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Across the country, more and more drivers have been making the switch to Kia. As the #1 Mass Market Brand in Initial Quality, 5 Years in a Row -- it comes as no surprise that Kia continues to stand above the competition. Demonstrating such a commitment to excellence has helped Kia earn a coveted spot inside the garage of all types of drivers. To help illustrate how Kia remains the top choice in the industry, Ken Ganley Kia Mentor has assembled this in-depth brand comparison. In this matchup, we’ll take a closer look at how Kia measures up against one of its biggest rivals – Nissan. Once you see the results, you’ll have no trouble understanding why Kia continues to outperform the competition.
Confidence – Kia Warranty Coverage
Nothing instills a sense of confidence behind the wheel of your new vehicle quite like robust warranty coverage. Included on all new Kia vehicles is an industry-leading 10-year / 100,000-mile warranty program, a true testament to our commitment to quality. No other manufacturer stands behind its vehicles like Kia. Compared to Nissan, it’s clear that choosing a Kia will provide you with peace of mind for years to come.
| Kia | Warranty Comparison | Nissan |
| 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Basic Warranty Coverage | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
| 10 Years / 100,000 Miles | Powertrain Warranty Coverage | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles |
| 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | Roadside Assistance Coverage | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
QUALITY – J.D. POWER U.S. VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY
When it comes to quality, Kia has a clear advantage over Nissan. In the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability survey, Kia finished third, just behind Lexus and Porsche. We’d say that Kia is in pretty good company. Nissan, meanwhile, finished below the industry average of 121 problems per 100 new vehicles with an average of 128. Kia, on the other hand, boasts just 97 problems per 100 vehicles. That puts Kia ahead of not only Nissan, but other luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. In fact, Kia ranked at the top in two specific segments in the study, with the Kia Sportage ranked as the best small SUV and the Kia Sorento ranked as the best midsize SUV.
Peace of Mind – Award-Winning Certified Pre-Owned Program
Last year, Kia was the only brand that swept all three categories of the IntelliChoice Certified Pre-Owned Program Awards for the first time since 2011. These three honors included Best Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program, Best Used Cost of Ownership and Best CPO Warranty Program. For 2021, Kia took home the award for Best Popular CPO Warranty and Best Popular Brand Used Ownership Costs. The team of experts at IntelliChoice praised the Kia 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, plus 1 year/12,000 miles of comprehensive platinum coverage for CPO vehicles, in addition to the low overall ownership costs related to the brand. With only 7 years of coverage, Nissan simply cannot match the award-winning Kia Certified Pre-Owned Program.
Value - Best Car for the Money Awards | U.S. News & World Report
It’s no secret that choosing a vehicle with a proven reputation for tremendous value and quality helps make your daily drive feel more rewarding. Each year, the experts at U.S. Cars & World Report announce their choices for their Best Car for the Money Awards. Vehicles selected as winners represent a combination of both value and quality. Indicators of quality are determined by each vehicle’s performance in U.S. News & World Report Best Car Rankings. Value is measured by a combination of transaction prices and five-year total ownership costs.
In truly dominant fashion, Kia received a total of four 2020 Best Car for the Money awards from U.S. News & World Report in four separate categories. In comparison, Nissan failed to earn any first place awards in any category. For 2020, they came back to repeat their success. In fact, the Kia Soul and Kia Sorento have won these awards for five consecutive years.
“Winning one Best Car for the Money awards is a great honor,” said Michael Cole, president, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Winning four is fantastic. It’s Kia’s mission to provide consumers with desirable high-quality vehicles at the best value, and so this recognition from U.S. News & World Report is tremendously gratifying.”
- Kia Forte – Best Compact Car (2020-2021)
- Kia Soul – Best Subcompact SUV (2017-2021)
- Kia Sorento – Best 3-Row SUV (2017-2021)
- Kia Sedona – Best Minivan (2020)
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
FAQs
In the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability survey, Kia finished third, just behind Lexus and Porsche. We'd say that Kia is in pretty good company. Nissan, meanwhile, finished below the industry average of 121 problems per 100 new vehicles with an average of 128.
Where does Kia rank in reliability? ›
Are Kias Reliable Cars? Kia is among the most reliable car brands. RepairPal ranks Kia third out of 32 car manufacturers for reliability. J.D.Power ranks the company third overall in its 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ and first among mass-market brands.
Is Kia higher end than Hyundai? ›
So, the verdict is in – while Kia and Hyundai offer similar vehicles, Kia models offer better value and better quality, with bolder styling and a more dynamic driving experience. Simply put, Kia vehicles are all-around better vehicles, no matter what you value most in your car.
Can Kia CPO warranty be transferred? ›
Details of the warranty on a used car from Kia are as follows. The 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty changes to a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty when the vehicle is sold. The remainder of that used car warranty transfers to the new owner.
What is the number 1 safest car brand? ›
What Is the Safest Car Brand in America? Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, and Mazda are the safest car brands in America. These brands typically invest in advanced safety technologies and receive high crash test scores from authoritative organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Which car brand has the best safety system? ›
2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winners
- Kia Telluride.
- Mazda CX-90.
- Nissan Pathfinder (built after November 2023)
- Subaru Ascent.
- BMW X3.
- Genesis GV80 (built after August 2023)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE Class (with optional front crash prevention)
- Tesla Model Y.
They mainly concern with not very high-quality finishing materials. Glossy plastic surfaces are tough, so scratches and scuffs quickly appear on them. If they are not handled carefully, then chips are possible. There is a drawback in one of such Kia parts as deflector airflow.
Which car brand has least problems? ›
Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year, with a score of 135 PP100. Among premium brands, Porsche (175 PP100) ranks second and BMW (190 PP100) ranks third. Toyota ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 147 PP100.
What Kia has the least problems? ›
The Kia Sportage ranks as the most reliable car in the brand's lineup. Several model years of the Kia Sportage rank among the most reliable, including the 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 models. The 2016 model was well known for its low repair costs associated with ownership.
Is Kia better than Nissan? ›
Kia and Nissan each have better car rankings in 2 categories. Kia ranks better with the Sorento in Best Midsize SUVs for the Money and the Rio 5-Door in Best Small Cars for the Money. Nissan ranks better with the Rogue in Best Crossover SUVs for the Money and the Rogue in Best SUVs with 3 Rows for the Money.
Hyundai Reliability — According to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia was the highest-ranking manufacturer for reliability in the US, with the least amount of issues per 100 vehicles. Hyundai is close, winning the bronze, but for the current model year, Kia takes the gold medal!
What is the high end Kia called? ›
Previously known as the K900 in the U.S., the model still exists in Korea and is looking more upscale than before.
Is Kia CPO worth it? ›
Kia has an excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and bumper-to-bumper coverage for 1 year or 12,000 miles after purchasing a CPO Kia. Unlike corporate sibling Hyundai, Kia's CPO warranty is transferable, though both companies require a deductible for repairs.
What voids a Kia warranty? ›
Damage due to factors beyond the manufacturer's control, including but not limited to - • Misuse of the KIA Vehicle, such as driving over curbs, overloading, racing etc. (proper usage is described in your Owner's Manual). Accidents, such as collision, fire, theft, riot, etc. Alteration, modifications, tampering, etc.
What is not covered by Kia warranty? ›
Understanding your warranty coverage is important. It does not cover maintenance such as oil changes, filters, tires, belts and brakes; although it is advised that you adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule for these to keep your warrant intact.
Is Kia considered a safe car? ›
No less than six Kia vehicles have been awarded top safety pick ratings from America's leading car safety experts, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The models awarded 2020 top safety pick ratings were the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, Stinger, Soul and Forte.
Is Kia one of the safest cars? ›
The all-new Kia Sportage has been named one of the safest cars for families after scoring a maximum five-star rating in the 2022 Euro NCAP safety tests.
Is Nissan a safe car? ›
Nissan cars perform well in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), often receiving top scores.
Is Kia safe or not? ›
The Kia Seltos has been evaluated by Global NCAP, achieving a 3-star rating for adult occupant protection and a 2-star rating for child occupant protection. This assessment was part of Global NCAP's 'Safer Cars for India' program, providing consumers with insights into the safety performance of their vehicles.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.