Kia takes crown in J.D. Power dependability rankings

Industry

Published: 11 Feb. 2022, 13:15

Kia takes crown in J.D. Power dependability rankings

Kia's 2019 Sorento [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Kia took the top spot in the 2022 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), beating Lexus and Toyota, the automaker said Friday.

Hyundai Motor placed third from seventh last year. Its luxury brand Genesis ranked 4th.

Kia topped the list with a score of 145, while Hyundai received a score of 148 and Genesis 155.

Genesis was No. 1 in the premium vehicle category.

J.P. Power collects feedback from customers on 184 problem areas to determine their dissatisfaction levels. Lower scores correspond to greater customer satisfaction. The drivers must have driven the cars for at least three years.

The latest vehicle dependability study was conducted on 139 models from 32 auto brands sold in the United States between July 2018 and February 2019.

Buick came in second, Toyota fifth and Lexus sixth.

No European brand was on the Top 10 list, except Porsche in seventh.

For upper-midsized SUVs, Kia Sorento was No. 1, while Hyundai Motor’s Sonata ranked first in the midsized car segment. Hyundai’s Santa Fe topped the list in the midsize SUV sector.

“We at Hyundai Motor Group hold long-term ownership satisfaction as one of the key benchmarks for success,” said Cha Seog-ju, head of the quality division at Hyundai Motor Group. “The VDS results speak to Hyundai, Kia and Genesis’s dedication to delivering vehicles that not only excel in areas long-appreciated by owners, like design and driving experience, but also across innovative technologies that have become a crucial part of the overall ownership experience."

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]