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Kia

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
By Justin Hart on March 17, 2024 - 7:45PM
Last week, Kia gave a glimpse of its new model replacing the venerable Forte (typically Kia’s best selling car, and 2nd best selling vehicle overall, behind only the Sportage). It appears to be stunning and if you’re a fan of Forte, you’re in for a treat.
By John Goreham on March 12, 2024 - 5:13PM
The Kia Seltos flies under the radar but offers many great features not found in competitive models. Here are five things we liked about it.
By Justin Hart on March 10, 2024 - 10:22PM
Kia, among other legacy auto brands, is racing to sell affordably priced EVs before their startup rivals like Rivian and Tesla. Yet legacy auto faces a significant uphill battle in terms of producing and selling such affordable EVs.
By Justin Hart on March 6, 2024 - 3:57AM
I am a big fan of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). They are critical to our effort to end dependence on fossil fuels for personal transportation. However, they’re a bridge to get us to the point when batteries can completely replace gasoline, not the end point.
By Justin Hart on March 3, 2024 - 7:30PM
Overall, Kia’s sales slipped ever so slightly two months in a row, but the same is not true for Kia’s EV sales. Kia reported February 2024 sales for the US market last week and their EV sales are up 65%, year-over-year. The increase is due to the new EV9.
By Justin Hart on February 25, 2024 - 9:44PM
Even though it is mostly about misaligned expectations and not real declines in year over year sales, there is a bunch of noise in the media lately about electric vehicle (EV) sales tanking. That simply isn’t true, generally.
By Justin Hart on February 24, 2024 - 5:25PM
Kia’s smallest SUV, the Seltos, will be electrified next year with a new hybrid model. The Seltos Hybrid (HEV) may not go on sale in the US first however. Kia will likely bring it to the US to compete with the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV though.
By Justin Hart on February 18, 2024 - 1:28PM
With more mainstream automakers slowing down EV production and instead working to increase hybrid production, one problem should be at the forefront of every mainstream car company’s minds: many customers simply do not understand hybrids.
By Justin Hart on February 10, 2024 - 3:20PM
Kia has released more detail about its 2025 Carnival minivan hybrid model that should be on sale in the US this summer. As anticipated, Kia uses the same turbo four cylinder + electric powerplant from their SUV hybrids, but they have increased its power.
By Justin Hart on February 10, 2024 - 4:23AM
Recently, General Motors backtracked on its stance regarding plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. Back in 2019 GM ended production of its only PHEV model, the Chevy Volt, claiming that full EVs were its path forward. But oh how things have changed!
By Justin Hart on February 4, 2024 - 4:52AM
Kia’s newly released EV9 all electric 3 row SUV was the best selling EV in Kia’s lineup last month, outselling both the compact EV6 and the subcompact Niro EV. Is the EV9’s sales lead simply due to its newness, or is something else going on over at Kia?
By Justin Hart on February 2, 2024 - 1:05PM
Kia released numbers for its first month of US sales in 2024 earlier this week. While their sales were down just slightly from January 2023 (893 fewer sales this year), Kia still managed to set a few records.
By Justin Hart on January 27, 2024 - 6:36PM
More than once I have written about how some media sources get things wrong about EV sales trends in the US. Declines are primarily due to cost, not lack of interest. Plenty of people still want EVs and it isn’t just the “early adopters”, either.
By Justin Hart on January 27, 2024 - 4:15AM
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) theoretically give drivers the best of both worlds, in terms of propulsion, enabling local driving on electricity and the ability to use gas for longer trips. PHEVs should also ease drivers’ range concerns, in winter especially.
By Timothy Boyer on January 23, 2024 - 5:25PM
When it comes to what new models are the most searched on the Consumer Reports’ website, CR analysts created a new “Most Popular” list to aid your new car shopping research.
By Justin Hart on January 13, 2024 - 2:19PM
There are a plethora of high end, luxury electric vehicles (EVs) for sale, and fewer affordable models to choose from. This is a fact, but it doesn’t mean there is an especially prominent lack of lower priced EVs. Actually, there have never been so many!
By Justin Hart on January 11, 2024 - 3:23AM
At CES in Las Vegas this week, Kia announced its “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV) solutions, essentially a bevy of highly customizable all electric vans intended to offer maximum flexibility for users who need it. Who are those users and what do they need?
By Justin Hart on January 6, 2024 - 2:09PM
Hyundai, Kia and Genesis form the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), a conglomeration akin to General Motors. In the US, HMG’s EV sales were higher than all other manufacturers, save Tesla. HMG will likely further increase its US sales lead in 2024.
By Justin Hart on January 5, 2024 - 2:02PM
Kia wrapped up 2023 with its best ever annual US sales figures, with electrified vehicles (EVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids) seeing a 41% increase over their best annual record. Clearly, Kia’s star continues to rise, but how significant are these numbers?
By Justin Hart on December 30, 2023 - 6:08AM
It seems like the media and consumers are freaking out about how scary it is to contemplate buying a used plug-in vehicle, all because you have no way to tell how long the very expensive battery will last. I am here to tell you this is utter rubbish.
By Justin Hart on December 28, 2023 - 3:36AM
Over the holiday, I repeated a drive to my brother’s house that I’ve done previously in my Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Once again, I meant to test the efficiency of the Kia’s “Automatic” drive mode setting. The results were somewhat surprising.
By Justin Hart on December 23, 2023 - 4:11AM
About two years ago I traded in my 2017 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid (PHEV) for a brand new Kia Sorento PHEV. I am nothing but impressed by Kia’s midsize SUV PHEV, but I keep thinking it would be great if it operated a little more like the Volt.
By Justin Hart on December 15, 2023 - 1:50PM
Kia keeps getting lauded for its new vehicles, tallying multiple new awards in just the last week. Let’s break down a list of some of the most recent, and briefly consider what the significance of these awards might be.
By Justin Hart on December 9, 2023 - 11:46PM
Kia’s newest EV, the EV9 SUV, just went on sale late last month in the US and already it has racked up an impressive tally of awards and nominations. Here’s a list of many, but not all, those awards and some analysis of what they might portend.
By Timothy Boyer on December 7, 2023 - 2:35PM
Here’s how to Venn Diagram Consumer Reports latest reliability and range analysis reports to choose the best EV for you when it comes to reliability with range.
By Justin Hart on December 7, 2023 - 3:24AM
Kia has been on a roll the last 16 months with consistent year-over-year sales growth. The fact the auto industry was still recovering from supply chain woes last year set the bar low, but Kia still achieved their best ever sales year, in only 11 months.
By Justin Hart on November 26, 2023 - 9:55AM
Kia has begun offering enticing promotional incentives for their new EV9 midsized all electric SUV. While this should come as good news, it begs the question: since the EV9 is already greatly anticipated, will the incentives lead to more sales?
By Justin Hart on November 18, 2023 - 2:16PM
I’m going to be blunt and completely honest, car dealers have erected a huge roadblock on our path to a sustainable transportation future. They are the second largest obstacle to EV sales growth, and actually have a major role in the first obstacle too.
By Timothy Boyer on November 16, 2023 - 5:50PM
Here are 10 of the cheapest new models that are solid, safe, and reliable, recently recommended by CR analysts that includes 3 Toyota models!
By Justin Hart on November 9, 2023 - 2:42PM
Kia has recently announced that the 2025 model year Carnival will include an optional hybrid powertrain. This will give US consumers a third hybrid minivan choice, assuming Kia confirms its intention to sell it in the US.