Today: 9:00AM - 8:00PM
  • Ken Ganley Kia Mentor

We want to buy your vehicle! Get a free quote now!

Kia vs. Nissan Brand Comparison

Kia vs Nissan Brand Comparison at Mentor Kia

Across the country, more and more drivers have been making the switch to Kia. As the #1 Mass Market Brand in Initial Quality, 5 Years in a Row -- it comes as no surprise that Kia continues to stand above the competition. Demonstrating such a commitment to excellence has helped Kia earn a coveted spot inside the garage of all types of drivers. To help illustrate how Kia remains the top choice in the industry, Ken Ganley Kia Mentor has assembled this in-depth brand comparison. In this matchup, we’ll take a closer look at how Kia measures up against one of its biggest rivals – Nissan. Once you see the results, you’ll have no trouble understanding why Kia continues to outperform the competition.


Confidence – Kia Warranty Coverage

Kia Powertrain Warranty Coverage

Nothing instills a sense of confidence behind the wheel of your new vehicle quite like robust warranty coverage. Included on all new Kia vehicles is an industry-leading 10-year / 100,000-mile warranty program, a true testament to our commitment to quality. No other manufacturer stands behind its vehicles like Kia. Compared to Nissan, it’s clear that choosing a Kia will provide you with peace of mind for years to come.

Kia Warranty Comparison Nissan
5 Years / 60,000 Miles Check Mark Basic Warranty Coverage 3 Years / 36,000 Miles
10 Years / 100,000 Miles Check Mark Powertrain Warranty Coverage 5 Years / 60,000 Miles
5 Years / 60,000 Miles Check Mark Roadside Assistance Coverage 3 Years / 36,000 Miles

QUALITY – J.D. POWER U.S. VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY

J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study

When it comes to quality, Kia has a clear advantage over Nissan. In the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability survey, Kia finished third, just behind Lexus and Porsche. We’d say that Kia is in pretty good company. Nissan, meanwhile, finished below the industry average of 121 problems per 100 new vehicles with an average of 128. Kia, on the other hand, boasts just 97 problems per 100 vehicles. That puts Kia ahead of not only Nissan, but other luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. In fact, Kia ranked at the top in two specific segments in the study, with the Kia Sportage ranked as the best small SUV and the Kia Sorento ranked as the best midsize SUV.


Peace of Mind – Award-Winning Certified Pre-Owned Program

Kia Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles

Last year, Kia was the only brand that swept all three categories of the IntelliChoice Certified Pre-Owned Program Awards for the first time since 2011. These three honors included Best Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program, Best Used Cost of Ownership and Best CPO Warranty Program. For 2021, Kia took home the award for Best Popular CPO Warranty and Best Popular Brand Used Ownership Costs. The team of experts at IntelliChoice praised the Kia 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, plus 1 year/12,000 miles of comprehensive platinum coverage for CPO vehicles, in addition to the low overall ownership costs related to the brand. With only 7 years of coverage, Nissan simply cannot match the award-winning Kia Certified Pre-Owned Program.


Value - Best Car for the Money Awards | U.S. News & World Report 

Kia Sorento Exterior

It’s no secret that choosing a vehicle with a proven reputation for tremendous value and quality helps make your daily drive feel more rewarding. Each year, the experts at U.S. Cars & World Report announce their choices for their Best Car for the Money Awards. Vehicles selected as winners represent a combination of both value and quality. Indicators of quality are determined by each vehicle’s performance in U.S. News & World Report Best Car Rankings. Value is measured by a combination of transaction prices and five-year total ownership costs.

In truly dominant fashion, Kia received a total of four 2020 Best Car for the Money awards from U.S. News & World Report in four separate categories. In comparison, Nissan failed to earn any first place awards in any category. For 2020, they came back to repeat their success. In fact, the Kia Soul and Kia Sorento have won these awards for five consecutive years.

“Winning one Best Car for the Money awards is a great honor,” said Michael Cole, president, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Winning four is fantastic. It’s Kia’s mission to provide consumers with desirable high-quality vehicles at the best value, and so this recognition from U.S. News & World Report is tremendously gratifying.”

  • Kia Forte – Best Compact Car (2020-2021)
  • Kia Soul – Best Subcompact SUV (2017-2021)
  • Kia Sorento – Best 3-Row SUV (2017-2021)
  • Kia Sedona – Best Minivan (2020)