Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

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 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the Avalon 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Stinger	Avalon
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	161	162
Neck Injury Risk	18.3%	35%
Neck Stress	137 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	97/355 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	220	302
Neck Stress	173 lbs.	180 lbs.
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	64 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	53/25 lbs.	447/453 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Stinger	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	119	163
Hip Force	252 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	263	266
Hip Force	571 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	38 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Stinger, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.8% less likely to roll over than the Avalon, which received a four-star rating.

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, its standard 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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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 Avalon’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 Toyota covers the Avalon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Avalon ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Avalon’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 67 more horsepower (368 vs. 301) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Stinger is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

	Stinger GT-Line	Stinger GT2	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	4.6 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	13.1 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101.8 MPH	106.9 MPH	98.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Stinger 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Avalon Limited/Touring V6 (22 city/32 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Stinger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Stinger has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Stinger 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 Avalon doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Stinger GT-Line	Stinger GT2	Avalon
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.8 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.4 inches	11 inches

The Stinger 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 Avalon are solid, not vented.

The Stinger stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	Stinger	Avalon
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Stinger has larger standard tires than the Avalon (225/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

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 Avalon XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The Stinger GT2’s 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Touring’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 Avalon XLE.

Suspension and Handling

The Stinger has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Avalon (114.4 inches vs. 113 inches).

The Stinger GT2 handles at .91 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Avalon Touring (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Stinger AWD’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s (38.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The Stinger is 5.7 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Stinger easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Stinger has .9 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom and 1.3 inches more rear hip room than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Stinger. The Avalon 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 liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Stinger’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Avalon 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 Avalon. 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 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 Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Stinger’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Avalon.

Recommendations

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