Its sister brand, Hyundai, also scored a podium finish, coming third in the 2016 survey of new-car buyers after placing fourth last year.

The result is a big thumbs up for the South Korean car-makers that once were regarded as the bottom of the pile in terms of vehicle quality.

Market Insight – click to enlarge

The survey also revealed a general improvement in the number of complaints made by new-car buyers across the industry, with the average improving from 112 complaints per 100 customers in 2015 to 105 this year.

The Detroit car-makers also showed major advances in quality, with General Motors and Ford ahead of the average for only the second time in the 30 years of the survey.

Chrysler and Jeep made major gains, but were both on the wrong side of the industry average, at 115 and 113 respectively.

But it was Kia that stood out, recording just 83 complaints per 100, one better than second-placed Porsche and nine ahead of Hyundai.

Leader: Kia’s Sportage recorded the fewest customer complaints in its class in the latest JD Power Initial Quality Study in the US.

Two of Kia’s models – the new Sportage SUV and Soul small wagon – topped their classes, and three more – Rio, Forte (Cerato coupe) and Sorento – all ranked in the top three of their categories.

Kia Motors America chief operating officer Michael Sprague said the JD Power top ranking reflected Kia’s decade-long focus on craftsmanship and continuous improvement.

He said it also reflected the voice of customers “which is the ultimate affirmation”.

“As the highest ranked brand in the industry, there is no doubt Kia is a world-class auto-maker,” he said.

Kia Soul

Kia only entered the survey’s top 10 in 2013, and rose to number two behind Porsche last year.

The JD Power IQS is done in the first 90 days of vehicle ownership, quizzing customers about a range of matters including the driving experience, mechanical performance and any quality-related problems.

However, customers’ answers can be regard as subjective, with, for example, a Lexus customer having higher expectations that a Chevrolet buyer.

Part of the satisfaction equation reflects perceived quality – the touch and feel of materials and ease of use of controls – which is an area that the Korean manufacturers have mastered in recent years under former Audi designer and now Hyundai group president Peter Schreyer.

Kia Cerato

This an also an area in which GM has improved, with customers finding the MyLink infotainment system easy to use compared with the indecipherable contraptions of some rivals.

The highest-ranked Japanese brand in the survey was Toyota in fourth place, on a score of 93, just ahead of BMW (94) and Chevrolet (95). The latter was the best-ranked American brand, with Buick and Lincoln on 96, Ford on 102 and GMC on 103.

At the other end of the scale, JD Power dunces were Land Rover (132), Volvo (152), Fiat (174) and Smart (216).

Surprise above-average complaint scorers were Mercedes-Benz (111), Honda (119) and Mazda (127).

By Ron Hammerton

Kia Soul