Kia Vs. Hyundai Vs. Genesis: What's the Difference?

Indy Auto Man, IN is the right dealership to start your acquaintance with Korean automakers. We offer a good variety of used Kia and Hyundai models in Indianapolis – check the availability right now!

Hyundai and Kia are two of the most popular South Korean automakers. Vehicles of both brands are widely represented on US roads, and the choice of used Korean cars in Indiana is pretty rich. But what is the difference between Kia and Hyundai, and who owns Genesis?

Hyundai is the main brand of the Hyundai Motor Group conglomerate. The first cars of the South Korean company, produced under this brand, appeared in the early 1970s. The famous Sonata business sedan began production in the late 1980s, and the sports coupe was born in the late 1990s. The range of the brand is extremely wide – it covers about 30 models of passenger cars.

Kia was founded in 1944 as KyungSung Precision Industry and seven years later became Kia Industries. At first, it produced bicycles and motorcycles, and in the 1970s, it began to build cars and trucks. In 1990, the company’s name changed to Kia Motors. Eight years later, the company could not cope with the financial crisis and was absorbed by Hyundai Motor.

Today, both automakers are part of the same group of companies, which explains the similarities in some of their products. Many Hyundai and Kia cars are developed on the same platforms and have their twin brothers (with some reservations) in the product line of the second brand. Does this mean they are the same? Not at all, you can be sure of this if you compare the range of current models of each brand.

Genesis is a premium sub-brand of the Hyundai Motor Company. It is the first brand in the history of the Korean automotive industry to specialize in premium car production. Its history dates back to 2004 when Hyundai management decided to develop a premium sedan. The project took three years to complete and cost over half a billion dollars. In January 2008, the Hyundai Genesis sedan debuted at the Detroit International Motor Show.

For seven years, Hyundai Genesis has demonstrated good sales volumes in the markets of different countries. In the United States of America, the Hyundai luxury sedan entered the TOP-3 of its class, enjoying stable demand among buyers.

To date, the portfolio of Genesis Motors is represented by five models – G70, G80, G90, GV70, and GV80.

In 2023, it is impossible to give an exact and correct answer to this question. The quality, reliability, equipment, and price of products of both brands are approximately on the same level.

Even within the same class, similar Hyundai and Kia models may have significant differences that are important for one buyer and do not play any role for another. In this regard, it is better to compare not Hyundai vs. Kia vs. Genesis brands but the models of their cars.

It is easy to see that some models of one brand have an analog in the product line of a conditional competitor, and some cars are unique. Let’s first select pairs of similar Hyundai and Kia vehicles:

• subcompact sedans – Hyundai Accent vs. Kia Rio;
• compact sedans – Hyundai Elantra vs. Kia Cerato;
• mid-size sedans – Hyundai Sonata vs. Kia K5;
• subcompact crossovers – Hyundai Creta vs. Kia Seltos;
• compact SUVs – Hyundai Tucson vs. Kia Sportage;
• mid-size SUVs – Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Kia Sorento.

These cars are close in price, technical characteristics, equipment, and other criteria. Each vehicle has its advantages and is not inferior to its analog in terms of a combination of benefits. Next, consider the unique models of Kia and Hyundai – those that have no analogs in the product line of a conditional competitor.

This is a subcompact car in the body of a five-door hatchback. The Picanto has earned many awards and, in its class, is one of the most attractive contenders for purchase. There are no direct analogs in the Hyundai range – the Accent is the most compact model.

The Rio X cross-country hatchback based on the Rio sedan is the second model with no twin in the Hyundai’s product line. At a slightly higher price, compared to the Rio and Accent, it has increased ground clearance and a design that hints at increased cross-country ability. Yes, this is not a crossover, but it still has advantages when driving on dirt roads or high curbs.

This KIA car is one of the few representatives of the endangered station wagon class . Its target audience is not too numerous – Kia Ceed SW is bought by those who need a spacious city car for driving on asphalt. A crossover close in capacity is significantly more expensive, which can be the main reason for choosing this particular model. There are no station wagons in the Hyundai range at all.

One of the brightest and most emotional Kia cars is made in the body of a five-door coupe and can boast of belonging to the Gran Turismo class . It features a sporty design, powerful engines, and advanced technological equipment.

This Korean car is in great demand in Indiana, and there are no similar models in the competitor’s lineup – the range of Hyundai passenger cars is limited exclusively to sedans and hatchbacks.

A full-size luxury sedan is an extremely rare product of the Korean brand in the US market,  And all around the world. Such cars are more typical for the big German three. This model can also be described as unique since the largest sedan in the Hyundai product line is the Sonata, which belongs to the business class and costs at least two times cheaper.

However, the Kia K900 can be compared with the Genesis G90 – both vehicles are built on the same platform, but the Genesis G90 is a little longer.

This car is positioned as a mini-crossover at a slightly less cost than the Hyundai Creta. Based on the platform of the latest Ceed, the model is famous for its spacious interior with a high ceiling and a barely visible central tunnel. Soul has both fans and haters, while hardly anyone will dispute that there are no similar models in the Hyundai lineup.

The off-road minivan is positioned as an ideal family vehicle for driving around Indianapolis and beyond. It is difficult to argue with this – the car is roomy, practical, and comfortable according to many criteria. Hyundai does not have minivans at all.

Hyundai’s largest and most expensive SUV has no alternatives in the Kia product line. It is both much more expensive and technologically advanced in comparison to Kia SUVs.

The conclusion of our Kia vs. Hyundai vs. Genesis comparison is as follows:

• In terms of quality, reliability, and service, Hyundai and Kia are on the same level. By these criteria, the brands are identical because they belong to the same conglomerate.
• Kia’s range includes more models focused on driving in big cities like Indianapolis.
• Genesis stands apart as a premium brand, but Kia still has something to oppose – its K900 luxury sedan.

As you can see, the Korean automaker corporation has done everything necessary to separate the brands from each other as much as possible. Each of them is attractive in its way and is not similar to the other.

If you want to get to know the Korean car brands better and make your own Kia vs. Hyundai vs. Genesis comparison, visit the Indy Auto Man Indianapolis car lot. After a test drive, you will definitely find your winner.