2018 Audi A5 Sportback vs. 2018 BMW 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 2018 Kia Stinger AWD

[Larry Denen]

In this cuckoo-crazy, mixed-up world, nothing is certain and the set order is up for renegotiation. For decades, the four-door sedan was the sensible choice, the vehicle that sober, serious grown-up types bought to show just how sober and serious they really were. But crossovers have toppled the establishment, and now four-doors are struggling to retain relevance. So squash the roofs, pack in the tech, add a practical hatch for the camping equipment, and voilà—the sedan is king again. Only now they’re four-door coupes. Got it?

The quasi-coupes under examination today are Audi’s A5 Sportback and BMW’s 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, with the Kia Stinger here to do its own renegotiating of the set order. The Audi and BMW lead with, and are enabled by, their heritage. They’re tweaked expressions of long-established brand identities. Kia is relatively new to the premium realm and has yet to produce a hit there. The Stinger could be it.

So here are three more or less medium-size hatchbacks, all equipped with longitudinally mounted turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, each making about 250 horsepower, that feed automatic transmissions with at least seven forward gears. They all have all-wheel drive: The BMW and the Kia are otherwise laid out as conventional rear-drivers, and the Audi, as is its wont, has its engine hung out ahead of the front wheels.

There are no high-performance pretensions here. The turbo four-pots are base engines in these models. Above them, the S5 Sportback, 440i Gran Coupe, and Stinger GT all feature turbocharged sixes making over 300 horsepower. But the fun stops at that level. There is currently no RS5 Sportback, M4 Gran Coupe, or V-8–powered Stinger. Pity.

There’s leather on the seats and wrapping the steering wheels. We’ve got some room on our credit cards and Southern California is in flames. So let’s slalom around the infernos and rack up some Marriott Rewards points in sensational Bakersfield and luxurious Lancaster. Read the full article here 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vs. BMW 430i Gran Coupe, Kia Stinger | Comparison Test | Car and Driver

 

[Todd Piefer]

The article compares three cars with turbo fours and gives the "win" to the Audi. For less money than the Audi, I got the Stinger GT with a twin-turbo six that smokes the Audi by their performance measures and looks better doing it.

 

[Mike_10]

OK got it. Car and Driver = AUDI advertising. I don’t know about these guys at car and driver...that story is the true definition of alternative facts.

 

[Waynerm002]

I went on a short test drive in the Audi, it does look quite nice up front, the steering was more firm and responsive than the KIA. The thing that I recalled on the Audi that was annoying was having to go through the menu to do a lot of things. I'm sure if I had the car I would get used to it but I like the simplicity of the KIA menu. The extra torque also makes it more fun. I think KIA should have tuned the 2.0T to deliver 265 hp and 290 lb ft of torque to take better advantage of the chassis and put some wider and better tires on it, really surprised it didn't come with Michelin Pilot AS 3+.

When I look at the Stinger's tires they seem to be smaller or rather narrower than one would expect on this car. Has anyone gone with a 235/45 18 or 245/40 18 setup on it yet? I think those would make the car handle better. This also would lead to one wanting a drop in the spring height. Damn it, there I go already thinking about modding this thing when I said I was done with that! Come on KIA, give that 2.0T some love and make it better than the A5 and 4 GC! While you are at it, make the thing quieter than the Optima!