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Kia leads J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study for 2022

For the first year ever, Kia leads J.D. Power's annual Vehicle Dependability Study with a score of 145 problems per 100 vehicles. Buick (147) and Hyundai (148) round out the top three. The highest premium brand on the list is Genesis, with a score of 148. It's common for so-called "mass market" brands to lead this particular study, according to J.D. Power, as "premium" brands "typically incorporate more technology in their vehicles, which increases the likelihood for problems to occur" and aren't necessarily built to a higher standard that less-expensive brands. The highest-rated single nameplate is the Porsche 911. It's the third time out of the past four years and the second year in a row that Porsche's quintessential sports car has taken top honors. Porsche as a brand sits in seventh place (162) just behind Lexus (159) and ahead of Dodge (166). At the very bottom of the list is Land Rover with a dismal score of 284; the SUV specialist held the same unfortunate distinction on last year's list. Ram (266), Volvo (256), Alfa Romeo (245) and Acura (244) also performed poorly. The overall industry average score sits at 192 — mass market brands average a score of 190 while premium brands sit 14 points lower at 204. While Tesla is unofficially included in some of J.D. Power's results, the agency says the sample size it has access to for this study is too small to include. As has been the case for the past several years, infotainment systems dominate the list of problems reported by owners. Popular (or unpopular, depending on your point of view) complaints include built-in voice recognition (8.3 PP100), Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity (5.4 PP100), built-in Bluetooth system (4.5 PP100), not enough power plugs/USB ports (4.2 PP100), navigation systems difficult to understand/use (3.7 PP100), touchscreen/display screen (3.6 PP100), and navigation system inaccurate/outdated map (3.6 PP100). While problems with the car's infotainment and technology packages are indeed bothersome, it's important to remember that such issues aren't usually leaving owners stranded with an immovable vehicle like a broken transmission or blown engine would. Culling infotainment complaints from the results would reduce the average problem-per-100-vehicle score by a staggering 51.9 points. The vehicles included in this study are from the 2019 model year. That means owners have had three years to get to know their cars and trucks. It's the 33rd year that J.D.

Kia reveals facelifted 2017 Cadenza

Kia has revealed a facelifted version of its Cadenza sedan. Little in the way of technical details were released to accompany these two images of the model known in its home market as the K7. However the updated model "maintains the progressive, contemporary image of the current model" with "sharper, more defined lines and wider, lower stance" compared to the existing version. Previewed in a trio of teaser renderings just weeks ago, the new Cadenza adopts a more sharply-creased appearance. Kia says that the "long [hood], gently rising shoulder line and swept-back roofline give the car a sleek, elongated silhouette." Those lines are complemented by a a window line that rises towards the rear into a sharp kick upwards in the C-pillar, with the brand's signature tiger-nose grille flanked by wraparound LED headlamps, more muscular fenders, squared-off bumpers, wide LED taillamps, and dual exhaust tips. The new Kia Cadenza is set to reach showrooms around the world in the new year ahead. The current model shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai Azera, and was introduced in Korea in 2010 before arriving in North America in 2013. The version we currently get in the United States is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 producing 293 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Purposeful design for all-new Kia Cadenza - Sharper, more defined styling for Kia's full-size sedan - Distinctive, European-inspired looks with a sleek, elongated silhouette - Bold new model maintains the progressive image of existing Cadenza, promising greater refinement and luxury - On sale in overseas markets in 2016 (SEOUL) November 24, 2015 – Kia Motors has today revealed the updated exterior styling of the Korean domestic market all-new Kia Cadenza (known as 'K7' in Korea) in the first official photos of the new model. The all-new Cadenza boasts a purposeful new design and will feature high levels of interior quality and contemporary luxury when it goes on sale in overseas markets in 2016. The next-generation Cadenza maintains the progressive, contemporary image of the current model, and the sharper, more defined lines and wider, lower stance give the new model a modern and thoroughly distinctive new look – with key design elements ensuring the new Cadenza remains recognizable as a Kia.

IIHS says these are the safest cars of 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed its annual list of Top Safety Picks, an award that highlights automobiles it says offer "superior crash protection." A new and still more significant award, the Top Safety Pick+ honor, is given to those vehicles that earn good ratings for occupant protection in four out of five areas of measure. And while some 117 vehicles were given the TSP seal of approval for 2013, just 13 passed muster for TSP+.
To be fair, IIHS only evaluated 29 vehicles with its new testing procedures for TSP+ (we'd expect that the number of qualified cars will rise substantially for 2014). Luxury and Near Luxury midsize cars were the first groups evaluated, followed by midsizers in the Moderately Priced Cars category - unsurprisingly, it's only midsize cars that you'll find among the class this year.
Only two luxury sedans made the list of 13 for 2013: the Acura TL and Volvo S60. The other 11 cars on the list included entries from domestic, Japanese and German car makers: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (sedan and coupe), Kia Optima (but not its close kin, the Hyundai Sonata, strangely), Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kizashi and the Volkswagen Passat all made the grade.