Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia Stinger has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Stinger GT2 has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Golf R 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.

Both the Stinger and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Stinger its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 Golf R’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 Volkswagen covers the Golf R. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf R ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 21 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Stinger’s warranty.

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 Golf R’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, 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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 72 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 9 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT-Line’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 53 more horsepower (368 vs. 315) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Stinger 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Golf R Manual (22 city/32 hwy vs. 20 city/28 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Stinger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. Volkswagen only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Golf R Automatic.

The Stinger has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Golf R (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Kia Stinger comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Golf R.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Kia Stinger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

The Stinger stops shorter than the Golf R:

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 10.9 inches longer than on the Golf R (114.4 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Golf R.

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The Stinger AWD’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

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 Golf R (.33) 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, the interior of the Stinger is quieter than the Golf R:

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

The Stinger has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 9.8 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

The Stinger has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Golf R with its rear seat up (23.3 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The Stinger has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Golf R with its rear seat folded (40.9 vs. 34.5 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Stinger. The Golf R 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 Golf R doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The engine in the Stinger is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

On a hot day the Stinger’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Golf R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

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

The Kia Stinger outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by 17% during the 2022 model year.