Brandwave

Chevrolet vs Kia:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Chevrolet and Kia were level in searches among car brands in the United States, with an estimated 3.4M versus 3.5M branded searches, at 5.2% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Kia appeared in two of the five answers and Chevrolet in one. Chevrolet and Kia were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among car brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kia and Chevrolet are searched for about as often as each other.

Kia 3.5M searchesChevrolet 3.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kia, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Chevrolet in 1

Kia in 2 of 5Chevrolet in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Chevrolet first in 1Kia first in 1

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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kia was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Chevrolet was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Chevrolet and Kia were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Honda1st
  2. Toyota2nd
  3. Hyundai3rd
  4. Subaru4th
  5. Ford5th
  6. Lexus6th
  7. Kia7th
  8. Nissan8th
  9. BMW9th
  10. +2 more
  11. Chevrolet12th
  12. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Toyota4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Honda4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hyundai3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Subaru3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ford2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kia2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mazda2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lexus2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Tesla1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Chevrolet1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about car brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is Chevrolet or Kia more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Chevrolet and Kia by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 46 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Chevrolet and Kia among car brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Kia, Chevrolet. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthToyotaTeslaHondaFordKiaChevroletHyundaiNissanSubaruMercedes-BenzBMWJeepMazdaPorscheLexus
Oct 202510.1%6.4%6.3%6.6%4.5%5.6%4.8%3.6%3.5%3.4%3.5%3.4%3.1%3%2.3%
Nov 202510.1%5.6%6.8%6.6%4.8%5.4%4.9%3.7%3.5%3.3%3.7%3.4%3.3%3%2.4%
Dec 202510.1%5.5%6.4%6.4%4.7%5.4%4.8%3.6%3.5%3.4%4%3.6%3.1%3%2.8%
Jan 202610.5%5.7%7.2%6.3%4.6%5.3%4.7%3.5%3.6%3.3%3.4%3.4%3.3%2.9%2.7%
Feb 202610.8%5.7%6.8%6.5%5%5.2%4.4%3.9%3.8%3.1%3.6%3.4%3.1%2.6%2.5%
Mar 202610.3%5.6%7.1%6.2%5.1%5.4%4.9%3.6%3.6%3.1%3.3%3.5%3.3%2.8%2.5%
Apr 202610.5%6.7%6.7%6.2%5.1%5.3%4.6%3.7%3.1%3.2%3.5%3.3%3%2.9%2.5%
May 202610.6%6.7%6.7%6.2%5%5.2%4.2%3.4%3.2%3.1%3.4%3.3%3.4%2.9%2.7%
Jun 202610.7%6.4%7.1%6.2%5%5.4%4.5%3.7%3.4%3.2%3.2%3.3%3.4%2.8%2.4%
Jul 202611.1%6.1%7.1%6.1%5.5%5.4%4.7%3.9%3.4%2.8%3.2%3%3.4%2.7%2.5%
Aug 202610.5%6.7%7%6.3%5.3%5.2%4.9%3.6%3.2%2.9%3%3.2%3.3%2.7%2.7%
Sep 202611.2%7%6.8%6.2%5.2%5.2%4.4%3.6%3.3%3.3%3.2%3.2%3.2%2.6%2.5%

How has the Chevrolet and Kia comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Kia took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chevrolet’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 5.6% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.8M to 3.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kia’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 4.5% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3M to 3.5M.

How did search popularity change for United States car brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kia in the United States rose 14% over 12 measured months, from 3M to 3.5M in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Chevrolet in the United States fell 10.1% over 12 measured months, from 3.8M to 3.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

22 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Chevrolet’s and Kia’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Chevrolet

12 branded search terms

  • chevrolet
  • chevy
  • chevy blazer
  • chevy colorado
  • chevy equinox
  • chevy malibu
  • chevy silverado
  • chevy suburban
  • chevy tahoe
  • chevy traverse
  • chevy trax
  • corvette

Kia

10 branded search terms

  • kia
  • kia carnival
  • kia ev9
  • kia forte
  • kia k5
  • kia seltos
  • kia sorento
  • kia soul
  • kia sportage
  • kia telluride

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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