisis and lack of auto sales have caused manufacturers to reevaluate how to bring in the big bucks. Lower-production models don’t do that. Without the luxury of having big-sellers supporting the niche, vehicles mean it’s time to cut losses and move on. That’s why Kia is ready to discontinue the Stinger while Genesis is looking to ax the G70.

Stinger and G70 both share the same engines and platform

Both share the same engines and platforms so one can’t survive without sales of the other. Kia has a facelift planned for the Stinger but rumors persist that the next version of the Stinger has already been canceled. If that’s true there’s no future for the Genesis G70.

It seemed like the Stinger was meeting Kia’s expectations as the base 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder was to be replaced. A more powerful 2.5-liter turbo engine with almost 50 hp more was slated to happen next year. Kia’s 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 would stay in the lineup but might get a power increase.

Kia sold only 3,227 Stinger sedans in 2019

But the Korean Car Blog points to budget cuts as a result of the coronavirus crisis will hit the Stinger. While the smaller Kia Forte has been a steady 100,000-plus seller tin he last three years the Stinger sold only 3,227 sedans in all of 2019. That’s not cutting it for Kia. Stinger sales in 2020 are off of 2019’s numbers so far. 

As for the Genesis G70 sedan, the numbers are a little better but may not keep it from seeing the same fate as the Stinger. In both 2017 and last year sales hit 20,000. In 2018 that number was only 10,000. With the pandemic already killing sales of all vehicles and the economy in a tailspin the 2018 numbers might be optimistic.

Genesis G80 and G90 sedan numbers are not good either

Looking at the G80 and G90 there isn’t much to see. In both 2018 and 2019, G90 sales for each year were a bit over 2,000. The G80 is only doing a bit better with 7,000 each year. As Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury division it wasn’t expected to see huge sales but the numbers for both are somewhat disappointing. 

The Stinger was always meant to be a niche product. Both Kia and Genesis parent Hyundai are seeing sedan sales slump while SUVs continue to dominate. While Kia has a full line of SUVs to soften any blow from slow sedan sales Genesis only has the GV80. Next year it expands its SUV lineup with the GV70. 

Looks like the SUVs are killing Kia sedans

Even Kia’s little Sportage crossover is seeing sales over 80,000 for the last few years. Compare that to the little Rio sedan which hovers around 20,000 to 25,000 from a more recent high of over 40,000 in 2012. 

What all of this means is that both Genesis and Kia will shift to the more profitable SUVs while slowly winding out of sedan sales. With the direction of the market, this seems inevitable.