Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
In the hotly contested compact SUV category, the Kia Sportage was ranked first in the JD Power 2014 Germany Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study, ahead of vehicles from far more prestigious brands.
The report, which rates cars and manufacturers in the German market according to overall driver satisfaction, also lists a number of other Kia models including the popular Rio – also sold in New Zealand.
The study surveyed more than 18,000 German drivers to establish their levels of satisfaction with their cars. Drivers were asked to rate their vehicle’s quality, reliability, attractiveness and running costs.
The Sportage, scoring 83.6% driver satisfaction, emerged as the most satisfying compact SUV to own and sixth most satisfying car overall, according to the study.
The Kia cee’d (the 5-door hatchback companion to the Pro_cee’d GT that recently went on sale in New Zealand) came second in the compact car category with 81.2%, and the Kia Rio was third in the small car category with 81.3%. Another Kia car, the Venga, was fourth in the small MPV category with 77.4%.
Meanwhile, Kia Motors has risen five places in the overall manufacturers’ standings, up to 10th place.
Kia Motors New Zealand general manager Todd McDonald commented: “The New Zealand market is very closely aligned with the tastes of consumers in Europe, in particular Germany and the UK, so this result carries a lot of weight with us – it shows the Kia brand position in 2012, showing long-term progress in customer and Kia vehicles are continuing to grow in desirability.”
The Kia Sportage is Kia’s best-selling model in Europe and it is also among the top selling models for Kia in New Zealand.
The 2014 Sportage, which went on sale in New Zealand in May, and now features a new 2-litre direct injection petrol engine, in addition to the ongoing 2-litre R-series diesel engine, with improvements to ride and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).
