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Can the more powerful RWD Kia Stinger GT beat the lighter AWD Volkswagen Arteon R Shooting Brake in a drag race?
by Dim Angelov, on LISTEN 03:37It’s another drag race from our UK colleagues from Carwow and this time, the Kia Stinger GT goes up against the Volkswagen Arteon R Shooting Brake. Although both cars compete in the same segment, they are propelled by very different drivetrains. Will more power and torque prevail over less weight, all-wheel drive, and a DSG gearbox?
Kia Stinger GT
The Korean four-door coupe is powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that puts out 366 horsepower and 376 pound-feet (510 Nm). Apparently, in the UK, you can only get it as a rear-wheel-drive car, which is what this one is. The gearbox is an eight-speed automatic with a torque converter and launch control. The Kia is the heavier of the two, with a curb weight of 4,090 pounds (1,855 kg). It’s also the less expensive, starting at £43,000 ($59 128), in the UK.
Volkswagen Arteon R Shooting Brake
While the VW Arteon is also a four-door coupe, this particular version is the shooting brake. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four unit, shared with the latest Golf R. It makes 320 horsepower and 309 pound-feet (420 Nm). The gearbox is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG) with launch control. The Volkswagen Arteon R also has all-wheel drive and is lighter, at 3,968 pounds (1,800 kg). However, UK prices start at £52,000 ($71 520).
The Race
Three standing start drag races, two rolling races, and a 70 mph (112 km/h) brake test take place on the airstrip. The weather, in typical UK fashion, is rainy, which favors the all-wheel-drive Volkswagen. Will Kia’s extra power and torque be enough?
The first race is a convincing win for the Arteon R, which manages a 12.9-second quarter-mile time. Meanwhile, the Kia Stinger GT was half a second slower, finishing after 13.4 seconds. Even after switching lanes, the Kia still lost, albeit not as badly as the first race. The third standing start drag race was, pretty much, a repetition of the first.
The rolling races negated the German car’s all-wheel-drive advantage. The more powerful Kia easily took the win both in comfort mode and in sport mode with manual shifting. It’s worth noting that dual-clutch automatics, like the Arteon’s DSG unit, are at a disadvantage when they are required to downshift more than one gear. However, the Arteon R, once again, took the win, in the braking test from 70 mph (112 km/h), beating the Kia by a car length.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, both cars are worthy contenders. It really boils down to whether you want more car for the money or the premium brand. It’s a shame Kia doesn’t offer the Stinger GT with AWD while offering it only as an AWD for European markets. To see what exactly happened, click on the video below.
