Kia Scores High During 2021 J.D. Power APEAL Study

A few weeks ago, Kia Corp landed several spots on the 2021 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) for various car segments. In short, Kia Corp was the highest-ranking vehicle in five segments, with the least amount of problems within the first 90 days of ownership. Wear-and-tear can affect this, and so J.D. Power takes another look at new vehicles from another angle. Not just performance, but how does the driver feel behind the wheel of their car? That’s why the J.D. Power Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study™ exists, and although the spelling may not be the same, this study really focuses on the “appeal” of a new vehicle.

So, here’s how it works. Complementing the J.D. Power IQS, the APEAL Study is also conducted by sending out surveys to owners of new 2021 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership. The surveys are designed to measure 37 attributes, ranging from the thrill of getting into the driver’s seat, ready to hit the road, or how well the engine responds to the pressure on the pedal and a sense of control. This year, the APEAL Study was fielded from February through July 2021, and a total of 110,827 responses made up the scores of each automotive brand. This year, the overall score of the automotive industry has increased, with a higher appeal to new vehicles more than ever.

“One of the biggest factors driving the industry’s improvement this year is the introduction of several highly appealing new models…The APEAL Study measures owners’ emotional attachment to their new vehicle, and the product launches that took place this model year have done a really good job. Some are all-new and some are redesigns, but the new launches demonstrate that automakers are getting even better at hitting buyers’ emotional triggers.” – David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power

There’s a saying that “New is Always Better”. That may be true in some cases, but it would seem car owners feel the same. Like the J.D. Power IQS, the APEAL Study uses a 1,000-point scale, but this time, the higher the number, the better the appeal. In the mass market group, Kia Corp came in at number six, with a score of 856/1000 this year. Like many automakers, Kia Corp made a slight increase when compared to its score during the 2020 APEAL Study , with a score of 844. Every automaker did a little better, but there are some noteworthy models.

The Kia K5 was the highest ranked Midsize Car of 2021 for the APEAL Study. A transformation of the Kia Optima, the K5 is the new generation of sports cars for Kia Corp. Alongside the K5 in the winner’s circle is the Kia Telluride . Not only is the Telluride the largest SUV in the Kia lineup, but it’s also the highest ranked Upper Midsize SUV, according to the 2021 J.D. Power APEAL Study. Two perfect choices, depending on what you’re looking for.Do you want high-performance with the Kia K5 ? Or would you prefer the storage and capabilities of an SUV like the Kia Telluride ? Find yours at Miami Lakes Automall.

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media

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