Compare the2022 Kia StingerVS 2021 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Stinger’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the A4 and is not available with Premium.

The Stinger has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Stinger has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the A4.

The Stinger’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the A4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Stinger is safer than the Audi A4:

	Stinger	A4
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	161	164
Neck Injury Risk	18.3%	26%
Neck Stress	137 lbs.	232 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	97/355 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	220	236
Chest Compression	.9 inches	1 inches
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	47 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	53/25 lbs.	324/341 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Stinger is safer than the Audi A4:

	Stinger	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	119	172
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	197 G’s	219 G’s
Hip Force	252 lbs.	308 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	263	277
Hip Force	571 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	310	333
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Stinger comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The A4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Stinger 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Stinger’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Stinger third among compact premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The A4 isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 89 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

Engine

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 99 more horsepower (300 vs. 201) and 75 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 236) than the A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Stinger GT-Line’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 39 more horsepower (300 vs. 261) and 38 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 273) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 107 more horsepower (368 vs. 261) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 273) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Stinger GT1/GT2 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the A4 45 TFSI:

	Stinger	A4
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	4.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.6 sec	12.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.9 sec	13.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	111 MPH	102 MPH
Top Speed	167 MPH	126 MPH

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Stinger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Stinger’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

	Stinger GT-Line	Stinger GT1/GT2	A4 40 TFSI	A4 45 TFSI
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.8 inches	12.4 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	11.8 inches	13 inches

The Stinger stops much shorter than the A4:

	Stinger	A4
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Stinger GT-Line has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A4.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the A4 (114.4 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is .9 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4.

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the A4’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .91 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the A4 Premium (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the A4’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Stinger a Mid-size car, while the A4 is rated a Compact.

The Stinger has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Stinger GT2 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The A4 doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Ergonomics

The Stinger has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Stinger GT2’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Stinger’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Stinger GT2’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Stinger has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the A4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

Model Availability

The Stinger is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Stinger and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Stinger third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The A4 isn’t in the top three.