Kia/Hyundia rise in popularity

Matt82

Matt82

Matt82

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13 Mar 2004
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I am totally baffled how this has happened.

theyre now becoming very common on the road, ive overheard conversations where i may have mistakenly heard them being described as desirable.

how on earth did a manufactuer who only 5 years ago went from turning out utter dross to being a very common fixture on todays roads?

i can only imagine their 5-7 year warranties and todays "first owner" centric market has made them become such a common choice.

does anyone here own a kia or hyundia?
 
I think because they are
A: Cheap
B: Reasonably reliable
C: A reasonable size car

We bought a Rio nearly 8 years ago new, as we needed a car that had to be reliable (a neighbour had one), and had a tight budget.

Kia were the only company that offered a "full size" car new at the sort of price we could justify paying - a used car was not really an option as we needed something that would be relatively trouble free :)

They're not "drivers" cars, but are ideal for anyone who just wants a reliable car to go from A to B (IIRC several of our local Taxi firms are using the better specced models with no complaints), especially if you need something a little larger than a Corsa (the Rio is about the same price as a Corsa, but with a fair bit more usable space).

I suspect it's the warranty that is really selling a lot of them, as it suggests the manufacturer has a lot of confidences in them (and it even resets if you buy one second hand from the dealer under some conditions), and can mean you're basically not going to have to worry about any unexpected bills for a number of years :)

I think Kia and Hyndai have been pretty aggressive in getting their cars onto the road so that they can get word of mouth to people who do just want a cheap, newish reliable car.
 
Because they make, for the most part, sharply styled cars that are good to drive and have extensive warranties.

It hasn't taken them long to work out what people want, and simply start supplying it - much like Japan did when it first came in to the UK marketplace. As a result, the companies are now reaping the rewards of their efforts. They have huge financial and engineering backing and are determined to command their relevant market sectors.

Most of their models are already as good, if not better, as offerings from Toyota and Honda. Kia's Picanto, for example, is superior to Toyota's new Yaris. The Hyundai i40 Tourer is superb as well, even when compared to products from more mainstream manufacturers.
 
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The truth is, a Kia Ceed is easily as good as an Astra but with a huge warranty. If you're buying a generic **** with your own/business money, it's not hard to see why Kia is striding up the ranks :)
 
s0ck said:
The truth is, a Kia Ceed is easily as good as an Astra but with a huge warranty. If you're buying a generic **** with your own/business money, it's not hard to see why Kia is striding up the ranks :)
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is pretty close to it

when its your own money and you want something to do a job, why pay over the odds?

its like any other white goods for your kitchen...

in this case when compared to your normal family hatch they all the the same thing with no fuss and no glamour..except the koreans give you a better warranty for less cash..its a fridge with 4 wheels

not everybody thinks of cars like this..but a lot of people do, and good luck to them
 
I like the new Hyundai's, they have really improved over the years and make some good looking and reliable cars.
 
They are learning, and learning fast. Last few Hyundais ive seen look more than passable, as does that Kia 4x4 thing that seems to be hugely popular down here.
 
the sportage is a decent looking car..theres loads in aberdeen as well where they seem to be the school run car of choice.
 
My first car was a Hyundai, paid £200 with less than 25k on the clock. Car was epic, 1950's suspension on the back and struggled with corners at below normal speeds. I once went to go around a roundabout at 20 mph and somehow ended up, up the curb and dangerously close to a ditch. For £200 though it was an epic bargain and I would buy one again... mine had air con, grandad seats, electric everything and alloy wheels, was just a pretty good little car bar the back end that had a mind of its own.

Was a 1996 N plate Hyundai Lantra Jura 1.5 for anybody thats interested :)
 
I reckon they offer a product with a high spec at a reasonable price.Not everyone gets a thrill out of driving and require cheap, reliable transport from A to B in relative luxury. Personally, unlikely to buy one but hey, you pays your money you gets your pick
 
Jono said:
True, but new cars will have the longest possible mfg warranty remaining, won't they?
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Yes. However, approved used cars typically come with 1 year of manufacturer warranty bargainable to 2 years, and many manufacturers have used car warranty extensions that allow you to renew annually for a premium. This warranty extension premium will almost certainly be cheaper than the 1st and 2nd year depreciation.
 
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