Skip advert
Advertisement
Opinion

"Years down the line, Kia's warranty is still hugely appealing"

As we celebrate the best used buys in our annual Used Car Awards, Graham Hope's been chatting with Kia about its industry-leading warranty

Everyone loves a used car bargain, and this week we honour the models we think make the best second-hand choices of all. Our Used Car Awards showcase some great buys from only £3,000.

One brand that has fared pretty well is Kia. And a big part of that is down to its warranty. Buy approved used and you get seven years and 100,000 miles of cover. Buy elsewhere and you’ll get what’s left of the car’s original seven-year warranty. Pretty impressive, eh?

Advertisement - Article continues below

Used Car Awards 2016

It’s clear it’s helped underpin the brand’s rise to prominence in recent years, a fact acknowledged by Kia Europe COO Michael Cole when I met him this week. Cole was MD of Kia UK when the cover was introduced in 2010 and admits the impact was significant, maintaining the momentum built up by Kia with its success in the 2009 scrappage scheme.

Warranty Winners

He told me: “The warranty became something we were synonymous with. It wasn’t a tactical programme or an incentive. It was our way of saying we were confident about the product.”

Of course, while it wasn’t intended as an incentive, it certainly became one. Continued Cole: “Yes, it made people think about Kia who hadn’t thought about Kia before. It helped us close some deals.”

Used car buying: the ultimate guide

Six years down the line, it’s clearly still hugely appealing to many drivers. So why don’t more brands offer the same? He suggested: “Unless you have the same confidence in the reliability of your products as we have, you may be reluctant to go to seven years.” Possibly. But I think they’re missing a trick.

Yes, I know there are quibbles about what Kia’s warranty does and doesn’t cover. But with no one else offering the same headline seven years, those buyers who covet peace of mind – and good cars, new or used – will continue to be drawn to a brand that has reaped the rewards for being so bold. 

How important is a warranty to you when buying a car? Let us know in the comments below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV gets a range boost before it’s even arrived
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV gets a range boost before it’s even arrived

Kia’s ID. Buzz rival can potentially go further on a single charge than first thought
News
18 Jun 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
New cars coming soon header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
13 Jun 2025
Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs
Best electric car deals - header image

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs

Making the switch to an EV? These car brands have an offer (or two) for you
Best cars & vans
29 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
20 Jun 2025
Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028
Nissan Leaf - front cornering

Groundbreaking Nissan solid-state EV batteries due on sale by 2028

The industry is in a race to bring solid-state to the market, and Nissan isn’t too far behind the leaders
News
17 Jun 2025
Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK
Toyota GR Corolla - front cornering

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK

The success of the GR Yaris has persuaded Toyota that there’s room in its UK range for the high performance Corolla
News
19 Jun 2025