In the past years, Kia vehicles were often added towards the bottom of the ‘best of’ vehicle lists. It’s not for lack of trying; the Korean automaker built quality vehicles but couldn’t beat other competitors in its category.
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Kia cars continued to be popular with low-budget car buyers. But the complaints and dissatisfaction grew. And then, Kia began to find to change things in its vehicle.
The company’s vehicles in compact, subcompact and midsize cars categories are now taking their places toward the top of review lists. And the company now has strong introductions in the SUV category as well. Buyers’ perception of Kia has changed. So much that you might not regret buying one today.
But, how did all that happen?
Reputation of Kia Vehicles
In its early years, Kia vehicles found themselves regularly at the bottom of reliability and safety ratings by top vehicle reviewers. For many car lovers, the Kia was the vehicle they hoped to never buy. During the early 2000s, Kia ranked 27th and 30th based on vehicle owners’ complaints.
Still, they were affordable, and people kept giving the cars a chance. The Korean automaker solidified its reputation for being cheap and not much else. But, all of that has been changing over time.
Kia Learnt Its Lessons & Has Made Improvements
With other Korean brands like the Hyundai, Kia is making its way to the top of the review lists and into the garages of many car buyers. In a 2018 review, Popular Mechanics shared insight from then-CEO of Valient Market Research, Scott Upham.
Upham spent decades following the Korean automotive movement and said that despite the low performance of the first wave of Kia vehicles, Kia began making a comeback. With significant investments, of over a billion dollars in researching vehicle quality, Kia’s image began shifting with the increased reliability of its cars.
Reddit threads commenters say they agree their impressions of Kia have improved and are generally positive. One points out that the vehicles are becoming more interesting and still budget-friendly. Another suggests Kia has surpassed even Hyundai in the hierarchy of brands.
Currently, the 2023 lineup of vehicles for Kia is getting some recognition. In fact, many of the car models alone are landing in the top five recommendations for U.S. News reviews. The No. 1 ranked Optima, No. 4 ranked Forte, and No. 2 ranked Rio are each representing the badge on the various best-of-class lists. These cars are competitive in terms of safety, reliability, fuel economy, and cost of ownership.
Kia SUVs are Now Impressive
The Sportage or Sorento of the early 2000s may not have been entirely reliable, but with enhanced design and performance, today’s Sportage and Sorento are fun and comparable options for their class. If you want a third row, Kia can accommodate its wildly popular Telluride.
Buyers love the Kia Soul models, and the family-favourite Sorento is gaining ground, too. Changing it up, the automaker also now offers the well-received Seltos and Niro models should you need a different variation from the already successful lineup.
Why You Won’t Regret Buying Kia Cars in 2023
Kia is gradually proving to be a true contender in the car and SUV segments today. The powertrains are reliable. The safety equipment is huge. The designs are stylish and modern. The Korean automaker continues to expand and refresh its family of vehicles, based on the preferences of today’s car buyers. Owner satisfaction continues to improve as well. That’s an indication that anyone buying a new Kia in 2023 probably won’t regret it.
Conclusion
Whether you want the Telluride or the Sportage, Kia is worth it today. You’ll still enjoy the affordable pricing compared to its competitors. But, one thing is certain, the brand has stepped up in its game.
