Four J.D. Power APEAL Awards, most in Kia's history

With Optima, Sorento, Sedona, and Soul all garnering awards in their respective segments, Kia has earned its most-ever J.D. Power APEAL Awards (Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout).

According to J.D. Power, the quadruple win moves Kia into third in the industry among Non-Premium Nameplates, propelling the brand up four places from 2015. The announcement came on the heels of Kia Motors recently being ranked highest in the industry in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).

The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction in the first 90 days of ownership. The results are divided into 10 categories and weighted accordingly: exterior, interior, storage, audio, seats, heating and ventilation, driving dynamics, powertrain, visibility, and fuel economy.

Optima and Sorento beat tough competition in their respective segments, with Optima performing a substantial 25 points above the segment average.

Sorento bested offerings from strong competition in the hotly contested midsize SUV segment. In the Minivan category, Sedona beat segment rivals, and 2016 marks the second consecutive year Kia’s highly regarded people mover scores an APEAL award.

Soul, a long-running favorite among consumers looking to stand out from the crowd, garnered its fourth APEAL award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), making it the vehicle with the most APEAL accolades in Kia’s lineup of award-winning vehicles.

“Customers want vehicles they’re proud to drive, and Kia earning four J.D. Power APEAL awards reflects our global focus of placing our customers first,” said Orth Hedrick, Kia vice president, product planning. “Buyers today are smarter than ever and are looking for vehicles that offer a superior combination of design, technology, safety, and premium amenities. Optima, Sorento, Sedona, and Soul are prime examples of these important attributes as more people discover the new Kia and its world-class model line every day.”

Right now at Barnett, you can lease an “APEAL-ing” 2016 Optima LX for as low as $179 a month with no down payment. Pay only the first payment, tax, title, and license upfront. Or lease another popular Kia, a 2016 Forte LX, for an absolutely incredible $69 a month.

And, of course, every new vehicle purchased comes with Barnett’s exclusive—and FREE—MILLION MILE Warranty. Ask your sales associate for all the details on that, too. Come see us soon at Barnett Kia on Highway 61 in White Bear Lake!