Running costs: Kia ranked by model

By Martin Pretorius 

Apart from the purchase price, the main determining factor in a car's affordability is its running costs: how much does it cost to service, how much fuel does it consume, and in the event of a breakdown or maintenance, how expensive are its parts? Insurance premiums also comes into play, but for this is roughly proportional to the purchase price and dependent on numerous risk factors, so let's ignore this aspect for the purpose of this comparison. Ranked from cheapest to most expensive, and using data from the 2017 Kinsey Report, here's a summary of the running costs of Kia's model range.

Kia Picanto

The smallest, lightest Kias with the smallest engines should prove to be the most fuel-efficient, and so it proves to be. Starting off the range with a little 1.0-litre 3-cylinder mated with a manual gearbox, the smallest Picanto doesn't have much power, which fortunately translates into very frugal drinking habit. The 1.2-litre version isn't much thirstier either, and they're all pretty cheap to insure because they're low-risk cars. Add fairly reasonably-priced service- and repair parts, and Kia's excellent 5-year/unlimited kilometer warranty, and running costs should be as low as they come.

Kia Rio

This small hatchback packs slightly more-powerful engines, but they're still fairly compact and light, so the Rio's real-world fuel consumption is pretty low as well. Insurance is also bound to be affordable, and servicing shouldn't cost much more than it would for a 1.2-litre Picanto. It is a somewhat low-volume car in our market though, so repair costs might be higher than you'd expect, because body- and structural parts will be more expensive. 

Kia Cerato

Kia's under-appreciated compact sedan and hatch use normally-aspirated engines which, while thirstier than downsized turbo alternatives, are bound to be cheaper to maintain over a longer period. Repair costs could be somewhat pricier though, as the Cerato is also a fringe player in our market, which may increase parts prices in the event of an accident repair. Insurance is quite reasonable, however.

Kia Soul

Much like the Rio and Cerato, the Soul struggles to achieve the sales volumes it deserves. Accident repairs will again be costly due to the car's low sales volumes, and its tall-and-boxy profile makes for increased fuel consumption when compared to the Cerato. The diesel version is quite expensive, but returns much better consumption figures. Due to its status as a low-risk car, insurance will at least be reasonably affordable.

Kia Sportage

Freshly redesigned, the Sportage is a compelling choice in the compact SUV market, which leads to fairly strong sales in spite of its rather steep asking price. It is loaded with modern tech, which will cost a bit to repair if something goes wrong, and the jury is still out as far as the maintenance costs of the top-level 1.6-litre turbo engine and dual-clutch gearbox goes. Its popularity might also increase its appeal among the long-fingered, which may affect insurance rates. None of the petrol variants are particularly light on fuel either, but the diesels are suitably parsimonious. 

Kia Sorento

Kia's large SUV deserves a lot more love than our buyers are giving it, but it's also up against some very enticing opponents. Insurance is affordable due to the low theft risk, and the diesel-fueled variants are potent yet frugal. Opt for a petrol version and be prepared to pay at the pumps, however. Maintenance costs will be higher than for the smaller models, mainly because of the larger engines and higher gadget count, and repair parts are likely to be quite pricey, due to the low demand.

Kia Sedona

Our market has fallen out of love with large MPVs, meaning that most Sedonas are bought by fleet operators and shuttle services. In these applications, the Sedona's efficient and durable diesel engine brings nice savings on running costs, while the V6 petrol remains a thirsty if charming indulgence. Insurance is bound to be affordable for a vehicle of this type, and maintenance shouldn't be much more expensive than it is for the Sorento. As with most low-volume cars, repair costs may prove to be quite pricey.