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Do Kias Hold Their Value? (7 Models Compared)

Comparatively, lower initial prices of Kia are compensated with their high maintenance and repair costs. But how do these two factors play up with its depreciation?

In this article, we will see if Kias hold their value like some other Asian brands or not.

How Well do Kias Hold Their Value?

Kias don’t hold their value very well. They tend to lose more than 52% of their value within the first 5 years. Sorento, Sedona, and Cadenza are the models with the worst resale value.

In general, initial prices of Kia are lower, so you lose less amount in dollars as opposed to what you lost percentage-wise.

The following illustration shows the average depreciation of Kias over 15 years:

Also read: Is Kia Expensive to Maintain? (Exact Costs)

Here are the 7 most popular models of Kia and their depreciation.

1. Kia Sorento

Sorento is a power-packed & feature-rich car offering versatile powertrains. The only problem with Sorento was that it’s not a true 7-seater. The last row is only suitable for kids.

Initial Selling Price: $29,490

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.9% or $1,750

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
166%$10,027$19,463
262%$11,206$18,284
360%$11,796$17,694
454%$13,565$15,925
546%$15,925$13,565
636%$18,874$10,616
732%$20,053$9,437
830%$20,643$8,847
926%$21,823$7,667
1021%$23,297$6,193
1119%$23,887$5,603
1218%$24,182$5,308
1316%$24,772$4,718
1413%$25,656$3,834
1511%$26,246$3,244

2. Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage was a game-changer in the SUV category. It was admired for its bold looks and high safety scores. But the heavy engine of Sportage was one of a kind gas guzzler, making it not so fuel-friendly car.

Initial Selling Price: $24,090

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.3% or $1,269

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15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
171%$6,986$17,104
267%$7,950$16,140
365%$8,432$15,659
457%$10,359$13,731
546%$13,009$11,081
643%$13,731$10,359
741%$14,213$9,877
838%$14,936$9,154
935%$15,659$8,432
1032%$16,381$7,709
1130%$16,863$7,227
1228%$17,345$6,745
1327%$17,586$6,504
1424%$18,308$5,782
1521%$19,031$5,059

Also read: Kia vs. Hyundai: Resale Value (8 Models Compared)

3. Kia Carnival

Carnival was huge in every aspect. This large-sized SUV had the biggest trunks. Its balance and ride quality were amazing. It would have been great to see a versatile powertrain in it too.

Initial Selling Price: $32,100

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.5% or $1,755

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
172%$8,988$23,112
270%$9,630$22,470
365%$11,235$20,865
463%$11,877$20,223
555%$14,445$17,655
650%$16,050$16,050
743%$18,297$13,803
839%$19,581$12,519
931%$22,149$9,951
1029%$22,791$9,309
1126%$23,754$8,346
1223%$24,717$7,383
1321%$25,359$6,741
1420%$25,680$6,420
1518%$26,322$5,778

Also read: Why are Kias Cheap? Because They’re Unreliable?

4. Kia Cadenza

Cadenza was an attempt by Kia to compete in the luxury sedan segment. The car offered amazing comfort and smooth rides. But users were left unimpressed with the car overall, as it didn’t have anything new to offer.

Initial Selling Price: $37,850

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.5% or $2,069

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
170%$11,355$26,495
267%$12,491$25,360
362%$14,383$23,467
456%$16,654$21,196
552%$18,168$19,682
642%$21,953$15,897
737%$23,846$14,005
835%$24,603$13,248
931%$26,117$11,734
1028%$27,252$10,598
1127%$27,631$10,220
1225%$28,388$9,463
1322%$29,523$8,327
1421%$29,902$7,949
1518%$31,037$6,813

5. Kia Rio

The fuel economy in this sedan was something. Rio offered a combined mileage of over 37 mpg. But it was shown in its underpowered engine that felt sluggish to users at times.

Initial Selling Price: $16,050

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.1% or $824

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
172%$4,494$11,556
271%$4,655$11,396
367%$5,297$10,754
453%$7,544$8,507
552%$7,704$8,346
641%$9,470$6,581
735%$10,433$5,618
834%$10,593$5,457
933%$10,754$5,297
1030%$11,235$4,815
1129%$11,396$4,655
1228%$11,556$4,494
1327%$11,717$4,334
1425%$12,038$4,013
1523%$12,359$3,692

6. Kia Soul

Kia Soul has gotten better with time. It is laced with all standard features and safety functions. However, many users didn’t perceive its futuristic look very well.

Initial Selling Price: $19,190

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.1% or $985

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
181%$3,646$15,544
273%$5,181$14,009
364%$6,908$12,282
463%$7,100$12,090
562%$7,292$11,898
650%$9,595$9,595
743%$10,938$8,252
836%$12,282$6,908
934%$12,665$6,525
1033%$12,857$6,333
1130%$13,433$5,757
1229%$13,625$5,565
1326%$14,201$4,989
1424%$14,584$4,606
1523%$14,776$4,414

Also read: 8 Best Kia Cars with Panoramic Sunroof (with Pictures)

7. Kia Telluride

Telluride had an amazing exterior and interior. It offered a feature-rich experience while driving. Its engine was powerful but mated with a limited option powertrain it felt a bit sluggish.

Initial Selling Price: $32,790

Average Yearly Depreciation: 5.9% or $1,924

15-Year Depreciation Projection:

Vehicle AgeResidual ValueDepreciationVehicle Worth
168%$10,493$22,297
266%$11,149$21,641
362%$12,460$20,330
455%$14,756$18,035
546%$17,707$15,083
639%$20,002$12,788
737%$20,658$12,132
835%$21,314$11,477
931%$22,625$10,165
1026%$24,265$8,525
1121%$25,904$6,886
1219%$26,560$6,230
1317%$27,216$5,574
1415%$27,872$4,919
1512%$28,855$3,935

Is it Worth to Buy a Brand-New Kia?

No, it is not a great idea to buy a brand-new Kia. Kias have long lifespans, they will not fail you before 200,000 miles. So, if you buy a 2-3 years old Kia that has depreciated 30-40% it will still give you more than 70% useful life, that too at an affordable rate.

When is the Best Time to Buy a Kia?

The best time to buy a Kia is after 2 years. Since Kias have lost the majority of their value within the first 2 years. Yet their newness is intact. At 66% price, you will get a car with 83% useful life remaining.

A higher reliability rating will ensure that your Kia stays in pristine condition. Overall it will be a great decision because you won’t lose much if you sell it after 5 years.

Why do Kias Lose its Value so Fast?

Kias have very low initial prices. They also have admirable reliability, but the problem is with their costly maintenance and extremely expensive spare parts.

The cost of ownership for Kia is extremely high that is unlike other economy sector cars. Hence, this is why Kias lose their value so fast.

How to Slow Down Kia Depreciation?

You can slow down the depreciation of your Kia by following these simple steps:

  1. Never buy a brand new Kia look for a year or two old car at least.
  2. Don’t sell it before 5-6 years.
  3. Scheduled maintenance is costly so make sure that you are on time with it.
  4. Avoid the addition of unnecessary frills and fancy additions, keep your car in stock condition.

How Well Do Kias Hold Their Value Compared to Other Competitive Car Brands?

The most suitable comparison of the resale value of Kia will be with Hyundai and Honda. So let’s see that how Kias hold their value against other competitors.

  • Kia vs Hyundai

Both brands coming from South Korea inherently share the same traits. They both have high-reliability ratings. They also have quite similar resale values. With Hyundai depreciating 51% and Kia depreciating 52% after 5 years.

  • Kia vs Honda

Honda and Kia provide the same reliability and safety. But Honda is way ahead in terms of resale value due to its cheap maintenance and low ownership costs. Honda will depreciate only 42% in 5 years, as opposed to 52% depreciation of Kia over the same period.

References:

caredge.com, forbes.com, motortrend.com, vehiclus.com

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