Kia (Page 10)

Kia

In this section of Torque News you can find the latest news from Kia and news about Kia vehicles. Keith Griffin is the Hyundai/Kia news reporter at Torque News and can be followed on Twitter at IndepthAuto.

Kia became a company in the 1940s but didn’t sell its first car in the U.S. until 1992. It now sells in over 180 countries. Since joining forces with its Korean rival Hyundai in 1998, Kia models have come a long way from what they used to be and are now well-designed vehicles with the latest the industry has to offer.

The combined Hyundai – Kia operation is the fifth largest automaker in the United States. Kia has a manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia where it produces three models: the top-selling Telluride CUV, Sorento CUV, and the new K5 midsize sedan. It also ships vehicles for sale in Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean and Pacific nations.

Here’s a little bit of trivia for you. The word “Kia” is derived from the Chinese characters Ki, meaning to “arise or come up out of” and a, referring to Asia. So when put together, Kia means to “arise or come up out of Asia.”

Kia’s extensive lineup includes sedans and SUVs of all sizes, hatchbacks, a minivan, an all-electric model, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, a quick and sporty four-door hatchback, and a large and very luxurious sedan.

Unlike Hyundai’s more conservative lineup, Kia offers sportier designs and driving dynamics. The quick Stinger GT and Forte GT are fun-to-drive examples while models like the Optima, Sportage, and Telluride offer sleek and sporty looks.

The Telluride, K5 and Forte models are some of the brand’s top sellers. Other models include the Soul hatchback, the Niro hybrid SUV, the Rio, the Sedona minivan, and the Niro EV. The Stinger is Kia’s rear-drive sports car and the Cadenza and K900 big sedans are the brand’s luxurious offerings but have some of the poorest sales in the lineup.

New models include the big three-row Telluride SUV, the compact Seltos SUV, the the Soul EV, and the sporty K5 that replaces the Optima for 2021.

Below is a list of Kia’s models with starting prices (excludes delivery charges):

2021 Kia Seltos – $21,990
2021 Kia Soul – $17,490
2020 Kia Niro – $24,590
2020 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid – $29,400
2021 Kia Sportage – $23,990
2021 Kia Sorento – $29,390
2021 Kia Telluride – $31,990
2020 Kia Rio – $15,850
2021 Kia Forte – $17,890
2021 Kia K5 – $23,390
2021 Kia Stinger – $33,090
2020 Kia Cadenza – $37,850
2020 Kia K900 – $59,900
2020 Kia Niro EV – $39,090
2021 Kia Soul EV – Discontinued?
2021 Kia Sedona – $30,400

Kia EV6 Pricing Revealed, Beats Almost All Currently Available EV Competitors

By Justin Hart on January 27, 2022 - 2:22AM

Kia has revealed the pricing of their new EV6 for the U.S. market and the good news is that it has a lower starting MSRP, at $40,900, than almost every other compact EV SUV currently for sale. Only the VW ID.4 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (when the RWD base model goes on sale) are priced lower than the EV6, and only a tad lower at $40,760 and $39,700 respectively.

Battle For 2nd Place: Kia vs Ford In 2022 U.S. Plug-In Vehicle Market

By Justin Hart on January 23, 2022 - 10:15PM

Kia will offer more plug-in vehicle models in the U.S. than Ford for 2022. Ford will offer 3: Mustang Mach-E, F150 Lightning and the Escape PHEV (and technically a 4th, but it is a commercial cargo van and isn’t really a factor in the consumer market). Kia will offer at least 4 models: EV6, Niro EV, Niro PHEV and the Sorento PHEV, but more choices doesn’t mean Kia will sell more units. So which automaker is more likely to take 2nd place in the U.S. market for 2022?

Kia EV 6 wins 2022 What Car "Car Of The Year" Award

By Justin Hart on January 21, 2022 - 12:49PM

Score another award for Kia with their all new EV6! UK automobile magazine What Car? has just awarded Kia with their 2022 Car of the Year award and it is fairly easy to see why.

Kia Sorento driver’s display showing 45.2 miles per gallon

Testing Kia Sorento PHEV Winter Driving Performance: The Road Trip Continues

By Justin Hart on January 17, 2022 - 2:03PM

I am testing out the efficiency and range of my 2022 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid, among other things, and this piece concludes my two part review of its performance on a 210 mile road trip. The Sorento PHEV, once again, impresses me with just how efficient it is for a heavy, three-row, mid-sized 6 passenger SUV.

White Kia Sorento PHEV with sailboats in background

Testing Kia Sorento PHEV Winter Driving Performance: Road Trip, 1st leg

By Justin Hart on January 16, 2022 - 5:22PM

I finally took a longer trip in my 2022 Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid and I was able to test several important capabilities and features. My primary question was: what kind of fuel economy can I expect in colder temperatures on a long drive? For this test, that long drive was 210 miles. But I also tested a number of things people have been asking about on social media.

Kia And Hyundai Combined Outsell Honda In The U.S. For First Time

By Justin Hart on January 12, 2022 - 12:11PM

Honda is losing ground to South Korean brands Kia and Hyundai and it is in part due to Honda’s lackluster investment in electrified vehicles. While it may not seem fair to compare the combined sales of two brands to Honda alone, I would argue it is. Kia and Hyundai are essentially the same family and share engineering, platforms and technology similar to the way other brands share nameplates.

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV charging in Seattle

Another EV Advantage For Kia: A Lot More Federal EV Tax Credits Left

By Justin Hart on January 9, 2022 - 8:46PM

With the Build Back Better act stuck in limbo (which would expand and increase federal incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles), as far we know there will be no replacement to the existing federal tax incentive for the purchase of new plug-in electric vehicles. Some automakers, like Kia, have more credits left than others and this gives them an advantage.

Kia's 2021 U.S. Sales Lead The Way To A More Electrified 2022

By Justin Hart on January 6, 2022 - 11:34AM

Kia had a very solid sales year for 2021, best ever in fact, despite some slow down in sales toward the end and despite the global supply chain and semiconductor shortages that are plaguing the entire industry. Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of Kia’s 2021 sales figures though is the growth of their electrified sales.

Testing Kia Sorento PHEV Winter Driving Performance: Slushing Down Range

By Justin Hart on January 4, 2022 - 3:22AM

What I really want to know about my Sorento PHEV is: how good will my EV range be in the cold? I’ve owned and driven several EVs and PHEVs, driven them long distances in below freezing weather, braved mountain passes and snow packed city streets and I know plug-in vehicles handle well in harsh weather (especially when equipped with good snow tires!). But range always suffers when it's cold, period.

Testing Kia Sorento PHEV Winter Driving Performance: Grocery Getting

By Justin Hart on January 2, 2022 - 5:50AM

The Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is a competent, flexible, efficient sport utility vehicle. But how well does it do in the snow? I tested my new 2022 Sorento PHEV in the most basic of scenarios, wintertime errand running, and I am happy to say that the Sorento PHEV performed very well in this limited test.

Kia Electrified: From the fringes, considering other Kia models’ near term electrification

By Justin Hart on December 29, 2021 - 10:19PM

Kia still sells sub $20k economy cars, a “minivan”, a performance sedan (seriously!), and a quirky tall wagon when other carmakers, for the most part, have abandoned these model types. Sure, Honda, Toyota, and Chrysler still sell minivans too; Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Chevy (at least) still sell under $20k economy cars, and there are other sports sedans and boxy/quirky models out there as well. But will Kia electrify any of these models anytime soon (or in the case of the Soul, “re-electrify”)?

Kia Electrified: HEV sedans may not round out Kia’s U.S. electrification plans, near term

By Justin Hart on December 27, 2021 - 12:54PM

Kia doesn’t offer electrified versions of any of its sedans in the U.S., while sister company Hyundai offers two: the Elantra and the Sonata hybrids. Might this mean that Kia is more likely to hybridize one or more of its sedans for the U.S. market, in the near future? It seems a distinct possibility considering that Hyundai and Kia are tightly coupled and generally share platforms and technology.

Kia Electrified: Seltos HEV may be in the works, for some markets at least

By Justin Hart on December 24, 2021 - 3:52AM

Kia aims to significantly increase the production and sale of electrified vehicles in the coming year. Electrifying more of its best selling vehicles is the surest way to accomplish this goal, but for U.S. model year 2021 Kia only offered one of its five best sellers with an electrified option (the Sorento Hybrid). This begs the question: which Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. are most likely to be electrified in the next few years?

Kia Electrified: Speculating on a future HEV Telluride

By Justin Hart on December 23, 2021 - 5:41PM

Kia, and its sister company Hyundai, are poised to be among the top market share holders in the U.S. electrified passenger vehicle market in 2022 and beyond. Right now, the Kia Telluride SUV is one of the best selling Kia models, but it has no electrified versions on offer. Might we expect some form of electrified Kia Telluride in the next year or two?

Kia + Hyundai may take second place in U.S. plug-in vehicle sales in 2022

By Justin Hart on December 20, 2021 - 5:10AM

Kia and Hyundai have done something extraordinary in the European market recently. November 2021 was the worst sales month on record in Europe. Yet, Hyundai and Kia managed significant sales increases while almost every other manufacturer saw significant sales declines due to the ongoing global semiconductor supply issues.

VW is the closest to catching Tesla, but it isn’t alone

By Justin Hart on December 19, 2021 - 3:01AM

My best friend, whose first car (a 1985 VW Jetta) was my first aspirational vehicle, had me over to speak with his parents. While chatting with them about their next vehicle purchase, they said something provocative: “what if I don’t want a plug-in vehicle?” As a plug-in vehicle enthusiast, it is a question that is hard to hear but also an obvious indicator of the profound change the act of plugging into an electrical outlet, instead of a gas pump, represents in people’s lives. Change is hard!

Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-e, Tesla Model Y

How Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Are Vying for The Lead in U.S. Market

By Justin Hart on December 13, 2021 - 4:44AM

Everyone should know electric vehicles are rapidly taking more market share from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. But which manufacturers will lead the way in EV sales? The answer varies by region, of course, and much depends on the global supply chain, geo-political landscapes, the rippling impacts of the pandemic, etc. I will focus on the U.S. market since there should be rapid acceleration in U.S. EV sales, soon.

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV and 2018 TEsla Model 3

Daily driving comparison: Kia Sorento PHEV vs Tesla Model 3

By Justin Hart on December 10, 2021 - 4:45AM

I own both a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV and a 2018 Tesla Model 3 RWD LR EV. Besides the obvious form factor, performance and handling differences between the Tesla sports sedan and the upmarket, 6 passenger Kia SUV, what differences are worth pointing out between these two vehicles in their day to day driving experience?

Tesla Owner Buys A Kia PHEV SUV, And Loves It

By Justin Hart on December 6, 2021 - 3:15AM

I drive both an electric car (Tesla Model 3) and a plug-in hybrid (Kia Sorento) and I love them both. I know there are many others that also own multiple plug-in vehicles, but people often ask me: “why choose an EV and a PHEV, why not two EVs and why those particular vehicles?” Those are a good set of questions worth elaborating on.

2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

Kia Sportage PHEV coming soon, for Europe, TBD for North America

By Justin Hart on December 4, 2021 - 4:23AM

The new Kia Sportage PHEV is coming to North America sometime next year, we might assume, after it goes on sale in Europe in early 2022. Its looks are striking after Kia redesigned it. The new hybrid and non-hybrid versions of the 2023 model should be available in the U.S. in the first-half of 2022, but it will likely be late 2022 at the earliest before we see the 2023 Sportage PHEV in the U.S.

Energy flow between gas engine and battery in Kia Sorento PHEV

Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid Drive Modes Continue to Mystify

By Justin Hart on December 2, 2021 - 3:57AM

I am getting closer to an answer. However, I am still a bit puzzled by the way the 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV decides which mode, hybrid (HEV) or electric (EV), to operate in when I have placed the vehicle into the Auto mode.

Testing Plugin Hybrid Drive Modes in 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV

By Justin Hart on December 1, 2021 - 10:53AM

I recently purchased a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV and I find the Plug-in Hybrid Drive modes puzzling. I previously owned another PHEV, a 2017 Chevrolet Volt, and that may be why; its drive modes operated differently that the Kia’s. I am both embarrassed, because it seems too obvious, and a little frustrated because it also seems more complicated than it should be to get a definitive answer. What does the “Auto” mode really do?

Next Generation Kia Niro Impresses at The Seoul Mobility Show: EV, PHEV and Self-Charging Hybrid

By Justin Hart on November 30, 2021 - 6:13PM

Kia revealed unobscured images and more information about its next generation Kia Niro at the November 25th Seoul Mobility Show. Kia confirmed that again all three powertrain options will be offered the same as they are in the current 2022 model, for 2023: full electric, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and “self-charging” hybrid i.e. regular or non plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Next Generation Kia Niro's First Impressions in 4 Images

By Justin Hart on November 23, 2021 - 11:06AM

Kia has just announced its next generation Kia Niro at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week and will officially unveil it at the November 25th Seoul Mobility Show in South Korea. Kia says this new version of the Niro takes “inspiration from the natural world that sustainable mobility aims to protect.”

2022 Kia Sorento PHEV Owner Review: Bought Sight Unseen

By Armen Hareyan on November 16, 2021 - 6:07PM

Recently a new owner of a 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV offered us to write an owner review for Torque News readers. In this review Justin Hart says he bought his 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV without test-driving it and without even seeing it. His excitement was about the 2022 Sorento PHEV's all-electric range, equipment and safety. In this review Justin Hart explains his experience with the 2022 Sorento PHEV from an owner's point of view.

How One EV Owner Relies On Urban Public Charging - Yes It's Possible

By John Goreham on October 18, 2021 - 9:04AM

Many EV fans would like to own an EV but are concerned that without a home charger it is impossible. Here is a first-hand story explaining why owning an EV in the Boston area is possible.

Why One Urban EV Shopper Chose the Kia Niro Instead of the Tesla Model 3

By John Goreham on October 18, 2021 - 8:35AM

One Boston-area shopper could have had any EV. Here’s why the Kia Niro ended up being the choice over the Tesla Model 3.

2022 Kia Carnival Is a Minivan That Looks Like a Super Tech SUV

By Armen Hareyan on September 28, 2021 - 11:02PM

The 2022 Kia Carnival, which is replacing the Sednoa, is meant to be so unconventional that Kia would rather want it to be called a multipurpose vehicle. You will be surprised by by the look of the 2022 Kia Carnival, but the really impressive and spacious interior and super technology.

2022 Kia Niro EV Offers Perfect Option to Unavailable Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV

By John Goreham on September 20, 2021 - 3:52PM

Kia confirms the Niro returns for 2022 and provides updates on its features.

Kia Sorento LIsted As A Top Model For Senior Drivers

AAA Suggests Best Vehicles For Retired Drivers

By Marc Stern on August 5, 2021 - 3:10PM

The American Automobile Assn. does lots for things, one of them is making up lists of interesting things for drivers. Recently, they came up with the top four cars for senior operators. It's interesting and there's a surprise there, too.

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