Are Kia Suvs Any Good

One of the best vehicles in the history of Kia’s model portfolio is the 2019 Sorento. The 2019 Sorento is amazing. It is feature-rich, fashionable, and athletic, and it has space for a complete family. It even provided upscale finishes that raised the bar for the cabin’s level of comfort.

The car has never been subject to a safety recall, so it left the factory without any defects or anything that would have endangered your routine after you first brought it home. The 2019 Kia Sorento is no exception to the reputation of recent Kia vehicles for their abundance of safety technology. Being the ideal urban family SUV from Kia with a five-star safety certification, it is also the most dependable vehicle.

Is Toyota superior to Kia?

  • The Kia Optima is more affordable than the Toyota competitor while also offering a superior basic warranty and roadside support program.
  • When it comes to efficiency, the Kia Optima outperforms the Toyota Camry thanks to its availability as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
  • Inside, the Kia Optima provides more room for the five passengers as well as more trunk capacity than the Toyota Camry.
  • Thanks to the UVO Infotainment System, the Kia Optima surpasses the Toyota Camry in terms of technology.
  • Both the Kia Optima and Toyota Camry receive five-star overall crash test safety ratings in terms of safety.

Toyota or Kia: which SUV is superior?

Conclusion: The Highlander is the right pick if your primary consideration is fuel efficiency. In our testing for fuel efficiency, the V6 performs admirably, and the Hybrid’s mileage is exceptional for some vehicles, let alone a three-row SUV.

Because they will feel at home as soon as they slide into the cabin, devoted Toyota customers may choose to stick with the brand as well. The Highlander is an unremarkable, but family-friendly, SUV. Keep in mind that historically, the Highlander has a very high value.

However, the Telluride is superior in many areas, even outperforming the Highlander in the first year’s reliability and owner satisfaction surveys. The Kia performs admirably while the Toyota does nicely. A winning SUV is one that also has a smoother transmission, better braking, a nicer interior, more interior and cargo space, and additional standard active safety features like BSW and RCTW.

Customers thinking about the Kia might also want to examine the Hyundai Palisade, which shares the Telluride’s basis (frame, suspension, engine, and transmission).

My profession is a direct result of my father purchasing a 1965 Corvette and me choosing an Audi A4 over a Chevy Tahoe. My passion for automobiles was sparked by the Corvette, and the Audi introduced me to automotive journalism, track days, and do-it-yourself vehicle repair. No matter the season, I cycle as much as I can in my spare time.

Is the Kia Sportage a trustworthy SUV?

With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, the Kia Sportage is ranked sixth among 26 compact SUVs. It offers great ownership costs with an average annual repair cost of $462. The Sportage is one of the more dependable automobiles on the road since its repair needs are less severe and less frequent than those of other vehicles.

Cost

Compared to an average of $521 for compact SUVs and $652 for all vehicle types, the total yearly cost of repairs and maintenance for a Kia Sportage is $462.

the typical annual sum for unplanned maintenance and repairs for all model years of a car. A vehicle’s greater average cost alone does not imply that it is less dependable. For instance, your car’s parts and labor may be pricey, especially if it’s a European luxury model, but if there are few serious problems and frequent service visits on average each year, that’s a sign of a dependable vehicle.

The typical annual frequency at which a vehicle is taken in for unplanned maintenance and repairs. This metric is produced by monitoring millions of distinctive automobiles over a number of years to ascertain the typical yearly visits for each make and model. Controls were included to prevent small, routine shop visits, such those for oil changes.

The severity element of dependability calculates the likelihood that a repair will cause a significant problem. The cost of a repair is assessed to be excessively expensive given the unscheduled nature of the repair if it is three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Due to their more expensive labor and component expenses, premium and luxury brands have a higher barrier.

Frequency

Owners of Kia Sportage cars must take them into a shop for unplanned repairs on average 0.2 times a year, as opposed to 0.3 times on average for compact SUVs and 0.4 times on average for all vehicle models.

Do Kias have many issues?

Kia stated that 100,000 of their vehicles were susceptible to engine stalling in 2019. Since then, they have claimed that software, not a hardware option, is at blame. But it has come to light that several of their other models also have real issues.

For instance, the oil rings on the Seltos and Kia Soul crossovers that are impacted are overly stiff. This hardness may cause cylinder bore and piston wear over time, leading to excessive oil leaks and engine knocking.

Are Kias durable?

Maintaining the factory-recommended maintenance plan and taking care of problems as soon as they appear are the best ways to maintain your Kia in good working order. Any material or workmanship flaws should be covered by the Kia guarantee that comes with new and certified pre-owned cars, but these protections ultimately run out.

If your car needs repairs after the first warranty period has passed, an extended warranty might assist cover the cost of such unforeseen expenses. Kia has an extended warranty that may be purchased directly from the company, but you can also acquire coverage from third parties.

Independent extended warranty providers frequently provide more options for coverage, older vehicle coverage, a larger network of repair facilities, and more comprehensive benefits. Endurance and CarShield are two companies that we suggest.

Endurance: Best Coverage

Up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles of additional warranty coverage are possible with Endurance. Additionally, Endurance offers some of the market’s most comprehensive contracts. There are five different coverage options available, ranging from straightforward powertrain coverage to complete bumper-to-bumper warranty protection.

CarShield: Best Value

Additionally, CarShield provides extended warranty protection for cars with up to 300,000 miles on the odometer, potentially doubling the Kia factory warranty’s scope of coverage. CarShield offers a solid reputation in the market, a wide range of coverage options, and some of the most affordable contracts available.

For more information, see our comprehensive CarShield review. To get a free, no-risk CarShield quote, click the button below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kia is a dependable automaker. Overall, Kia receives a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, placing it third overall (out of 32 brands).

Both Kia and Toyota are well-known for their dependability, and both have a 4.0 out of 5.0 RepairPal reliability rating. Kias may be marginally more reliable, while RepairPal puts Toyota seventh overall and Kia third.

Kias require an average of 0.2 unforeseen repair shop visits year, according to RepairPal. This is half of the 0.4 visits per year average for all brands. You have a one in five risk of needing an unforeseen repair each year, according to this statistic.

Previously, the Kia name was associated with low-cost, subpar vehicles. This is partly because the brand’s automobiles had a lot of issues when it first appeared in the United States. Since then, Kia has made fleet improvements and has earned a reputation for having great reliability.

Yes, Kias have a reputation for lasting just as long as other trustworthy cars like Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. Although the powertrain is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 100,000 miles, many owners keep their Kias for much longer.

Where does the reliability of Kia stand?

To obtain their overall reliability ratings, the RepairPal team considers a number of different variables. Simply put, your out-of-pocket ownership expenditures will be cheaper the more dependable your car is. The cost, frequency, and severity of repairs are some of these variables. In order to calculate an individual brand’s total RepairPal reliability rating, these categories are averaged.

In the RepairPal reliability rankings, Kia came in at number three, including second place when only non-luxury brands were included. The Kia Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it third among all car brands out of 32. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models.

“Kia had three well-liked models, including the Soul, Rio, and Forte, in the top 30 with Excellent ratings. The Optima and Sorento, two of its most well-liked cars, kept their Excellent rankings within the top 100.

Are KIAs costly to repair?

With an annual repair cost of about $474far less than the $652 average for vehicle maintenanceKias tend to be substantially less expensive to maintain than the average car. This is because they are an affordable brand with strong reliability ratings.

The sticker price of a Kia is just the beginning of the costs you’ll incur over the course of ownership, but you’ll receive a lot for your money. However, it’s essential to maintain your Kia properly to make sure it functions smoothly. Additionally, bear in mind that some Kias will cost more each year than others.

Are Kia vehicles of high quality?

Significant advancements achieved by Kia in recent years have helped to restore its reputation. Today, a Kia model is recognized as a trustworthy and useful family vehicle.

Despite not being known for luxury, the brand has advanced significantly in terms of dependability. One of a Kia’s strongest qualities is its lengthy warranty time; the majority of Kia models come with a ten-year powertrain warranty and a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Kia outperforms the industry standard in this area, which is a three-year and five-year warranty. With extremely few mechanical faults reported by owners in the first three years of ownership, Kia gets a RepairPal score of 4.0 out of 5.0.

According to reports, a well-maintained car might last up to ten years with minimal maintenance.

Why is a Kia so inexpensive?

Why are KIAs so inexpensive when they are regarded for having a comfortable ride, a respectable new-vehicle warranty, and lots of cargo space?

Each automobile owner has a reason(s) for favoring a particular brand’s model. While some people are seeking the excitement and speed, others are searching for a reliable car for their family. The features you require, how the car is made, and the brand will all affect how much it costs. While some purchasers aren’t concerned with the vehicle’s price, others will focus on the perks that come with the cost.

KIAs are affordable since the raw material for their car bodies is plastic. As they are designed to survive five to seven years, they have a short production line and a bad image as disposable cars. Another factor contributing to KIAs affordability is the cheap cost of labor.

The company’s entry into the United States wasn’t easy, and most people thought of KIA as a budget brand with subpar automobiles. But over time, the Korean business has worked to disprove these allegations by spending money on production and research to demonstrate KIA’s dependability.

Continue reading to find out why KIAs are so affordable and whether you should buy one.

Here is what we learned after conducting our investigation and speaking with numerous professionals in the field of vehicle production.

Is Hyundai more dependable than Kia?

According to Amodeo, “automakers are increasingly considering how closely customers’ interactions with their vehicles resemble those of other consumer electronics.” “For instance, cell phones often receive over-the-air software updates, and as a result, automakers are increasingly required to use this strategy to address issues, enhance features, and add capabilities in order to maintain customer satisfaction. The best automakers at this will have a tremendous edge.”

Seven of the top 10 issues identified by the study are infotainment-related: voice recognition, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, Bluetooth, insufficient power outlets or USB ports, confusing or challenging navigation systems, infotainment touch screen or display screen, and inaccurate/outdated maps.

For the second year in a row, the Porsche 911 received the top rating for overall vehicle dependability. The 911 has received this distinction three times in the last four years.

The highest-ranking brand was Kia, which improved from third place in 2021. Buick, Hyundai, Toyota, and Dodge are other popular mass market brands that score highly for reliability of their vehicles, placing second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.

Genesis ranked first among luxury vehicles, followed by Lexus, Porsche, Cadillac, and Lincoln.

On average, mass market brands like Kia and Hyundai experienced less issues than their premium competitors. More technology is frequently found in vehicles from premium manufacturers, which raises the possibility of issues.

The survey also discovered that the quality of mass-produced cars has greatly increased recently and is now on par with that of premium manufacturers.