Compare the2023 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2023 Kia Stinger

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

Safety

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The 3 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Stinger doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Stinger doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The 3 Series Sedan has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Stinger doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 3 Series Sedan M340i offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Stinger doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the Stinger 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Kia Stinger:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	145	161
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	62 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/230 lbs.	97/355 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	36.6%
Neck Stress	170 lbs.	173 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Kia Stinger:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	107	119
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	179 lbs.	197 lbs.
Hip Force	252 lbs.	252 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	532 lbs.	571 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	270	310
Hip Force	544 lbs.	752 lbs.

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

Warranty

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the Stinger’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Stinger.

Reliability

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 3 Series Sedan’s reliability 12 points higher than the Stinger.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 3 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (382 vs. 368) than the Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Stinger GT-Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	14.1 sec

As tested in Road and Track the M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Stinger GT2 3.3 turbo V6:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
Zero to 30 MPH	1.6 sec	1.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	3.8 sec	4.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	6.1 sec	7.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.1 sec	10.9 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	13 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	115 MPH	109.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the Stinger:

			MPG
3 Series Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
Stinger
	RWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/32 hwy
		3.3 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.3 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Stinger doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 3 Series Sedan higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Kia Stinger (3). This means the 3 Series Sedan produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Stinger every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The 3 Series Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Stinger GT-Line are solid, not vented.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the Stinger:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	164 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 3 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Stinger doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the Stinger AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Stinger (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

Chassis

The BMW 3 Series Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Kia Stinger.

The 3 Series Sedan is 4.3 inches shorter than the Stinger, making the 3 Series Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the BMW 3 Series Sedan amounts to more than styling. The 3 Series Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Stinger (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the 3 Series Sedan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the 3 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Stinger doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 330i is quieter than the Stinger GT2:

	3 Series Sedan	Stinger
At idle	38 dB	39 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	84 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	71 dB

Passenger Space

The 3 Series Sedan has .4 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the Stinger.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Stinger doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 3 Series offers cargo security. The Stinger’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 32% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

The 3 Series Sedan’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Stinger’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 3 Series Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Stinger can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 3 Series Sedan M340i’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Stinger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 3 Series Sedan and the Kia Stinger, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Kia Stinger by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.

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