In the past several years, Kia has made significant strides in increasing the quality and sophistication of its vehicle offerings. Its hard work paid off after becoming the #1 mass-market brand in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study in 2021. Kia went higher in the latest edition of the survey, becoming the #1 overall in vehicle dependability.
Fewer Vehicle Problems Mean High VDS Score
J.D. Power’s 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) covers around 184 problems and issues (across nine major categories) that original owners of three-year-old vehicles have experienced. These categories include: powertrain; infotainment technology; driving assistance technology; features, controls, and displays; climate system; seats; exterior condition; interior condition; and driving experience.
Based on consumer responses, J.D. Power determines which makes and models are most and least troublesome, assigning a score according to number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) on a 1,000-point scale. Many carmakers used the study as a marketing tool for their vehicles, especially if they scored lower PP100.
J.D. Power based the 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study from responses from 29,487 original owners of 2019 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The company conducted the study from July 2021 through November 2021, covering 32 nameplates.
Kia Is New Top-Scorer Of Annual Dependability Study
For the 2022 edition of the Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power ranked Kia as the new #1 overall among all major auto brands (both mainstream and luxury) in the U.S. Overall as a nameplate, Kia only had 145 PP100. This marked the first time Kia led the overall VDS ranking after placing third overall in the 2021 edition of the study. Kia beat the industry average by 47 PP100.
Sister brands Hyundai and Genesis also ranked high in the 2022 VDS, scoring 147 PP100 and 155 PP100. Hyundai was third in the mass-market brand category, while Genesis lorded the premium vehicle category.
Kia particularly scored high with the US-built Sorento, which topped the Upper Midsize SUV category in the VDS for the second straight year. The Hyundai Sonata and the Hyundai Santa Fe topped the Mid-Size Car and Mid-Size SUV categories.
Other High-Rankers Of 2022 Dependability Survey
Other mass market brands that ranked high for vehicle dependability in 2022 include Buick (147 PP100), Hyundai (148 PP100), Toyota (158 PP100) and Dodge (166 PP100). Following Genesis in the premium segment are Lexus (159 PP100), Porsche (162 PP100), Cadillac (168 PP100) and Lincoln (180 PP100).
The Porsche 911 is the most dependable model in the 2022 study, making the second consecutive year it topped the VDS.
Source: Kia Motors, J.D. Power