Kia tops JD Power Initial Quality Study again!

CONTINUING a multi-year string of quality and reliability awards and accolades, JD Power’s 2017 Initial Quality Study (IQS) recognized Kia Motors as the highest-ranking nameplate in the United States for the second year in a row (ranking highest in the entire industry in 2016).

JD Power Initial Quality Study 2017 (IQS) is measured by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership, with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

This year’s study analysed responses from 77,419 respondents concerning 189 vehicle models across 26 segments. Vehicles were evaluated on driving experience, engine and transmission performance and a broad range of quality problem symptoms reported by vehicle owners.

As per official information, “Kia’s Soul, Cerato, Cadenza, Niro and Sorento topped their respective categories, with the Cadenza achieving the lowest average number of problems among all models ranked in the study. Kia improved 11 points as owners reported fewer issues with their Kia vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership than all other car and truck brands in the USA”

Kia’s improvement to 72 problems per 100 vehicles marks the best nameplate performance within the last 20 years of the study, driven by five segment awards — the most of any nameplate.