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Kia Cars vs Volkswagen Cars - Which One You Should Buy?
Kia and Volkswagen, two of the established carmakers around the globe, have their own strong points in the automotive industry. Kia is Korea's premier carmaker, known for its taste for excellence, value, and reliability. In contrast, Volkswagen, a German giant, enjoys the reputation of having stylish cars and has secured a place among top car and commercial vehicle manufacturers globally.
Keep reading to learn more about the two brands and their key differences in market share, models, etc.
Disclaimer: The information was updated here on 28th February 2024 and is subject to change.
Compare Insurance Premium for Kia and Volkswagen
Both Kia and Volkswagen have similar models across different segments, from small hatchback cars to premium sedan cars and SUVs. When comparing the insurance prices for these two brands, you need to consider the specific model as premiums are not determined based on the brands.
Generally, the car insurance prices for these two brands are similar across different segments, and the premiums are calculated as per the model.
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Kia Company Overview
Kia Motors Corporation is a South Korean multinational automotive company headquartered in Seoul. Established in 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a company producing steel tubing and bicycle parts, the enterprise changed its name to Kia Industries in 1952 and entered the Indian market in 2019.
Today, Kia is the world's fifth largest car manufacturer, whose annual production exceeds 3 million vehicles at 16 production sites worldwide. Kia markets itself in more than 190 countries and has 52,000 employees worldwide. Distinguished by its stylish design and high reliability, Kia hopes to become an industry leader in ecological and autonomous vehicles.
Volkswagen Company Overview
Volkswagen, or Volkswagen, is a German automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Incepted in 1962, Volkswagen owns 12 automotive industry brands, including Audi, Porsche, Skoda, and SEAT, as well as luxury brands Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini.
Volkswagen is one of the leading automakers worldwide and manufactures and sells up to 10 million vehicles annually. The brand is renowned for its German engineering, reliability, innovative designs, and large-scale production. The timeless, classic Volkswagen Beetle is its most popular model.
Market Share of Kia and Volkswagen
Get a brief overview of the market share of the two brands in the table below:
- Volkswagen Market Share: In January 2024, Volkswagen attained a tenth position in India’s best-seller chart, selling 3,267 units. Showing a 12.4% year-on-year growth, Volkswagen gained 0.8% of its overall market share.
- Kia Market Share: As per the January 2024 sales numbers, Kia had come fifth among car brands in India, registering 23,769 unit sales. Although the sales figures were 17% lower than the previous year, Kia retained a substantial 6% market share in the Indian automobile market.
Compare the Segments of Kia and Volkswagen
Know more about the segment-wise range of the models of these two brands in the table below:
Types of Kia and Volkswagen Models by Segment
| Basis | Kia | Volkswagen |
| Sedan | - | Vitrus, Vitrus Sound, Vitrus GT Edge |
| Compact SUV | Sonet, Seltos | Taigun, Tiguan |
| MUV | Carens | - |
| Electric Vehicles (EV) | EV6 | - |
Compare Volkswagen and Kia Models by Mileage
Know more about the mileage-wise range of the models of these two brands in the table below:
Types of Kia and Volkswagen Models by Mileage
| Model Type | Kia Mileage (Averagely) | Volkswagen Mileage (Averagely) |
| Sedan | - | Vitrus, Vitrus Sound, Vitrus GT Edge |
| Compact SUV | 18-24 kmpl | Taigun, Tiguan |
| MUV | 16-21 kmpl | - |
| Electric Vehicles (EV) | 425-528 km/charge | - |
Kia offers stylish, compact cars like the Sonet and Seltos in the compact SUV segment. The Carens is a premium MUV designed with a spacious and luxurious interior. The EV range includes the technology-driven EV6 for upscale consumers.
Volkswagen features compact cars like the spacious and practical Vitrus in the sedan segment, with two other variants, Vitrus Sound Edition and Vitrus GT Edge. Taigun and Tiguan are compact SUVs with striking features and great mileage.
Safety Features in Kia and Volkswagen
The critical safety features of Kia and Volkswagen cars are stated in the table below:
| Volkswagen | Kia |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert Sensors inform of incoming vehicles and help to carry out safe exits from parking spaces. | Emergency Stop Signal immediately turns on a fast flashing brake lamp when there are quick decelerations. |
| Intelligent Crash Response automatically launches advanced airbags and safety belt tighteners. | Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist detects potential collisions and brakes up to maximum power. |
| Front, side, and curtain airbags and 3-point seat belts for all occupants. | Seat Belt Pretensioner restrains passengers during a collision. |
| Front Assist alerts about possible collisions, including those with pedestrians. | Hill Start Assist Control maintains brake engagement. |
| Brake Assist increases the maximum brake pressure. | Around View Monitor comes with a 360-degree camera system for safety. |
| Autonomous Emergency Braking automatically brakes and avoids collision. | Rear-Camera Display helps avoid collisions when reversing out of a parking area. |
Read more about safety features in cars:
After Sales Service & Support of Kia and Volkswagen
The various after-sales services offered by these two companies are mentioned in the table below:
| Kia | Volkswagen |
| Customised Kia car maintenance plans | Service value package |
| Pick-up and drop service for maintenance | The assistance program includes car care, tyre care, wiper service, and more |
| UVO is a voice command system on smartphones | Volkswagen Service Xpress is a speedy maintenance service with competitive prices |
Personal preferences will determine the final decision between the two choices. Whether it is Korean quality and reliability from Kia or German innovation and style from Volkswagen, both brands offer safety features to improve the driving experience.
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FAQ's about Toyota vs Hyundai
What are the advantages of Volkswagen cars?
Volkswagen vehicles are famous for their stylish body. The primary reason why people go for Volkswagen is that they have sturdy bodies and look very attractive with an achievable price range.
What are the disadvantages of Volkswagen cars?
A primary problem with Volkswagen vehicles is the fuel consumption. Most Volkswagen vehicles are not fuel efficient, preventing them from being a priority brand.
What are the advantages of driving Kia cars?
The new Kia models have many features that have popularised them in the Indian market. Features like airbags on both passenger and driver sides, lane departure warning signals, seat belt pre-tensioners, etc., have emerged as crowd-pullers.
What are the disadvantages of driving Kia cars?
A major con of Kia cars is less fuel efficiency, and this has become a major con for people who drive a lot and are looking for a more sustainable car.
What is the mileage of Volkswagen vehicles?
Volkswagen offers some of the most fuel-efficient cars, with an average mileage of about 20.8 kmpl.
What is the mileage of Kia vehicles?
Among affordable car brands in India, Kia is one of the best, offering a great mileage of about 21 kmpl.
In its lifespan, how long can Volkswagen cars run with routine maintenance?
Every car needs routine maintenance to stand the test of time, and Volkswagen cars are no different. With proper maintenance, a Volkswagen car can go up to 200,000 miles in its lifetime.
What is the most affordable Volkswagen car?
One of the most affordable Volkswagen cars is the Virtus Sedan, which comes at approximately ₹11.6 Lakh.
What is Volkswagen's competitive advantage over Kia?
Volkswagen vehicles have an extremely responsive performance and have better torque than Kia. Apart from that, Volkswagen vehicles are equipped with turbochargers, making them more fuel-efficient than Kia.
What is the most affordable Kia car present in the Indian market at the moment?
The most affordable Kia car in the Indian market is the Kia Sonet SUV, which is priced at ₹8 Lakh.