No, Kia engines, like most modern interference engines, are
not high-tolerance and will likely suffer catastrophic damage if the timing belt breaks. A broken timing belt will cause the valves and pistons to collide, resulting in bent valves, damaged pistons, and potentially other internal engine damage requiring a costly repair or engine replacement.
While some older engines were non-interference (meaning a broken timing belt wouldn't necessarily cause internal damage), most modern Kia engines are interference engines. Therefore, regular timing belt replacement according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule is crucial to avoid this expensive problem.
