The 2022 Kia Stinger is a highly anticipated new arrival on the market. We don’t know very much about the 2022 BMW 3-Series yet, but we can look at the 2021 version for hints.

As far as the 2021 Stinger and 3 Series, both cars have a lot of similarities. If you consider one of these options, which one will get you from point A to point B with the most joy?

Is the Kia Stinger fast?

The 2021 Kia Stinger is pretty fast, but the updated 2022 version is getting a bigger boost. The 2021 Kia Stinger GT-line started at $33,090.

That has increased to $37,135 for 2022, according to Car and Driver. With that comes some nice upgrades, though. Also, the 255 hp 2.0-liter got an increase to a 2.5-liter turbo-four with around 300 hp. Another other option is a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 that gets 368 hp for 2022.

The base model 2021 BMW 330i gets about 255 hp. The starting MSRP for that is $41,250. That’s a lot more expensive for a base model choice.

For 2021, Consumer Reports gave the Stinger an overall score of 68. There are two recalls out for it, but the Stinger was recommended overall. It was rated number nine out of 16 in luxury compact cars.

It was noted that the ride, visibility, and a small rear seat factored into the score. It also had an “unintuitive shifter” on the Stinger GT2. Otherwise, the handling and hatchback added points for this car.

The BMW is a reliable choice

The Kia Stinger is a pretty new model on the block, while the BMW has been around forever. With that said, you are much more likely to run into more BMW’s on the road than the Stinger.

Consumer Reports gave the 2021 3 Series a score of 83 out of 100. It was the number three pick out of 16 for luxury compact cars. The predicted owner satisfaction is at three out of five. Overall, the 3 Series is a solid, but perhaps less fun, choice.

The predicted reliability is a four out of five. Consumer Reports noted that the cargo area was a bit small, and the ride wasn’t the most comfortable. It had high scores for handling, braking, acceleration, and fuel economy.

Should I buy a Kia Stinger or a BMW 330i?

Really, it depends on what you want to spend. A new Stinger is certainly a fun option. For the amount of cash, you could get the GT2 that would be more comparable to a higher-end BMW.

Of course, the BMW M3 is going to cost you a lot more. The 2021 M3 starts at $69,900 and as opposed to the 2022 GT2’s $52,335.

What’s the verdict? The verdict is that you will have a lot of fun in both of these cars. The Stinger and the 3 Series are both fun cars with enough power to enjoy the ride.

If you are looking for a little more modern fun, the Stinger might be it. Since the car is so new, Kia isn’t afraid of taking a few risks. The 3 Series is a bit set in its ways after being popular for so long.