Marking the first time in 27 years that a non-premium brand has topped the rankings, Kia’s rise to the top was driven by segment-leading performances from the Sportage and Soul, while Rio, Forte (also known as Cerato in Malaysia and some regions) and Sorento all ranked in the top three of their respective categories.
Kia Sportage GT Line
Over the years, the Korean brand had transformed itself into an industry leader in design, quality and technology.
“Ranking number one in the entire industry for initial quality is the result of Kia’s decade-long focus on craftsmanship and continuous improvement, and reflects the voice of our customers, which is the ultimate affirmation,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, Kia Motors America. “As the highest ranked brand in the industry, there is no doubt Kia is a world-class automaker.”
Kia Sorento
With Kia’s US sales having consistently grown over the last four years to surpass the 600,000 annual unit mark, so too has the brand’s performance in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study.
After entering the overall top 10 for the first time in 2013, Kia placed second in the industry and led all non-premium makes in IQS in 2015.
Kia Rio
Now in its 30th year, the annual J.D. Power IQS analyses responses from vehicle owners in 26 segments.
IQS is determined by vehicle owners evaluating the driving experience, engine and transmission performance, and a broad range of quality-related problems within the first 90 days of ownership.
