Kia Stinger GT vs Buick Regal GS | TestDrive Showdown
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- The Showdown we've been waiting for! We pit the American German Buick Regal GS against the South Korean Kia Stinger GT in this ultimate $49,000 fastback sedan comparison.
In June we had the chance to feature the 2018 Kia Stinger GT Limited, Kia's $49,000 answer to premium performance usually dominated by the Germans. During our episode of TestDrive Spotlight on that car we talked a lot about it's performance capabilities including some of the competition, such as the 2018 Buick Regal GS. We had hoped to film an episode of TestDrive Showdown on these two cars back in June, but deliveries of the Regal only just started here in Québec.
With our latest episode of TestDrive Spotlight on the 2018 Buick Regal GS we talk about this Opel designed and assembled mid-size sportback sedan, but spent some time talking about it's similarities with the Kia Stinger considering we'd driven it recently, and on paper both are very similar. We knew we needed to make a proper Showdown happen, and we did!
This isn't a complete tour of both cars, so if you want to know absolutely everything we think about either car, we suggest watching each episode of TestDrive Spotlight on both cars before watching this Showdown.
2018 Kia Stinger GT Limited: • The New Sport Sedan Be...
2018 Buick Regal GS: • GM Killed a Great Car ...
Our Showdown compares both vehicles side by side from an exterior physical and feature perspective, taking both cars on a road test to talk about the interiors and drive of each car, and finally we round it off with a good old fashioned quarter mile drag race! We feel this is one of the most comprehensive comparisons we've featured on TestDrive, and really showcases what each of these cars have to offer if you're serious about buying one.
Big thanks to Kia Mario Blain in Sainte-Julie, Québec for allowing us to use their Kia Stinger GT: www.kiamariobl...
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I suspect that Buick (GM) will be heavily discounting the GS both on purchase and lease options. I think the biggest difference between the two is the platform, The GS is front drive biased whereas the Stinger is rear drive biased. If I'm not mistaken you also get a better warranty with the Stinger.
Very true on everything! The platform is why the Buick doesn't quite handle the same way. We didn't mention it in the Spotlight either, but the Buick's GS mode will divert more power to the rear wheels much like the Stinger. As for discounts, I don't doubt for a minute that GM will have some excellent incentives for this car, and Kia's struggling with lease terms for the Stinger.
Depends - the Stinger is avaiable as RWD AND AWD < a rocket with AWD .... and the biggest thing is the TWIN Turbo - so the stinger have High torque numbers at all RPMs !!!
A tried and true method by GM for a long time. This used to get many people in the showrooms previously.
In the current market place however, having the power to check MSRPs right at your fingertips when the vehicle has just been introduced, and cross-shopping it with the Stinger could very easily be denting sales in an unfavorable way for the Regal. If first impressions are important (and price and value are leaders in making most people's mind up), in a niche market for the Stinger and Regal, many will agree that the Stinger will be more favored. Buick's price adjustment maybe too late to recover. Enthusiasts' buying trends are often inversely proportional to late price adjustments.
In my opinion Buick's only chance to compete (if that is their intent at all), will be to offer more in at least the engine output way. So far it has been many car reviewer's natural conclusion and observation to compare these two. I surely did as well.
The Buick has something in the warranty the KIA may not have yet.
It's the good old BLAME GAME clause in the famous proudly made in USA GM = GROSS MANAGEMENT tiny fine print.
From what I currently know from the dealer, most GS models are being made via order.
Saw a GS in traffic the other day. That’s what brought me to RUclips to search for the Buick. It looked really nice and stood out amongst other brands that are mass produced.
Rare spot! Not many of those on the road.
In the US, the Stinger GT is roughly 8K more the Regal GS when they are equipped the same. Even though the Stinger has more power and is faster, I definitely prefer the Regal GS and that's what I'm going to buy.
The Stinger here in Canada is an insanely good deal, I’m surprised it isn’t more popular up here because of that.
I really wished, like so many others, that GM would have used the twin turbo 3.6l that is used in the ATS-V. Even in a detuned version, could have an output of 375 to 400 hp for the Regal and I seriously think it would greatly give the Stinger more a run for it's money. Either way, I'm still getting the Regal GS!!
@@anthonytbarnes8725 nothing wrong with the Regal, but it isn't a performance car. These two cars really aren't even in the same class, the Stinger is for people who value performance, Regal is for people who value comfort.
@@Lunaticked why are you bringing up this point to me? I'm finally aware these cars aren't in the same class. The Regal isn't as fast as the Stinger, but it's no slouch either. If I wanted a performance sedan and I could afford it, I would purchase a Cadillac ATS V and rip the Stinger to pieces. I love the Regal GS for what it has to offer, period.
Anthony T Barnes I bought the Regal GS back in June 2018 and have no regrets at all. Performance is very adequate especially with heavy speed regulations in my area. I was considering the Stinger but I endend up buying the Regal because I needed the bigger trunk space, and I wanted a non-turbo engine that runs on regular gas and non-staggered wheels. Steering feedback is not great on the GS but improved nicely when I equipped the car with summer tires. For the price the GS should have came with sport summer tires. It transforms the car and drives great in GS mode. Winter traction with winter tires is amazing with the torque vectoring and in GS mode it drives like a RWD. Very happy with the GS !
The Buik Regal because it’s very unique and rarely seen. The stingers are absolutely nice and faster but the Buik Regal has my vote!!
Glad to hear it!
Gs is nice but way to underpowered compared to its competitors, the stinger offers alot more fun per dollar compared to the gs
Absolutely right! Enjoyment to Dollar ratio is great with the Stinger, we even mentioned that when we featured the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V a few weeks back.
@CareerFireman The Stinger is also a much better performing vehicle. I honestly do not understand the GS in the slightest. Every review site I've been to shows it only faster in 0-60 from its base Regal trim by .2 seconds. The GS just isn't a good buy considering the performance of most sedans, let alone performance luxury models.
@@armoduesgrimlock7677 I would disagree highly. You could get the regal a lot cheaper than the kia, with the extra money make up the 55 horsepower kia made with its twin turbos (pathetic) The kia is a nice quick car but damn, they couldn't make 400hp out of a TT V6 in 2018? Pretty bad if you ask me. There are a lot of incentives and what not to get the Buick at a way lower cost, that's what I would do.
I’ll bet within a few years there will be cold air intakes, exhausts, and probably a super or turbocharger kit for the GS, they have been available for the 3.6 in the Camaro LS and CTS’s for a long time
If I wanted to spend 40k, I'd buy a Regal GS. If I wanted to spend 50k, I'd buy the top spec Stinger GT. Buicks are heavily discounted, Stingers are not.
Good point! GM has a lot more leverage when it comes to price promotions for their vehicles.
Or spend 40k on the Buick then twin turbo it with the extra 10k and see who wins then.
I'd rather keep my warranty intact. I prefer to buy the car I want these days as opposed to modding it afterwards.
That's because it's being DISCONTINUED!! That's why it's heavily discounted.
nope stinger are also heavily discounted. especially leasing
Did the stinger have an equal amount of passenger weight to make the drag race really fair?
Yes the Stinger also had two people during the race.
The Buick would have still lost even if The Stig were driving it.
i wanted to mention it too but i figured it would come out wrong
That Buick got smoked big time!!! I bet you could have put 5 people in that Stinger and it would have still won.
I didnt wanna go there ..! Every hundo is a tenth...?
Lol. I like both of them. While similar, they are also different. You are pretty spot on in describing the cars. The Kia Stinger with be the majority choice for the diehard enthusiasts, but many like me would still choose the Buick Regal GS.
I was raised with GM cars, specifically Buick and Chevy. I had a 1977 Buick Regal S/R, a 1981 Buick Regal Turbo Sport Coupe, a 1984 Buick Grand National, a 2000 Chevy Impala LS, a 2006 Chevy Impala SS and a 2011 Chevy Cruze RS. I am an auto enthusiast, but, not 24/7 hit rodder. My interest has shifted to more affordable smaller, and practical cars like the new Honda Civic Sport Hatchback/Si, etc. But if I had the money and wanted to deal with the bigger car, higher gas consumption, insurance, registration, parking and maneuvering, The Buick Regal GS has everything I want in a larger everyday sports sedan. The only thing I think are missing are those paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and a CD player. I love the looks, design and performance, and the naturally aspirated V6 for reliability and longevity over a turbo engine. It has the same performance and power as the 5.3L V8 I had in my Impala SS, but the car is near perfection fir what I would want. The most expensive performance car I would get is a $70 Camaro ZL1, but only if I had money to have it as my 'toy' hot rod, in addition to my daily driver. So I may prefer the Buick Regal GS for very similar reasons you have as a daily driver. I prefer black, dark blue, or dark grey. Red is not my color, but I would get this in red, because it looks really good on this car, and has the safety of visibility at night.
The lack of paddle shifters was the strangest thing about the Regal GS for us, considering the Buick LaCrosse Avenir we had came with them. Red is also the colour to get for this one! We saw a silver at the dealer nearby which looks good, but we really liked the flash this red provided.
I love the Buick! Beautiful and Classic!
We really liked the Buick also. Really has a lot going for it, even though it's short on power compared with the Stinger.
I’ve driven the Stinger twice (in Denver). Love the car over anything else I’ve driven except the Genesis G80 Sport. Leaning towards the Genesis over the Kia. To be honest, I owned a Hyundai Genesis RSPEC for 4 years before it was stolen. I’ve owned BMWs for 30 years, all 3 series. Never again after the Genesis.
Genesis seems to be doing a lot of things right. We've got the G70 booked in October, there was a G80 on the press fleet out here but I believe it's been retired unfortunately. We're looking forward to try out the G70 though!
looking forward for G70 review!
Had an 09 mustang GT. My Gen Coupe Rspec is a much better car. Like u , never again. Hyundai and Kia all day. Have 2 Sorento's as well. I'm gonna wait to see if Genesis brings back the Coupe in a couple of years like it is rumored before I buy a Stinger.
G80 Sport looks really good!
If only GM would have put the TT 3.6L in the Regal from the Cadillac XTS V Sport with 410HP. It probably could have had a chance, but in the end it's still AWD/RWD vs. AWD/FWD.
Very true! GM likely won't change this generation Regal, since they have other cars they can offer customers who want more power.
While I wish the same thing as you, it won't happen because the LF4 engine in the Cadillac is longitudinally mounted whereas the LGX in the Buick is traverse and there simply isn't enough room in the Regal's engine bay to fit a longitudinal engine and transmission.
Very well said my uncle has the gs an its a pretty quick car but i feel buick should of used a pair of twin snails 🐌
@@SPQRTempus The TT from the XTS V sport is transversely mounted with 410 HP
@@LSDdreams808 They still make that engine for the XTS V sport. Should be a good tuned 430 HP in the Buick's case.
*BRO* 🤘🏽🤘🏽🔥🔥🔥
Alright, so alotta the time when I watch Cartube reviews I find myself either frustrated at the reviewer for blabbering about minute non-important details, talking monotonously and quite boringly, *or* speaking in a synthetic kind of over-emphasised inorganic exaggerative tone that comes of as forced & unnatural -
*but YOU* my dear cartubish friend, have *got IT*
your tone, the pacing of your speech, the eloquence of your verbiage & at the smooth uniterrupted rate at which it flows is (near?) *perfection*
I feel like I'm in the passenger seat having a chat about a car with a guy that did his homework, instead of listening to a highschooler recording themselves for the first time for some homework project, like *A LOT* of other Cartubers do
I didn't skip through the video to "get to the point", I was locked in & *I truley enjoyed* this car comparo
*Bravo* homeboy
*I'd totally go w/ the Buick too, them seats sold me*
10/10 review 🤘🏽🤘🏽🔥🔥🔥
Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts, we really appreciate it! This was a fun little video to put together, and I'm glad it's still getting views all the years later. I hope I've continued with my presentation format with the new content we've produced. Thanks for subscribing!
In my honest opinion, I would buy the Buick regal gs over the Kia stinger.
-more mature look
-more history
-Comfortable and smooth balance power
-natural aspirated v6 for reliability
Just my 2 cents! 😎
Glad to hear more support for the Buick!
I'll take the stinger!!
I have a feeling that most of our comments are going to agree with you!
Vince funniest comment ever 😂😂😂
I came across a VXR vs Stinger review from Carsguide (in Australia). The Carsguide office had purchased a Stinger, so that was the one they used for the comparison test. They said that within 10,000km, the Stinger had developed rattles and noises.. not something you'd expect from a car with so few kms.
Check out this vid:
ruclips.net/video/ncgJ5vBfXns/видео.html
Buick is 3rd most reliable company in the US, CANADA, MEXICO market space, it has a better interior, a N/A 7K RPM redline v6, it runs off of regular grade fuel (unlike the kia), and it's more practical.
What an episode great showdown but i still fancy the KIA STINGER it has more aggressive look and surely drives and sounds better thanks mate 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Glad you liked it, thanks! The Stinger does have a nice sound to it, that was one of our disappointments with the Regal, we had some exhaust sounds during the Spotlight episode and there wasn't much to get excited about.
I've ordered a regal 652t 2023 5 days ago, wish it brings me joy of power even it's reasonable
I wish they still offered this car in Canada.
I own the 2017 optima and love it i wish i could afford the stinger that's the one i would love to own.
The Optima is still a fantastic car! We've still got it at the top of our consumer mid-size sedan chart!
optima is super nice car too!
I like to suggest the GT model. 38500 msrp, with a great chance of getting a great deal. not too much more than the optima. GT does not have all the options but it gives you all the important things... the chassis, the V6 TT engine, apple carplay (so no navi needed). it will be super enjoyable car!
I have a 274hp 2012 Optima SX turbo. SO fun to drive and faaast!!!
My wife picked up a 2017 Ex optima also and she loves it. She got into an accident and with the settlement, she wants to get a Telluride and I'm going to get a stinger. I'm a sports car guy and have been building American race cars for 10+ years but as a car for my daily driver, the stinger seems the best choice for the fun factor and quality. I have kids so I need 4 doors. The Kia stinger seems like a no brainer.
You shocked me I just knew you was stinger all day haha either one you pick you get a nice ride
We figured our pick would be a bit of a surprise!
Both cars are great cars, but the stinger was designed from the get go as a more sport oriented car to go up against BMW, Mercedes and Audi's as a cheaper GT alternative. The GS on the other wasn't meant to be a true competitor to BMW, Mercedes or Audi, but is more of a tuned up niche car with performance more inline with Honda, Nissan etc. The GS is a great car, but a 55 horsepower deficit and an even greater torque deficit and front wheel drive? This was never gonna be a fair fight to start with! Great review nonetheless and both cars are great alternative cars for those whom don't have BMW, Mercedes or Audi pockets!
It's certainly true that the FWD-based platform on the Regal can be a negative, and from a performance perspective you'll certainly notice it. Luckily for GM they don't have to worry as much about the performance deficit, since they can always push buyers over to the ATS-V or Camaro for more power.
I really wanted the Regal GS as I loved the understated looks, sportback, ride quality, etc. But the start/stop that couldn't be turned off was a deal breaker for me. It's too annoying and it effects the HVAC while turned off. No good for stop and go driving.
GM eventually addressed this in their vehicles but I think it was after they killed off the Regal.
@@PRNTestDrive do you happen to know if lower trim sportbacks didn't have start/stop?
My Sticker Shock went to the Buick Regal. Above $49,000 for this four door Buick sedan? So what it's a performance oriented model. It's no Grand National! So what should the GN be priced at when it comes back? A whopping $60,000+? We all know they are well above Regal GS's.
I’d be very surprised if GM ever brought back that name for any Buicks, they’d have to make one hell of an impressive car for it to live up to the Grand National.
Giving it the alpha chassis platform and the 400hp 3.0L TT V6 would make it a great GN I think.
Good Look at the Regal which we don’t see enough of. I do love that Stinger. Good Comparison!!
Thanks! The Regal only hit the dealers here in Canada the same week we drove it, and we worked our magic to be the first to drive it. We'll likely start to see more reviews on it as other journalists get their hands on them.
The pricing in Canada is interesting since the Regal tops out at around 45k and the Stinger at 52k in the US. So the Regal is the cheper option on paper, but Kia has been aggressive on the lease deals, currently up to 7600 off! I'm partial to the Stinger because I think it looks more aggressive and has more power.
We still can't believe that the Stinger is a better deal up here, either they really want it to be successful here, or converting from Korean Won to Canadian Dollars is better than USD to CAD. Kia's leasing here in Canada has been their struggle though, not just for the Stinger but across the board. They did sweeten the incentive here for August, with 5 years of included maintenance on any new purchase/leases.
Kia Stinger GT2 all day long. Power, chassis, interior and other features outshine the Buick.
It's really hard to beat the Stinger, and we know that it's the better car overall!
Outshine That Buick. . . .?
Yea that just sounded like something my nephew would say but whatever
I know one Buick it won't outshine.....The Grand National
Itsallgood Good do you think it would I would out shine Infiniti Q 50 red sport I don't think so
The same on paper, not the same in reality. Stinger all the way.
Great video! And you are right; most of us will commute with these cars to work. Regal/Opel sells really well in Europe and China. I prefer the Buick because it has restrained grown-up exterior and lower Total Cost of Ownership.
Great point! I rarely spot the Regal on the road out here, but when I do I notice them!
Imagine that.....twin turbo V6 beating a naturally aspirated V6!! 😳
The Stinger would've won the race regardless, but it didn't help the Buick's case that you had the equivalent of 3.5 normal sized people in it. I hope the Stinger had the equivalent passenger weight.
Dude, that's cold!
Great showdown, although I'm not really sure they're as closely matched on paper as you suggest. The Stinger has a ton more horsepower and torque.
I loved my 2011 Optima EX and often said it was the best car I ever owned. It was quick, got phenom gas mileage and looked good. Had a nice Infinity audio system, too. Last April we sent bye-bye to it and traded it in for a Stinger GT-2 Limited 3.3L AWD. The perma-grin on my face quickly wiped out memories of the Optima. We've long been a Kia family - a Sedona, Rio, Forte, Optima, Sorento...and now the Stinger. And the StingerGT is the crown jewel in the driveway now. The Forte (econo bucket, I hated it) and Optima was like foreplay for the main event. Kia really hit it outta the park with the Stinger this time. And now with rumours they'll be discontinued in 2022 in favour of EV models...they'll continue to stay fairly rare on the streets. Good review, although I don't think the Buick Regal was quite in the same class.
Thanks for sharing!
That black Kia Stinger is the most gorgeous thing ever! Buick tried but it looks too blunt, it’s like any other car on the road doesn’t even stand out like the Stinger which doesn’t blend in like normal sedans on the road.
Hyundai Genesis, G-90, Sonata and Kia Optima, Stinger, K900 are very high quality cars in all respects. Even their average entry level family sedans like the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte/Soul are all fantastic.
Hyundai even threw in an extra, the Veloster to give more options. I see Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla trying harder to keep up back there. Lol
There's no doubt that the South Koreans are working insanely hard to beat out the competition, they're really stepped up their games in recent years.
I love the Regal. I live in Germany and I drive this thing, which is an Opel Insignia here. But since this Opel is the last from the GM-era, it kind of is an American-German thing and I wouldn't mind driving this around with the Buick badge, just to show off, how exotic it is.
Nice! I really enjoyed the Regal, it's a shame GM killed it off.
So cool I just picked up a 2019 Buick Regal Sportback in Denver. $18k with 18.5k miles on it and still under the warranty. Fantastic deal I love it and have had more compliments on it than any other car I have owned in the last 5 years. These are such a killer value now.
Great comparison, subbed :)
Glad to hear it, thanks for joining our little community!
I too drove the Stinger GT and Regal GS back to back. I was disappointed that the Regal couldn't compete, either in handling or premium feel, because I don't care too much about the power and I think the Buick looks better. But the Stinger felt like a different class of vehicle.
I'm glad someone else out there had the chance to test out both of these. We've got a Stinger GT right now but I do miss the Regal. I felt it was easier for me to get into that car, the Stinger has weird door frames making it hard to get my head out.
@@PRNTestDrive I think a refresh or another generation of the regal gs could have made it at least an arteon-killer. Unfortunately it felt like no one at buick NA had any idea what to do with the car or how it fit into the lineup, the dealer was clueless about it or any cars I mentioned cross shopping. A missed opportunity for sure, one of many gm Europe products that was mishandled in the NA market.
I drive a 2012 Regal GS and share the sentiments of this guy about the unique factor. I believe it's one of the rarest late model cars in its class and a number of people have come up to me to express their intrigue about it being a Buick (just like those Buick commercials). I do have to credit the Stinger, though, for being the better value and performer.
We're glad you think so! The Buick really is a special car, despite what the GM haters in the comments here will say. It's not perfect, but it's an interesting vehicle that deserves attention.
Rip to the muscle car Regal😭 It's never too late to for Buick to capitalize on the muscle wars though. I'm hoping the next generation will do just that.
There's certainly an opportunity for them to jump in, but unfortunately I think they're happy keeping the Camaro and Corvette as their performance cars, with the CTS-V up there for those looking at german luxury/performance.
Saw your video and I had the same thoughts about two cars and bought the gs, thanks for last push over the fence
Glad to hear it! We want to see more of these on the road.
Hey Buick, what a about a twin turbo with the Regal's 3.6L? Its hard to argue with Kia's reliability, especially since GM is fazing out cars and sold Opal. I would not be surprised if parts are hard to find for the Regal in a few years. That being said, if you have a spare Regal GS that you would like to give away ....
did u just say kia reliabillity in one sentance? really? REALLY? i dare you to go to your local kia/hyundai and look in there scrap pile...it will be FILLED with engines....koreans dont knwo hwo to build engines...we replace 4-5 a week at my local dealership i work at and they all have the same issue...crank bearing burning up...there is a reason why there warrenty is sooo "good"....because there engines are shit
i dont understand how can you compare twin turbo v6 vs regular v6 and expect even a close result .Stinger v6 beats mustangs in 0-100 and 1/4 mile. Regal was designed as a mainstream mid size sedan vs stinger as a quasi sport car but more of a grand tourer with very limited sales and market compared to Insignia/Regal. Nonetheless both good cars and I am not shocked you did find more about the Regal to take it over Stinger.
I wasn't even entertaining the idea that the Regal could win in a drag race, hell this thing lost to the 2.0L Honda Accord which is FWD.
People who don't understand how engines and different techniques work should review cars!
You are comparing an 3.6 N/A to an 3.3 Twinturbo engine!
Obviously the Twinturbo gets his power sooner and due to the 2nd turbo he can hold it longer.
Also the Stinger has more power overall.
Just compare the Cadillac ATS-V vs. the Stinger GT that would be fair by your logic!
The Cadillac has an 3.6 TT with 470 hp.
Cadillac also offers an 3.0 TT with 417 hp.
So why does the Kia only 377 hp from 3.3?
By any logic the Stinger should have 440 hp to keep up with the GM engines!
This test was a joke and the trunkspace is much bigger in the Buick! Do you math next time!
We’ll make sure to do our quickmaths next time for sure.
The manual back option is more practical in areas with heavy snow. I dont think the Stingers automatic option would operate.
Could be possible, especially if you leave your snow brush in the trunk. We did have a longer-term Stinger last winter for 3 weeks but we don't often have to park these cars outside.
@@PRNTestDrive My exact thought. Thanks for the information!
If they were comparably equipped and the same price, the Stinger is the obvious winner. However, that isnt the case. The watered-down GT is still like 2k more, and GM always has ridiculous incentives. But hopefully everyone can agree that both cars are absolutely practical, stunning gamechangers.
There's no doubt that GM always has deep markdowns on their vehicles. You'll be able to walk out with the Regal for a lot less than MSRP.
is a shame they didn't put the ATS-V or CTS twin turbo engine on the GS
My hope is they have a plan to make something spectacular with another trim above the GS, especially with the ATS being killed off by the end of 2019, there's going to be a void in GM's small performance car market.
Sort of comparable. One is targeting the European sports sedans with rear wheel drive, one is to be a lower priced European alternative with less sporty attributes using the GM parts bin (Opel/Holden/Buick). If you want a quieter car that is not as high performance, the Buick is your choice. If you want to take a car to a track and be in a high performance sport sedan, get the GT with V6 turbo from Kia. I have yet to see any review say anything else. I know who is going to win on the drag strip and have not seen it yet - the Kia Far more power than the Buick. I saw both of these cars, could fit in the back seat of the Buick but not the Kia. So the back seat in the Buick has more leg room for sure.
There definitely shouldn't be any surprise for which car wins in a straight line, but we'd be hard pressed to not give a win to the Kia for handling also. Either way you're right, they both cater to slightly different people, but we've heard from a lot of Stinger owners about other cars they considered before making their purchase, some cars on that list were surprising.
Nice review and great job with the overall quality of the production. Keep it up!
Now, few points from me having driven both cars: I love the Stinger for quite a few reasons...the looks, the assembly quality, the interior design, and the performance/acceleration are truly great for the one's emotional investment. It is a great gift for Canadians since the car is sold cheaper than in the US by a few thousand.
Anyhow, having driven these cars back to back for a week each, I also chose the Buick as the more suitable car for me. The looks of the Buick grew on me more and more, as the Kia stayed the same favorably. The interior of the Stinger had a strange rattle in the back which I could not figure out, starting shortly after driving it, which would disappear at times but would come back on some rougher road surfaces. I also found the Kia much louder on the highway which I didn't notice at first but surely did after driving the buick on the same roads, highways and surfaces. This could be of course from the Stinger's tires, but I personally think that the insulation of the Buick is more refined, possibly including the design structure. The buick was surely more comfortable on many levels (long term observation): Seats were much better (lumbar and rib cage level wise), the interior was incredibly solid and a few decibels quieter than the Stinger, especially on the highway. I found the fuel economy of the Buick much better than advertised, notebly on the highway as well. One thing that is truly disappointing about the Regal is when you see the higher model Buick Lacrosse that is much bigger, being over 400 pounds LIGHTER in top trim! The Opel engineers did a disappointing job with the Regal's weight, as the Regal should have weighed no more than 3650 pounds (Lacrosse top trim with all wheel drive 3840pds). This Regal could have matched the Kia's 0-60 time of 4.5s; at 4270pds it is over 670 pounds too heavy.
Having said all of this, if this was a few years ago, where I was in a different mind frame, the Stinger would be a no question winner for me. No matter what you chose in this case, with respect to where you are in your life, you will have an excellent ride on your driveway. Now, since weight loss will be difficult for the Regal, will Buick offer us their Twin Turbo 420HP V6 in a GSX? Now that would be something to compare to the Stinger...
I forget if we mentioned the weight of the Regal during this Showdown, but we definitely did during the Spotlight episode. I couldn't understand how a smaller car could weigh more than the LaCrosse, but that is a big problem for Opel/Buick. It's true though if they could shave off some of that weight it would do better. Our drag race certainly wasn't scientific, ideally we'd want to have both cars properly prepped and drivers who fit the profile a little better.
We do hope that a faster version of the Regal comes out, but as we were reminded by our GM rep when we dropped the car off, GM has the option to push people towards the Camaro or ATS-V if they want more power and aren't necessarily married to the design/segment.
Thank you for your reply. My conclusion regarding the weight is that the engineers weren't the same. Strangely enough, some internet publications/videos are clearly misrepresenting the weight (for some unknown reason), which includes MotorTrend, @ 3800pds, apparently stated by the manufacturer. It was clear that the drag race was intended for fun, however, it is not hard to imagine that the Stinger can cover ground much quicker than the Regal in its best representation. My short experience with both clarified that very quickly.
My reply to the GM rep who responded to you with his solutions is one of great surprise. The Regal is intended as a high end Premium/entry luxury midsize sedan who's buyer is simply not someone who wants a 2 door performance car at 53 inches height and no cargo capacity. The ATS V on the other hand is a rear wheel drive, compact vehicle at a dissimilar price point occupying a different market. He or she is missing the point of heavy market research and today's realities of customer preferences. I drove the Stinger and the Regal since I may be in the market soon and have no interest in the Camaro nor the ATS V. The CTS V Sport on the other hand would be the closest, but the price gap is vastly different, not to mention the unavailable all wheel drive option. Thanks again for the reply. Looking forward to more videos!
new sub, didn't know you're in Quebec, that's cool!
Thanks for subscribing! We moved to the province a little over a year ago 😁
Hey Perpetual Radio Networks, I know it's not new, but can you try and do a review on a 2013-2016 Buick Verano Turbo? Only 5,127 were ever built...
We’ll see if we can find one! We spot the odd Verano around, but likely not the turbo if they didn’t sell that many. We’ll see if we can make it happen!
Something is wrong here . The heavy guy drives the Buick that has 55 less HP and of course loses very badly . Why didn't they switch drivers and try it again for a more accurate comparison ?
Would you give the keys to your car to a complete stranger?
Your reply makes absolutely no sense at all . How about doing the test again only this time have both drivers weigh about the same ?
And you think that’s going to change the results? There’s no situation where the Buick wins this drag race, even if The Stig drives the Buick and Jabba the Hutt drives the Stinger.
The Buick never had a chance even in a fair race . The Stinger may have had the clear advantage , but next time why not fill the Kia's trunk with cast iron anvils if weight doesn't really matter ?
The Buick is the new Holden Commodore in Australia. I just bought a 2018 RS variant, and its such a great drive. Well optioned, and while the VXR is the real competitor to the Stinger, the RS also comes in the 235kW AWD option. Interior options are lacking compared to the VXR (leather, flappy paddles etc), but i still have most of the mainstays, like Lane departure warning and correction, Blind Spot indicator, auto park, Android Auto, forward collision alert.
A lot of the Kia options wouldnt be used (ie: adjustable 1 flick indicators), and are a bit gimmicky.
Best thing? The Kia is $AU61,000. My RS variant was $AU39,888. The VXR sits at around $AU56,000. I got a little less car, for a whole lot less.
We've heard that the Stinger is very expensive there! Definitely a good deal on the Commodore. We've heard from a number of others from Australia that aren't completely sold on it being the replacement for the previous generation, but we're glad you've got one and love it!
@@PRNTestDrive My cousins hates the new Commodore, but I love it.
On a side note, some quick research shows that the VXR is weighs 1737kg, my RS weighs 1534kg. Same 235kW engine and AWD system. 200kg less, and $13K-$16K less.... You do the math..
Kia was designed by Peter S., he’s an Audi guy, not BMW. You were probably referring to Albert B., who did the driving dynamics for the M brand.
I was just about to add this info. Another thing people fail to realize is Peter Schreyer has been working for Hyundai/KIA since 2006. He hasn't been an Audi guy for a quite a while.
Were there 2 people in the stinger?
Yes there were.
There's a 2020 Gs in the next state over going for 33k I'm hoping before the end of spring I'll be able to purchase it and ask for a steep discount. I just feel like the car has so much character
Hopefully you can get it! I really enjoyed the Buick, it's a shame GM killed it off.
Hope someone does a $40k-50k or 30k-40k midsizd AWD luxury sport sedan shootout. Perhaps the KIA Stiger vs Acura TLX vs Buick Regal vs Volvo S60 vs Volkswagen Passat CC/Arteon vs Lincoln MKZ vsi Genesis G70 vs Infiniti Q50
We’re hoping to be able to film the Genesis G70 vs Infiniti Q50 Showdown in October!
Stinger. Don't like you can't turn of the Regal's engine On/Off. Also, Stinger has better styling, performance, etc. Costs more!
GM really needs to add button to disable the auto Off/On with their vehicles. We have two other GM episodes coming out this month, and it's our major complaint with each car.
The Stinger looks exotic, The Buick, well looks like a Buick.
LOL.
It's a year later, but it's funny most of the gripes I'm seeing about Stinger are firm pricing. Just a year later I got like 9k off a Stinger GT due to rebates+incentives+discounts. LOVE this car so far.
Nice! CPO Stingers are hot commodities also, those sell as soon as a dealer picks one up. We're driving the 2020 VW Arteon this week which is a direct competitor to both of these cars, and the Stinger really shines by comparison.
@@PRNTestDrive Yea it's fantastic. What I'm more impressed with is how over engineered this car is. The stock internals have been estimated to hold 700 whp for the engine and 1000 NM for the trans! You are basically buying a baby Supra or GTR in terms of potential. Simple bolt ons and tune weild HUGE gains. All while being a nice looking, comfortable GT tourer.
Look man i love your channel and i saw g70 and Q50s comparison but i am about to buy a new car iam just confused between these cars genesis g70 3.3t rwd or Q50s rs400 or kia stinger gt
That would have been a good triple-way Showdown! It depends on what you want out of a car. The Infiniti is old as hell, but there's a long history of enthusiasts tuning that engine, so if you're looking to get even more out of a car that one might be the way to go. In terms of the Stinger vs G70, the only major mechanical difference is the limited-slip differential on the Genesis. The Stinger is a slightly larger car inside and out, I found it to be more comfortable over the G70. Personally I'd go with the Stinger.
I'm thinking of a buick too, I love the look and just the overall class of it. I'm not into revving the motor up and going fast every where, like where is the fire? I found one not to expensive, all black and quite low on mileage, out near laval too. I'm up in Belleville and hope to find something nice within a couple months. This video has been helpful and for all the wrong reasons I prefer the Buick too, reminds me of an impala almost.
I really liked what the Buick Regal had to offer, along with the LaCrosse. It's too bad GM killed both of them off. There was some real potential there for both sedans.
Kia Stinger all the way. RWD based and a fire breathing 3.3 L turbo engine. Only old and GM employees drive the overpriced Opel
Blake Swan ats v for a little more money cadilac sport racing car.
Wrong.
@@ralphsmallblock4367 The ATS-V is a far superior car to anything on the road at or below its market segment, but it does cost a pretty penny. $68,000. The Regal GS starts at $41,000.
2 turbos but only 50 more bhps. Poor rubbish Kia
Blake Swan
here in the Great Lakes I'd have to get the awd....winters suck!
i am about your size.. how did you find the seats for comfort? do they adjust to allow for larger bodies?
I mean they're tighter than the non sport seats on the base Stinger, but overall I was confortable during the times I've driven the Stinger. Regal was also comfortable given the size of the interior. I haven't had too much issue with cars in terms of seat comfort.
Would love to hear what you think now. I'm trying to find a GS with low mileage. Easy to find a four banger. Pick a year but the 2019 6cyl with a 9spd don't seem to be flooding the market right now...
My first generation Buick Regal is my daily driver. Buick FTW👈😎👉💯👊, ✌️ out from California
Very nice!
Great reviews on both cars! As many have stated, the Stinger appears to be the better choice of the two with the extra hp and torque. I am however thinking long term ownership and am worried about likely problems with the twin turbo later on. I am also concerned about the complaints that others have made about the poor paint finishes on the Stinger. I had almost made up my mind on the Regal until I saw your drip strip race. It is hard to ignore the impressive performance by the Stinger. I am not sure which to choose now.
Turbo reliability is certainly a good point, ask any BMW 335i owner how reliable their engines are and you'll know right away!
What happened to the days of luxury cars being designed for luxury and not sport. I like sedans to cruise and just casually drive. Most of these cars are like "highway racer ready" and its just annoying. I wont trade up my 05 lesabre because of how much better the ride is vs modern sedans
That’s true when you think about it. The Lacrosse we featured was a smooth ride without having any of that sportiness to it, but GM’s killing it off. But you’re right, think about any modern luxury sedan and they’re all sport-oriented now.
i would kill for the regal gs because you KNOW there is gonan be a aftermarket company that will make a twin turbo setup for it.
We certainly hope so! We've only seen a handful of 2018/2019 Regals on the road, only two were the GS.
Buick regals are the best cars!
We certainly miss this car! It's too bad GM decided to focus on SUVs, along with sell off their Opel division that made this.
My uncle has the gs the brembo breaks they use are so amazing an the this car is sharp looking. I just wished they used a turbo v6 instead
Would have been a great option to official retire the Buick sedans if GM had put a slightly more powerful engine in this.
Will someone really complain that the cars are wet sheeeesh did the Buick take the back lights off is a lexis IS and flip the upside down????
You’d be surprised by some of the comments we get, people get all worked up by the tiniest bug splatter or some dirt on a floor mat.
Perpetual Radio Networks wow what do you think about the lights in the Buick straight copy from rear end of lexis IS
There’s a lot of creative copying in the industry it seems. We talk about it with tomorrow’s episode on the 2018 GMC Terrain, the rear lights are very similar to Honda’s.
Im confused, whats the story behind the GS???
The GS or the Regal in general? This generation Buick Regal is a badge engineered Opel Insignia, but GM sold Opel to Groupe PSA. meaning it's technically no longer a GM car.
@@PRNTestDrive Right, this car doesn't really have any history. It's just a rebadged Opel for North America. I thought there was something more to it. It has the same amount of history as the GT, none. Oh, and thanks for the comparison.
Agreed, there’s no history. I’m just glad GM didn’t call it a Grand National, that would just be an insult to the original.
Honestly, I like everything about the Stinger better besides the engine on that Buick. That N/A 3.6 liter V6 is straight from the V6 Camaro if I'm not wrong, which makes for a very peppy sedan with no turbos to deal with. Still would choose the Stinger though because of how much faster, more reliable, and even more luxury it is.
There's a lot to like about both of them, it's too bad GM killed off the Regal though.
Right? They killed the Lacrosse too though😑
Not that these days a warranty is only as good as the paper it's written on but have heard of horror stories about kia backing their warranty. General motors isn't much better but I'd take that chance .the Kia front end looks like other kias more than the regal looks like other Buicks but love the styling seen one in person loved it.
Why did GM make this car 😂
Why wouldn’t they? General Motors is in the unique position where they can afford to market vehicles to fill any little market out there. There’s a market for the Regal, especially in Europe.
I like that they made a hatch back I think every sedan really should be that when a Stinger is better in every way it's kind of hard to just sell the Regal because it's different because the Stinger is also different and in my opinion even more exotic looking. Idk just my 2 cents they should have at least made it have like 380 horses then
We agree, it’s going to be a tough sell for GM, but they also can push buyers to the Camaro or ATS-V if they want more power, something Kia can’t really do.
Its a rebaged European car. Manufactured and designed by Opel in Germany and sold as the Opel Insignia in mainland Europe and Ireland and the Vauxhall Insignia in the UK. The 4wd Haldex system was designed and paid for (in typical GM fashion for pushing debt onto its subsidiaries) by SAAB on the 9-3 turboX.
Made sense that GM might as well take advantage of that and stick a Buck badge on it and try and shift some units in North America.
LOLOL
Wait the tail lights on the Buick look very similar to the tail lights on the 2019 Elantra (even tho the Buick came first)
We spotted a 2019 Elantra the other day! Definitely has some similarities.
I know you didn’t expect natural aspirated would beat forced induction unless you put a turbo on the Buick the match it who would win
How do you get those running lights to flicker? I've seen that on a few videos
That's just an effect of the camera we used, the frame rate wasn't syncing with the LED lights. This is something we haven't had issues with since switching gear in early 2019.
I'm not attempting to criticize you as a person so please take this with a grain of salt, but was the Stinger carrying as much "cargo" during that race? You're quite a large man plus you had a passenger. Not saying the Stinger wouldn't win regardless, but all you did was cripple the Buick even more.
Two people in the Stinger. Nothing about weight would change the outcome of this drag race.
It’s so entertaining reading all the delusional GM haters criticize the Regal for being a rebadged vehicle almost as if General Motors don’t deserve the credit for it yet the Stinger was designed and engineered by practically everyone EXCEPT for actual Kia designers.😭😭😭
People like to hate no matter what.
mybro727 actually, no. Kia was designed and engineered by KIA employees hired away from BMW. Regardless who cares who designed it? All that matters is how the car performs, and the Stinger GT blows the Regal away. It’s not a fair fight. Buick needs to give the Regal more power, plain and simple.
Very good video and for me I would take the Stinger :)
Quelle surprise!
Comparable? 310hp and 282ft lbs of torque vs 365hp and 376ft lbs of torque is comparable? Might as well stack a mustang against a ZR1
You need to compare regal gs and vw arteon together!
It’s too bad Buick’s killed it off here, I really liked the Regal GS.
Really no comparison when you look at performance and handling numbers for the stinger.But, I just looked at a 2020 Buick regal GS (brand new) and I can buy it for $37,500. For that price it's a good value! I really like the stinger but for an every day driver I like the Buick better and it's considerably cheaper, looks well made and that 3.6 is a very reliable motor.
Buick/GM will likely be discounting the Regal heavily now that it’s officially been killed off. I still really liked my time with it.
Your lucky.
In Australia the kia stinger fully loaded is around $55,000 rear wheel drive only.
No all wheel on the RHD version
Strange that they don't offer AWD, but do you have weather that would be ideal of a proper AWD sedan? A truck for sure, if you want to take it off road, but is there a big AWD sedan market there?
AWD sedans are practically non existent apart from subaru asymmetrical all wheel drive.
Sedans are dying slowly. SUV type vehicles are huge, mostly front wheel drive.
The top 2 selling vehicles in Australia is 1. Toyota Hilux, 2. Ford Ranger. Both utes.
They released the Stinger about the same time they killed of the locally made rear wheel drive commodore.
Now we have the imported German front wheel drive commodore(Buick) and it hardly sells. Worst sales since 1948 for Holden and rumours abound about the brands death in this country.
That really is unfortunate for Holden. Aside from luxury/premium vehicles there aren't many AWD sedans here either, Subaru having the market for it, and now the 2019 Nissan Altima.
Is the Chevy Impala and Nissan Maxima Comparable?
Personally I'd say no, we just drove the 2020 Nissan Maxima and while it has about the same power as the Impala, and costs about the same price at the top end, the Impala is a larger vehicle both inside and out. I'd take the Impala over the Maxima though, I really enjoyed the Chevy when we featured it last year.
GM should have boosted this car. The concept was a 400HP twin turbo V6 before they axed it and went NA. WTF Buick!
Agreed! This car would have been a lot more fun with more power, we've re-driven the 2018 Infiniti Q50S 400 and just wrapping with the Genesis G70 3.3T Sport, both produce a lot more power, and a lot more fun.
www.newcarslineup.com/2018-buick-grand-national
sigh....
Nice review. But were there two big heavy guys in the Stinger for the drag as well? Not that the GS should win but it could be closer.
We'd love nothing more than to have a 'fair' drag race, the reality is we showed up to the local drag strip with our equipment, and were lucky to spot a Stinger there. The owner agreed to race us for the video, but considering it wasn't planned in advance, there's only so much we can do.
As of September 2019 I can get the Buick 0 down 0% and $8,000 in rebates the Kia Stinger they still want with zero down 6% $49,000.
GM is great at discounting their products, that's for sure.
I get to decide whatever I want 😂
I’m never wrong on my own show!
GM wont allow Buick engineers to put in the twin turbo 3.0L V6 in the Regal.
I agree, and GM should add the Malibu hybrid powertrain to the Buick Regal as well. This car could've been a nice alternative to the Lincoln Mkz.
Good review, but what's going on with the warping on the interior shots? It's really noticeable at around 5:50 (watch the edge of the steering wheel). Is this a potato camera? Lol
That’s the result of having to stabilize in software after using a gimbal for the camera. Unfortunately there’s not much we can do about it within our current production budget.
Someone needs to learn how to drive, and start properly. The GS runs high 13s with proper driving, while the Stinger runs low-mid 13s. Should be a very minor difference between 2 vehicles, and not 10 car lengths, especially if you can get the better reaction.
It's a crazy comparison when you remember that the engines are facing different ways
Who cares what car is faster. Everyone has to drive to the speed limit anyway so talk about other things such as features, room in the back seats, tech etc
Which we did, we went over all the differences each car has, specifically with the features shared between the two of them. We didn't spend much time talking about overall speed, but yes we did focus on the ride and handling of them, as that is something that's important even if you're driving 50 km/h.
Stinger is the all around better buy between these 2. No doubt.
We agree! The Stinger is without a doubt the better buy.
Nice cars! How tall are you? I'm 6'3" and wonder if I'd fit in either one of them. Great comparison!
I’m 6 foot, but our co-pilot for our drag race is about 6 and a half feet but he needed to push the seat all the way back for both.
Perpetual Radio Networks I'm used to doing the same. Nobody sits behind me in anything less than a full size car. Thanks and keep the content coming! Great work!
Thank you for watching!
Did you make any allowance for the different weights in both cars during to drag race? You have 2 people in the Buick and you're a big guy! That alone could've made the Buick much slower than the Stinger.
There were two people in the Stinger also. There's nothing about weight distribution between drivers/passengers that would make the Buick win a drag race against the Stinger.
As you said Nile
I would take the Buick if you put the 4-cylinder models head to head.
But for the 6 cylinder, I would go Stinger
I would take the v 6 Buick only if it were no less than $5k cheaper.
It would be interesting to see how this competes with the 2.0L Stinger in terms of performance. We're finally getting them up here, should be arriving in dealerships within a few months. We're hoping to do some content on them!
I think the regal looks way better
Glad to hear some support for the Buick!
Perpetual Radio Network Which car do you prefer?
We pick our personal choice at the end. The Stinger really is the better vehicle in every way, unless of course you want massaging seats, in which case the Buick wins. We'd take the Buick because there will ultimately be less of them on the road up here than the Stinger GT.
That's a hundred extra pounds of torque over the Buick I would hope that you can tell the difference twin turbos yeah better warranty with the Kia and rear wheel drive hard to compare
Lots going for the Stinger, hard to beat it. But we’ve heard from some here who took the Buick.