Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2023 Kia Stinger

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

Safety

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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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Stinger doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Kia Stinger:

	WRX	Stinger
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	220
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34.4%	36.6%

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

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 Subaru WRX is safer than the Kia Stinger:

	WRX	Stinger
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	197 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	310

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

Warranty

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

Reliability

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 WRX’s reliability 28 points higher than the Stinger.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 4 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
WRX
AWD	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	18 city/25 hwy
Stinger
AWD	Auto	3.3 turbo V6	17 city/24 hwy

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 on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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:

	WRX	Stinger
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	164 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

The WRX TR’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Stinger GT2’s 40 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

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).

Chassis

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 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).

Passenger Space

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.

Ergonomics

The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’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/TR’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.”

Recommendations

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Kia Stinger by almost five to one during 2023.