Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2023 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 300 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 300.

The Stinger GT2 has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 300 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. Only the 300 S/Touring L offers a blind spot warning system.

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. Only the 300 S/Touring L has a rear cross-path warning system.

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 300 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Stinger and the 300 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Chrysler 300:

	Stinger	300
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18.3%	31%
Neck Stress	137 lbs.	280 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	97/355 lbs.	617/568 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.9 inches	.9 inches
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	53/25 lbs.	504/415 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Kia Stinger is safer than the 300:

	Stinger	300
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	1.6/1 kN	3.7/3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.66/.7	1.21/.58
Tibia forces R/L	2.9/2.4 kN	3/4.7 kN

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 Chrysler 300:

	Stinger	300
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	119	236
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.4 inches
Abdominal Force	197 lbs.	315 lbs.
Hip Force	252 lbs.	433 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	752 lbs.	910 lbs.

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 2.6% less likely to roll over than the 300, 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 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 300 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

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 300’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 Chrysler covers the 300. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 300 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Stinger have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the 300.

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 Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 34th, 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 Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 95 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Chrysler.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Stinger is faster than the Chrysler 300:

	Stinger GT-Line	Stinger GT2	300S	300 V8
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	4.6 sec	6.4 sec	5.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	13.1 sec	14.9 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101.8 MPH	106.9 MPH	97.1 MPH	n/a

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Stinger gets better mileage than the 300:

			MPG
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
300
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 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 300 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 300 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Stinger’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 300:

	Stinger	300
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.6 inches

The Stinger stops much shorter than the 300:

	Stinger	300
80 to 0 MPH	217 feet	231 feet	Road and Track
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Stinger has larger standard tires than the 300 (225/45R18 vs. 215/65R17).

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 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The Stinger GT2’s 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the 300’s optional 45 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 300 Touring.

Suspension and Handling

The Stinger GT2 handles at .93 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the 300 (24.8 seconds vs. 27.2 seconds).

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 300’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Stinger is 8.4 inches shorter than the 300, making the Stinger easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Kia Stinger amounts to more than styling. The Stinger has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is lower than the 300 (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Stinger get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Stinger is quieter than the 300S (37 vs. 39 dB).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Stinger easier. The Stinger’s trunk lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the 300’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

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 300 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The Stinger GT2 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 300 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Stinger’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 300’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 300’s power mirror 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 300’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Stinger’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the 300’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Stinger’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 300’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Stinger’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 300’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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 300.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Stinger and the Chrysler 300, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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