Kia Optima vs. Mercedes-Benz GLK Lemon Odds and Nada Odds
Other sources of Kia Optima and Mercedes-Benz GLK reliability data provide only averages, which can conceal as much as they reveal. So we also report the percentage of Kia Optimas and Mercedes-Benz GLKs with no repairs at all in the past year and the percentage of Kia Optimas and Mercedes-Benz GLKs that are lemons (required three or more repair trips in the past year). These figures might surprise you.
These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to closely track Kia Optima and Mercedes-Benz GLK lemon odds as the cars age. Others can be over a year behind. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Kia Optima and Mercedes-Benz GLK have been recently.
To see how frequently Kia Optima and Mercedes-Benz GLK problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.
What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Kia Optima
Kia Optima Brand Reputation: Cons
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2013
4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Kia doesn't have the best reputation, though I get the sense that it's slowly improving. Speaking personally, I would have laughed at the idea of buying/leasing anything from Kia even three years ago. However, in that time, I've had two: a 2011 Kia Sportage EX and, now, a 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited. The mediocre brand image is a unfortunate, because if you slapped another make's emblem on this car, people would probably be absolutely gushing over it. As I said, I don't think their image is improving, though.
see full Kia Optima review
2007
4dr Sedan 161-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
poor trade in value but intend to keep long time due to great warranty; Kia discounting cars in USA to gain brand penetration; much better priced here than in Europe for the same car.
see full Kia Optima review
TrueDelta Reviews the Brand Reputation of the Mercedes-Benz GLK
Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros
Year
Comment
2013
The smaller the Mercedes, the more heavily it tends to trade on the three-pointed star. So the #1 reason to consider a GLK250 carries over from the GLK350 review (text from the previous review in italics):
I don't personally put much stock in brands, with cars or anything else. But each time I have a Mercedes-Benz for a week the continuing power of the marque has been unavoidable.Audi and BMW now command similar prices, but haven't yet acquired the same mystique. They probably never will for people born before 1980. Until the final years of the twentieth century, Audis were largely ignored as troublesome, modestly upgraded VWs and BMW was mostly known for the compact, still semi-affordable 3-Series. Neither could hold a candle to the company that invented the mass-produced automobile and that has been strongly associated with large, top-shelf automobiles ever since.Gayla (the site's programmer, my wife) is not a car person. Her take on the GLK: "Of course it's a good car, it's a Mercedes." Some of my friends who are more into cars--and who own competing makes--similarly employ a different tone when asking about "the Mercedes." They could afford one, so why don't they own one? Partly because the brand's mystique cuts both ways. They're not interested in making such a strong status statement.Can even a compact crossover make a strong status statement? Mercedes-Benz has done its best to make this so--check out the size of the three-pointed star on the GLK's grille.see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Mercedes-Benz GLK
Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2010
4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD
