Kia reported the fewest problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership, narrowly beating second place Porsche. It is the first time a non-premium brand has claimed the study’s top spot since Toyota in 1989.
21 of 33 brands improved as overall industry quality rose 6 percent compared to 2015. The study, released at an Automotive Press Association meeting in Detroit, also found that domestic brands outperformed their imported rivals for just the second time in the study’s 30 year history.
“It’s a banner year for the industry,” Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power, said in an interview. “We’re really seeing tremendous improvement in so many areas.”
The study, which many buyers consult before purchasing a new car, looks at problems new owners have in the first 90 days with a vehicle. The lower the score, the fewer the number of defects and the higher the vehicle quality.
