Nowadays, Kia generally has a good reputation for making cars, but critics don’t necessarily agree with that reputation. For example, while there are some great Kia SUVs, such as the Telluride, there are also some less loved Kia SUVs. Here’s a look at Kia’s SUV lineup and which SUVs Consumer Reports loves and which SUVs it hates. 

A look at the Kia SUVs that Consumer Reports loves

According to Consumer Reports, there are currently three Kia SUVs recommended. Unsurprisingly, the Kia Telluride is the best Kia SUV and the best SUV in its class as well. The Telluride has a near-perfect overall score of 97 out of 100, reflecting its road test score, which is also a 97 out of 100. The Telluride also got a perfect 5 out of 5 score in terms of its predicted reliability rating and its predicted owner satisfaction rating. 

The second recommended Kia SUV is the Kia Sportage, and it has an overall score of 72 out of 100. This was thanks to the Sportage’s 78 out of 100 road test score and its 4 out of 5 predicted owner satisfaction rating. However, the compact Kia SUV received a more mediocre predicted reliability score of 3 out of 5.

The last Kia SUV that Consumer Reports loves is the Kia Niro. It has an overall score of 65 out of 100, which isn’t that great compared to the Telluride, but it’s still high enough to get the Niro a recommended badge. The Niro’s road test score is also a 65 out of 100, but it scored 4 out of 5 on its predicted reliability score. That said, its predicted owner satisfaction score is a more modest 3 out of 5. However, the all-electric version of the Niro, the 2022 Kia Niro EV, scored much higher, with an overall score of 88 out of 100.

Here are the Kia SUVs that Consumer Reports hates

The Kia Niro scored dramatically differently than the Kia Telluride did, and that’s also the case with the Kia Soul. This little Kia only has an overall score of 51 out of 100. Its road test score of 76 out of 100 is pretty good, but its predicted reliability rating and its predicted owner satisfaction ratings were both letdowns. The Soul only got a 2 out of 5 for its predicted reliability rating and a 3 out of 5 for its predicted owner satisfaction rating. 

Consumer Reports has similar things to say about the Kia Sorento. It has an overall score of 46 out of 100 but a great road test score of 83 out of 100. However, the Sorento only got a 1 out of 5 for its predicted reliability rating and a 3 out of 5 for its predicted owner satisfaction score. 

Lastly, the Kia Seltos is in a similar boat as the Soul and the Sorento. Consumer Reports gave the Seltos an overall score of 43 out of 100, which is on the back of the Seltos’ 72 out of 100 road test score. Once again, the Kia SUV was let down by its predicted reliability rating of 1 out of 5, and its predicted owner satisfaction rating of 2 out of 5. 

Changes to the Kia lineup for the 2023 model year

In addition to small changes to each car, Kia has some major redesigns coming up for the 2023 model year. The Kia Sportage is getting a redesign, and so is the Kia Niro.

One of the big changes in those redesigns has to do with the car’s size. Both of the redesigned Kias will be physically larger than before. Not only will their interiors be larger and more spacious, but Kia has also given their cabins an upgrade in terms of tech and styling.