Compare the2023 Subaru WRXVS 2023 Kia Stinger

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Stinger doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited SPT/GT has standard Reverse Automatic 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the Stinger.

Both the WRX and the Stinger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The WRX’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Stinger runs out after 100,000 miles.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 2 places higher in reliability than Kia.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Stinger doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

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

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The Stinger doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The WRX offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Stinger doesn’t offer a CVT.

The WRX’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 WRX stops much shorter than the Stinger:

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the Stinger (235/45R17 vs. 225/45R18). The WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Stinger (245/40R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the Stinger pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Stinger (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 650 pounds less than the Kia Stinger.

The WRX is 6.4 inches shorter than the Stinger, making the WRX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the WRX Limited is quieter than the Stinger GT2 (79 vs. 84 dB).

The WRX has 5.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Stinger (98.9 vs. 93.8).

The WRX has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Stinger.

The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s exterior PIN entry system. The Stinger doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Kia Stinger by over two to one during 2022.