Kia Ranks Highest in JD Power’s Dependability Study
Kia Vehicle Dependability Ranks Highest Among Mass Market Car Makers
What is the JD Power's Dependability Study?
J.D. Power has released its annual report on vehicle reliability in the automotive industry. For 32 years running, the study measures the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) experienced during the past 12 months of ownership. The vehicles surveyed are three years old (2018 model year) to get more information on problems and defects and to see how vehicles perform closer to when most comprehensive warranties are coming to an end (Luckily, as a Kia driver you enjoy a full 5-year comprehensive warranty instead of a 3-year warranty.) It’s important to note that a lower score represents a more reliable vehicle. The study covers over 175 specific problems that were grouping into the following categories:
- Audio/Communication/Entertainment/Navigation
- Exterior
- Interior
- Features/Controls/Displays
- Engine/Transmission
- Driving Experience
- Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
- Seats
Overall rankings across all car manufacturers:
As you can see above, Kia ranks #1 in mass-market brands (denoted by the gold bar) and #3 overall. This high rate of reliability is especially impressive considering the large gap in vehicle cost between Kia and the more expensive Porsche and Lexus brands. Beyond a well-rounded 2018 vehicle lineup, certain Kia models shined bright by earning the top reliability rating in its class.
Here is a look at the top-performing vehicles in the “Car segment” and “SUV segment” respectively:
The Kia Optima had the best reliability rating across all vehicles in the competitively packed midsize car market. While both the Kia Sportage and Kia Sorento lead their SUV subclass in reliability. Kia has truly redefined their brand in the past decade, something that Sean Yoon, president & CEO of Kia Motors North America & Kia Motors America expressed when hearing how well Kia performed in this recent study.
“Earning the top spot among mass-market brands in JD Power’s Dependability Study is another new benchmark achievement for Kia’s meteoric rise in the industry. This substantial award bolsters our track record in initial quality and shows that the ‘new car lustre’ of our world-class vehicles extends far beyond the first 90 days of ownership. Kia owners continue to enjoy and feel confident in their vehicles as the years go by, especially knowing they’re backed by our industry-leading warranty.” - SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO of Kia Motors North America
Impressively, these ratings do not take into consideration how much warranty coverage you have, even with a reported low problem rate of 97 per 100 vehicles. The warranty coverage you receive from Kia will have your back even in the rare event of a problem. With a 5 year/100,000 km comprehensive warranty, you truly are ready for anything life throws your way.