HYUNDAI vs KIA

One of Hyundai's biggest rivals is sister brand Kia, but how do their cars compare?

- Alex Ingram

IT'S fascinating to see how the success of car makers ebbs and flows over the years. A quick analysis of which models were on sale at a given point and how they were received - reveals the turn of the millennium was very much Ford's reign, while the 2010s belonged to the might of Volkswagen.

If the 2020s continue as they've started, then it looks like it'll be the turn of Hyundai to rule the roost. From the smallest city car to the most cutting-edge EV, Hyundai has a key player in each new-car segment.

However, one of the brand's toughest challengers for supremacy comes from within its own group. That's because Kia is pumping out equally strong and desirable models throughout its range, featuring unique designs and mechanical set-ups that deliver a different approach from the parent company's.

Then there's Kia's excellent aftersales prospects to consider, too. In the 2022 Driver Power awards, Auto Express readers ranked Kia's dealer network the sixth best out of 16, while the combined feedback from your cars earned it third place out of 29 as a manufacturer, and it even took outright victory with the XCeed.

We've assembled three pairs of the two brands' strongest offerings to see how they compare with each other, plus a couple of wildcards to get some insight into where the appeal of each Korean brand lies.

We'll also look to the past with a Kia classic, and find out what models are due soon that lead us to suspect that Hyundai and Kia will be front runners in the automotive world for a good few years to come.

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