Toyota /Kia - Which to Buy with Better Customer Service?

LCryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 10:29
Last edited 20/05/2022 - 12:42 by 1 other user

Looking to buy a new car and leaning towards Kia with all the latest technical features but reading so many bad reviews about dealerships and customer service has me worried. Even with Toyota I read the same. In fact someone wrote having been sold a demo car as "new".

I have 3 shortlisted so far Toyota Fortuner /Hyundai Santa Fe/ Kia Sorento. Out of the 3 models Sorento seems the most advanced. Mazda CX series is also good but just that I don't find it very attractive.

Suggestions as to which car to buy looking for value for money and good after sales customer service as well in Western Sydney.

Automotive Kia Toyota

Comments

  • Peter Enis on 20/05/2022 - 10:34
    +3

    Do you have a question?

    • CryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 10:36

      Thanks COVID seems to have affected me :), just update the post.

      • Peter Enis on 20/05/2022 - 10:45
        +3

        I can only talk about my personal KIA experience.

        Servicing: No major complaints, except they continually remind you to "rate their service" and "anything less then a 10/10 is a fail", well guess what now they state that if you do NOT rate their service then that automatically means you are giving them a 10! I had to laugh at that.

        Recalls: My car was involved in 1 recall, the one where the car could catch fire at any time even if it was just parked up. Not issues at all getting it fixed, quick and no fuss.

        Warranty: Have had one fault with the car, they diagnosed it as the turbo (diesel) needing replacing. No issues whatsover getting it processed under warranty, the dealer took care of everything.

        Parts availability: Got rear-ended at a traffic light, panel beaters were able to source a replacement rear door and my car was repaired in less than 1 week

        This is in SE QLD btw.

  • SBOB on 20/05/2022 - 10:40
    +1

    Toyota Fortuner /Hyundai Palisade/ Kia Sorento

    not sure how you cross shop a Fortuner with either of those other 2
    different market/category segment

    And Sorento is a comparison to the Sante Fe. Palisade is a larger vehicle

    • CryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 10:44

      Good point I was more aligning to my budget, all on the 50-60 k mark mainly after a good sized SUV.

      • SBOB on 20/05/2022 - 10:46
        +1

        no offroading? rule out the fortuner
        Want extra space? get the Palisade if you dont mind the larger size
        Want the most tech but happy to wait 12+mths, get the Sorento
        Want less tech but better fuel efficiency, get the Kluger Hybrid

        none of these are amazing for 7 seater so if thats a priority, get a Kia Carnival

        • CryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 10:51

          Palisade is a little too big, don't want to deal with issues of parking. Yes Sorento is something very attracted to though wait times , plus more importantly majority of the reviews regarding customer service of Kia is pretty bad which scared me.

          Kluger Hybrid is a good suggestion, will check that out. Thanks.

    • spackbace on 20/05/2022 - 11:11
      +3

      Agree with the cross shop, wtf lol

      OP, all brands will have negative reviews online because people don't like leaving positive reviews

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 20/05/2022 - 10:51

    Hyundai have been good, however don't forget you don't have to go back to the dealership, as any reputable mechanic, can do logbook servicing.

    Nothing wrong with an ex-demo, as long as the price is reduced, as was the I30 I purchased.

  • iampoor on 20/05/2022 - 10:57
    +1

    KIA have been good, had my car remotes replaced under warranty and any issues have been dealt with promptly.

    No frills efficient service.

  • apsilon on 20/05/2022 - 11:06

    Bought a Kia grocery getter late last year. Only had the initial service so far but that all went fine (as you'd expect as it's really only an inspection). Car was hit while parked in Jan and still waiting for a small piece of trim to come into stock (TBH I can't see what's wrong with the current one so the smash repairer is just being exceptionally picky which is fine by me) but the main damage was repaired quickly and I had the car back in about a week. Given supply chain issues everywhere I can't fault Kia too badly for this. Drivers side main speaker stopped working at some point so booked that in for warranty which was found to simply have not been connected fully (I suspect maybe when I had the window tint done as the place I use removes the door cards so they can tint below the seal) and a recall I didn't even know about was done at the same time so overall I've been happy with them so far.

    Toyota is one of the few brands I haven't owned myself so can't comment on their service.

  • oO0Dam0Oo on 20/05/2022 - 11:41
    +1

    Kia customer has been second to none for us. Always accommodating and claiming items under warranty has been a simple process. To date we have had the rims replaced due to chrome paint peeling as well as some other minor items.

    • CryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 11:46

      Which dealership

      • oO0Dam0Oo on 20/05/2022 - 13:29
        +1

        Lakeside Kia is where we travelled to as they provided us the best deal. I think they own a few of the surrounding dealerships.

  • Bid Sniper on 20/05/2022 - 13:18

    My local Kia service center has been excellent.

    • CryptoRekt on 20/05/2022 - 15:57

      If its in Sydney, please share

  • donbot on 20/05/2022 - 13:59

    Kia good. Had a major engine failure 4years 9months into a 5 year warranty (150k kms) back in 2017. Had bought the car 2nd hand - but knew the history as it was owned by my employer at the time, so had access to service records.

    If you dont use dealer servicing, keep records of all servicing including oil type and grades used. Kia tried to wiggle out of this, but my mechanic had records of all oil used in the car since it was purchased, so they couldnt wiggle out of warranty as the right stuff had been used and could be evidenced.

    They gave me a loaner car whilst the engine shipped in from Korea, and wasnt out of pocket a dollar.

    Would buy a Kia again based on the experience I had.

    • ZachBlasphemy on 20/05/2022 - 14:53
      +2

      Kia good. Had a major engine failure 4years 9months
      Would buy a Kia again

      Sorry, what? Everyone is happy with Kia because they do what they're legally obliged to do? You had an almost 5 years young, correctly serviced and modern car have a "major engine failure", you're a very generous person donbot. I don't want to sound like I'm hating on Kia, just surprised to see how many people have had issues with them while still inside their warranty period, Kia provides their bare minimum/legal obligation and people see that as a positive?

      I haven't owned a Kia either, just had a crap experience with one of their dealers when trying to purchase a new car.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/05/2022 - 14:54

    The arent all that different assuming you are buying new i'd buy which ever has the shorter/or none at all wait for the product.

    I got a relative who purchased a 'new' Sportage and he has to wait 6 months for it - personally if the wait it more then 3-4 weeks i'd be taking my business else where

    If i 'had to choose' Kia does have a longer Warranty than Toyota so i would probably go the Kia however i probably prefer Japanese cars to Korean out of sheer bias. - note i Drive a Honda

    • spackbace on 20/05/2022 - 15:01

      personally if the wait it more then 3-4 weeks i'd be taking my business else where

      Impossible in the current market

      i'd buy which ever has the shorter/or none at all wait for the product.

      Readily available stock = least desirable car = why would you opt for it?

    • Euphemistic on 20/05/2022 - 17:01

      Exactly where would you take your business? Pretty much all new cars having that much wait. You MIGHT jag an ex demo or showroom stock but pretty unlikely.

  • Euphemistic on 20/05/2022 - 14:54
    +1

    IMO service mostly comes down to your particular dealer and not the brand.

    Don’t buy a Fortuna unless you plan to go off road. Kluger would be a better comparison to the other two listed.

  • BobD on 21/05/2022 - 08:04

    KIA in Mornington VIC are good for service. I'm on my second KIA right now. No problems with it at all. Fixed price servicing. I couldn't get one service done for 7 months after it was due (medical issues) and they still kept the fixed price. At the moment, there won't be a third KIA. I've signed up for something else and I think it will be a long wait. If too long then I might tell them to shove it and I'll keep the current KIA (MY19 Cerato Sport +).

  • iand on 21/05/2022 - 22:06

    the only problem I've had with Kia was when I went in earlier this year to update my 2017 Sportage GT line I was told no Vesta blue GT line until August and now my wife says she's still really happy with the current one and we don't need to update

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