Kia just accomplished something no automaker has done in twenty seven years
Kia just accomplished something no automaker has done in twenty seven years
After years of being known for its nice, low-priced cars that infrequently stood out on American roads, Kia has taken a thick step in switching that perception.
The automaker on Wednesday was rated the No. One brand in J.D. Power’s annual survey of fresh model reliability, making it the very first nonluxury brand to top the list since 1989.
“Ten years ago they were on the other end [of the rankings] and they’ve been leisurely moving up, and moving up by leaps and bounds in the last few years,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power.
Last year, the brand ranked No. Two.
Stephens credited the Korean automaker’s constant ascent to its concentrate on “cleaner” launches of fresh models, where problems often pop up. She said Kia’s manufacturing plants and dealers in the U.S. are doing a better job producing the brand’s vehicles.
That improvement could explain why Kia was ranked slightly below the industry average in a separate probe by J.D. Power earlier this year. In that survey among drivers of 3-year-old vehicles, Kia owners reported one hundred fifty three problems per one hundred vehicles, compared with the industry average 152.
Michael Sprague, chief operating officer for Kia Motors America, said the brand’s No. One ranking in the latest J.D. Power survey “is the result of Kia’s decade-long concentrate on craftsmanship and continuous improvement, and reflects the voice of our customers, which is the ultimate affirmation.”
Overall, J.D. Power’s investigate found owners of nonluxury brands reported fewer problems than those with luxury models. And for just the 2nd time in thirty years, Detroit’s Big three automakers — General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler — all improved the reliability of their fresh models. Still, the Fiat brand remained toward the bottom of the list, with one hundred seventy four problems reported per one hundred vehicles. The industry average was one hundred five problems per one hundred vehicles, an improvement over last year’s 112.
One area where Kia and other automakers have excelled is improving the infotainment systems in their newest models. Issues with Bluetooth connectivity, navigation systems and other electronic features have become the fattest complaint for fresh car buyers, but Stephens said fresh cars are coming out with fewer glitches.
“Manufacturers are simplifying their controls to only demonstrate those controls that are most relevant to consumers,” she said.
Consumers like Amy Nelson in Western Springs, Illinois, who said she bought a fresh Land Rover in part because the SUV’s infotainment system did not overwhelm her.
“The appeal to me was that it didn’t have all the bells and whistles, so it’s ordinary and clean on the inwards and is a good fit for me,” she said.