Kia Beats Out Porsche for Number One Spot in JD Power Initial Quality Study
The Kia Sportage (pictured above) and Kia Soul helped the South Korean brand become the number one bran in the JD Power Initial Quality Study
Over the past few years, Kia has been becoming more and more popular in the United States. And now, it looks like all that hard work is paying off because Kia is officially in the history books.
The South Korean carmaker was named the first non-premium brand to be number one in the JD Power Initial Quality Study in 27 years, beating out Porsche and all other brands in the American market. This is also the second year in a row that Kia led the non-premium brands in the study, highlighting just how great the brand has become.
“Ranking number one in the entire industry for initial quality is the result of Kia’s decade-long focus on craftsmanship and continuous improvement, and reflects the voice of our customers, which is the ultimate affirmation,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP for Kia Motors America. “As the highest ranked brand in the industry, there is no doubt Kia is a world-class automaker.”
To help Kia become the best brand in the industry, the Kia Sportage and Soul both led their segments in quality, while the Rio, Forte, and Sorento all ranked in the top three of their respective classes. The JD Power Initial Quality Study winner is determined based on an analysis from vehicle owners in 26 segments. The vehicles are evaluated based on driving experience, engine and transmission performance, and other quality-related problems within the first 90 days of ownership.
Kia only had 83 problems reported per 100 vehicles, narrowly beating out Porsche, which ranked second with 84 problems. Hyundai, Kia’s sister company, finished third overall with 92 problems.
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