Hyundai and Kia Dominated JD Power’s ‘Top Small SUVs in Quality’ Ratings
In the most recent JD Power study both Kia and Hyundai took the top three spots for their quality.
Written by Serena Aburahma
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Hyundai and Kia score big on JD Power Study
J.D. Power's
studies of top-ranking vehicles are valued by customers looking for quality rides. The rankings are based on the annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, which surveys many thousands of customers who bought their car, truck, or SUV new.The surveys sent to customers ask them to submit information on any problems that they have had with their new vehicles. J.D. Power compiles this data to rank vehicles based on how many problems per 100 units (known as a PP100 score) have been noted.
Vehicles considered for the list of top small SUVs in quality included both small and compact SUVs.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
What did JD Power say about the top-scoring small SUVs?
Hyundai and Kia both dominated the 2021 rankings, with the top three picks all being manufactured by those companies. Let's take a look at the three vehicles that found themselves on top.
Kia actually won out over Hyundai in terms of the number of its vehicles in the top three. It scored two out of the top three spots versus Hyundai's one. The two Kia vehicles that nabbed a top spot were the Kia Soul and the Kia Sportage.
About the Soul, J.D. Power notes that it does lack a feature typical on many SUVs, which is all-wheel drive. Despite that fact, the Kia Soul does come with some key features, including a rear-seat reminder system, accessible remote starting, and retuned suspension on the X-line and GT-Line trims. Should you go with a Soul Turbo, you can expect what J.D. Power calls a "spunky 201-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine."
Then there's the Kia Sportage, which comes in four trim levels. The SX trim will give you the most hp, at 240. Otherwise, the standard trim comes with a 181 hp 4-cylinder engine.
As for Hyundai, its contribution to the top three is the Tucson, which J.D. Power calls "one of the highest-quality Compact SUVs you can buy." You can choose between AWD and FWD among six trim levels. The 2021 Tucson was the final year in its current iteration before a complete redesign.
A look at JD Power's rankings of the vehicles
So, now that we've got the basics out of the way, you're probably wondering, how did these vehicles actually rank against each other? The SUV coming in third on the list was the Soul. Its PP100 score was 121, and it received a quality award from J.D. Power in the Small SUV segment.
In second place was the Hyundai Tucson, which also had a PP100 score of 121. Finally, the small SUV that took the top prize on the list was the Kia Sportage, with a PP100 score of 117. The Sportage received a quality award from J.D. Power in the Compact SUV segment.
Get insured with Jerry's help
If you're planning to buy a new small or compact SUV, you'll of course need to make sure that it's properly insured. But finding the time to find just the right policy can be a challenge. That's where
Jerry
can help. Jerry is an app that can take your information and find you the best car insurance policy for your needs in just seconds, saving you time and hassle. Even better, it can keep comparing rates every six months to make sure you never overpay for insurance.
Check out Jerry today and save up to $800 on car insurance.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
