Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2023 Audi S4

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Stinger are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Stinger has a standard rear 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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the S4.

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 S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the S4 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.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Stinger is 1.2% less likely to roll over than the S4.

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 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S4 has not been 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 S4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Stinger 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the S4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

The Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 19 more horsepower (368 vs. 349) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The Stinger stops shorter than the S4:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the S4 (114.4 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is .9 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S4.

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the S4’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S4 Prestige (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the S4’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Stinger a Mid-size car, while the S4 is rated a Compact.

The Stinger has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Stinger GT2 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The S4 doesn’t offer a power trunk.

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 S4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Stinger GT2’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Stinger is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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