There’s a link between quality engineering and safety, and Kia America vehicles are among the many that drivers evaluate for both. Recently, the automaker earned the highest number of J.D. Power Initial Quality Awards in the industry. 

Specifically, five Kia vehicles rolled away with top honors. These include Kia’s Forte, a compact car, Sedona minivan, Sportage compact SUV, Soul, a small SUV, and Telluride, an upper midsize SUV. 

All five Kia vehicles delivered segment-best performances in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). 

Moreover, several are repeat winners. For example, 2021 marks three consecutive wins for Forte and Sedona and the second straight year Soul ranked number one. While Sportage recaptures the title it previously held in 2019, Telluride is a first-time honoree. 

J.D. Power’s annual study explores quality issues experienced by owners during the first 90 days of ownership. 

This year, experts analyzed responses from 110,827 respondents with regards to 177 vehicle criteria across 23 vehicle segments. Vehicles were evaluated on driving experience, engine and transmission performance and a broad range of quality issues as reported by the vehicle owners.