Some people consider Hyundai and Kia to be simply rebadged versions of the same cars. The two brands do have a close relationship, despite the fact that this is not the case. Hyundai acquired Kia in 1998 and now has a 51 percent share in the business. The two corporations are now regarded as sisters because that share has decreased to around a third.
Hyundai and Kia frequently use one another’s vehicle platforms as a result of their tight cooperation. Do the cars from both brands have the same engines?
In This Article...
Does Hyundai belong to Kia?
Although Kia and the Hyundai Motor Group are separate companies, Kia Motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai. The distinction between Kia and Hyundai is that each brand has its own brand philosophies to build its vehicles in a distinctive manner.
What’s the difference between Hyundai and Kia?
Despite the obvious similarities between the cars made by Hyundai and Kia, there are also significant variances that support the existence of two different brands. In the simplest terms, Hyundai optimizes their cars to be more refined, quiet, and comfy, whilst Kia strives for a more energetic and youthful image. We’re delighted to announce that both companies have a reputation for producing top-notch goods.
Styling and Presence
Hyundai and Kia have extremely comparable vehicle lineups. Though it’s important to note that Hyundai has established a luxury branch named Genesis that largely addresses those gaps, Kia does provide a few vehicles that Hyundai doesn’t. Hyundai’s aesthetic is generally much more restrained and understated, with slender curves and unobtrusive round forms making up the majority of the design elements. However, compared to their Hyundai cousins, Kia vehicles have sportier style that gives them a more aggressive and dynamic appearance. In a similar vein, compared to the Hyundai model, Kia SUV vehicles have a more robust, off-road oriented look. In general, Hyundai automobiles are more likely to blend in with the crowd, but Kia styling is more angular and futuristic, designed to grab attention and make a statement.
Performance and Handling
Although Hyundai and Kia share platforms and drivetrains, we already established that each company maintains its own independent engineering divisions. This is significant because it enables individual ride and handling characteristics to be tuned for each brand of car. It’s risky to generalize given the large range of vehicles available, including hatchbacks, sedans, crossovers, and vans. In contrast, a comparable Hyundai vehicle is probably going to prioritize a smoother, but disconnected-feeling ride, whilst you will probably find that Kia vehicles provide more dynamic, engaging handling qualities. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but in our opinion, Kia automobiles’ special chassis tuning significantly increases fun.
Price and Value
Kia automobiles are typically less priced than their Hyundai counterparts. The comparable Hyundai Elantra starts at $19,850, while the Kia Forte starts at $17,890. Although the Forte is less priced, Kia didn’t scrimp on quality or features. Like Hyundai, Kia provides one of the best warranties in the industry, which is ten years and 100,000 miles. Both companies offer quality that is unmatched in the industry and stand behind their products. In the J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study*, Kia placed third for 2021, ahead of brands like Toyota, Chevrolet, and even Mercedes-Benz. Even Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis, ended behind Kia. Only Porsche and Lexus were ranked higher among mass market brands in terms of quality than Kia. At the top of that list, Kia is, in our opinion, in good company. It’s also important to note that J.D. Power named the Kia Optima, Sorento, and Sportage as the top models in each of their respective classes.
The Kia Advantage
In conclusion, Kia cars offer greater value and better quality, with bolder style and a more dynamic driving experience, even though Kia and Hyundai offer comparable vehicles. Simply put, no matter what you value most in a car, Kia automobiles are better overall. Of course, it is ultimately up to you to decide. We recognize that purchasing a new car is a significant investment. We advise you to test drive both brands since we are certain that you will ultimately decide on a Kia. Any way you look at it, it’s unquestionably the better option. Please forgive me, Hyundai.
What distinguishes Kia and Hyundai from one another?
Hyundai delivers a more opulent and flowing style, whereas Kia creates cars with a sportier look. With a little more varied assortment of cars, Kia’s inventory includes a minivan, the Sedona, which reaches a wider target demographic. Hyundai, meantime, sells a line of high-end vehicles under the Genesis brand.
Two of Hyundai’s smallest vehicles, the Rio and Accent, have base prices that start at $16,050 and $15,395 respectively, making them marginally more affordable than Kias. However, the Hyundai Venue, which made its US debut in 2019, costs $18,750 more than the Kia Soul, which costs $17,590.
Who manufactures Kia motors?
Hyundai and Kia produce their own engines, and a recent manufacturing fault may result in the premature death of more than 1 million of those engines.
For the same problem, Hyundai and Kia made separate recall announcements. About 572,000 examples of the 2013-2014 Santa Fe and 2013-2014 Sonata are included in Hyundai’s recall. About 618,160 units of the 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento, and 2011-2013 Sportage are included in Kia’s recall.
One of two enginesa 2.4-liter, direct-injected, naturally aspirated I4 or a 2.0-liter, turbocharged I4powers each of the involved vehicles. The motors’ various production dates range from 2010 to 2014.
The problem is due to manufacturing mistakes. It appears that metal debris in the crankshaft oil passageways wasn’t properly wiped out, and a second mistake led to surface roughness in the crankpins (crank journals). The connecting rod bearings, which enable the connecting rods to move freely, may receive less oil as a result of these two issues.
The engine may begin to knock as the bearing ages from contacting a rough surface without lubrication. The engine may seize up and be doomed to the scrap heap if the driver doesn’t understand what’s wrong and the bearings fail. If the engine seizes while the car is moving, it also poses a safety risk.
In May, notice will be given to dealers and owners, the latter by first-class mail. Owners must visit the dealership so that mechanics can examine and perhaps replace the engine. Owners who have previously paid for repairs must follow certain procedures in order to receive reimbursement from Hyundai or Kia.
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Hyundai is Honda’s property?
The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
Is Kia up to par with Toyota?
According to a J.D. Power research from 2019, Kia has the highest initial quality in the non-premium segment in the United States. The 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Toyota Corolla, Prius, and Prius V were all rated as being among the most dependable vehicles on the road by J.D. Power.
What is the Kia’s equivalent to the Santa Fe from Hyundai?
The lineups of the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Sante Fe have identical engines, gearboxes, and drive configurations. This includes a 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine and a 4-cylinder turbo engine. Each of these engines is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the buyer can select front- or all-wheel drive in any trim level.
Sorento: The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the LX and S trims of the Kia Sorento generates 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. This engine is coupled with either front- or all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automated transmission. The 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Sorento’s EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims produces 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Although the turbocharged versions of this engine also come with an 8-speed automatic, they also include a dual-clutch transmission and, like the naturally aspirated versions, may be ordered with either front- or all-wheel drive.
Sante Fe: There is only a minor variation across the five trim levels of the Hyundai Sante Fe’s shared engines, transmissions, and drive combinations. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in the Sante Fe SE and SEL produces 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and the buyer’s choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Sante Fe Limited and Calligraphy has 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. It also has an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and the buyer can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is standard, but the top-of-the-line Calligraphy 2.5T AWD has a turbocharged engine and an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Conclusion: Based on the identical power ratings offered by the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Sante Fe’s engines, transmissions, and drivetrain configurations, there is no difference between the two vehicles. When comparing similar model lines, the Sante Fe weighs at least 100 pounds lighter than the Kia, thus the Hyundai will feel a little bit quicker than the Kia, making the Sante Fe the preferred option for buyers who place a higher priority on driving enjoyment.
Do Kia vehicles come from Ford?
During the Asian financial crisis in 1997, Kia filed for bankruptcy. In 1998, the company agreed to exchange ownership with Hyundai Motor Company in order to diversify. Outbidding Ford Motor Company, which had held a stake in Kia Motors since 1986, Hyundai Motor Company bought 51% of the business. [20] Hyundai Motor Company now owns nearly one-third of Kia Motor Corporation following consecutive divestitures[21]. The majority shareholder of Kia is still Hyundai Motor Company, however Kia Motor Company also owns 22 Hyundai Motor Company subsidiaries. [22] Since 2005, Kia has concentrated on the European market and recognized design as its “key future growth engine,” which led to the appointment of Peter Schreyer as chief design officer in 2006[23] and the subsequent development of a new corporate grille known as the “Tiger Nose” by Schreyer. [24] [25] Kia Motors America, a $1 billion investment for the corporation, broke ground for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia in West Point, Georgia, in October 2006. [26] After Kia accomplished its 15th straight year of growing its market share in the United States, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia opened its doors in February 2010. [27] The Kia Soul, a compact car produced by the business, was used by Pope Francis of the Catholic Church during a five-day visit to South Korea in August 2014. [28] [29] Due to its participation in the high-profile welcoming ceremony of the Pope’s arrival at the Seoul Airport on August 14, the Kia Soul garnered more attention than the Pope’s Kia Carnival and Hyundai Santa Fe. [30] [31] J.D. Power & Associates recognized Kia Motors as having the highest model reliability in the United States in 2016, making it the first non-luxury carmaker to hold that position since 1989. [32]