How Kia's cover is built
| Base warranty | Extension on top | |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol and diesel Kias | 3 years or 100,000 km | 2 more years or 50,000 km |
| Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and some EVs | 3 years or 100,000 km | 4 more years or 50,000 km |
On EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, Kia New Zealand covers the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 160,000 km in total, whichever comes first. New Kias also get 5 years of roadside assistance.
What keeps the extension alive
Kia's terms tie the extension to an authorised Kia dealer maintaining the car the whole way through. One service elsewhere puts that at risk, so decide early rather than halfway.
Timing counts too. Kia New Zealand warns that servicing late, on time or kilometres, may affect the car's warranty. Routine servicing isn't part of the warranty itself; that's what Kia's Scheduled Service Plan is for, covering the first 3 years or up to 45,000 km.
For the base three years, the MTA's general view is that a qualified independent mechanic should be low risk if servicing follows the maker's guidelines. The trade-off is plain: going independent may suit you, but it gives up the extension.
Kia EVs and hybrids
Kia's EVs are fairly recent arrivals: the EV6 launched in New Zealand on 30 March 2022, the first Kia built on its E-GMP electric platform.
An EV still needs servicing. AA New Zealand lists brake checks, brake fluid that absorbs moisture, coolant for the battery and cabin filters. Hybrids add the engine's usual oil and filters. The high-voltage parts are for a mechanic trained to work on them; see the hybrid and EV page.
Before you book a Kia service
- Check the first registration date and kilometres against the warranty table.
- Decide whether the extension matters to you.
- Find the service book or app record and note when the next service is due.
- On a used Kia, ask a Kia dealer what cover is left, as Kia suggests.
- Ask for a written quote that names the service and the oil.
What you can handle
You can
- Keep to the due date and kilometres, whichever comes first.
- Check tyre pressures cold, and note any warning light.
- Keep every service record with the car.
Leave to the mechanic
- The scheduled service and the record that goes with it.
- High-voltage work on EVs and hybrids.
- Diagnosing warning lights and electrical faults.
If it were our Kia
We'd look at the registration date first. If the car is young and the extension is worth having, we'd keep it with a Kia dealer and never let a service run late. If the extension is gone or doesn't matter to us, we'd use a mechanic who works on Kias, with the service and oil named on the quote.