Kia Reliability Guide: An In-depth Look
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Kia’s reliability is indisputable. They are not only reliable but also highly dependable in almost all areas. It is commendable how Kia rose from a budget car to one of the most reliable cars in the market.
Starting as a sub-brand for the Hyundai Motor Company, Kia offered a 10-year/100,000 miles warranty to entice users into buying their cars. Nowadays, Kia has a standard of reliability that competes with big brands like Toyota and Honda and offers advantages in certain areas.
In a 2022 reliability survey, Kia rose from the third-most reliable car in the world to become the most reliable car in the automobile industry.
This progression in Kia’s quality is due to its low repair and maintenance cost, fuel economy, great value for the money, and durability. However, no matter how good Kia seems, you will have to deal with the need to service them regularly.
Let’s guide you through all you should know about Kia’s reliability.
Table of Contents
Are Kia Reliable?
The simple answer is yes! Kia cars are highly reliable. According to RepairPal, Kia has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 3rd out of 32 car brands. However, on the 2022 JD Power reliability survey, Kia ranked first for all cars and the most reliable non-luxury.
This is a remarkable feat for the Kia brand, rising from the third position in 2021 to the first position. The new reliability ratings indicate that Kia is more reliable than Toyota and Honda. This might be difficult to believe, but until we have reasons to dispute it, the decision stands.
Many factors have contributed to the improvement in Kia’s reliability. With a Kia car, you have less chance of visiting the mechanic for major or minor repairs. These cars have an efficient fuel system, and you are assured of a nice drivetrain and engine performance.
There is a warranty period to handle the unscheduled repairs. You need a Kia if you are concerned about getting a low-maintenance car with outstanding performance.
Kia is one of the few car brands that offer the specs of a luxury car brand without identifying as a luxury brand. This seems to be affecting the amount of attention and accolades that Kia deserves.
One thing that is certain about a Kia is that you can hardly go wrong with the brand. They offer fuel-efficient cars with high safety ratings. There is hardly any year that goes by without a Kia car winning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
This includes the fact that Kia’s models have many awards to their name. The Kia Soul, Sorento, Sedona, and Forte won the JD Power 2020 Highest Quality Award, while the 2016 Kia Soul won the dependability award. We won’t forget how Kia won the World car awards with the 2020 Telluride.
Kia is the brand you can depend on to stay with you till the end of time.
Why Kia Is Considered Reliable
1. Design and Innovation
Kia’s design reliability and innovation growth have improved from being the producer of steel tubing and bicycle parts to the maker of one of the most dependable cars in the world. The designs of Kia cars run through EV and hybrid options, diesel, and petrol engines. There is a Kia car for everyone.
There are also adoptions for green energy as Kia works to become a carbon-neutral brand by 2045. The Kia brand prioritized design, making it one of its strengths amongst competitors. Their cars are the type of cars that you need if you want to make a statement on the road.
The designs are bold, eye-catching, and durable. Cars like the 2021 Kia Seltos have 61 percent advanced high-strength steel. This gives it enough strength and rigidity against impacts. The design is maximized with torsional rigidity, reducing the overall body weight.
Although Kia cars are sold for cheap, cheaper than what is obtainable on Toyota, they are not made of lesser materials. With the engines, brake pads, powertrain and drivetrain, and the choice of technology, Kia cars are built to last.
2. Durability
If there’s one amazing thing about a Kia car, it is that they are highly durable. These cars can go over 150,000 miles with no major repairs other than an oil change, filters, and minor replacements. Kia cars can last up to 250,000 miles with an extended lifespan of 13 to 15 years.
On Kia, the only thing you will have to worry about is the frequent repairs and servicing. The cheap maintenance cost covers frequent servicing.
3. Fuel Economy
Unlike the Honda brand that fits its cars with gas-saving technology like Econ Mode and Eco assist, Kia adopts an improved engine design for better performance and gas mileage.
An average Kia car will achieve a gas mileage of 29 MPG city and 38 MPG highway, while the best gas mileage on Honda cars can go as high as 41 MPG highway and 33 MOG city.
The 2019 Kia Niro FE can achieve up to 52MPG city and 49 MPG highway. Kia is the type of car that you need when you want to spend less on gas.
4. Safety and Technology
Safety and technology are part of the pillars of the Kia brand. These cars have advanced safety systems that make them safe to drive. The safety of Kia cars is visible in their high safety ratings.
There is barely any year that doesn’t pass with Kia earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. The overall safety of Kia cars starts with its body structure and the integration of an ultra-high tensile strength that shields users against crashes and impacts.
There is a complete set of airbags around the driver and passenger regions. This includes seat airbags, knee airbags, curtain, front and side rear. You have the assurance that you are protected no matter what happens.
Kia adopts a bumper system technology with lower leg form and stiffener to Minimize the risk of knee harm to pedestrians or making them go under the car during accidents.
Kia’s safety technology systems include:
- Forward collision warning (FCW)
- Forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA)
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
- Lane departure warning (LDW)
- Vehicle stability management (VSM)
- Emergency stop signal (ESS)
5. Repair and Maintenance Cost
Purchasing any of Kia’s cars gives you the benefit of enjoying low maintenance and repair costs. It costs an annual average of $474 to repair and maintain your Kia car.
These cars also have a 0.2 low chance of visiting a mechanic each year, with a 10% probability of major damage.
With a Kia car, you are also entitled to the warranty that comes with it.
- 5-year / 100,000-mile limited anti-perforation warranty
- 5-year / 60,000-mile limited basic warranty
- 10-year / 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty
- 5-year / 60,000-mile roadside assistance plan
You have enough coverage and cost-effective solutions to keep your car driving smoothly on the road.
Kia Reliability: Pros
- Great engine
- High safety ratings
- Affordable
- Highly reliable
- Impressive gas mileage
Kia Reliability: Cons
- Fewer offroad cars: Only the 2022 Kia Telluride classifies as an off-road car.
- No pickup trucks.
Verdict
Choosing a Kia car will always be one of the best investment decisions that you will make. Although we expect that Kia will produce 2022 Pickup trucks, we hope they are as reliable as the other models in their line-up.
You must understand that Kia, like every other car brand, has its recalls and some models with numerous issues. You will need thorough research to buy a Kia Sportage, 2020 to 2022 Kia Telluride, or any of the cars that have a recall.
