Hyundai vs Kia by Mention Network: Which Korean brand gets stolen more? TikTok 'Kia Boys' challenge caused 2M thefts. Engine fires, insurance nightmares.
Which brand leads in AI visibility and mentions.
Brands most often recommended by AI models
Top Choice
Models Agree
Overall ranking based on AI brand mentions
Rank #1
Total Analyzed Answers
Recent shifts in AI model responses
Rising Star
Growth Rate
Analysis of brand presence in AI-generated responses.
Brands ranked by share of AI mentions in answers
Visibility share trends over time across compared brands
Key insights from AI Apps comparisons across major topics
Hyundai and Kia are equally prominent in discussions around theft rates among Korean brands, with no clear leader in lower theft rates based on visibility shares across models.
Perplexity shows equal visibility for Kia and Hyundai at 3.5% each, suggesting no preference for lower theft rates between the two. Its neutral tone indicates a balanced perception without favoring one brand over the other.
ChatGPT equally emphasizes Kia and Hyundai with a significant visibility share of 11.5% each, implying neither is distinctly associated with lower theft rates. The neutral tone reflects a data-driven focus without evident bias.
Grok assigns equal visibility to Kia and Hyundai at 3.5% each, showing no clear inclination toward one having lower theft rates. The neutral sentiment suggests an impartial stance on the issue.
Gemini equally highlights Kia and Hyundai with a 3.5% visibility share, indicating no differentiation in perceived theft rates. Its neutral tone points to a factual, balanced perspective.
Deepseek equally represents Kia and Hyundai at 3.5% visibility share, with no indication of one having lower theft rates over the other. The neutral tone underscores a straightforward, unbiased analysis.
Hyundai and Kia emerge as leading brands for warranty coverage across the models, primarily due to their consistently high visibility shares and perceived reliability in automotive warranties.
Grok shows a balanced view with Toyota, Apple, Kia, and Hyundai all at a high visibility share of 3.5%, suggesting a positive sentiment toward their warranty coverage, likely due to strong reputations in automotive and tech durability.
Deepseek favors LG, Apple, Samsung Pay, Kia, and Hyundai, each with a 3.5% visibility share, reflecting a positive tone for their warranty offerings, with an emphasis on comprehensive coverage in electronics and automotive sectors.
Perplexity leans toward Cadillac, Genesis, and BMW at 2.7% visibility share, indicating a neutral-to-positive sentiment focused on premium automotive brands, possibly due to perceived high-value warranty terms in luxury vehicles.
ChatGPT prioritizes Kia and Hyundai at 2.7% visibility share, with a positive sentiment highlighting their strong warranty policies in the automotive industry as user-friendly and accessible compared to others like Toyota or Apple at 0.9%.
Gemini favors LG, Apple, and Dell at 3.5% visibility share, showing a positive tone toward warranty coverage in tech products, likely due to innovation ecosystems and customer support accessibility, while automotive brands like Toyota score lower.
Hyundai and Kia emerge as the Korean brands with the best perceived value and features across the models, driven by their consistent visibility and implied focus on innovation and user experience in automotive technology.
ChatGPT shows a balanced focus on Hyundai and Kia, each with an 11.5% visibility share, suggesting strong recognition for their value and features in the automotive sector. Its neutral tone indicates no strong bias but highlights their prominence over others like LG and Samsung Pay (10.6% each).
Perplexity does not strongly favor any single brand for value and features, with Kia and Hyundai at a modest 1.8% visibility share each, reflecting a neutral tone. Its attention is more dispersed, with beauty brands like Dr.Jart+ and Sulwhasoo (2.7% each) slightly overshadowing automotive brands.
Grok leans toward Hyundai and Kia (3.5% visibility share each) alongside LG and Samsung Pay, indicating a positive tone for their value and features, particularly in automotive and tech ecosystems. It suggests a preference for brands with broad innovation appeal over niche beauty brands.
Gemini emphasizes LG and Samsung Pay (3.5% visibility share each) over others, with a positive tone toward their tech-driven value and ecosystem features like SmartThings (1.8%). It overlooks automotive brands, focusing on technological accessibility and adoption.
Deepseek favors Hyundai and Kia (3.5% visibility share each) alongside LG and Samsung Pay, projecting a positive tone for their perceived value and innovative features in automotive and tech spaces. It balances recognition across sectors but highlights automotive strengths.
Toyota and Kia emerge as the most favored brands for ease and cost of insurance across the models, driven by their consistent visibility and implied affordability in insurance contexts.
Gemini shows a balanced focus on car brands like Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai (each at 2.7% visibility share) alongside insurance providers like Allstate and State Farm, suggesting a perception that these vehicles are commonly insured at competitive rates. Its sentiment tone is neutral, emphasizing data over explicit bias.
Perplexity prioritizes Kia and Hyundai (both at 2.7% visibility share) over other car brands, implying these are perceived as easier or cheaper to insure due to their market positioning and accessibility. The tone is neutral, focusing on visibility without overt sentiment.
Grok highlights Toyota and Kia (both at 1.8% visibility share) alongside insurance comparison tools like The Zebra and Insurify, suggesting a perception that these brands are associated with cost-effective insurance options through accessible platforms. The tone is positive, reflecting confidence in user-friendly insurance ecosystems.
Deepseek gives equal visibility (0.9%) to multiple car brands including Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai, with no clear favoritism, indicating a neutral stance on ease or cost of insurance. Its tone is neutral, lacking depth in reasoning or focus on insurance providers.
ChatGPT focuses narrowly on Kia and Hyundai (both at 0.9% visibility share), potentially implying these brands are seen as accessible for insurance due to affordability, though it lacks context on providers. The tone is neutral, with minimal elaboration.
Toyota emerges as the brand with fewer engine problems and recalls across most AI models, driven by consistent visibility and positive sentiment regarding reliability data from multiple sources.
ChatGPT shows a balanced view with Kia and Hyundai at the highest visibility share (3.5% each), but Toyota and Honda (2.7% each) are also prominent; its sentiment tone is neutral, focusing on data from sources like NHTSA (1.8%) without clear favor. The model does not explicitly prioritize one brand for fewer engine problems or recalls, merely presenting visibility metrics.
Grok favors Toyota, Ford, Honda, and NHTSA data (each at 3.5% visibility share) with a positive sentiment tone, likely drawing on reliability rankings from sources like JD Power and Consumer Reports (both 3.5%). It perceives Toyota and Honda as leaders in fewer engine issues and recalls based on these institutional data points.
Deepseek prioritizes Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Kia, and Lexus (all at 3.5% visibility share) with a positive sentiment tone, suggesting a perception of strong reliability and fewer recalls based on consistent visibility. The model likely associates these brands with solid performance metrics, though it does not single out one clear winner.
Gemini leans toward Toyota, Honda, and Kia (each at 3.5% visibility share) with a positive sentiment tone, reflecting trust in their reliability and fewer engine problems, likely supported by NHTSA data (3.5%). It perceives these brands as strong contenders in recall minimization, without favoring one explicitly.
Perplexity highlights Toyota, General Motors, Kia, and Lexus (3.5% visibility share each) with a neutral-to-positive sentiment tone, indicating a perception of reliability and potentially fewer recalls for these brands. Its focus seems to be on broader market data rather than a definitive leader in engine issues.
Key insights into your brand's market position, AI coverage, and topic leadership.
2011-2021 Hyundai/Kia models lack engine immobilizers (anti-theft technology standard in other brands since 2000s). TikTok 'Kia Boys' challenge showed how to steal cars using USB cable in 30 seconds—videos went viral, causing theft epidemic. Over 2M Hyundai/Kia stolen 2022-2024. Theft rates increased 1000%+ for certain models (Elantra, Sonata, Optima, Soul). Insurance companies dropped coverage or raised premiums 300-500%. Hyundai/Kia offered free software updates as 'fix' but only partial solution. Some cities report 50-70% of car thefts are Hyundai/Kia. Owners face nightmare.
Theta II engines (2.0L/2.4L turbo in Sonata, Santa Fe, Optima, Sorento 2011-2019) have widespread failures causing fires, stalling, and seized engines at 80K-120K miles. Root causes: metal debris from manufacturing, bearing failures, oil starvation. Hyundai/Kia recalled 6M+ vehicles for engine issues. However, recalls don't prevent all failures—many engines still catch fire after 'fix.' Class-action settlements totaling $3.2B paid to owners for diminished value and repairs. NHTSA investigating ongoing fire reports. Hyundai/Kia's reputation destroyed by preventable quality control failure.
Increasingly difficult and expensive. Progressive, State Farm, and other insurers stopped covering 2011-2021 Hyundai/Kia models in theft-heavy cities (Milwaukee, Chicago, Seattle, etc.). Remaining insurers charge 200-400% higher premiums. Some owners pay $3K-5K annually for basic coverage on $10K car—economically irrational. Hyundai/Kia's software update helps but doesn't solve problem. Many owners can't sell cars because buyers can't get insurance. Hyundai/Kia offered reimbursement for anti-theft devices but damage done. Theft epidemic made these cars nearly worthless and uninsurable in many markets.
Nearly identical—same parent company, shared platforms, same engines, same theft/fire problems. Differences are cosmetic: Hyundai slightly more conservative styling, Kia slightly sportier. Reliability rankings essentially tied. Both suffer from theft epidemic and engine issues affecting same model years. Hyundai offers slightly better warranty terms in some markets. Kia's Telluride/Palisade (Hyundai's twin) are standout models. For 2022+ models with immobilizers, both brands improving quality and fixing past mistakes. Before 2022, avoid both brands due to theft/engine nightmares. Neither better—just pick styling preference.
2022+ models are safer (have immobilizers), but avoid 2011-2021 models like plague. New Hyundai/Kia (Ioniq 5, EV6, Tucson, Sportage) are actually good cars with improved quality, excellent warranties (10yr/100K powertrain), and competitive pricing. However, brand reputation damaged—resale values depressed 15-25% vs Honda/Toyota. If buying: get 2022+ with immobilizer, expect higher insurance, accept poor resale value. Better alternatives: Honda, Mazda, Toyota for peace of mind. Hyundai/Kia work for: budget-conscious buyers accepting risks, those keeping cars long-term (warranty value). Avoid if you need insurance or resale value.