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J.D. Power

Are There Any Bad Cars Left? Kia tops J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

Last updated: Sep 27, 2019 at 4:22PM
Published on: Jun 28, 2016 by Matt Smith

2017 Kia Sportage EX EX

If there’s one piece of advice I find myself sanctimoniously preaching to prospective car shoppers, it’s this: There’s no such thing as a bad car anymore.

Long, long ago, in the early 1990s, Kia Motors expanded to the United States, bringing with it little economical runabouts like the Sephia sedan and the Sportage crossover. There was just one problem: These cars weren’t exactly what we’d describe as “good.” Sub-100-hp engines, crude transmissions, and interiors featuring more plastics than Mean Girls. The little Sephia couldn’t even deliver great fuel economy, barely eking out 27 mpg highway with its automatic transmission. A ‘94 Ford Escort could manage 5 mpg better with nearly identical power specs.

But oh, how times have changed. Despite a poor first impression, Kia has emerged as a shining example of the fact that there really are no more “bad” cars. Every year, J.D. Power conducts its Initial Quality Study, wherein car owners are surveyed to determine which vehicles deliver the best experience within the first 90 days. By placing first on J.D. Power’s 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study, Kia earned the honor of being the first non-premium brand in 27 years to take home Gold.

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Filed Under: Car News Tagged With: 2016 Initial Quality, Chevrolet, Ford Escort, hyundai, J.D. Power, Kia, Kia Soul, Porsche, Sephia, Sportage, Toyota

Reliable Rides: 10 Used Cars You Can Count On

Last updated: Mar 9, 2016 at 3:09PM
Published on: Mar 4, 2016 by John Harrington

1969 Chevrolet C/K 20

Expected reliability is the single most important factor in deciding on a car, according to J.D. Power. Whether you want a vehicle for off-roading, track days, or everyday commuting, you definitely don’t want one that will cost you a lot of extra money, time, or frustration in repairs. J.D. Power’s annual Vehicle Dependability Study, now in its 27th year, polls owners of 3-year-old cars to determine the number of problems they experienced during the previous 12 months. The company then ranks each maker and model by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles.

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Filed Under: Car Industry News, Car Lists, Car Shopping, General Chat, Trucks & SUVs, United States Tagged With: Buick LaCrosse, Car Minded, chevrolet camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, gmc yukon, Honda FIt, J.D. Power, Lexus ES 350, Lexus GX 460, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, Toyota Sienna, Used Cars

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