Compare the2022 Kia StingerVS 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Stinger are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Stinger has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Stinger GT2 has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 2 Series Gran Coupe only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Stinger and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Stinger the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 110 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe’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 BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Stinger’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Stinger third among compact premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th, 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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 72 more horsepower (300 vs. 228) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the 228i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 67 more horsepower (368 vs. 301) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 331) than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Stinger GT1/GT2 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe:

The Stinger has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Stinger’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

The Stinger stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the Stinger has larger standard tires than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (225/45R18 vs. 224/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Stinger GT-Line has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (114.4 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (58.3% to 41.7%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .93 G’s, while the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Stinger is quieter than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe:

The Stinger has 1.2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The engine in the Stinger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Stinger’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Stinger has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Stinger has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the 2 Series Gran Coupe. The Stinger GT2 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Stinger GT2 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Stinger is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Stinger and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, 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 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t in the top three.