Compare the2022 Kia StingerVS 2020 Buick Regal Sportback

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 Regal Sportback 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 Regal Sportback and is only available on Regal Sportback Essence/Avenir/GS.

The Stinger GT2 has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Regal Sportback 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.

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 Regal Sportback’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 Regal Sportback and isn't available on the not available.

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 Regal Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the Regal Sportback 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras 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 Regal Sportback has not been fully 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 Regal Sportback’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Stinger 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Regal Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Regal Sportback ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Regal Sportback’s 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 22 points higher than the Regal Sportback.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Stinger third among compact premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Regal Sportback 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 Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 7th.

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 Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

The Stinger has more powerful engines than the Regal Sportback:

As tested in Motor Trend the Stinger GT1/GT2 3.3 turbo V6 is faster than the Regal Sportback GS 3.6 DOHC V6:

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 Regal Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

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

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 Regal Sportback are solid, not vented.

The Stinger stops much shorter than the Regal Sportback:

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 Regal Sportback’s standard 55 series tires. The Stinger GT1/GT2’s 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Regal Sportback Avenir/GS’ 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 Regal Sportback.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Regal Sportback (114.4 inches vs. 111.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Regal Sportback.

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the Regal Sportback’s (61.6% to 38.4%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .91 G’s, while the Regal Sportback GS pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Regal Sportback GS (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Regal Sportback’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Stinger AWD’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Regal Sportback’s (38.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Stinger has .5 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Regal Sportback.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Stinger. The Regal Sportback doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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 Regal Sportback doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

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

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 Regal Sportback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Stinger detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Regal Sportback doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Regal Sportback (except Base)’s optional 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 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 Regal Sportback doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Stinger has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Regal Sportback Essence/Avenir/GS. 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 Regal Sportback.

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 Regal Sportback and isn’t available on the Regal Sportback Base/Preferred.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Stinger, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Buick Regal Sportback isn't recommended.

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 Regal Sportback isn’t in the top three in its category.