Are you familiar with the Kia Spectra? We hardly do, which is not surprising given that the Kia Forte took its position in 2009. The Spectra was manufactured from 2000 to 2009, which is fantastic news because there are several on the used market. 403 Spectras are listed at $6,000 or less on CarsThatLast, and two of the vehicles they discovered were recorded as having more than 300,000 miles on them, while 4.96 percent of them had more over 200,000. It seems that Kia belongs on the list of trustworthy brands, right next to Honda and Toyota.
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How far is a Kia’s lifespan?
People used to love to despise Kia as a brand. Although Kia is now known for producing high-quality cars like the Telluride, the South Korean carmaker has had a difficult past. You may have be aware that Kia has turned the corner and is now one of the most well-known brands on the international market.
There are undoubtedly plenty of Kia models available if you’re interested in purchasing one. However, some individuals may still remember Kia’s previous reputation for being unreliable, leading them to wonder: How long do Kias last?
In this article, we’ll examine the typical lifespan of Kia automobiles. How many miles should your Kia last? Is it a dependable, enduring brand? Which Kias have the longest lifespan and are the most dependable? These inquiries and others will be addressed.
How Far and Long Can You Drive a Kia?
What’s the real scoop on how long Kias last? Kia vehicles are predicted to last up to 200,000 kilometers when driven responsibly. Owners that provided their Kias with the necessary TLC report that they were able to get 200,000 to 250,000 miles out of them and keep them on the road for ten years or longer.
Of course, each driver’s experience with car longevity will be different (pardon the pun). Numerous elements, such as ownership maintenance and driving conditions, have an impact on longevity.
While the more modern Kia lines can clock 200,000+ miles on the odometer, the earlier Kias from around 20 years ago won’t win any medals for dependability.
These figures are competitive with brands like Honda and Toyota. For instance, Reader’s Digest claims that the Kia Rio subcompact sedan can reach 250,000 miles, while J.D. Power rates its dependability well.
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Kias Reliability Ratings
The general reliability of a vehicle is one of the most important variables affecting its longevity. This raises the issue, are Kias trustworthy? How durable are Kias?
In a nutshell: Kia is a trustworthy company. Please, though, don’t take our word for it; instead, let us direct you to the professionals.
Kia has a reliability score that is above average. Although Kia first gained a reputation for being unreliable when it entered the American market, the South Korean manufacturer has since gotten its act together and is now one of the most dependable companies.
It currently ranks as the third most reliable car brand on the market with a RepairPal dependability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Only Honda and Acura, two businesses renowned for their legendary dependability, can surpass Kia.
With a low yearly repair cost of $474 as opposed to the country’s average of $652 for all models, Kia also received top marks for cost of ownership. Kia vehicles stay on the road longer than many brands thanks to 0.2 times as many unscheduled maintenance visits per year and a 10% likelihood of significant repairs.
Which Kias are the Most Reliable?
Kia sells premium automobiles for reasonable pricing. Like many automakers, Kia has some models that are better engineered than others. A vehicle has a better probability of remaining on the road and traveling farther if it is more dependable. Some of the most dependable Kias that will last you a long time are listed below:
Kia Rio
As basic a mode of transportation as you can find is the Kia Rio. The Rio won’t blow anyone away, but it provides adequate comfort, usefulness, and acceptable fuel efficiency at a fair price. The base Rio models are quite basic, but the higher trims are fully equipped cars that do the job admirably.
The Kia Rio will last you for a very long time with the right care and maintenance thanks to the combination of Kia’s top-tier guarantee and excellent safety ratings. As previously noted, some Rio owners asserted that their tiny car had logged 250,000 miles.
A quick check of RepairPal reveals that the Rio ranks 6th out of 21 subcompact cars with a dependability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0.
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Kia Soul
The boxy sheet metal Kia Soul is a big-hearted vehicle that usually draws attention. The Soul, however, is more than simply a quirky SUV since it has great utility, great fuel economy, and a ton of contemporary technology. Although many individuals find the base trim to be a little too basic, the Soul’s low price is undoubtedly its biggest selling point.
The Kia Soul requires proper care and maintenance, just like any other vehicle. The Soul may travel up to 200,000 miles and even more if you give it the proper care. The Soul will reward you with 1013 years of dependable service if you maintain your oil changes and dealership servicing.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage belongs in the classy subcompact SUV category. If you’re searching for a chic and versatile suburban SUV, the Sportage is a good choice. It’s not just one of the more visually appealing subcompact SUVs on the market; it’s also lavishly furnished with contemporary features and cutting-edge safety technologies. The Sportage is an SUV that will last even though it doesn’t have a powerful performance.
Again, assuming the Sportage is well-maintained, it should have no issue reaching 200,000 miles or more. Many Sportage owners with more over 200,000 miles on the odometer can be found if you visit some well-known automotive forums. Kia offers 5-year/60,000-mile standard and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties, so you can drive more miles with greater confidence.
According to RepairPal, the Sportage is ranked sixth out of 26 compact SUVs with a dependability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Make Your Kias Last
How durable are Kias? Actually, as the owner, it will also depend on you. It would be beneficial if you drove carefully and responsibly, in addition to adhering to your routine maintenance plan and taking care of repair concerns as soon as they arise.
You might not be particularly knowledgeable about your car’s brakes unless you’re a mechanic or a super-committed auto enthusiast. How much time do they usually last? How frequently should brakes be replaced? We have solutions.
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A automobile can it endure 300,000 miles?
Modern standard vehicles are expected to last 200,000 miles or more, while electric vehicles are predicted to last up to 300,000 miles. There are many advantages to keeping an automobile for that long, including the potential financial savings.
Do Kia vehicles have decent high mileage?
The Best Gas Mileage Rated KIA Vehicles a Kia Forte The 2019 KIA Forte gets 30 mpg on city roads and 34 mpg on the highway. The KIA SUV achieved a highway mileage of 40 mpg. Rio Sedan by KIA With a combined fuel efficiency of 32 mpg, the 2019 KIA Rio Sedan achieves 28 mpg on city roads and 37 mpg on the interstate.
Are Kias durable cars?
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.
Is a Kia engine trustworthy?
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.
Do Kias have many issues?
bulletins for numerous vehicles that have had engine issues. among the most
Owners and tenants frequently report the following Kia engine issues:
- power loss or stalling
- A knocking noise
- Seizing
- Overheating
- Leaks
- Non-collision flames
- Unpredictable engine failure [1]
A car’s maximum range is 400 000 miles.
There is no one trick to keeping your car running until the odometer reads a ripe old age. You might arrive there by accident, but it comes as no surprise that many cars with 200,000, 400,000, and even 500,000 miles on them have had exceptional care and maintenance, frequently with the owners performing the necessary regular maintenance themselves.
Having a vehicle with a high mileage makes many individuals feel good about themselves, and they all appear to have tried-and-true methods for keeping their vehicles going longer. His 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT reached more than 220,000 miles thanks to routine oil and transmission fluid changes, according to Tallassee, Alabama resident Clyde Thurston. By employing cruise control, Patrick Swift of Elsmere, Kentucky, claims his 2000 Chevy 2500-series van reached 533,000 miles without stressing the brakes or engine. And Loren Faeth of Ames, Iowa, claimed that despite having more than 400,000 miles on it, his 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300SDL ran like new because he changed all the fluids himself.
The majority of people who drive automobiles with 300,000 or more miles on them, he observed, perform their own maintenance on the vehicle. “In this manner, you may be sure that the oil has been changed correctly.
Whatever tactics owners employ, it is certain that vehicles are staying on the road longer. The Valvoline Instant Oil Change stations are operated by Ashland Inc., which reported an increase in the number of high-mileage vehicles. The number of vehicles serviced with 75,000 miles or more increased 8% from February 2004 to February 2007, according to business spokesman Barry Bronson. He claimed that during that time, the number of automobiles with more than 120,000 miles increased by 18%.
Using the appropriate oil and changing it frequently are essential for a car to last that long, according to automotive repair professionals, but other small things can also make a difference. Owners should pay attention to service suggestions and other advice provided in their car’s owner’s handbook, according to Michael Florence, co-author of “The Everything Car Care Book” (Adams Media).
According to Mr. Florence, an auto mechanic from Flemingsburg, Kentucky, “every portion of the car that is supported by lubrication or has fluid in it should be carefully maintained.”
similar to how brakes work. Since the fluid aids in preventing corrosion, it should be changed every two years.
He said that reckless driving could reduce a car’s lifespan as well. Parts will break more quickly if you apply more pressure, according to Mr. Florence.
Rob Blumer, his co-author, advised getting the timing belt checked by a professional on a regular basis. According to Mr. Blumer, if that breaks, the timing will be affected, which could result in engine damage.
His index finger serves as a rule of thumb. If I can count three cracks in the belt in the space between my middle finger joint and the belt, the belt needs to be replaced, he stated.
If cosmetic problems are ignored, they can also reduce a car’s lifespan. Mr. Blumer recommended purchasing a scratch-repair kit from a dealer and waxing a car twice a year.
Mr. Samarin advised against relying on oil-change facilities to notify owners of chassis issues because most of them park the vehicle over a mechanic’s pit rather than raising it on a lift so the wheels may be shaken to check for slack suspension.
Additionally, he advised checking for coolant leaks as soon as an engine begins to run hotter than usual or the coolant level falls. He said, “Overheating can cause severe damage.
Additionally, Mr. Samarin advised drivers to avoid overfilling their fuel tanks. He responded, “Otherwise, you might get fuel into the vapor canister. If that takes place, the charcoal in the canister may enter the gasoline lines and harm them. Stop refueling as soon as the gas pump makes its initial click.
Owner of the high-mileage Chevy van Mr. Swift claimed that one of the reasons it has lasted so long is that, even when the van was brand-new, he always used oil made for high-mileage autos.
More than 8% of motor oil purchases at auto parts retailers, according to Tom Olszewski, technical adviser for automotive products at Exxon Mobil in North America. According to him, the purpose of it is to preserve engine seals, such as those surrounding the distributor shaft and the rear main bearing, flexible and soft to prevent leaks. However, he claimed that it was unnecessary to use those lubricants early in a vehicle’s life, as Mr. Swift did.
He said, “I wouldn’t say there’s any damage in it. “I just don’t believe you require that level of protection prior to the vehicle having accumulated some mileage.
Mr. Faeth takes oil changes very seriously because his Mercedes has 400,000 miles on it. He advised owners who wanted their cars to last to have their used engine oil chemically analyzed. The study may reveal areas of high wear and reveal metal particles. This information aids in choosing the best grade and formulation of oil the car needs.
Mr. Faeth uses the Chester, Virginia-based Oil Analysis Company (youroil.net). Mr. Faeth remarked of his Mercedes, “Originally, I had hoped to retain it until I got a million miles on it, but I’m not sure the body will continue. I therefore intend to go a million kilometers. This translates to 620,000 miles.