Drivers are always on the hunt for cars that provide high quality at a low price. J.D. Power and Associates recently conducted its annual study to determine which vehicles offer the best initial quality, and two Kia models managed to land at the top of their respective segments. The Soul and Sportage were named as the leaders of the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle and the Sub-Compact CUV segments, respectively. 

This is the first time Kia, widely known as an affordable and value-driven brand, competed with more diverse automakers like Porsche, Chevrolet and Mercedes-Benz, USA Today reports. Overall, Kia and its parent company, Hyundai, earned the 10th spot in the quality rankings.

Cars were rated based on the driving experience, engine, transmission and the severity of problems reported by owners. Not only did Kia earn its best-ever score based on these categories, but it also posted large improvements that outpaced the industry average, further setting the brand apart from its competitors. 

"Kia Motors is committed to building vehicles that are defined by award-winning design, fun-to-drive performance and world-class quality, and the Soul and Sportage epitomize these attributes," said Byung Mo Ahn, president of Kia Motors America. "Achieving top-10 status within the industry reflects just how far the Kia brand has come in improving the ownership experience and vehicle quality for our customers and advancing value to new levels of sophistication across our entire model line." 

Whether you're looking for a Kia Soul or Sportage, or any other type of used car, you can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction to find a great selection of pre-owned vehicles. The auction lot is home to plenty of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans that are capable of meeting the needs of any driver.