Buying and owning

Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security

Even with no discounts (yet), the Stinger is cheaper to buy in cash and on a PCP finance deal, and should also lose you less in depreciation. However, its running costs over three years are slightly higher – albeit only marginally.

Company car drivers might think the Stinger’s higher CO2 emissions make it the pricier choice, but its P11D price is much lower than the S5’s so the benefit-in-kind tax is cheaper, too. It is the thirstier car, though, so its running costs end up marginally more expensive over three years.

The Stinger comes with pretty much every toy you could want, so metallic paint is the only option available. The S5 isn’t poorly equipped by class standards and does come with massaging front seats and rear climate control, which the Kia doesn’t offer, but to align the S5 with the GT S on spec would ramp up its price massively.

That goes for safety kit, too. Both get automatic emergency braking as standard, but blindspot warning, lane-keeping assist and traffic sign recognition are all part of expensive option packs on the S5, all standard on the Stinger. Both cars were awarded five stars by Euro NCAP; the Stinger scored higher marks for adult occupant and pedestrian safety but wasn’t found to be as good at protecting children on board.