In its first appearance in the UK’s annual JD Power and Associates customer satisfaction index survey, the Kia Sorento scored a class victory — best 4x4 with a ‘5Star’ rating and 7th overall.
With a customer satisfaction rating of 84 percent, the Sorento and its ownership experience were described by JD Power associate "WhatCar?" magazine as "good or above average in seven out of the eight survey categories...the cabin is practical, seats comfortable, styling attractive...dealers are helpful and polite...some of the lowest running costs in the 4x4 class... a worthy winner."
According to Yong-Hwan Kim, senior executive vice-president and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, "The introduction of the Sorento SUV to our line-up in 2002 took Kia Motors to a whole new level by redefining our brand as not just an automaker of small, low-cost vehicles but also a maker of premium cars, and we have not looked back since. In 2004, the Sorento was our third leading seller globally with 106,269 units sold, and we expect this popular model to become our top seller in 2005 with nearly 121,000 units being delivered to customers."
"Kia has made giant steps to improve its entire model range in recent years and the JD Power survey results confirm that the Sorento is a satisfying vehicle to own," said Jean-Charles Lievens, senior vice-president of Kia Motors Europe.
The JD Power survey contacted 90,000 UK owners (selected at random) who purchased new vehicles between September 2002 and August 2003. For a vehicle to appear in the survey, at least 50 owners of that model had to complete and return the 70-question survey form. The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) was calculated by JD Power from owner’s assessments in eight categories: vehicle performance, interior comfort and practicality, exterior styling, mechanical, interior and exterior problems, dealer service and ownership costs.
In the all-vehicles overall league table of 124 models, the Kia Sorento ranked 7th — outperforming its main 4x4 competitors.
