[PeanutButter]

I am in the market for a new car and i've been jumping around quite a bit.
I've been looking for a new car for about a year now. I can't make up my mind.

Though, I keep coming back to Kia.

My concern is the durability of it. My parents have a 2000 BMW and the car is still solid and the interior still looks pretty good.

I'm a little iffy on the branding of Kia, but honestly, I feel my ego is big enough to drive a Kia. It's getting great reviews on JD power for quality and all other review sites.

I'm looking at the Kia Sorento or possibly the Cadenza. But, I like the idea of a SUV.

Any comments on Kia and your experience would be great.

[GLOW]

can't comment on SUV but my boss financed a kia forte hatch sport model new and had it for a few years. just recently traded it in on impulse for a mazda SUV.

i've sat in his car for work frequently over the years. seemed like a good car to me. didn't give him problems that i know of other than 1 flat tire. earlier this year.

[AstulzerRZD]

I drive a lot of Kias through the StudentCarShare program, here's what I've noticed.

Pros:
Good feature load for your money.
Attractive styling.

Cons:
Really cheap mechanical build quality - cars at 44000k were having issues with ball joint noise.
Things like transmission are programmed for longevity. The Rio at 148hp with less weight than a Corolla is much slower to 60 due to torque converter saving measures.

[Gucci Mane]

just look up the consumer reviews for the kia model you're considering. lots of people dont like the little kia's..

[iam_dan]

My coworker who got a 2015 Kia has been having a nightmare of an experience with them. Their after service is horrendous.

[tiger_handheld]

Have you considered the CX-3? Nifty little sub compact. The rides nice. The features are good. Bells and Whistles = 35k tax in.

I'm been really eyeing this one!

[Mr.HappySilp]

brother-in-law in an auto tech and from what he said kia always comes in for service event hose brand new ones so I would stay away.

[winson604]

Only know of a coworker who has KIA Sorento and she's been dealing with headaches so far with her cars electronics shutting her entire car down twice now while she was on the highway both times she could have been killed going from 100km/hr to car dieing. Luckily escaped with no accidents both times. Her cars been in the shop multiple times over the past 6 months and thank god she's under warranty.

[JesseBlue]

Go for it. If you like it then that is what matters. If branding is your thing then so be it and buy the name brand.

[Jmac]

I've test driven some (mainly Fortes when I was car hunting several months ago). Wasn't blown away.

Never owned one, don't know anyone who does.

Features for the dollar seems to be the main draw.

[Klondike]

I drive Kias almost everyday at work. Feel free to AMA!

The Rondo has to be my favorite. It has seven seats and has enough room for shit if you fold the rear seats but it's not a Mormon Assault Vehicle (https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/192/515322491_354f385b01.jpg).

Also it's available in manual

Sorento is really nice as well. Very comfortable, quick-ish, and AWD.


edit: I'll just make a list

Rio - Good, nimble, stylish but cheap feeling. So chep.
Forte - Better. Materials feel ever so slightly better. The koup is what the kids like.
Soul - Great for old people because it sits nice and tall. Toaster aerodynamics though. Avoid the base model.
Optima - Haven't driven it enough. Loved the interior design, very cockpit inspired (looked similar to the interior in my saab). New Optima for 2016. Previous generation had an available manual transmission
Cadenza - It's a slightly nicer Hyundai Sonata. The sonata is a phenomenal vehicle. It's comfortable and conservative.
Sedona - A severely underrated minivan. It's superior to the Chrysler Town & Country. Comparable to the Sienna, steering feels more connected in the Sedona. Very strange center console though. Removing the seats can be tricky.

I haven't driven a Sportage, or a k900.

[ImportPsycho]

<- 2011 Sorrento SX owner, close to 100k mileage so far.

Other than regular oil change, maintenances
Ive been to services 3 times.
2x door not opening from outside - fixed under warranty
1x just last month, swaybar or something lose, worn out, making knocking noise when driving over bumps - fixed under warranty.

In almost 5 years, i would say it's been really good to me *knock on wood**smash wood*

[PeanutButter]

I drive Kias almost everyday at work. Feel free to AMA!

The Rondo has to be my favorite. It has seven seats and has enough room for shit if you fold the rear seats but it's not a Mormon Assault Vehicle (https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/192/515322491_354f385b01.jpg).

Also it's available in manual

Sorento is really nice as well. Very comfortable, quick-ish, and AWD.


edit: I'll just make a list

Rio - Good, nimble, stylish but cheap feeling. So chep.
Forte - Better. Materials feel ever so slightly better. The koup is what the kids like.
Soul - Great for old people because it sits nice and tall. Toaster aerodynamics though. Avoid the base model.
Optima - Haven't driven it enough. Loved the interior design, very cockpit inspired (looked similar to the interior in my saab). New Optima for 2016. Previous generation had an available manual transmission
Cadenza - It's a slightly nicer Hyundai Sonata. The sonata is a phenomenal vehicle. It's comfortable and conservative.
Sedona - A severely underrated minivan. It's superior to the Chrysler Town & Country. Comparable to the Sienna, steering feels more connected in the Sedona. Very strange center console though. Removing the seats can be tricky.

I haven't driven a Sportage, or a k900.


It seems serving the Kia's may be an issue, do you notice that the Kia's come in for service quite a bit?

I'm worried about durability and maintenance. Can you comment on that, or do you just drive the newer cars?

[PeanutButter]

<- 2011 Sorrento SX owner, close to 100k mileage so far.

Other than regular oil change, maintenances
Ive been to services 3 times.
2x door not opening from outside - fixed under warranty
1x just last month, swaybar or something lose, worn out, making knocking noise when driving over bumps - fixed under warranty.

In almost 5 years, i would say it's been really good to me *knock on wood**smash wood*

Thanks for this. I'm really skeptical now since many of you claim the servicing isn't the greatest. Argh... I really like Kia. I like where they are going, but maybe they're just not there yet. I guess it's tough to compete with a Honda or Toyota in terms of durability and low maintenance

[ImportPsycho]

which Sorrento or Cadenza, trim are you looking at?
if we know your price range, and kind of options you are looking for. maybe someone can suggest alternatives.

I went with SX because I wanted 3rd row seat.
at that time, nothing with 3rd row seats came close to SX price range.
plus financing % was unbeatable.
Now I realize 3rd row seat is completely useless, not just Serrento, but all SUV in general.... i should've bought mini-van instead.... lol

[Klondike]

It seems serving the Kia's may be an issue, do you notice that the Kia's come in for service quite a bit?

I'm worried about durability and maintenance. Can you comment on that, or do you just drive the newer cars?

Other than regular oil changes, the kias in our fleet haven't had any issues.

I do drive the newer Kias (2014-16) so I can't comment on long-term durability.

They (the cars) still run and drive smooth, even after being beat on (they're rental cars).

[winson604]

It seems serving the Kia's may be an issue, do you notice that the Kia's come in for service quite a bit?

I'm worried about durability and maintenance. Can you comment on that, or do you just drive the newer cars?

Ahh the buying new car debate. I hear ya brotha I know KIA's and stuff are so tempting b/c of bang for the buck and while I can't comment first hand how they are I'm just not there personally with Korean cars. They've come a long way but I rather pay more/get less buying a Honda or Toyota etc but that's just me.

Like someone mentioned, why don't you give us the budget taxes in and what you're looking for. I know you're capable of searching yourself but maybe there's some good options out there you're forgetting. I'm assuming you were thinking of a brand new KIA? if yes, maybe you buy a 1-3 year old used Honda/Toyota/Mazda which would drop that price down a bit but still give you a very new car still under warranty?

[Liquid_o2]

My dad has a 2014 Kia Forte. Had it for 2.5 years now and all he has done is oil changes/basic servicing.

It is nothing exceptional and won`t set the world on fire, but a good point A to B car. It looks good and it has a ton of features for the price. Power folding mirrors on a $21k car? Drives pretty decently too with the 174hp engine.

Remember that Kia shares a lot of its parts bin with Hyundai, so take that for what it is since Hyundai has really pushed through the market in terms of reliability over the past 5 years.

At this point, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase Korean for a daily driver anymore IMHO (although I still drive Japanese...).

[Tapioca]

If you plan to keep the car for only the duration of the warranty period (4-5 years), long-term reliability shouldn't really be a factor. What are your plans for your new car? Do you want to drive it for 8-10 years? If so, then you have to weigh the cost of buying a more proven brand vs saving money today/getting more bang for your buck.

You should also consider the complexity of the car you're buying. If you opt for AWD, then you'll have to be aware of maintaining the transfer case and differential. If you buy an AWD, make sure you have good powertrain coverage. Ditto the automatic transmission. I doubt you're looking at manuals, but something else to consider is that modern CVTs are relatively unproven in terms of long-term reliability. Who makes transmissions for Kia/Hyundai? Is it GM? Or some other company? Or you considering a turbo-charged engine? Again, more complexity in turbo engines means more things can give you trouble down the road.

[PeanutButter]

I plan on keeping the car for a long time. My parents never leased and every car they have had has lasted them 10+ years.

My budget is about $35k. I am seriously considering the Kia Sportage. A colleague of mine actually drives a Sportage and I took his for a test drive and I really like it.

Though, I was looking on CL and you can find a 2008 Audi Q5 for $25k. I'm really torn on what to do. I am leaning towards the older Q5 though.

[8000rpmvtec]

Just buy a Japanese car instead. You will have better luck driving a Honda or Toyota than a car that's made by a company that has a bad reputation for lousy cars. This accounts for Hyundai as well, as some of their parts are from Kia.

[winson604]

I plan on keeping the car for a long time. My parents never leased and every car they have had has lasted them 10+ years.

My budget is about $35k. I am seriously considering the Kia Sportage. A colleague of mine actually drives a Sportage and I took his for a test drive and I really like it.

Though, I was looking on CL and you can find a 2008 Audi Q5 for $25k. I'm really torn on what to do. I am leaning towards the older Q5 though.

So many possibilities and sometimes you may not know what the right choice is until later but at that point there's no point looking back to think what if. The right choice now is whatever choice you make.

if it were up to me I would not go Korean, no offence to them but I don't have that long term trust yet. As for the older Q5, yea it's tempting, I mean used cars are tempting in the fact you can get a car you otherwise would have never purchased brand new but I'm not a fan of used cars, 7 years that's a ot of potential problems waiting to happen for me. Plenty of people have good experiences with used cars and I'm not saying it's a bad choice I'm just saying it ain't for me as I like to be worry free with that stuff.

[bcrdukes]

I would not get one.

I've driven too many over the years. They impress initially, but after a few days, weeks, months, years, you start to notice how not-so-great they are. Friends I know who decided to go this route, in the same fashion you did, regret their decision, and these people grew up driving Japanese cars.

You may want to consider a Porsche Cayenne S that is dealer maintained. Most of the first owners are dumping them to get the Macan. They're underrated and unloved like the 996, but they are amazing and solid cars. You can pick a very nice one between $16 - $18K tops with plenty to spare for long-term maintenance and repairs. A friend of mine picked up a 2004 Cayenne S with 115,000km, dealer maintained for $16K. Sucks on gas, but it sure beats sitting in a crummy car for the next 5 years.

Any how, the only right choice is the one you make, like winson604 said. If you feel like the Kia is the right car for you, then get it. Only you can decide that, not us.

Good luck.

[ImportPsycho]

If I had to choose between two, i go with Kia
Doesn't matter Toyota or Audi
All cars start squeak after 10 years
At least with kia you'll have next 5 years of warranty to fall back on. Q5, if it breaks as soon as you drive out the lot, you are SOL.
maybe used rav4 or CRV at even lower prices than that Q5?

[08civicsi_coupe]

we own a 2015 optima turbo and all i can say is don't buy a kia their after service is terrible and our has had a whole new engine and been in the shop 3 of the 6 months we've owned it

[tool001]

Lol taxi driver in Korea once told me... " Kia, hyundai.....no good!""

A few bodyshops told me Kia, hyundai try to cut corners while painting cars to keep costs low..
As someone else said..get Honda or Toyota.. Will last longer..better resale

[AstulzerRZD]

Lol taxi driver in Korea once told me... " Kia, hyundai.....no good!""

A few bodyshops told me Kia, hyundai try to cut corners while painting cars to keep costs low..
As someone else said..get Honda or Toyota.. Will last longer..better resale
Interesting to hear this, I remember the 12- Sonata being marketed as having a better paint process than Mercedes when it was released

[AstulzerRZD]

Although more unreliable? I found the VW Touraeg had much better interior quality and materials than the 1st generation Cayenne did. E.g. the slow release handbrake, etc.
I would not get one.

I've driven too many over the years. They impress initially, but after a few days, weeks, months, years, you start to notice how not-so-great they are. Friends I know who decided to go this route, in the same fashion you did, regret their decision, and these people grew up driving Japanese cars.

You may want to consider a Porsche Cayenne S that is dealer maintained. Most of the first owners are dumping them to get the Macan. They're underrated and unloved like the 996, but they are amazing and solid cars. You can pick a very nice one between $16 - $18K tops with plenty to spare for long-term maintenance and repairs. A friend of mine picked up a 2004 Cayenne S with 115,000km, dealer maintained for $16K. Sucks on gas, but it sure beats sitting in a crummy car for the next 5 years.

Any how, the only right choice is the one you make, like winson604 said. If you feel like the Kia is the right car for you, then get it. Only you can decide that, not us.

Good luck.

[AstulzerRZD]

I plan on keeping the car for a long time. My parents never leased and every car they have had has lasted them 10+ years.

My budget is about $35k. I am seriously considering the Kia Sportage. A colleague of mine actually drives a Sportage and I took his for a test drive and I really like it.

Though, I was looking on CL and you can find a 2008 Audi Q5 for $25k. I'm really torn on what to do. I am leaning towards the older Q5 though.
I would not suggest the Sportage. Overly stiff suspension tune with no real driving dynamics (typical Hyundai), very limited visibility, and cramped interior quarters.

[MindBomber]

My cousin and his partner have purchased three Kias. Out of them, one (the second that they purchased) was a complete lemon that was in the shop for months on end. The dealership eventually offered to sell them another Kia for a bargin (which became the third one they purchased) because they couldn't find a way to make it run with any degree of reasonable reliability. One out of their three cars being a complete lemon and the other two being only OK is enough to stear me clear of the brand. Stick to Honda/Toyota.

[Gululu]

just get the new nissan rogue. stay away from kia (the new honda). cars like Kia should only be used as rental fleets in canada.
in terms of import car overall ranking: Lexus>Nissan/infiniti>Toyota>Hyundai>Honda/Acura>Kia

[winson604]

I'm no car guy except for that fact that I drive them but I've had great experiences with my Mazda 6 so far, 6 years old now. Have another Mazda at home a 2003 Protege 5 which has also been great until recently but then again it's at like 200 clicks now.

I hear the new Skyactiv shiet isn't too bad but again I'm no car guy, I really don't know shit all.

[dn53]

I can agree the paint on the kias suck, you can see the orange peel on them pretty readily.

The quality on them I would say is on par with Hyundai. Many of the parts and design come from the same factory and likely undergo the same quality conttol

I should mention that Kia has an attractive warranty period of 5yrs or 100k, full coverage and as a tech I've put tons of stuff through warranty that I probably shouldn't have lol

The only times where I've seen catastrophic engine failure is usually when the customer goes 20k over there service interval. Pull the valve cover off and it's full of sludge. I guess due to the customer base, it can attract a lot of people who don't take care of their vehicles, and evidently can put the image of the brand to shit.

I don't work there anymore, but if you are looking for a reliable vehicle, although they do lack some driving dynamic, (optima turbo pack a ton of horsepower but they aren't that fun to drive) don't be afraid to pick one up.

[Liquid_o2]

Anyone have any experience with the Kia Soul? All the reviews online (Motortrend, Autoblog, KBB etc.) seem to give it glowing reviews. My mom is looking for a new car and she seems to like them. I'm trying to steer her towards a Mazda 3 hatch or Honda Fit, maybe Elantra GT.

[bcrdukes]

If you love your mom, please do not let her get a Kia Soul. I got one as a rental and it was such a fucking piece of shit. They are meant to be leased and part of rental fleets. Fuck no.

[vantrip]

we own a 2015 optima turbo and all i can say is don't buy a kia their after service is terrible and our has had a whole new engine and been in the shop 3 of the 6 months we've owned it

This is pretty typical of new kia's. I advise to stay away from them as I seen people brand new kia being towed in for serious engine issues. Also we have some soul's in the fleet and there always getting something fixed under warranty.

[Jmac]

Anyone have any experience with the Kia Soul? All the reviews online (Motortrend, Autoblog, KBB etc.) seem to give it glowing reviews. My mom is looking for a new car and she seems to like them. I'm trying to steer her towards a Mazda 3 hatch or Honda Fit, maybe Elantra GT.
Lemon-Aid 2015 review of Kia Soul

Road performance: Some powerful engines and fuel-sipping powertrains (the 2.0L is a better choice for reserve power), although the base engine could use more grunt at low engine rpm; a compliant suspension, without undue body roll or front-end plow; and fairly agile cornering, with good steering feedback. A busy highway ride.

Strong points: Inexpensive and well equipped with safety devices like ABS, stability control, six airbags, and active head restraints - features that are rare on entry-level small cars. User-friendly, simple controls; plenty of interior room, especially when it comes to headroom; excellent front and side visibility; and comfortable seats.

Weak points: Ominpresent rattles; excessive wind and road noise; and many body, fit, and finish glitches. Poor-quality, easily broken, or prematurely worn interior items. The AC defroster may not clear the windshield. Owners decry a plethora of fit and finish deficiencies, including excessive condensation in the headlights, chips in the glass and paint, and door panels that scratch with the slightest touch. Steering wheel noise and vibration repair. Fuel economy is seriously overstated.

[ImportPsycho]

Soul is ugly as Faaaak!

[dc5typeS]

26486

reliability scores

[PeanutButter]

^porsche really dropped. IIRC, Porsche was top 3 before.