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.
i10 vs Picanto
These city cars are at home in town or on the motorway, but which is best?
Denne historien er fra August 31, 2022-utgaven av Auto Express.
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Denne historien er fra August 31, 2022-utgaven av Auto Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PEUGEOT E-2008 GT
Our Peugeot EV and classic BMW may be the perfect two-car garage
SHOW 'N' TELL
Our 2024 Performance Car of the Year, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N EV, takes on the revamped Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
F1 EXHIBITION IS GO GO GO
Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill shows us around a celebration of the greatest sport on Earth
BYD Dolphin Active
Lower power means a more affordable price, but the new entry-level Dolphin is left wanting in other areas
Mercedes-AMG CLE Coupé
FIRST DRIVE We get behind the wheel of new CLE that aims to offer both comfort and a scincillating driving experience
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Ergonomic improvements are a welcome enhancement to VW's iconic hot hatch, but there's still no manual version
Toyota Prius
FIRST UK DRIVE Toyota's hybrid pioneer finally returns to these shores in fifth-generation guise and exclusively as a plug-in hybrid
INSURANCE SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
INSURANCE FRAUD BUREAU EXPERT GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST SWINDLES
Honda's updated HR-V sports sharp new look
Brand's best-selling model in Europe has also received some interior revisions and extra safety kit
Audi sets £70k start price for new A6 EV
ORDER books for the new Audi A6 e-tron are open now, with prices from just under £70,000 and deliveries starting next February.