Top Used Kia models ranked by reliability
Top Used Kia models ranked by reliability
By Lawrence Minnie
We take a look at Kia SA’s past and present line-up of models and rank them according to how reliable they are.
Kia - a real value proposition?
Kia has emerged as a powerhouse within the South African automotive industry over the past decade, and is striving to provide the best value proposition for those considering a vehicle purchase. KIA has not always been the giant in SA that it is now, and its first attempts were often met with cold shoulders from the buying public.
With a commitment to building quality cars with attractive styling and loads of standard features, KIA has changed those earlier perceptions, and have taken their rightful place in our market.
Using a host of quality assurance indicators such as JD Power, the Kinsey Report, and polling on social media, we have collated data, and set out to list the KIA models that are most reliable from a consumer standpoint. We would like to point out that although some models are no longer available; almost all respondents had very positive feedback around their KIA models, making compiling this list rather difficult.
1. Carens
The Carens was Kia’s attempt at the mid-sized MPV market and unfortunately, South Africans didn’t respond favourably. There were a few sold and generally those that purchased them were happy with their minivan. However, low sales numbers made parts expensive when they needed to be replaced.
2. Shuma
One of the first major KIA sedans introduced to South Africa, the Shuma was quite well- specced for the segment at the time. South Africans were not overly convinced and they never moved huge numbers, and that's why the Shuma would go the same way as the Carens.
3. Optima
The KIA Optima was a leap ahead for the brand, with good build quality, a high spec level, and a decent driving experience. South Africans once again turned the cold shoulder, mostly because it was a non-premium-brand medium sedan without a premium badge, and very few of these were sold. This was, in fact, a very good car, but would once again suffer the same fate as the Carens and Shuma, due to lack of interest.
4. Sedona
The Sedona and Grand Sedona had much more success in the South African market. The luxury MPV market served hotels, resorts and fleet companies, and the Sedona models sold relatively well. The only negative reports we were able to find indicated expensive servicing costs on heavily used vehicles. Early V6 variants were also quite problematic, but that was sorted soon enough.
5. Sorento
KIA’s big SUV is a regular shopping choice but strangely enough, much like the Hyundai Santa Fe, doesn’t seem to move large numbers any more. It is a very capable seven-seater with a decent options list. The Sorento has a devout fan base, but its lack of popularity ensures that the Sorento gets only a median score for reliability from consumers polled.
Kia upped the funk when they released the Soul. Its cool factor garnered a cult following and a reasonable amount of them was sold and can be seen regularly on our roads. This can be attributed to how practical it is, an abundance of readily-available service parts, and good after-sales service in general.
Kia once again took a chance on a sedan and brought us the Cerato and Cerato Koup. These have done very well within the market, but are still sometimes overlooked by buyers casting eyes on VWs and Audis. The only negative reports we received were that parts were somewhat pricey, but consumers reported to be incredibly happy with their Ceratos.
8. Sportage
The Kia Sportage is the go-to mid-size SUV after the Hyundai Tucson. There are many of these available used, and those who own a Sportage have nothing bad to say about them. An abundance of parts and very happy ownership reports means the Sportage is only just pipped to the top of our list by higher volume sellers.
9. Rio
Kia’s C-segment offering has been well accepted by the masses. It has a trendy appearance and is priced competitively. Consumer reports, parts listings, and a clear customer survey report card all indicate that the Rio is proving to be a very reliable car.
10. Picanto
The most reliable KIA (not by much, though) is the Picanto – right from the first generation, they’ve proved to be durable and dependable. Very popular, cheap to run, and scoring big in customer satisfaction surveys, the Picanto is the choice for new car buyers, old and young alike.