Kia Motors 5th Year Ranking High with J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

With so many new vehicle models coming out in just the past few years, consumers are getting more options than ever when it comes to buying a new car. Although it’s always nice to have options, sometimes too many can give one a bit of a headache. That’s why organizations like J.D. Power and Associates compile and analyze data to find vehicles that not only provide consumers with quality, but also long-lasting value. To do this, J.D. Power conducts the Initial Quality Study every year. For the past few years, Kia Motors has earned its place in the top 10 during past J.D. Power Initial Quality Studie s, having earned the top spot in 2015, 2016, 2017, and again 2018 as the highest non-luxury brand with the fewest issues over time. In 2019, Kia Motors does it again.

J.D. Power and Initial Quality Study

It sounds funny, right? Kia Motors is the “highest non-luxury brand with the fewest issues over time.” When J.D. Power conducts the Initial Quality Study every year, quality is determined by the number of problems a vehicle experiences per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. Every study is performed with a collection of data via surveys sent out to purchasers and lessees of new model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership, this year of course focusing on 2019 model-year vehicles. The 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study was based on 76,256 responses received from a 233-question survey that was sent out. Consumer responses were then placed into eight categories for their PP100 score: Exterior, Seats, Driving Experience, Engine/Transmission, Features/Controls/Displays (FCD), Interior, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Audio/Communication/Entertainment/Navigation (ACEN).

Kia Owners Report the Fewest Quality Issues

At the end of the day, owners of Kia Motors vehicles reported the least issues within the first 90 days of ownership among all the rest of the non-luxury auto brands in the U.S. This also makes it the fifth consecutive year, Kia was named the number one non-luxury automotive brand today by J.D. Power. After analyzing the data from Kia Motors owners, vehicle owners and lessees reported 70 problems per 100 vehicles, a two-point improvement over last year’s results. A lot of this can be attested to five Kia Motors models that earned the top spots in their respective vehicle segments and landed in the Top 10 list for all the vehicles in the industry out of most competing brands.

The five highest-rated Kia Motors vehicles were the Kia Rio in the subcompact car segment, the Kia Forte in the compact car segment, the Kia Sportage in the SUV segment, the Kia Sedona in the minivan segment, and the Kia Soul (also in the compact car segment). Kia is also among the three highest-ranking brands in the 2019 U.S. Initial Quality Study, recognized as a rising competitor from the Korean auto market on domestic shores. The automaker currently has a score of 70 PP100.

“Being ranked at the top of J.D. Power’s U.S. Initial Quality Study among all mass market brands once is a tremendous honor, but capturing this leadership position for five consecutive years unequivocally affirms Kia’s commitment to quality and the ownership experience…With four segment winners – and three additional models ranking among the top three in their respective segments – Kia’s ‘Give It Everything’ brand philosophy has clearly yielded a world-class model lineup.” – Michael Cole, chief operating officer and EVP, Kia Motors America.

Want to learn more about Kia Motors award-winning vehicles? Come to Miami Lakes Automall and test-drive a new Kia vehicle . Follow us on Miami Lakes Kia social media to keep up to date on everything Kia Motors.

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia and JD Power

Previous Post Comparison of Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade Next Post Great Things About the New 2020 Kia Soul