Updated at: 03-08-2023 - By: Lucas

What will you look for when you go out to buy a car?

Most of the time, you will look for things like quality and dependability. There are a lot of different car brands on the market right now.

KIA cars, on the other hand, have become one of the best brands on the market today. KIA cars have become very common on British roads, for example.

You might be wondering why KIA has become so well-known. This article will take you on a journey through the history of KIA cars and answer the question, “Are KIA cars good?”

A Brief Background

are kia good cars-2

In the beginning, KIA did not have a good name. Their first cars were just like the ones that came before them.

For example, they began with a car called the “KIA Pride.” In reality, this car was just an old Mazda 121 that was no longer made. It looks like KIA just bought Mazda’s tools to make this car.

But since they came back to the market in 1986, the story has changed a lot. At first, most of what they did was make cheap cars. Cars that won’t empty your wallet.

KIA went through a complete change in the middle of the 2000s. They hired a European car designer who helped them change the look of their cars.

That was a big turn-around year for KIA cars. Their cars started to look better than cars like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, and VW Golf.

Since then, KIA’s reputation and image have changed a lot. Their cars have been getting better and better over time. Also, their sales keep going up year after year.

Kia Today

Without a doubt, KIA is now a very strong brand. Even as technology has changed, their product has grown and gotten better.

In the real world, they now compete with brands like Honda and Ford on an equal level.

The Optima is a car that put them on the map and made them well-known. The Optima has become one of the best-looking cars on the road right now.

The optima has also been better than the competition when it comes to comfort, dependability, fuel economy, and luxury. Even with all of these things, it has a very good price.

The KIA Warranty

The warranty is the most important thing that makes KIA the most popular brand.

A lot of car companies offer warranties that last up to three years. But it looks like KIA has just tipped the balance.

All of KIA’s cars come with a ten-year warranty, which is a huge deal in and of itself. The warranty also lasts for two years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Also, it covers the full cost of any damage, no matter what it is.

On January 1, 2008, the warranty became valid. That means that anyone who bought a KIA car after that time had a good deal.

The warranty seems to show that they have a lot of faith in their cars.

Many buyers who might have been on the fence for years will be drawn to this deal right away. It also brings in a lot of buyers who might not want to pay for any repairs.

I think KIA is sending a very clear message with this. It shows that they are ready to confidently bring their new, better cars to the market.

Not many brands would be willing to offer their customers such a deal. But for KIA, it shows that they care about making reliable cars.

Because of their warranty, KIA has become one of the most trusted car brands on the market.

What Exactly Does This Warranty Cover?

are kia good cars-1

So that you can fully understand what this warranty covers, here is what it covers:

Ten years or 100,000 miles on the engine and drivetrain. The engine and the transmission are both covered by this warranty. It also talks about other parts, like axles and driveshafts.

Basic warranty is only good for five years or 60,000 miles. All of the other parts of the car are covered by this KIA warranty. The only exception is “wear and tear,” which happens naturally to things like brake pads, tyres, and windshield wiper blades.

The warranty is limited to five years or 100,000 miles. Your car is covered against corrosion by this warranty. It also keeps the exterior body panels from getting holes from the inside out.

But it doesn’t protect your car from holes made from the outside. These include holes made by sand, hail, or any damage caused by an accident.

Roadside help for five years or 60,000 miles. The most you can pay for these services is $75 per incident. As part of these services, the car will be towed to the nearest authorised Kia dealer.

This plan also includes gas delivery, help with jump-starting your car, and help with a flat tyre. This warranty also includes benefits for things like trip interruption.

What Doesn’t KIA’s Warranty Cover?

Even though KIA’s warranty is very long and covers a lot, it does not cover everything. There will be costs that you have to pay for on your own. Among them are:

Any damage from accidents

Any damage you cause by driving carelessly, such as by driving over something dangerous.

Costs you have to pay if you want to make changes or additions to your car.

Any damage to your car caused by using the wrong fuel or not getting it serviced regularly.

Costs from things like road salt or hailstorms that hurt the environment

Damages caused by the customer, like spills or burns on the carpet or surfaces

Costs from broken and scratched windows

Any damage done by using tyres that are the wrong size

Good Ranking in Dependability Lists

KIA is also a good brand because it has been ranked well in different years.

CNN ranked KIA as the sixth most reliable car brand in 2015. At that time, being in the top ten was a major achievement.

In 2016, J.D. Power said that KIA was the most reliable brand. With this ranking, KIA became the first brand that wasn’t a luxury car to be at the top since 1989.

The Telegraph ranked KIA as the third most reliable car brand out of 20 in 2017. The rating was based on the fact that 80 out of every 100 cars had problems.

KIA won four awards in different categories at the 2019 J.D. Awards.

Based on these rankings, it’s clear that KIA has stayed the same over the years. Every year, it gets better and better.

Renee Stephens of J.D. Power says that KIA’s higher ranking is due to the fact that it focuses on launching new models in a “cleaner” way. She also pointed out that KIA dealers, especially in the United States, were making better cars for the brand.

Michael Sprague, who is the Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors America, also talked to CNBC.

He said that the success was because he had focused on craftsmanship for ten years. He also said that the cars made by the brand had been getting better and better over time.

KIA’s Infotainment System

In the car business, technology has been both a problem and a help. Many brands have been let down by technology. Technology problems have made people question how reliable their cars are.

The infotainment system is the part of technology that customers are most interested in. KIA seems to have figured out that this is what customers want.

In this area, KIA has made a lot of progress. There haven’t been many times when their entertainment systems have been a problem.

Which Kia cars are the most reliable?

According to J.D. Power, the following KIA models are the most reliable. Among them are:

The Kia Sportage 2017

2017 Kia Soul

2017 Kia Sorento

With a score of 4-5 out of 5, these cars were thought to be reliable.

J.D. Power also gave a list of the least reliable KIA cars. They were the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid, the 2016 Kia Optima, and the 2016 Kia Rio.

Three or more out of five stars were given to these cars. Even though it is above average, this score is quite high. The ratings show that even the cars with the lowest ratings are still high quality.

KIA’s Soul car

The Soul car is one of the cars that put the KIA brand on the map in the auto industry.

The boxy shape of the car is well-known. Also, the people who made the car put three hip-hop Soul hamsters in it.

The other thing about the car that made people want to buy it was how well it was made. Because of this part of the car, sales shot up.

But there were some complaints about the inside of the car. In the second-generation Soul car, KIA took care of all the problems.

The second generation also had a nicer feel inside than the first. So, the soul car went from being good to becoming great.

Conclusion

In the end, a KIA car is always a good choice.

Each year, their cars are getting better and better. Year after year, they have been honoured.

Also, their cars come with a warranty that lasts for ten years. So, you can be sure that you won’t have to worry about damage costs for the next ten years.

It’s also nice to know that their warranty can be given to someone else. This means that you can sell the car to someone else and still give them the warranty.

All of these things make KIA a very reliable brand to buy a car from. You can choose KIA as your brand of choice right now.