Compare the2022 Kia StingerVS 2021 Mercedes A-Class

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 Mercedes A-Class doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Stinger are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A-Class doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 A-Class doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 A-Class.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Stinger’s standard cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The A-Class doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Stinger and the A-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Stinger its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 68 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A-Class has not been tested, yet.

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 A-Class’ 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 Mercedes covers the A-Class. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the A-Class ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

The battery on the Stinger is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Stinger’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The A-Class’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Stinger’s reliability 11 points higher than the A-Class.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 46 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th, 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 5 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 112 more horsepower (300 vs. 188) and 90 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 221) than the A-Class’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 180 more horsepower (368 vs. 188) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 221) than the A-Class’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Stinger GT1/GT2 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Mercedes A-Class:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Stinger uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The A-Class requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Stinger has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A-Class (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 A-Class.

The Stinger GT1/GT2’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 2250 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The A-Class doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Stinger GT1/GT2’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A-Class are solid, not vented.

The Stinger stops much shorter than the A-Class:

For better traction, the Stinger has larger standard tires than the A-Class (225/45R18 vs. 205/55R17).

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 A-Class’ standard 55 series tires. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the A-Class’ optional 40 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 A-Class.

The Stinger has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the A-Class; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the A-Class don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the A-Class (114.4 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A-Class.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .91 G’s, while the A 220 pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the A 220 (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

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

The Stinger has .8 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the A-Class.

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

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

Consumer Reports rated the Stinger’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the A-Class’ headlights, which were rated “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 A-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Stinger has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the A-Class. 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 A-Class.

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 A-Class.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Stinger, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes A-Class isn't recommended.