Are you searching for a reliable vehicle? If so, we have good news for you, as Kias reliability is right up there with Toyota, but at a fraction of the cost.
How reliable are Kia vehicles?
The 2020 Kia lineup has exceptional reliability ratings, according to experts. Kia has earned the following 2020 J.D. Power Highest Quality awards:
- Forte: Compact Car
- Sorento: Upper Midsize SUV
- Sedona: Minivan
- Soul: Small SUV
- Stinger: Midsize Premium Car
- Telluride: Upper Midsize SUV
Let’s take a closer look at each of the above 2020 Kia models. Using data provided by the NHTSA, as well as our massive database of information here at Vehicle History, we’ve compiled a list of owner and expert reviews, official recalls, and more, to help you feel confident before making your next purchase.
But first, a quick look at Kias humble beginnings.
Looking Back at the Kia Brand
The Kia brand is a South Korean vehicle manufacturer. Kia Motors Corporation, also known as Kia Motors, was founded in 1944. It first introduced two models in the U.S. in 1993—the Sephia and the Sportage. In 1997, during the Asian financial crisis, Kia declared bankruptcy.
And interestingly, in 1998, Kia and Hyundai Motor Company decided to diversify. They exchanged part ownership between the two companies. Hyundai acquired 51%, outbidding Ford, which already had an owned interest in Kia Motors since 1986.
Later, after the subsequent divestments, Hyundai now only owns about a third of Kia Motors. In 2010, Kia Motors opened a U.S. manufacturing plant in Georgia. And, in 2016, Kia Motors was ranked first in reliability in the U.S. by J.D. Power and Associates. This made Kia the first non-luxury brand manufacturer to top that list since 1989.
If that wasn’t enough positive information for you, for the last six years (2015 to 2020), Kia Motors has been recognized by J.D. Power as the highest-ranked mass-market brand when it comes to initial quality.
2020 Kia Soul
Expert Review: 4.6
The experts agree this vehicle is easy to drive, inexpensive, and spacious. Unfortunately, the Kia Soul lacks an all-wheel-drive option.
Owner Reviews: 4.48 Stars
- Nicest interior
- Great gas mileage (34 mpg)
- Spacious
- Zippy and comfortable
- Drives and handles well
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Soul has an NHTSA overall 4-star crash rating and no recalls to date.
2020 Kia Sportage
Expert Review: 4.4
The 2020 Kia Sportage is reasonably priced, it seats four comfortably, and, it has a choice of engines and a good variety of high-tech features. But, other compact SUVs are roomier and have more standard features.
Owner Reviews: 4.41 Stars
- Very sporty and stylish
- Roomy and comfortable to drive
- Needs more features and better acceleration
- Transmission issues
- Very reliable; mentioned several times
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Sportage has an NHTSA overall 5-star crash rating and no recalls to date.
2020 Kia Niro
Expert Review: 4.4
The Niro comes as a plug-in hybrid, or all EV. They all have a roomy interior, great styling, exceptional gas mileage, and a feature-rich option list. But, the EV and plug-in models have limited range. And, the gas mileage isn’t as good as the Toyota Prius hybrid.
Owner Reviews: 4.2 Stars
- Not enough bells and whistles
- Plenty of power and easy to handle
- Stylish
- Great gas mileage
- Too much road noise
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Niro has an NHTSA overall 4-star crash rating. But, please note the front passenger side only received a 3-star crash rating. The good news is there are no recalls to date.
2020 Kia Sorento
Expert Reviews: 4.1
The 2020 Kia Sorento is affordable, has a strong V6 engine, and is a top IIHS safety pick. But, it has a cramped third-row seat, a small cargo area, and has a lower grade interior.
Owner Reviews: 4.67 Stars
- Comfortable smooth ride
- Reliable and good on gas
- Handles well
- Stylish modern design
- Almost no space behind the third row
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Sorento has an NHTSA overall 5-star crash rating and no recalls to date.
2020 Kia Telluride
Expert Review: 4.8
The 2020 Kia Telluride is stylish and roomy, and it has modern infotainment and safety tech systems.
But it’s not good for off-road, and there isn’t a 2nd-row bench seat for the EX and SX trims.
Owner Reviews: 4.38 Stars
- Three rows of comfortable seats
- Rattling noise they can’t find
- Roomy and drives smoothly
- Several reports of automatic hard braking
- An amazing vehicle with all the bells and whistles
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Telluride has an NHTSA overall 5-star crash rating. It also has two recalls that cover: Inoperative trailer brake lights and incorrect seat belt assemblies installed.
2020 Kia Rio
Expert Review: 4.3
The 2020 Kia Rio is extremely affordable and has a sporty ride and handling. But, the trunk is small, it doesn’t have much styling, and automatic braking isn’t standard.
Owner Reviews: 4.17 Stars
- Good boring, basic, affordable car
- Great gas mileage
- No keyless entry
- Very compact and not much room in the back seat
- Reliable
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Rio has not been crash-tested by the NHTSA, and it doesn’t have any recalls to date.
2020 Kia Forte
Expert Review: 4.5
The 2020 Kia Forte is roomy, has plenty of safety features, and gets great gas mileage. But, this car is very plain and doesn’t “wow” you in any area. And, the cabin has some hard plastics.
Owner Reviews: 4.78 Stars
- Fast, comfortable, and convenient
- Great price and easy to drive
- Loads of standard tech and safety features
- Spacious
- Upscale, well-made cabin for its class
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Forte has an NHTSA overall 4-star crash rating, but it also has a warning attached about the side barrier test results. This car doesn’t have any recalls to date.
2021 Kia K5
Expert Review: 4.7
The 2021 Kia K5 is a new midsize sedan that replaces the Optima. It’s stronger, wider, longer, lower, roomier, and has a turbocharged engine. But, the sunroof cuts into the headroom.
Owner Reviews:
- Good-looking car
- Quiet interior
- Sporty drive
- Comfortable and easy to handle
- Very affordable
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The NHTSA doesn’t have any information on the 2021 Kia K5 as yet.
2020 Kia Stinger
Expert Review: 4.6
The 2020 Kia Stinger is a flashy car with exceptional exterior styling. It has a gutsy V6 engine, and you get a lot of car for your money. But, the back seat space is limited, and the sloping roofline negatively affects visibility.
Owner Review: 5 Stars
- The perfect blend of power and performance
- Stylish
- Comfortable
- Has the feel of a luxury vehicle
- Very sporty
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Stinger has an NHTSA overall 5-star crash rating and two recalls. The recalls are for an insufficient fuel supply and potential loss of steering control.
2020 Kia Cadenza
Expert Review: 4.7
The 2020 Kia Cadenza is a lot of car for the price. It’s roomy and comes with plenty of advanced safety features. But, the trunk is small, the rear seats don’t fold down, and it’s a bit of a boring drive.
Owner Reviews: 5 Stars
- So much car for the money
- Awesome warranty
- Really comfortable
- Lots of legroom
- Very reliable
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Cadenza has not been NHTSA crash tested, and there are no recalls to date.
2020 K900
Expert Review: 3.9
The 2020 Kia K900 is loaded with standard luxury features. It has a smooth ride and flies through the gears seamlessly. But, it’s not very stylish, and the gas mileage isn’t that great.
Owner Reviews:
There are no owner reviews for this vehicle as yet.
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The NHTSA has not yet rated this vehicle, and there are no recalls to date.
2020 Kia Sedona
Expert Review: 4.3
The 2020 Kia Sedona is affordable, has a powerful V6 engine, a versatile, high-quality interior, and lots of standard features. But, its resale value isn’t as high as the Honda Odyssey.
Owner Reviews: 4.67 Stars
- Roomy and has a smooth ride
- Not equipped with Sirius
- Very reliable and no problems
- Not much room for luggage
- Great warranty
Crash Ratings and Recalls:
The 2020 Kia Sedona has an NHTSA overall 5-star crash rating, and there is one recall to date. The recall is that the alternator terminal nut may loosen.
Photos: Kia
