Compare the2022 Kia StingerVS 2020 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 TLX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 TLX.

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 TLX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the TLX 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Kia Stinger is safer than the TLX:

	Stinger	TLX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	226	250
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.6/1 kN	1.6/2.1 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.66/.7	1.15/.91
Tibia forces R/L	2.9/2.4 kN	4.4/5 kN

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 Acura TLX:

	Stinger	TLX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	119	187
Hip Force	252 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	36 G’s

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

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 TLX is not a “Top Pick.”

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 TLX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Stinger 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the TLX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the TLX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

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

Reliability

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 TLX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Stinger third among compact premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The TLX 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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd, 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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 13 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 94 more horsepower (300 vs. 206) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 182) than the TLX’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT-Line’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (300 vs. 290) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 267) than the TLX’s optional 3.5 SOHC V6. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 78 more horsepower (368 vs. 290) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 267) than the TLX’s optional 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Stinger GT1/GT2 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Acura TLX V6:

	Stinger	TLX
Zero to 30 MPH	1.8 sec	2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	5.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	6.9 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.6 sec	14.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	6.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.5 sec	3.6 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.2 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	12.9 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	111 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	167 MPH	129 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Stringer gets better fuel mileage than the TLX:

			MPG
Stringer
	RWD	2.5 Turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 Turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
TLX
	RWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/31 hwy
	AWD	A-Spec 3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/30 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/29 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Stinger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Acura only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the TLX SH-AWD.

Transmission

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 TLX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Stinger GT-Line	Stinger GT1/GT2	TLX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	12.2 inches

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 TLX are solid, not vented.

The Stinger stops much shorter than the TLX:

	Stinger	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	124 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 TLX’s standard 55 series tires. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the TLX A-Spec’s 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 TLX.

Suspension and Handling

The Stinger offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The TLX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the TLX (114.4 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

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

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the TLX’s (59.7% to 40.3%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .93 G’s, while the TLX V6 SH-AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the TLX (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the TLX V6’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Stinger AWD’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the TLX SH-AWD’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Stinger is quieter than the TLX (37 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

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

The Stinger has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear hip room than the TLX.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Stinger GT2’s power trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Stinger’s power trunk can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The TLX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Stinger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Stinger GT2 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The TLX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Stinger and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Stinger is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Stinger’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The TLX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 TLX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Stinger GT2 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 TLX.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Stinger and the Acura TLX, 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 TLX isn’t in the top three.