It is amazing how Kia, a Korean car manufacturer, has gained a trustworthy automaker’s reputation over the years. In 2016, J.D. Power named Kia the king of initial quality, which means it has better initial better quality than all the famous brands that run the auto industry (Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche, to name a few). And from their latest efforts to improve their services it does not seem for things to change anytime in the future. But Kia was not always this big name in the mobility sector. The brand has started initially as a bicycle manufacturer in the 1950s; then it partnered with Ford to create the Aspire econobox.
Japanese vehicles were once considered a cheap alternative to European or American cars, but Kia has invested a high amount of capital into improving their vehicles and building strong brand identities. Since it entered the market in the 1990s, it has proved a considerable competitor to names like BMW, Toyota, and Honda.
Here are the top reasons why buying a Kia car is a good idea.
It is affordable
The price is the determining factor when you purchase a vehicle, so let us check the cost first. Korean cars have emerged onto the worldwide automotive market as cheap economy solutions, but slowly they grew into legitimate vehicles in all industries. Kia is one of the automakers that offer more for less. It has features reserved for high-end luxury vehicles on cars easy on your wallet. You get the same features, a BMW or Lexus would provide, but at a much lower price.
For someone who has never driven a Kia, it’s surprising to see that some models have genuine Nappa leather interior, power-folding mirrors, heated rear benches, ventilated seats, and courtesy lights. A fully loaded vehicle costs less than $40,000, and base models start at less than $22,000. Because you get these perks at a fraction of the price of a European or Japanese competitor, U.S. News List of Best Midsize Cars for the Money listed Kia Optima in the ninth position.
Great warranty deals
Hyundai was the first Korean manufacturer to offer a 10-year warranty for its vehicles in 1998, and Kia soon followed its example. Their actions made the automotive industry to raise brows because other automakers offered shorter warranties for their models. The initiative was named America’s Best Warranty and encouraged people to give the Korean brand a try.
Kia has many other programs its clients can take advantage of, like five years of roadside assistance, seven years of rust protection, and a lifetime hybrid replacement.
Kia vehicles are reliable
If you study the complaints, car owners’ issue in the owner’s community, you will notice that there is not a brand out there with some portion of talking. If you run internet research for issues with any automaker, you will probably find someone sharing a scary story for every brand. Why? Cars are machines made of components and parts, and it’s part of the process to wear out and fail to function. Their deterioration accelerates when the driver does not properly care for them and fails to respect the maintenance schedule. It is an impossible task for a manufacturer to build millions of cars with zero issues in all of them. And where do you count that it is so expensive even luxury brands do not afford to do it. Therefore, they provide their clients with warranties.
This means that people do not get online to report flaws for their Kia cars on a given time, even if some of them experience problems with their cars and share them with the online community. But it does not mean that you should not buy a car only because there are some reports of failures online. It would help if you instead relied on the Reliability Awards Kia has won over the years that offer all the good news you need to understand that Kia is a reliable brand.
When you enter a Kia Kansas City dealership it’s best to have a list of the models rated for reliability. At present, Kia Soul is described as the most dependable small utility car in its category. The automaker takes the second place as the most dependable brand on the market.
Kia cars have good aesthetics
The brand has many options for people who want a casual, subcompact, energy-efficient, and practical car. Generation Z purchasers are more tech-savvy and want their economy cars to facilitate their use of the Internet of Things. It is no wonder Kia Soul is one of their top choices because it resonates with their requirements. Kia is an affordable automaker with good looking and unique models that feature the latest tech and come at affordable prices. For budget-conscious buyers, Kia is an astonishing brand because it sells stylish subcompacts.
However, Kia was not always good looking. For many decades, its cars were anonymously looking, and they did not catch the eye when they rolled on the roads. But as it evolved as a brand, it hired experienced designers to bring its cars a new look. Kia’s turnaround point was the moment it hired Peter Schreyer from Audi, who got a new vision and design for Kia models, and now everyone can easily recognize a Korean car. Even if Schreyer is close to retirement, he hand-picked his replacement in the person of Luc Donckerworkle, who previously worked for Bentley. With experts working for famous brands like Audi and Bentley, Kia’s design department is on good hands. To achieve the present aesthetics, Peter Schreyer added Led illumination inside and outside the car, recreated the lines and performance for the rear diffusers, and created nice-looking cabins.
The days of drivers complaining about inferior Korean car quality are over because Kia proves that not only the cars made in Europe and America are reliable. Kia and Hyundai offer high amounts of standard amenities for affordable prices and winning award after award every year. The relationship between Kia and its drivers is far from a love-it-or-hate-it one because, with all its accomplishments, there is simply no reason to hate it.