Having been established in May 1944, Kia Corporation is Korea’s oldest automobile manufacturer. From modest beginnings producing bicycles and motorcycles, Kia has developed into the vibrant, international Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group to become the fifth-largest automaker in the world.
Kia currently produces over 1.4 million automobiles annually at 14 production and assembly facilities across eight nations. Through a network of more than 3,000 distributors and dealers in 172 countries, these vehicles are sold and maintained. The Corporation employs over 40,000 people and generates more than US$17 billion in revenue each year.
In its “home” nation of South Korea, Kia runs three significant auto assembly plantsthe Hwasung, Sohari, and Kwangju facilitiesas well as an outstanding research and development facility in Namyang that employs 8,000 technicians and a separate environmental R&D facility. The Eco-Technology Research Institute, located close to Seoul, is focusing on cutting-edge end-of-life car recycling technologies and processes as well as future hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Kia operates research facilities in the USA, Japan, and Germany and dedicates 6% of its yearly revenues to R&D.
In This Article...
Does Kia belong to Toyota?
The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes the passenger car brands Hyundai and Genesis, also owns Kia. Together, they currently rank behind Volkswagen, Toyota, and General Motors as the fourth-largest automaker in the world.
- As a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, Kyungsung Precision Industry was established in 1944 and is now the oldest automobile manufacturer in South Korea. It also produced the Samchully, Korea’s first locally constructed bicycle, in 1951. In 1957, it started producing Honda motorbikes under license, and in 1962, Mazda vehicles were also produced under permission. The alliance with Mazda included automobiles in 1974. Kia also produced Fiat and Peugeot vehicles under license in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Only after it began producing automobiles in collaboration with Ford in 1990 did its own brand begin to gain traction (and therefore Mazda, which Ford used to control).
- When Kia Motors America was established in 1992, the brand entered the fiercely competitive US market. Some of the early models that contributed to the brand’s establishment included the Sephia and Sportage.
- When Kia filed for bankruptcy in 1997 under the shadow of Asia’s financial crisis, Ford made an attempt to raise its modest ownership position in the automaker. Ford, however, lost out to a major Korean automaker! In 1998, Hyundai acquired a 51 percent share in Kia and gained control of the firm. While Kia is a division of their shared parent company, Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Motor Co. now holds a 33.88 percent ownership.
- When Kia strengthened its focus on Europe and engaged former Audi designer Peter Schreyer as the company’s design manager, a significant turnaround occurred. This gave rise to Kia’s “Tiger-Nose” design philosophy, which had a similar impact on that brand’s global sales as Hyundai’s Fluidic-Sculpture had on its. Additionally, Schreyer was promoted to President of the Hyundai Group and Chief Designer as a result.
- Over 3 million automobiles were sold by Kia worldwide in 2018, and the company is one of the fastest-growing brands in numerous international markets. Although it is a sister brand of Hyundai, the two firms’ front-end operations remain distinct, and they engage in direct competition with one another over similar items in the same market.
- Hyundai products and the complete Kia product line share platforms and components. On any car, however, there is no cross-badging or evident part sharing. The Soul, Optima, and Sorento are three of its most well-liked products. We’ll probably get the Rio, Picanto, Sportage, as well as some new compact cars made just for India.
Do Hyundai and Kia share a parent company?
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?
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.
Who builds the Kia engines?
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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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.
Kia or Honda, which is better?
In terms of performance, Honda outperforms Kia, and the brand also has an edge in terms of expected reliability. On Consumer Reports’ list of the most dependable car manufactures, Honda is presently ranked #5. The reliability ratings for Honda’s HR-V, Insight, Clarity, CR-V, and Ridgeline are all above average.
Kia, on the other hand, had a considerable decline in this year’s reliability ratings. With six less points than the previous year, CR ranks Kia as the 15th most trustworthy brand. For the 2021 model year, Kia’s Soul, Forte, and Niro EV were the company’s downfall. Consider this while you shop: CR’s data indicates that Kia’s SUVs are more dependable than its cars.
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.
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 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 selection of cars, Kia’s lineup includes the Sedona minivan, which reaches a wider target population. Hyundai, meantime, sells a line of high-end vehicles under the Genesis brand.