Compare the2023 Kia StingerVS 2023 Mercedes CLA

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 Mercedes CLA 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 CLA 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 CLA.

Both the Stinger and the CLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, 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 CLA 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 CLA’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 Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes 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 CLA.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 19th, 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 15 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Stinger GT-Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 79 more horsepower (300 vs. 221) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Stinger GT2’s standard 3.3 turbo V6 produces 147 more horsepower (368 vs. 221) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (376 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Stinger is faster than the Mercedes CLA:

The Stinger has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 CLA.

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 CLA doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Stinger GT2’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CLA are solid, not vented.

The Stinger stops much shorter than the CLA:

The Stinger GT2’s 255/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLA’s optional 40 series tires.

The Stinger has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Stinger’s wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the CLA (114.4 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Stinger is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CLA.

The Stinger’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.9% to 48.1%) than the CLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Stinger more stable handling and braking.

The Stinger GT2 handles at .91 G’s, while the CLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Stinger executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the CLA 250 4MATIC (24.8 seconds @ .79 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

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

The Stinger has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (93.8 vs. 89).

The Stinger has .8 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

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 CLA’s liftover is 30.1 inches.

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 CLA doesn’t offer a power trunk.

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

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

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 CLA doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Stinger has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CLA. The Stinger GT2 also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CLA.

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 CLA.

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 CLA only retains 41.76% to 41.79%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Stinger, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes CLA isn't recommended.