South Korean car maker, KIA has risen to the top position in the United States’ car ranking in in design, quality and technology.
Kia Motors reached the enviable heights when J.D. Power recognized the brand as the highest scoring nameplate in its 2016 Initial Quality Study (IQS) out of all 33 makes in the U.S. Marking the first time in 27 years that a non-premium brand has topped the rankings.
Kia’s rise to the top was driven by segment-leading performances from the Sportage and Soul, while Rio, Forte and Sorento all ranked in the top three of their respective categories.
“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, Kia Motors America. “As the highest ranked brand in the industry, there is no doubt Kia is a world-class automaker.”
As Kia’s U.S. sales have consistently grown over the last four years to surpass the 600,000 annual unit mark, so too has the brand’s performance in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study. After entering the overall top 10 for the first time in 2013, Kia placed second in the industry and led all non-premium makes in IQS in 2015.
Now in its 30th year, the annual J.D. Power IQS analyzes responses from vehicle owners in 26 segments. IQS is determined by vehicle owners evaluating the driving experience, engine and transmission performance, and a broad range of quality-related problems within the first 90 days of ownership.
Here is J.D. Power’s brand ranking and the number of flaws reported per 100 cars:
Kia 83
Porsche 84
Hyundai 92
Toyota 93
BMW 94
Chevrolet 95
Buick 96 (tie)
Lexus 96 (tie)
Lincoln 96 (tie)
Nissan 101
Ford 102
GMC 103 (tie)
Infiniti 103 (tie)
Volkwagen 104
INDUSTRY AVERAGE 105
Audi 110
Mercedes-Benz 111
Cadillac 112
Jeep 113
Ram 114
Chrysler 115
Mitsubishi 116
Dodge 117
Subaru 118
Honda 119
Acura 122
Scion 123
Jaguar 127 (tie)
Mazda 127 (tie)
Mini 127 (tie)
Land Rover 132
Volvo 152
Fiat 174
Smart 216
Here are the segments and the model with the best score in each category:
City Car: Chevrolet Spark
Small Car: Hyundai Accent
Small Premium Car: Lexus CT
Compact Car: Toyota Corolla
Compact Sporty Car: Buick Cascada (tie), Scion tC (tie)
Compact MPV: Kia Soul
Compact Premium Car: Lincoln MKZ
Compact Premium Sporty Car: Audi TT
Midsize Car: Toyota Camry
Midsize Sporty Car: Dodge Challenger
Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country
Midsize Premium Car: Lexus GS
Midsize Premium Sporty Car: Porsche 911
Large Car: Hyundai Azera
Small SUV: Kia Sportage
Small Premium SUV: Audi Q3
Compact SUV: Chevrolet Equinox (tie), GMC Terrain (tie)
Compact Premium SUV: Porsche Macan
Midsize SUV: Toyota Highlander
Midsize Premium SUV: BMW X5
Midsize Pickup: Nissan Frontier
Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Large Premium SUV: Lincoln Navigator
Large Light Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado LD
Large Heavy Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD
