Do You Think Only Expensive Cars Are Built Well? Well You Got It Wrong

A recent study done by J.D Power for the most reliable car brand for year 2016, has revealed that KIA has topped the rankings this year.

For the first time in 27 years, a non-luxury car brand has come on top in this criteria. Last year, Porsche was on top of the list. According to Reuters, this year, owners of non-premium cars have reported less problems compared to those of luxury cars.

                              

The top ten car brands which are on list of most reliable brands are Kia, Porsche, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Chevrolet, Buick, Lexus, Lincoln, and Nissan. Another interesting fact is that US car brands have earned better scores compared to rivals.

If you still think that Toyota is the leading reliable brand, then check out this new report from J.D Power. There was always a debate if KIA should build a sports car like the GT4 Stinger to compete against Toyota and Lexus, but it has already won it in the reliability grounds.

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10 reasons to buy a Kia Sportage

10. Comprehensive seven-year warranty

Kia's outstanding seven-year warranty is famous in the car industry. No other manufacturer comes close to offering the same deal when it comes to taking care of your car and the parts it uses.

9. Good visibility

Like most SUVs, the Sportage's raised driving position gives you a good view of the road ahead, and most models come with rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard to aid tricky manoeuvres.

8. Strong diesel engine

The 1.7-litre diesel we recommend here is cheap to buy and is the most economical in the range, and is more than gutsy enough to satisfy most drivers. If you want more power, there's a 2.0-litre diesel on offer, too.

7. Great value for money

At £18,000, the Sportage represents real value for money. The majority of its rivals cost significantly more, and only the Seat Ateca's £17,990 asking price beats it. In fact, our favourite 1.7-litre CRDi diesel model in '2' specification is thousands of pounds cheaper than the equivalent Qashqai. There are plenty of PCP and finance offers available, too.

6. Plenty of kit

Granted, the entry-level Sportage is pretty sparse, but from there up all models come with plenty of equipment, including a 7.0in colour touchscreen infotainment system, which is easy to use and looks smart.

5. Cabin quality

Despite its price, the interior of the Sportage uses plenty of quality materials, and it doesn't feel cheap. It all feels solidly put together, and all models get a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

4. Big space inside

Both front and rear passengers get plenty of space in the Sportage, with enough head, leg and elbow room to keep even tall adults comfortable. The rear seats are fairly flexible, too, folding to increase the available boot space.

3. Good resale values

The Sportage is known for holding on to its value, so even if you splash out on a high-end model, chances are you'll get most of your money back when it comes to selling the car on.

2. Strong looks

The Sportage has always been a looker in the SUV market, and this latest version continues the trend. Its aggressive front end includes a large grille and side vents to house the fog lights.

1. Clever tech

The Sportage range features all of the latest technology, including a smart tailgate which opens as you stand in front of it, and a self-parking function.

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Kia Ranks Highest among Nameplates, Ending 27-Year Reign for Premium Brands

DETROIT: 22 June 2016 — New-vehicle quality improves 6%, double the 3% rate of improvement in 2015 and the largest increase since 2009, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), released today.

The study, now in its 30th year, examines problems experienced by vehicle owners during the first 90 days of ownership. Initial quality is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

Quality improves across all eight problem categories measured in the study, with 21 of the 33 brands included in the study improving their quality in 2016 and one remaining the same.

“Manufacturers are currently making some of the highest quality products we’ve ever seen,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. “Tracking our data over the past several years, it has become clear that automakers are listening to the customer, identifying pain points and are focused on continuous improvement. Even as they add more content, including advanced technologies that have had a reputation for causing problems, overall quality continues to improve.”

Following are some of the study’s key findings:

• U.S. Domestic Automakers Show Strong Improvement: For just the second time in the 30-year history of the study, U.S. domestic brands collectively have lower problem levels than all their import counterparts combined. All three U.S. domestic automakers post year-over-year quality improvements. The “Detroit Three” achieve a combined average of 103 PP100, improving 10% from 2015, which is double the improvement rate of the import brands at 106 PP100. The last time U.S. domestic brands outpaced imports was in 2010, when they held a 1 PP100 advantage (108 PP100 vs. 109 PP100, respectively).
• Non-Premium Brands Have Fewer Problems: For the first time since 2006, non-premium brands have fewer problems (104 PP100) than premium brands (108 PP100).
• High Quality = High Loyalty: Expected reliability remains the most important consideration when purchasing a new vehicle, cited by 49% of owners. J.D. Power has studied consumer behavior from when they purchase or lease their new vehicle through when they are back in the market for their next vehicle in order to measure the impact initial quality has on brand loyalty.[1] Among owners who experience no problems with their vehicle in the first 90 days, 54% stay with the same brand for their next vehicle. Loyalty drops to 50% among owners who experience one problem with their vehicle and to 45% among those who experience three or more problems.

“There is a direct correlation between the number of problems a customer has with their new vehicle and the decisions they make when it comes time to purchase or lease their next car or truck,” said Stephens. “While a small drop in actual loyalty may not sound like much, a percentage point drop in share can mean millions of dollars in lost revenue to an automaker.”

Highest-Ranked Nameplates and Models

• Kia ranks highest in initial quality with a score of 83 PP100, the first time in 27 years that a non-premium brand has topped the rankings. It is also the second consecutive year that Kia, which ranked second in 2015, has led all non-premium makes in initial quality.
• Porsche (84 PP100) ranks second among nameplates, followed by Hyundai (92 PP100), Toyota (93 PP100) and BMW (94 PP100).
• Chrysler and Jeep are the most improved brands, each reducing the number of problems by 28 PP100 from 2015. 

General Motors receives seven model-level awards, followed by Toyota Motor Corporation with six and Hyundai Motor Company and Volkswagen AG, each with four.

• General Motors models that rank highest in their respective segments are the Buick Cascada; Chevrolet Equinox; Chevrolet Silverado HD; Chevrolet Silverado LD; Chevrolet Spark; Chevrolet Tahoe; and GMC Terrain.

• Toyota Motor Corporation models that rank highest in their segment are the Lexus CT; Lexus GS; Scion tC; Toyota Camry; Toyota Corolla; and Toyota Highlander.

• Hyundai Motor Company models that rank highest in their segment are the Hyundai Accent; Hyundai Azera; Kia Soul; and Kia Sportage.

• Volkswagen AG models that rank highest in their segment are the Audi Q3, Audi TT, Porsche Macan and Porsche 911.

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