I drive a 2009 Kia Spectra EX. These cars are beautifully manufactured, let me tell you that much. With 150,000 miles on it, I’ve driven it quickly on the interstate numerous times, accelerating crazily while pretending to be in a fast car, using low-quality gas. I’ve also mixed brake fluid and atf fluid with gasoline, and the car still runs flawlessly. The engine is in perfect condition, but the only major repairs I’ve ever had to make to the car were to replace the radiator and the alternator after seven years because Kia uses plastic in their radiators and the heat from the engine, hot water, and Florida summer weather don’t do much to preserve plastic.
In This Article...
Are Kia Spectras reliable vehicles?
Is the Kia Spectra a nice vehicle then? The basic line is that for the money, this is a respectable commuter car. The car’s lack of anti-lock brakes, though, makes some people doubt its safety, and its moderate fuel economy might not help it stand out from the competition. A similar sporty compact car with superior gas mileage and safety will cost you a bit more money.
How durable are Kia engines?
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.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
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Just seeking for more recent models? The search engine for virtually new vehicles is CoPilot Compare. only observe recentfive years or lessautos with little mileage. The greatest place to look for off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO vehicles is CoPilot Compare.
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How many miles can you get out of a 2006 Kia Spectra?
Although purchasing the newest, shiniest car models a company has to offer has its attraction, purchasing older cars also offers some significant advantages. The price you pay for an older, used car is often a small portion of what the original owner paid, so you skip out on that annoying thing called depreciation.
The Kia Spectra
There aren’t any recently released versions because Kia stopped making them in 2009. Production of the Kia Spectra began in 2000. Regardless, for a more vintage vehicle, the Spectra is really cool. A Kia Spectra costs less than $10,000, which is a reasonable price for a dependable vehicle. Many of the contemporary amenities that you want in an automobile are missing from them.
The Kia Spectra lacks the cool modern safety features seen in the current Kia cars, such as a backup camera, touch screen infotainment system, and others. It’s a straightforward automobile whose design prioritizes simplicity.
A good commuter car
The Spectra is a decent option for a commuter car because buying a used Kia means you generally aren’t concerned about the mileage. They are renowned for their dependability and, with only routine maintenance, are said to be able to travel beyond 200,000 miles.
The Kia Spectra requires less maintenance, and because it is less complicated than more modern vehicles and some luxury models, practically any mechanic can repair it. Owners boast about how inexpensive it is to maintain their Spectras, and the majority of them assert that as long as routine maintenance schedules are followed, they haven’t needed to make any significant, expensive repairs.
The Kia Spectra’s reasonable gas mileage further supports the notion of utilizing it as a commuter vehicle. The Spectra can achieve up to 32 mpg on the interstate and up to 24 mpg in the city.
The Spectra is a competent automobile, but it’s not particularly attractive, and that’s a fantastic attribute in a commuter vehicle. In addition to swiftly piling up miles on the odometer, daily car use can cause significant wear and tear. You can purchase a car that you aren’t afraid to park near the front of the parking lot and risk getting dings and door dents for less than $10,000. You don’t have to be concerned about dodging potholes, finding a parking spot, or a minor collision.
The car’s interior is undoubtedly not as luxurious as the majority of Audi or BMW interiors, but this could really be very advantageous. The amount of time you spend each day in your automobile appears to increase the modest collection of stuff that many commuters keep in their vehicles. You won’t feel guilty leaving the empty McDonald’s bag on the floor for a few days, and you can just throw your briefcase or purse over the seat without worrying that you’ll damage the leather because the interior of the Spectra isn’t the best.
The Kia Spectra is an excellent used car overall for the correct reasons. Even while it may not be a great used automobile and may not have any equipment you could ever want, for some reason this only serves to enhance the car’s appeal and utility.
What does a Kia’s high mileage mean?
Let’s now begin addressing the main query. How far can a Kia Sorento travel? In any case, according to Car and Driver, modern cars are intended to last up to 200,000 miles or more. That figure is also not too far off. You may probably discover numerous Sorento models for sale on Autotrader that have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer.
Additionally, The Drive claims that “recently constructed Kias are capable of exceeding 200,000 miles, so long as you properly maintain them and service them at their regularly scheduled intervals. Therefore, you must attend to the Sorento’s required routine maintenance if you want to be the proud owner of a vehicle with more than 200,000 miles on it.
Are Kias as durable as Toyotas?
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.