Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2023 Jaguar XF

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Stinger are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Jaguar XF doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 XF 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 XF doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Stinger has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XF doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Stinger and the XF have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XF has not been tested, yet.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Stinger 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Jaguar covers the XF. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XF ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 4 times as many Kia dealers as there are Jaguar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Stinger’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Stinger’s reliability 20 points higher than the XF.

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 Jaguar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jaguar is ranked 26th, 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 Jaguar vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 88 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jaguar is ranked 26th.

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (300 vs. 246) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 269) than the XF P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT-Line’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (300 vs. 296) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the XF P300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 72 more horsepower (368 vs. 296) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 295) than the XF P300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Stinger has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XF. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 XF doesn’t offer launch control.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 1 inch wider in the rear than the track on the XF.

For better maneuverability, the Stinger’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the XF’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.2 feet).

The Stinger is 5.2 inches shorter than the XF, making the Stinger easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Stinger has .8 inches more front headroom and 1.1 inches more front legroom than the XF.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Stinger GT2 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The XF doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Stinger has standard extendable sun visors. The XF doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Stinger will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Stinger will retain 43.02% to 43.71% of its original price after five years, while the XF only retains 32.78% to 33.1%.

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

The Kia Stinger outsold the Jaguar XF by over 9 to one during 2022.