Kia wait times in 2023: How long are Kia’s delivery delays?

Issues such as semiconductor chip shortages, shipping problems and sickness and isolation have affected the ability of manufacturers like Kia to keep their production lines going over the last three years.

As such, all of the brand's models are currently experiencing some delays.

However, some models are in greater supply than others, with flexibility around powertrains, specification and vehicle colour likely to see a vehicle in your driveway sooner.

Overall, according to Price My Car, the average wait time for a Kia is now 146 days – compared to 181 days in January 2022.

The quickest arrival is the Rio light hatch, with an average wait of 69 days, followed by the Stinger sports sedan at 77 days. Both vehicles will be discontinued later this year.

Meanwhile, the worst-affected models in Kia's lineup are the Cerato small car, Sportage medium SUV and Carnival people-mover, with a wait time of 198 days, 186 days and 147 days, respectively.

NOTE: This information is current as of March 8, 2023. This article will be reviewed and amended as new details come to light.

A spokesperson for Kia Australia said supply is improving across many other high-demand models, including the petrol and diesel Sorento.

However, due to global demand, orders for the Sorento hybrid and plug-in hybrid have been paused to focus on fulfilling existing backorders.

Due to the ongoing supply challenges, new orders for top-spec Sportage and Carnival variants are experiencing longer-than-expected delays.

At this point in time, Carnival V6 petrol variants will have a longer wait time than four-cylinder diesel models.

In early 2023, Kia Australia said it is "in constant dialogue with head office to access additional stock to positively impact wait times".

"Estimating wait times isn't straight forward as the situation is so fluid and there are many variables to take into consideration such as model, specification, colour and production scheduling," they added.

With all of the above in mind, it is important to consider this article a guide only.

Born and raised in rural Victoria, Jordan Hickey was surrounded by a car-loving family before he could even talk. His parents’ automotive workshop fuelled his strong passion for all things four wheels.