Compare the2023 Volkswagen ArteonVS 2023 Kia Stinger

The Volkswagen Arteon 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 Arteon has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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 Arteon has standard Maneuver Braking 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 Arteon and the Stinger 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Arteon’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Stinger’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Arteon for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Stinger.

The Volkswagen Arteon’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Stinger’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the Arteon gets better mileage than the Stinger:

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

The Arteon has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Stinger (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Arteon offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Stinger doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Arteon’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 Arteon stops much shorter than the Stinger:

For better traction, the Arteon has larger tires than the Stinger (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R18). The Arteon’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Stinger (245/45R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The Arteon SEL/SEL Premium’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stinger GT2’s 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Arteon SEL/SEL Premium has standard 20-inch wheels. The Stinger’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Arteon SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion handles at .90 G’s, while the Stinger AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

The Arteon has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stinger (96.5 vs. 93.8).

The Arteon has .1 inches more front shoulder room and 3.8 inches more rear legroom than the Stinger.

The Arteon has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Stinger with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 23.3 cubic feet). The Arteon has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Stinger with its rear seat folded (56.2 vs. 40.9 cubic feet).

The Arteon has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Stinger has no towing capacity.

The Arteon’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.

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

The Arteon has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Stinger.

The Arteon SEL Premium has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Stinger.

The Arteon SEL Premium’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Stinger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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