Regular sedans may be fading out but the luxurious ones are still very much alive. In order to stay relevant, luxury and nonluxury carmakers alike are extremely focused on packing their sedans with more upscale features at a bargained price. Two of the best examples of this in today’s market is the 2020 Kia Stinger and the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon. But what may surprise you is that Kia is starting to outpace Volkwagen here.

Performance and capability 

It’s understandable if you haven’t heard much about Volkswagen’s Arteon because it’s kind of in a unique marketing situation. The Arteon was designed to replace the outdated CC sedan and was first introduced for 2019. Some say that the Arteon is the perfect mix of luxury and comfortable performance.

The Arteon features one engine option and that’s a smooth 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that generates a 268 horsepower. Its main qualm though is that it feels sluggish at times. With that being said, the Kia Stinger is the better option if you are looking for additional power. 

There are two engine options featured on the Stinger. The entry-level GT-Line trim is powered by a 255-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. On the higher GT, GT1, and GT2 trim levels, you get a 365-hp, 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6.  Both engines feel dynamic and make the Stinger fun to drive. 

It is important to note that neither the Arteon or the Stinger is particularly fuel-efficient. The Arteon gets up to a combined 24 mpg and the Stinger gets up to 23 mpg. Opting for all-wheel-drive only decreases these ratings.

Interior features

The Stinger’s cabin offers a bit more flair compared to the Arteon. Leather upholstery comes standard on the Stinger while the Arteon comes with synthetic leather. Heated front seats are standard on both.

Overall, the Stinger is comfortable and plush on the inside. Although, its rear seat isn’t the most accommodating for adults. The Arteon has a narrow rear seat too but offers more in general space compared to the Stinger.

Infotainment 

Both the Stinger and the Arteon offer user-friendly infotainment systems. Standard features on these models include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and HD Radio. One of the more notable differences is that the Stinger comes with a 7-inch display while the Arteon comes with an 8-inch one. The Arteon has a standard wifi hotspot but there isn’t one available on the Stinger. On the other hand, wireless charging is a standard feature on the Stinger.

Safety

The Stinger has earned great crash-test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS gave the Arteon a slightly lower rating and the sedan hasn’t been rated by the NHTSA yet. Both the Stinger and the Arteon offer a long list of advanced safety features including blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert. Although, more advanced safety features come standard on the Arteon.

The final verdict

The Stinger starts at $33,090 and the Arteon starts at $35,995. If you’re looking for luxury-level performance and looks, we say go with the Stinger. But, if comfort is your top priority then the Arteon is the better fit for you.