South Korea’s Kia Motors Corp. has come first in J.D. Power’s new vehicle quality study in the United States, raising expectations for sale performance improvement in the world’s second largest auto market.

According to the Initial Quality Study (IQS) released by U.S.-based J.D. Power on Wednesday (local time), Kia Motors ranked highest in the annual quality study among all 31 auto brands with a score of 136, sharing the title with Dodge.

Chevrolet was third with a score of 141, Genesis fifth with 142, Hyundai Motor 10th with 153, Lexus 12th with 159, Nissan 13th with 161, BMW 18th with 176, Porsche 24th with 186, and Mercedes-Benz 28th with 202.

Launched in 1987, J.D. Power’s IQS is measured by the number of problems experienced by per 100 vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership, with a lower score meaning fewer problems and higher quality. The study results are widely used by American consumers as a new car purchasing guideline on top of being used as a key quality comparison index.

The latest study was based on responses to new 2020 model-year cars sold from November 2019 to February 2020.

By segment, four Kia Motors vehicles ranked top in their respective category – Forte (K3) in the compact car, Soul in the small SUV, Sorento in the upper mid-size SUV, and Sedona in the minivan.

“J.D. Power’s new car IQS is measured based on the experience of actual owners. Kia Motors this year ranked No. 1 among all brands and kept its lead among mass-market auto brands for the sixth consecutive year, proving higher quality of its vehicles to consumers,” said an official at Kia Motors.

Meanwhile, Kia Motors’ seven-seat Telluride SUV was named a 2020 Wards 10 Best Interiors winner, showing off its spacious, upscale interior bringing advanced technology and convenience to both drivers and passengers.

By Kang Gye-man and Lee Ha-yeon

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