Which of these swanky new fastbacks delivers the best blend of stylishness and speediness?
Which of these swanky new fastbacks delivers the best blend of stylishness and speediness?
VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON 2.0
versus
OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0
versus
KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
WHAT exactly is a fastback? It is a saloon with a tailgate (like a large hatchback) instead of a notchback boot lid, and the rake of the rear windscreen is sharper (hence “faster”) than that of the front windscreen. The fastback format looks good and provides a practical boot.
These three fastbacks, however, offer more than just practicality. With their strikingly stylish designs and potent engines, they are also capable grand tourers.
The Volkswagen Arteon is aimed at fashion-conscious drivers. With its dramatic, almost artistic styling and muscular 280hp powertrain, few would suspect that the Arteon’s platform is actually a stretched version of the one that underpins its conservative Passat sibling.
The Arteon’s German rival in this story is the Opel Insignia Grand Sport, which is bigger and smarter than its “slowback” saloon predecessor. The new Insignia is also roomier and more refined than the old one, and equipped with a long list o f standard features.
Taking on the Teutons in this shootout is the Kia Stinger from Korea. Apart from its head-turning looks, this 2-litre Korean contender also promises exciting reardrive performance and a well-built cabin packed with numerous amenities.
Which of these fashionable fastbacks has the best blend of style and speed? Let’s go fastback riding and find out!
VW ARTEON 2.0 vs OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 vs KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON 2.0
ENGINE & GEARBOX
Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with 280hp and 350Nm is the best powerplant of the group as it is the most powerful and yet the most effi cient, and it does the quickest century sprint, too.
Arteon’s 7-speed dualclutch gearbox is a boon to fast drivers as it gives them the fastest gearchanges.
ENGINE & GEARBOX
Opel’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with 260hp and 400Nm has the most torque and the punchiest midrange, but its overall power delivery could be more urgent.
Insignia’s 8-speed automatic is the smoothest transmission here, but its gearchanges, even in manual override, are surprisingly the most languid.
ENGINE & GEARBOX
Kia’s turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder with 247hp and 353Nm has the fewest ponies but the greatest engagement, as its performance delivery is the keenest and most linear.
Stinger’s 8-speed autobox is almost as quick as the Arteon’s dual-clutch unit. Its only letdown is the lack of a dedicated manual mode for DIY shifting.
RIDE & HANDLING
Arteon’s handling is neat, but its real strength is that it strikes the most optimal balance between ride comfort and handling capability. We would still prefer a slightly softer setup, though, given the VW’s grand-tourer character.
RIDE & HANDLING
Insignia’s ride quality, which is already the most pliant among the three fastbacks, is even more impressive in light of the car’s 20-inch alloy wheels. If you set the dampers to Tour mode, the suspension will literally lull occupants to sleep.
RIDE & HANDLING
Less comfortable than the others for long-distance driving, but enthusiasts will be grinning from ear to ear while carving their way through B-road bends, because the Stinger’s handling is the most fluid and graceful of the trio.
VW ARTEON 2.0 vs OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 vs KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON 2.0
COCKPIT
Sleekest cockpit of the three is also the most hightech, thanks to its massive infotainment touchscreen (bigger than the two rival systems) and fully digital instrument cluster (Insignia and Stinger have mostly analogue meters).
BACKSEAT
Most spacious and comfortable backseat makes this space feel like an executive lounge, complete with frameless windows. Arteon’s additional climate zone helps ensure that “guests” in here are kept the coolest.
METERS
Arteon’s Active Info Display is the prettiest and most useful of the bunch, as the huge display makes it easier to see the map when using the satnav function. The graphics are the sharpest, too.
OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0
COCKPIT
Great for road trips, as Insignia’s front seats are the most supportive and the alloy pedals offer the most grip. Ample, logical storage points make this the most practical cabin here.
BACKSEAT
Opel’s bench is the most supportive, but the relatively shorter backrests mean that anyone taller than 1.75m won’t be as comfy. Gadget lovers will appreciate the big doorbins and the pair of USB ports for charging devices.
METERS
Insignia’s part-digital, part-analogue gauges are the only ones with a volt meter to help you keep an eye on your battery’s health. Navigating/selecting the menu options is the most intuitive, thanks to the fiveway D-pad on the steering wheel.
KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
COCKPIT
The most driveroriented seat, with the best driving position. It is also the only one here with an electrically adjustable helm and convenient selector knob for the Drive Mode. Stinger’s head-up display has the clearest graphics, too.
BACKSEAT
Kia has the longest wheelbase, but less effi cient packaging means there’s less legroom than in the other two cabins, while the relatively tall transmission tunnel makes this space more ideal for two adults instead of three.
METERS
Conventional dials of the Stinger look the least exciting in this company. But, because they present the least amount of information, they’re actually the easiest to read/use, allowing the driver to focus better on the road ahead.
VW ARTEON 2.0 vs OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 vs KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
THE ARTEON IS THE FASTEST FASTBACK HERE AND THE GRANDEST TOURER, THE INSIGNIA IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE CRUISER, WHILE THE STINGER IS AN IRRESISTIBLE PERFORMER.
BOOT
Arteon’s 563-litre boot is the best for hauling bulky and heavy luggage, as its loading point is the lowest and the tailgate opens the widest. The trunk also comes with an elastic net for securing loose items
BOOT
Insignia’s 560-litre cargo hold is the most flexible, thanks to its 40:20:40 splitfolding seats. It’s also the only trunk with backrest release levers, but the rather tall loading point and lack of a powered tailgate will inconvenience users below 1.7m in height.
BOOT
Stinger’s 406-litre trunk has the smallest volume and narrowest aperture, making it the least useful for hauling stuff. But it has the best-organised underfloor storage and two bright LED boot lights, which make it easier to load/unload things in dark conditions.
VW ARTEON 2.0 vs OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 vs KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0
LAST WORD
This Group Test was one of the most pleasurable yet painful ones we’ve ever done. All three cars were such a hoot to drive that we didn’t want to return them.
If cruising comfort and driving confidence are your priorities, then we’d happily recommend the Opel Insignia Grand Sport, which has the softest seats and most pliant ride. For those who love taking road trips, the Insignia should be your fastback ride of choice.
The Insignia’s biggest drawbacks are its boot (loading/unloading could be easier) and performance (relatively relaxed). If you’re an eager driver, the Opel probably won’t be eager enough on the go.
When it comes to sheer speediness, neither the Insignia nor the Stinger can touch the Arteon. The Volkswagen’s muscular engine and lightning-quick gearbox are able to leave the traffic behind, including a few hot-hatch boyracers taken by surprise.
We also love the Arteon’s elegant exterior design, advanced cockpit and Lufthansa lounge-like accommodation, all of which add to the VW’s luxe appeal. However, this level of German luxe comes with a hefty price tag of $220k, so buyers will need deep pockets – $35k and $41k deeper than what is needed for the Insignia and Stinger respectively.
As motoring enthusiasts, we were happily stung by the Kia Stinger. We love its sporty profile (whose height is the lowest of the three fastbacks), driverfirst cockpit and addictive performance.
The Stinger has less horsepower than the others, but it more than compensates with a keen engine paired to a chassis engineered to deliver great handling. The Stinger’s only weak points are its comparatively tighter backseat and smaller boot.
If you want enjoyable driving in a fashionable fastback, you won’t be able to resist Kia’s new “Seoul scorpion” and its South Korean venom.
VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1984cc
BORE X STROKE 82.5mm x 92.8mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 9.6:1
MAX POWER 280hp at 5100-6500rpm
MAX TORQUE 350Nm at 2000-3500rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 163.2hp per tonne
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS All
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 5.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 13.7km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 164g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar
REAR Multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
TYPE Pirelli P Zero
SIZE 245/35 R20
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 7
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4862mm
WIDTH 1871mm
HEIGHT 1450mm
WHEELBASE 2837mm
KERB WEIGHT 1716kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.9m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $220,400 (after $20k VES surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km
+ SWANKIEST CABIN, BEST RIDE-HANDLING BALANCE, MOST RELAXING BACKSEAT
- MOST EXPENSIVE, WIDEST TURNING CIRCLE, HIGHTECH CABIN NOT FOR EVERYONE
BEST IN
LUXURY
OPEL INSIGNIA GRAND SPORT 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1998cc
BORE X STROKE 86mm x 86mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1
MAX POWER 260hp at 5500rpm
MAX TORQUE 400Nm at 3000-4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 151.5hp per tonne
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS All
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 7.3 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 11.6km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 197g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, adaptive dampers
REAR Multi-link, adaptive dampers
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
TYPE Continental ContiSportContact 6
SIZE 245/35 R20
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4897mm
WIDTH 1863mm
HEIGHT 1455mm
WHEELBASE 2829mm
KERB WEIGHT 1716kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.7m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $184,888 (after $20k VES surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km
+ MOST SUPPORTIVE SEATS, COMFIEST RIDE, MOST CONFIDENT HANDLING
- LEAST ATHLETIC ACCELERATION, INCONVENIENT BOOT, GREATER THIRST FOR PETROL THAN ITS TWO RIVALS
BEST IN
ROADHOLDING
KIA STINGER GT-LINE 2.0 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged
CAPACITY 1998cc
BORE X STROKE 86mm x 86mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1
MAX POWER 247hp at 6200rpm
MAX TORQUE 353Nm at 1400rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 138.4hp per tonne
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Rear
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 6 seconds
TOP SPEED 240km/h
CONSUMPTION 12.7km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 181g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
TYPE Continental ContiSportContact 5
SIZE 225/45 R18
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 7
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4830mm
WIDTH 1870mm
HEIGHT 1400mm
WHEELBASE 2905mm
KERB WEIGHT 1785kg
TURNING CIRCLE 11.2m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $178,999 (after $10k VES surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
+ MOST ENGAGING PERFORMANCE, MOST FLUID HANDLING, VALUE-PACKED PRICE TAG
- LEAST SPACIOUS BACKSEAT, SMALLEST CARGO HOLD, FEWEST PONIES
BEST IN
PERFORMANCE
STORY JEREMY CHUA PHOTOS TAN MENG CHOON ART DIRECTION SEAN LEE
