Although Kia manufactures automobiles with an emphasis on value, the company has recently tried to improve the look, features, and performance of their goods. Even though the carmaker currently produces some vehicles that are genuinely elegant or enjoyable to drive, it still competes in the entry-level market.
The Rio sedan, which has a starting price of $17,000, is the least priced Kia currently on the market. The hatchback version of the Rio is also offered, although it costs roughly $1,000 extra.
Most Expensive: The maximum price for a new Kia has drastically decreased now that the K900 is no longer offered in the U.S. range. A Niro EV EX Premium can be yours for just under $46,000. A Stinger may also be optioned up for more than $50,000.
The name of this vehicle sums it up best. The Stinger feels poised and prepared to attack thanks to its RWD chassis, turbocharged engine choices, and sport-tuned suspension. It is also somewhat practical because to its unusual hatchback load space.
Best Fuel Economy: Up until the arrival of the fully electric EV6, the Niro hatchback is the most fuel-efficient Kia, scoring up to 50 mpg combined. A plug-in hybrid version of the Niro with a range of 560 miles and an EPA-rated 105 mpg-e is also offered.
As soon as a car is released, we want to test and rank as many of them as we can. We’ll rank new models as we periodically update our rankings and we might even change the scores for some models. Vehicles with insufficient testing data, however, are not scored.
In This Article...
Is buying a Kia a good idea?
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.
Is Kia an affordable car?
Yes, they can. How well you take care of your vehicle will decide how long it lasts, just like with any other car, truck, or SUV on the open road. In the last ten years, Kia has significantly improved its reliability and is now a rival of Honda and Toyota. Recent models have been known to endure well over 200,000 kilometers.
Q. Why are Kias so cheap?
A. The pricing of Kias is now comparable to that of Honda, Toyota, and its corporate cousin, Hyundai. Despite not feeling as inexpensive as when Kia initially entered the market, they are nonetheless marginally less expensive than those. However, they provide consumers value and are much less expensive to maintain.
Q. What’s wrong with Kia cars?
A. Null. The Telluride SUV, Kia’s newest model, has received resounding accolades from the world’s automotive press. Kia vehicles are among the best on the road. Older Kias are less appealing and had a number of problems, including poor build quality and cheap-feeling interiors.
Q. Is Kia more or less reliable than Toyota?
A. The reliability of Kias during the past 15 years is comparable to that of Toyota. Once more, it depends on how you or the former owner maintained the car. It will be a total loss if you treated it poorly. You’re going to have a durable car if you treated it like royalty.
Is Toyota superior to Kia?
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 does a basic Kia cost?
Soul LX Kia The base model, which costs $19,190, has a continuously variable automatic transmission and a four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower (CVT).
Which automaker offers the best value?
Cheapest Vehicles for 2021
- Overall rating: 4.4 for the 2021 Hyundai Accent.
- Chevrolet Spark in 2021. Overall Score of 3.5.
- Nissan Versa 2021: 4.2 overall rating.
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2021. Overall Score of 4.4.
- Rio Kia 2021. Overall Score of 4.3.
- Hyundai Elantra 2021. Overall Score of 4.8.
- Toyota Corolla 2021. Overall Score of 4.4.
- Volkswagen Jetta, 2021.
Are Kia vehicles 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.
What are some typical Kia 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]
What vehicle is the safest on the road?
The Safest Cars in the World
- C Class Mercedes Benz. Source of the image: mercedes-benz.hu.
- Renault Rogue. Photo courtesy of autoblog.com.
- Corolla, a Toyota. Source of the image: autonavigator.hu.
- Honda TLX. Source of the image: motortrend.com.
- 3 Series BMW. BMW.co.uk is the image’s source.
- Hyundai’s Kona. Source of the image: caranddriver.com.
- Toyota Crosstrek.
- Audi Q8.
Why not purchase a Kia?
Those wanting to buy a Kia automobile received some advice from a very helpful Kia mechanic. The initial one was to buy a car with a 2.4L engine. The 2.4L engine is available in a large selection of Kia vehicles, and the manufacturer guarantees a LIFETIME WARRANTY on these motors.
Yes, you read correctly. lifelong guarantee. infinite distances. Kia will cover the cost of repair if any engine component malfunctions due to carelessness on the part of the owner or irresponsible maintenance. They will install a brand-new engine in your car if the entire engine fails. This is a fantastic price, especially given that replacing the engine is one of the most expensive repairs a car owner will do.
In other words, even if you buy a used Kia car with a 2.4 liter engine, the engine will have a lifetime warranty because this warranty is for the life of the car, not the length of time the original buyer had it. Before you buy, make sure you obtain a complete set of maintenance documents from the previous owner to confirm the vehicle’s warranty is still in effect. Store these papers securely as well.
The next piece of advice he gave was to stay as far away from Kia hybrid vehicles as possible.
Do not purchase a hybrid under any circumstances. They’re garbage. They barely have a lifespan of 80,000 to 100,000 miles before developing problem after problem. Repairing them also costs money.
We then asked him which automobile he would suggest purchasing, either from Kia or another brand.
“Kia Optima or Hyundai Sonata are two options I would consider. They are reliable vehicles that last a lifetime. In essence, Optimas are Hyundai Sonatas with Kia branding. The same folks are the owners of Hyundai and Kia. The powertrain and drivetrain are identical in both cars. merely various interiors and designs. Because I like the interior of the Optima better, I choose it. I guess you could say it seems a little fancier.
He added that certain of the car models the company makes are noticeably superior than others. like the Telluride and Optima.
All of the vehicles made by the company, according to our Kia mechanic, are generally very dependable. The bulk of the time, he claimed, cars return to the dealership mechanic for routine maintenance, but some models are infamous for being more prone to catastrophic problems. You’ll want to avoid these cars at all costs, no pun intended.
“Hybrids and Kia Souls are the most common vehicles in need of major repairs. There are a few Kia Sportages here and there, but not many.
Sedans:
A spacious vehicle for passengers is the Kia Cadenza. It has excellent handling, and the ride quality overall is good but not outstanding. The Cadenza doesn’t attract much attention when compared to the award-winning Kia Optima in the sedan segment, but it does well in the competition with its sibling car. The Toyota Avalon’s direct rival and the largest sedan produced by the automaker is the Cadenza.
The car’s specifications state that it has a 3.3-liter engine with 290 horsepower and an estimated 24 miles per gallon. This model had its most recent revision in 2017. Interior that is elegant and comfortable is an option. A variety of safety systems, including emergency braking, front end collision warnings, blind spot warnings, and pedestrian detection, are included on all models, both standard and luxury.
Customers will typically spend $33,912 for a brand-new Kia Cadenza at the dealership, which is around $4,000 less than the MSRP. In conclusion, the Kia Cadenza is a fantastic car for anyone searching for a roomy sedan with good safety ratings and who wants to pay a reasonable amount for a brand-new car. Remember that these cars will have a far lower resale value than those of their rivals.
The Forte, which is generally mediocre, is the next on the list of Kia vehicles. The car company offers a little sedan called the Forte. One complaint is that the Kia Forte’s firm suspension causes you to feel every bump and little pothole. The car’s interior is quite drab, and the seats are not especially comfy.
It’s not good if you’re seeking for a relaxing ride because the automobile is extremely noisy. The car does have some good points, such as its fuel efficiency of about 34 miles per gallon and how user-friendly the controls are. The entertainment system, which is stylish and simple to operate, and an intelligent thermostat that maintains the cab at the correct temperature are two of these controls. All 2020 Forte cars come standard with autonomous emergency braking and front collision warning.
The car is average all over, but the proper driver might find it useful. The base Kia Forte costs just $17,900 on average, which is fairly cheap for a new car. However, given the interior, suspension, and general noisiness of the car, it’s simple to see why.
The Kia K5 is a brand-new model for the automaker, so chances are you haven’t heard of it yet. Since the K5 is essentially the most recent and greatest Kia Optima, we have high expectations for it because, if anything, the Optima is the car you should buy from Kia. The K5, which borrows styling cues from both the Kia Optima and the Hyundai Sonata, has two four-cylinder twin turbocharged engines that are each connected to an eight-speed transmission that shifts magnificently from gear to gear.
The K5’s interior is quite conventional, but there are a number of customization options available, including the size of the infotainment system’s screen and different interior improvements like leather seats. This new model’s MSRP is $26,355, and they aren’t much lowering it for those of you willing to barter. The typical price for a brand-new 2021 Kia K5 is $25,974.
After preliminary testing, the Kia K5 appears promising overall, but when these new cars enter the market, only time will tell.
We fully intend to heed the counsel of the mechanic whose words we referenced earlier in the article to avoid purchasing any hybrid Kia vehicle. Kia Niros are alright. That is the most accurate approach to sum up the car as a whole. It isn’t exceptional in any sense, although it does have certain advantages. The Niro simply can’t compete with the Toyota Prius or the Hyundai Ioniq in terms of fuel economy, which is what matters most with a hybrid car. The Niro’s fuel economy is good but not exceptional at 43 miles per gallon.
The car’s drive is not particularly smooth, and similar to the Forte, the suspension may use some work because passengers will notice every bump in the road. Additionally, the car’s handling may use some work; it makes corners securely but not smoothly.
The optional power driver’s seat is something you should buy if you’re trying to improve this model because it offers significantly more support than the standard seat. This is something I would consider mandatory if you routinely take lengthy road trips or have lower back problems. A larger infotainment system screen is among the other updated features, and it really performs quite well compared to those of rival vehicles.
A 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder engine powers the car. The vehicle has a total output of 139 horsepower when combined with the electric propulsion. The Kia Niro’s base price is about $24,590, but if you want the improved safety features that come standard in other Kia vehicles, you’ll have to pay more. You will have to pay more than $30,000 for one of these cars to add safety technologies like automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, lane keeping assistance, and rear cross traffic warning.
A completely electric Niro is also available from Kia, and like its hybrid counterpart, it is a middle-of-the-road vehicle. The Kia Niro is not the car for you if you’re looking to get an electric vehicle that performs spectacularly. Instead, stick with Toyota or Tesla. Nevertheless, it does have certain advantages as well.
The completely electric Niro has a range of 239 miles, making it more efficient than many electric cars that cost significantly more than this one. Remember that Kia’s warranty isn’t nearly as impressive for its hybrid and electric vehicles as it is for its conventional gasoline-powered counterparts. They are also expensive to repair.
The Hyundai Kona and the soon-to-be-released Kia Soul Ev both utilize the same electric drivetrain as the electric Niro. The batteries on the cars can be fully charged in 10 hours, and they have a 64 KW-hr capacity that can go 239 miles. If you wish to go on a road trip in this vehicle, make sure to plan for extended pit stops somewhere with a charging station. The vehicle takes a 240 watt plug to charge.
Speaking of road trips, the Niro does feature the same cargo space as its hybrid sibling, which has enough for five passengers and a ton of stuff or pets in the back. The car’s load area is comparable to that of many small SUVs currently on the market.
The Optima is one of the greatest Kia vehicles to purchase, in our opinion based on our research and observations. They have excellent safety ratings and have a tendency to break less frequently. Purchasing a Kia Optima is a smart move, according to our insider Kia technician. The Optima offers a more plush interior than some of Kia’s other car lines, in addition to additional opulent options like heated leather seats and a steering wheel.
The Optima has a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine that provides 28 miles per gallon of fuel efficiency. If you are considering buying a used Optima in this model year, keep in mind that the engine will come with a lifetime guarantee due to the full engine recall that affected the Optima from 2011 to 2015. This is quite beneficial.