[tomatotomato37]

Just because all their current flights so far have burdened them with enough payload to not achieve orbit doesn't mean they aren't perfectly capable of orbital insertion and manuevering. Don't forget they do have to do a deceleration burn once they release their upper stage; because without it they would continue on a trajectory that could easily carry it 2/3s around the world before hitting atmosphere again.

That being said you are kinda right in that they really can't be compared, considering the shuttle is more a payload with a really awkward engine arrangement and can't actually reach orbit without ditching multiple SRMs and a fuel tank larger than it is, but can actually do useful stuff once up there.