IRVINE, Calif., April 15, 2019 — After ushering in a dynamic new era for Kia Motors, the 2018 Stinger sportback has been awarded the first-ever J.D. Power Engineering Award for Highest-Rated All-New Vehicle. Based on combined consumer evaluations included in the J.D. Power Initial Quality SM and APEALSM Studies, Kia is the first OEM to be recognized by J.D. Power for delivering the highest-rated new entry into the market for a model year.
“The Stinger is the result of years of hard work and dedication from the industry’s top designers and engineers. We turned what was once considered a dream car into a startling and enthralling new reality,” said Michael Cole, chief operating officer & EVP, Kia Motors America. “Being the first auto manufacturer to receive this prestigious award from J.D. Power, an organization known for excellence in research, is a true testament to Kia’s ‘Give It Everything’ philosophy.”
The J.D. Power Engineering Award for Highest-Rated All-New Vehicle combines the results of two well-known J.D. Power studies, the Initial Quality Study (IQS) which measures new-vehicle quality by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) as reported by consumers during the first 90 days of ownership; and the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) award, which measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction with their vehicles within the first 90 days of ownership. Categories evaluated include exterior, interior, storage, audio, seats, heating and ventilation, driving dynamics, powertrain, visibility, and fuel economy.
“This is the first time J.D. Power has analyzed customer data in order to identify a remarkable achievement by a vehicle development team,” said Doug Betts, senior vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “This is feedback on both the quality and the performance of the vehicle taken straight from the owners of the vehicle. What we are seeing is a team of designers, R&D engineers and a manufacturing team that are working very effectively together to launch something quite exceptional.”
About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*
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*The Telluride, Sorento and Optima (excluding Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
