It seems there’s a lot to love about the Kia Stinger. The sports sedan was launched in 2018, and ever since then, complaints from owners have been few and far between.

Those unfamiliar with the Stinger may be thinking, “There’s a lot to love about . . . a Kia?” That’s a valid thought. Since the past, Kia has topped many “worst of” lists, and at various points in time has even offered Buy One, Get One Free sales.

The automaker has made a remarkable transformation, however. The Stinger, in particular, is sporty and refined, toeing the luxury car segment. In fact, Kelley Blue Book drew a comparison of the Stinger and the Audi A5 Sportback for the 2019 model year, calling the two cars nearly identical.

So what are Stinger owners raving about — or, perhaps more importantly, not complaining about?

So much love for the Kia Stinger

According to CarComplaints.com, owners have very few gripes about the Kia Stinger. You could argue that the car has only been around for a few years and that drivers simply may have not encountered major problems yet. However, the Plymouth Prowler and Chevrolet SSR, vehicles that were widely recognized as tremendous flops that owners absolutely hated, indicate that plenty can go wrong even early on.

Aside from what seems to have been a one-off complaint about a defective rear fuse panel, most of the grievances about the Stinger involve the paint chipping or flaking on 2018 and 2019 models. While that’s certainly annoying, it isn’t dangerous or even that serious. It appears that the Stinger may actually be an exceptionally well-made and thoughtfully designed car.

Supporting this further, the Stinger has had just one recall back in 2018 shortly after it was launched. The recall was for a faulty wiring harness that could potentially short circuit, and 16,000 Stingers were affected. Interestingly, Kia has one of the best recall rates in the auto industry, sitting behind only Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. This is based on data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) that ranks automakers based on the number of vehicles recalled for every one sold.

The Kia Stinger really is solid

Perhaps what Kia Stinger drivers love is the abundance of standard tech features it comes with, or maybe it’s the fact that the car goes from 0-60 mph in under five seconds. It could be the seamless combination of being super sporty, a bit luxurious, and a daily driver all at once. The attractive price tag certainly doesn’t hurt either.

The Stinger impressively comes equipped with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. There’s also an available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 365 hp. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, but there’s an option to get a six-speed manual instead.

Drivers can choose from rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive regardless of which engine they select. GT models can hit 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and have a top speed of 167 mph, though they’re limited to 130 mph in the U.S.

Satisfying comfort

Inside, owners will be pleasantly surprised. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard. The seats are remarkably spacious and comfortable enough for taller adults even in the rear.

The Stinger’s hatchback is so well-integrated into the body that it’s easy to forget the car isn’t a coupe. On the contrary, its cargo area is tremendous, especially with the rear seats folded and the hatch open. In this configuration, the total cargo space is just shy of 41 cubic feet, rivaling some crossover SUVs.

Looking at the stats, it’s no wonder Consumer Reports rated the Stinger five out of five in overall owner satisfaction, particularly in driving experience.