Honda vs. Kia Reliability: A Comprehensive Guide
Chris is Head of Content for FindTheBestCarPrice and is based out of Philadelphia, PA. As a seasoned automotive industry analyst and car enthusiast, he ensures the highest level of quality across all our content and curates our picks for the best deals each month.
Chris studied information systems and marketing at Drexel University and writes about a wide range of topics ranging from car buying tips to troubleshooting common mechanical issues.
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Understanding the Honda vs. Kia reliability debate is crucial for anyone in the market for a new car. We know how overwhelming it can be to sift through endless comparisons and reviews to find the best fit for your needs.
It's like trying to find a trustworthy advisor who can guide you through the maze of options. That's exactly what we aim to be for you.
If you're looking for straightforward advice on choosing between Honda's renowned engine longevity and Kia's impressive warranty and safety ratings, our expert editors believe that Honda is more reliable than Kia. Even though Kia beats Honda with its higher warranty coverage and higher safety ratings, with Honda, you're getting cheaper repair and maintenance costs, plus stronger engines.
Here's all you need to know about Honda vs. Kia reliability and how to know which brand is better for you.
Table of Contents
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: A Detailed Comparison
| Features | Honda | Kia |
| Gas Mileage | ||
| Durability | ||
| Design | ||
| Safety | ||
| Technology | ||
| Repair and Maintenance Cost | ||
| Engine and Performance |
Honda Pros and Cons
Pros
- Reliability and Resale Value: Honda vehicles are known for their longevity and tend to hold their value over time.
- Fuel Efficiency: Many Honda models are designed for optimal fuel efficiency, making them economical choices.
- Safety Features: Honda's commitment to safety is evident in its Honda Sensing® suite of advanced safety technologies.
Cons
- Price: Honda vehicles can be more expensive upfront compared to some competitors.
- Conservative Design: Some customers may find Honda's design philosophy to be more conservative than other brands.
- Infotainment System: Users have reported that Honda's infotainment systems can be less intuitive and slower than those of competitors.
Kia Pros and Cons
Pros
- Value for Money: Kia offers feature-rich vehicles at competitive prices, often including technology and amenities that are extra-cost options in competitors.
- Warranty: Kia provides one of the best warranties in the industry, offering peace of mind to its customers.
- Stylish Designs: Kia vehicles often feature bold and modern designs that appeal to a wide audience.
Cons
- Brand Perception: Despite improvements, Kia is still working to overcome perceptions about build quality and reliability from its early years.
- Resale Value: Kias generally depreciate faster than some of their competitors, including Honda.
- Ride Quality: Some Kia models may offer a firmer ride than comparable vehicles, which might not appeal to all drivers.
Reliability Comparison From JD Power and Consumer Reports
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| Kia | ||
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Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Which Is Better?
Whether you choose a Honda or Kia, you are assured of dealing with super reliable car brands. The reliability ratings of both brands are exceptionally high; however, one has to be better.
When comparing the reliability of Kia and Honda, there are several factors to consider: gas mileage, engine and performance, design, safety, and technology. Comparing the reliability of Honda vs. Kia cars based on these factors, Honda is a better option.
According to RepairPal, Honda has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 1st out of 32 car brands. This is compared to Kia, which ranks 3rd, with a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0.
Honda also beats on the 2022 Consumer Reports reliability rating with higher reliability scores and rankings than Kia.
Honda is the fifth most reliable car brand on Consumer Reports, and Kia is the ninth car brand. As Kia beats Honda on the 2022 JD Power Dependability survey, things take a surprising turn.
You must understand that to get a clearer view of the reliability of both brands, and we'll have to go beyond reliability ratings and understand why each brand is better than the other.
One of the main differences between Kia and Honda's reliability is the length of their warranty coverage. Kia offers a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and is one of the longest and most comprehensive in the industry.
Honda, however, only offers a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Here’s a quick look at the warranties from both brands.
| Limited Powertrain Warranty | ||
| Limited Basic Warranty | ||
| Limited Anti-Perforation Warranty | ||
| Roadside Assistance |
The design philosophy is different for both brands. Honda engines are better, more powerful, and more efficient than Kia engines.
Although Kia gets higher safety ratings than Honda cars, Honda has cheaper repair and maintenance costs.
Gas mileage is relative on both brands, and this depends on which of the models you choose. With the varying ratings on both brands, you'll need to study their different models and understand which is better for you.
Kia's Soul, Sportage, and Sorento are super reliable cars like Honda's CR-V, Civic, and Fit.
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Design
Regarding design, Kia and Honda have developed distinct aesthetics. Both brands have different design philosophies and approach to design. Honda adopts a design philosophy: simplicity and something.
Honda's design aims to produce human-centered cars, eliminating clutters and making them as admirable as possible.
This is achieved with the elimination of complex cabins and the introduction of systems that improve the overall driving experience. Honda goes ahead to introduce more glasses in its cars to enhance visibility.
A lot of people might argue that Kia has better interior designs than Honda, but it's all about perspective. Overall, Kia vehicles are often known for their bold, sporty designs, while Honda vehicles tend to have a more conservative, understated look. Most times, the difference lies in the model that you choose.
Contrary to Honda's simple design mechanism, Kia uses opposites to achieve great designs. This is characterized by adopting disruption, integrating characterful designs, a blend of technology, and using bold outlooks.
Innovation strikes a chord for both brands, and you'll always find a car in their lineup that matches your profile.
Kia and Honda offer a range of models to suit different tastes and needs, so it largely depends on personal preferences.
Winner: Both
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Gas Mileage
Both Kia and Honda have various vehicles offering competitive gas mileage. To make the right decisions, you'll need to compare different car models from both brands.
For example, the Kia Soul has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 30 MPG on the highway, while the Honda Fit gets up to 40 MPG on the highway.
However, some of Kia's larger models, such as the Sorento and the Telluride, get lower fuel economy ratings when compared to Honda's larger models, like the Pilot and the CR-V.
It is worth mentioning that Honda is one of the first car brands to integrate a visual fuel-efficiency feedback mechanism. Honda's Eco-assist system and Econ button improve fuel efficiency across its models.
On the other hand, Kia uses CVVD engine technology to achieve eco-friendly and fuel-efficient systems. However, overall, Honda has more cars with better fuel efficiency than Kia.
Winner: Honda
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Engine and Performance
Kia and Honda offer a range of engine options, including four-cylinder, six-cylinder, and hybrid/electric options. Both brands have been praised for producing vehicles with powerful, efficient engines that offer smooth and responsive performance.
However, Honda's V-6 engines tend to be more powerful and refined than Kia's V-6 engines. Honda Civic beats the Kia Forte with better performance, although Kia Rio and Honda Fit deliver the same horsepower. Aside from the increased performance and efficiency of Honda engines, they are also more durable.
You can expect your Honda to last longer than a Kia, with less need to waste money on repairs.
Winner: Honda
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Safety and Technology
Regarding safety, both Kia and Honda have a good track record for producing vehicles that score well in crash tests. Both brands have also been recognized for producing vehicles with advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have given many Kia and Honda models high safety ratings.
Both brands have also been recognized for producing vehicles with advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings.
Kia and Honda invest heavily in developing advanced technology features for their vehicles. Kia vehicles are known for their innovative UVO infotainment system, which includes features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Honda vehicles are known for their advanced driver-assist systems and the Honda Sensing Suite of safety features, which includes features like Lane Keeping Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control.
However, considering Kia's higher safety ratings, we'll be forced to believe that Kia is a better choice if safety is your concern.
Kia has ten cars earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick(+) award, while Honda only has seven.
Honda vs. Kia Technology and Safety Quick Guide
| Audio System | ||
| Navigation System | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Safety Technology | ||
| Comfort Features |
Winner: Kia
Honda vs. Kia Reliability: Repair and Maintenance Cost
It is cheaper to repair and maintain a Honda than a Kia. If you get a mechanic to choose between Kia and Honda, they will choose a Honda. Honda adopts a strong standard of durability that you can drive for more than 200,000 miles without any major repairs.
According to RepairPal, Honda has an average repair cost of $428, with a 0.3 chance of visiting the repair shop and a 10% probability of major damages. Kia gets an average annual repair cost of $474, with an average of 0.2 visits to the repair shop and a 10% probability of major damages.
Kia has improved over the years, so you are assured of spending less on repairs for both brands. However, Honda offers better options to rely on.
Below, we’ve given you an idea of how much the average 10-year maintenance costs are for sedans and SUVs.
| Accord | |||
| Civic | |||
| CR-V |
Winner: Honda
Conclusion
Whichever car brand you choose, you can get super reliable cars that will cost you less to drive and maintain. People purchase Kia cars because they are affordable, stylish, and offer great features that you can rely on.
However, there's nothing bad with tossing in a couple of dollars for extra durability and reliability. It is important to mention that Kia doesn't have a truck, compared to Honda, which has the Ridgeline. The choice is yours to make, depending on your needs and preferences.
