Kia Motors has earned three J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) awards with the Kia Niro, Kia Soul, and Kia Cadenza, all garnering awards in their respective segments. Kia is the only non-premium brand to register wins in three segments (in a three-way tie with two premium brands), earning accolades in the Small SUV segment (Niro), Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle segment (Soul) and Large Car segment (Cadenza). The announcement follows on the heels of Kia Motors recently being ranked highest in the industry in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) for the second year in a row and all three Kia APEAL study segment winners were also IQS segment winners.
“Customers always want cars they’re proud to own and Kia earning three J.D. Power APEAL awards reflects the global focus we have placed on ensuring our customers come first,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America. “Buyers today have more choices than ever and are looking for vehicles that offer a superior combination of design, technology, safety, efficiency and premium amenities. The Niro, Soul, and Cadenza are prime examples of these important attributes as more people discover Kia’s world-class model line every day.”
Amid tough competition, the new Niro crossover hybrid performed a substantial 51 points above its segment average. The Cadenza also outperformed strong competitors in the Large Car segment, surpassing the segment average by an impressive 27 points. The Soul, a long-running favorite among consumers looking to stand out from the crowd, garnered its fifth APEAL award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017), making it the vehicle with the most APEAL accolades in Kia’s lineup of award-winning offerings and is the only vehicle in the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle category to score above its segment average.
The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction with their vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. The results are divided into 10 categories and weighted accordingly: exterior, interior, storage, audio, seats, heating and ventilation, driving dynamics, powertrain, visibility and fuel economy.
About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*
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* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.