Rio and Stinger Named Segment Winners in J.D. Power APEAL Study

Kia’s stylish subcompact, the 2018 Rio and its GT performance sedan, the 2018 Stinger has been named segment winners in J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) awards. These awards come on the heels of J.D. Power naming Kia Motor the highest ranked mass-market brand in its Initial Quality Study (IQS) for the fourth consecutive year and the Rio winning an IQS segment award.

Completely redesigned for 2018, the Rio scored the highest marks in overall performance, design, comfort, features, and style. Available in both a sedan and 5-door hatchback, the Rio has European style, fuel efficiency, innovative technology and safety features. The Rio offers features not commonly found in a compact including Bluetooth, a six-speaker stereo with satellite radio, rear-view camera and smartphone integration through Android Auto^TM and Apple CarPlay^TM.

The Stinger outshone its more expensive European counterparts and added to its list of awards and accolades including Best in Show at SEMA 2017, Best of the Year Motor Week’s 2018 Driver’s Choice Awards, EyesOn Design Award for Production Car Design Excellence, and 2018 Shift Award Vehicle of the Year by Roadshow by CNET recognized Stinger. The Stinger is a true Gran Turismo, both fast and luxurious. It is being favorably compared to the Porsche Panamera, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and Audi A7 and with a significantly lower price point, the Stinger holds broad appeal for those who want a high-quality performance sports sedan and aren’t concerned with vanity nameplates. See side-by-side comparisons.

“Whether it be a practical commuter car for people just looking to get from point A to B, or a sports sedan with up to 365-horsepower for enthusiasts, we design every Kia with the customer in mind,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, KMA.  “Earning a J.D. Power APEAL award for both the Rio and Stinger demonstrates the level of dedication we put on delivering a superior combination of the desirable features and attributes today’s savvy car buyers want from their vehicles.”