The Kia brand has undergone a transformation in recent years. From a manufacturer that was regularly criticized for low-quality and budget vehicles, the current Kia range is exactly the opposite now. Within their vehicle lineup are plenty of high-quality, reliable, and all-around impressive cars, and some surprisingly expensive models too. But which are the most expensive Kia models on sale right now?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the full Kia range and show you the five most expensive models you can buy. There will be some recognizable cars here and hopefully some surprises, and we’ll take you through all of them. We’ll also talk about what we like and dislike about each car and what you get for your money.
Let’s get started!
The Most Expensive Kia Models
Below we’ve broken down the stats and features for the most expensive Kia models right now. These are all standard vehicles (no special one-off editions) that you can buy online or from your Kia dealership, and we’ve included both the MSRP and the price tag fully loaded with options.
5. Carnival SX Prestige: $46,200 – $51,725
The first Kia on our list is the Carnival SX Prestige. The Carnival is Kia’s minivan offering, and in a crowded market with rivals like the Honda Odyssey, the Prestige spec throws plenty of tech your way to justify the price tag.
Starting with performance, the Carnival is powered by a 3.5 liter V6, with 290 bhp. This isn’t a huge amount of power but it’s enough for a vehicle of this size, and even fully loaded this never feels slow. The downside here is the lack of all-wheel-drive, but Kia still claims the Carnival can tow over 3,000 lbs, so it’s no slouch there.
The focus of any minivan is practicality, and the Carnival performs well here. You have a choice of 6 or 7 seats (you can add a middle seat to the second row) and legroom is plentiful throughout. The headroom can be a minor issue if you go with the sunroof option, but only the tallest passengers will notice. Kia claims over 40 cubic ft of storage space in the rear, which increases to 145 cubic feet with 2nd and 3rd-row seats lowered.
The Prestige spec earns its title through the sheer amount of tech and quality available on this car. You get leather seating throughout, dual 12.3-inch displays in the front, and heated & ventilated seats. There are USB ports everywhere in this car too, so every passenger can charge their device of choice.
Overall, the SX Prestige is a lot to pay for a minivan, and it’s hard to see how anyone would get the most out of all these features. Still, if you’re looking for 7 seater luxury, you can do a lot worse than the Carnival, and compared to larger SUVs this is surprisingly good value.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Plenty of tech features as standard | High price tag for an MPV |
| Surprisingly good performance | Lacking all-wheel-drive |
4. Sorrento Plug-In Hybrid: $49,990 – $56,920
Our next Kia is the Sorrento plug-in hybrid. Another 7 seater, this time Kia has squeezed everything into an SUV, and included even more tech. As a result, the Sorrento starts at just under $50,000, although you can justify some of that from the hybrid powertrain.
Let’s start with the hybrid system. The Sorrento PHEV generates 261 bhp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which feel slightly underwhelming numbers for a vehicle this size. The hybrid system is efficient though, with a claimed 32 miles of electric-only range and a combined MPG in the 40s. Performance is lacking though, and you won’t see 60mph until after 8 seconds.
The Sorrento has never been about performance though – it’s a Kia designed for practicality, and in this case, it’s excellent. There’s enough headroom for any passenger, and you’d struggle to find a seven-seater SUV with more room in the third row. It’s not a comfortable place for adults on longer journeys, but shorter trips are easy with 7 people in the Sorrento.
As with all modern Kia’s, technology is plentiful here. You get a 10.25-inch central touchscreen as standard, and for an extra $1,500 you can add second-row entertainment screens for passengers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard here, along with wireless charging in the front. We’d have liked to see Ambient Lighting included as standard too, but it remains a $450 option.
Comfort is a focus in the Sorrento too. You get heated and ventilated front seats, Nappa leather, and a panoramic sunroof. The Bose audio system isn’t the best in class but it’s a solid upgrade on the base sound system and works well throughout the cabin.
Overall, The Sorrento Hybrid helps to justify the price tag with its many features, but this is still a lot of money. The hybrid powertrain is efficient and lowers running costs, but comparing this model to the engine-only options, most owners would be better off with a lower spec.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Great practicality | Standard ICE models are better priced |
| Plenty of technology and features |
3. Stinger GT2: $51,890 – $57,940
In third place, we have Kia’s performance sedan, the Stinger. This will be the last version of the Stinger produced, as Kia is moving to an electric focus with their cars, but the GT2 model is a great sendoff.
Designed to challenge the likes of BMW and Mercedes, this fast sedan comes with 368 bhp from a twin-turbo V6 engine. Those figures aren’t world-beating, but there’s enough performance for most drivers here, and with BMW M340i prices starting at $57,000, the Stinger has the edge on value. Kia has taken this car seriously, with Brembo brakes, optional all-wheel drive (for $2,000), and paddle shifters.
So is the Stinger GT2 all about performance? Well in keeping with the rest of the Kia range, you get plenty of tech as standard here, along with some optional extras. The seats are Nappa leather, and in the front, these are heated & ventilated. You have a 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a remote start from the Kia app, and a Harman Kardon Soundsystem.
The Stinger is perfectly capable as a practical, daily driver too. Headroom and legroom for rear passengers are enough for even longer journeys, and you have 23 cubic feet of storage space in the rear. MPG figures aren’t great in the GT2, with a combined 20 mpg, but this is a car designed for enjoyment and performance above fuel economy.
Overall, the Stinger hasn’t been the success Kia wanted, but it’s not a bad car. The performance sedan market is one of the most competitive sectors out there, and trying to beat the Germans at their own game on your first try was never going to be easy. The $50,000+ price tag is a lot for a Kia, but looking past the badge, you get a lot of car for your money here.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Lively engine | Fuel economy is underwhelming |
| A lot of standard features included |
2. Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro: $53,000 – $59,660
We are down to the top two Kia models now, and in second place is the Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro. Look past the bloated name, and you have one of the best SUVs in its class here, with incredible practicality.
Let’s start with performance – the Telluride (we’ll skip the full title for this article) comes with a 3.8 liter V6, putting out 291 bhp. That might sound disappointing – after all, the Stinger V6 produced 368 bhp, so what’s going on here? Well, Kia has designed this for hard work, and as a result, you can tow up to 5,500 lbs with this SUV, which should suit almost every driver.
An impressive towing ability isn’t enough to justify a price approaching $60,000 though. The good news is that the Telluride is also designed for almost every condition, with all-wheel-drive and differential locking when needed. You get 19-inch wheels with all-terrain tires as standard, and off-roading is made easier with 8.4 inches of ground clearance.
What about on the road, as a daily driver? Well, the Telluride lies up to its price tag with impressive levels of comfort and technology. You get Nappa leather as standard, heated and ventilated seats for the first two rows, and even the option for Captain’s chairs. Kia also claims to have the best 2nd-row legroom in the mid-size SUV class, and the space for 3rd-row passengers is plentiful too.
Along with the comforts on offer, Kia has loaded the Telluride with tech. You get a 12-inch central touchscreen and 10 Harman Kardon speakers throughout the cabin. Six USB ports throughout the cabin will keep all your passengers happy, and a heads-up display will please any driver.
Overall, for a mid-size SUV the Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro comes with everything you would need. There could be more performance here, but overall the comfort and technology on offer, alongside the capabilities of this car, justify the price.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Excellent towing capabilities | Could have more power |
| Comfortable for all seven occupants |
1. EV-6 GT: $61,600 – $64,650
The final car on our list, and the most expensive Kia on sale today, is the EV-6 GT. This fully electric SUV has been one of the most surprising models from any manufacturer recently, both in design and performance. The GT spec sits at the top of the EV-6 line-up, but is it worth over $60,000?
The performance of the EV-6 GT goes a long way to justifying that price. With 576 bhp and 545 lb-ft of torque, this is easily the most powerful Kia you can buy, and even though it’s a heavy electric SUV, this car will go from 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds. For any SUV that’s impressive, but when you consider this is the same 0-60 time as the BMW iX M60 (a car that starts at well over $100,000), then you’ll appreciate what Kia has achieved here.
So the performance is outstanding, but what’s it like to drive? The GT spec is focused on making you feel like you’re in a driver’s machine, with bucket seats, a limited-slip differential, and performance brakes. We don’t expect too many owners to take this car on a racetrack, but Kia has given you the opportunity at least. The one downside here is the range, with a little over 200 miles available on this GT model.
As a daily driver, the EV-6 doesn’t skip any of the comforts you would expect. You get the same 12-inch touchscreen from the Telluride, Apple and Android connectivity, wireless charging, and even voice controls. Due to the low, flat floor, the EV-6 is spacious enough with leg and headroom for all occupants, although the seating isn’t as comfortable as the Telluride.
Overall, the Kia EV-6 GT has been a minor revelation in the electric vehicle market. With an eye-catching design and incredible power, this deserves to be mentioned among some of the best EV models out there. The comfort and technology of a modern Kia is all here too, and for just over $60,000 you’ll struggle to find a better-value electric SUV right now.
| The Good | The Bad |
| Incredible performance | Exterior design is polarising |
| Less expensive than rivals | Range is disappointing |
The Final List
Here we are – the most expensive Kia models currently on sale. With everything from Minivans to electric powerhouses, we have no idea where Kia will go next, but it will be interesting to see!
- Carnival SX Prestige: $46,200 – $51,725
- Sorrento Plug-In Hybrid: $49,990 – $56,920
- Stinger GT2: $51,890 – $57,940
- Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro: $53,000 – $59,660
- EV-6 GT: $61,600 – $64,650
Thanks for reading – if you want to find out more about the most expensive cars from other brands, check out the links below:
The Most Expensive Porsche Models
The Most Expensive Aston Martin Cars
