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Kia (Page 15)

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 Denis Flierl on November 1, 2017 - 10:44AM
Kia launches their first performance vehicle and their fastest model ever. Stinger GT shows how far the brand has come.
By Denis Flierl on October 5, 2017 - 11:23AM
You better pay attention to the Kia brand because they are on the move. Check out the hot new Kia Stinger.
By Armen Hareyan on September 19, 2017 - 12:56PM
Leaked document shows the 2018 Kia Soul EV model's battery improvement, but not enough. Is there anything KIA can do to make it competitive? Yes, if it can make this simple step.
By Tim Healey on May 22, 2017 - 12:27PM
The federal government is looking into a recall of 1.7 million Hyundais and Kias to make sure it was executed properly.
By Tim Healey on May 16, 2017 - 12:14PM
The Hyundai Veloster and Kia Soul have a lot in common.
By Tim Healey on May 12, 2017 - 3:20PM
South Korea’s government is compelling Hyundai and Kia to move forward with a recall of 240,000 vehicles.
By Tim Healey on May 9, 2017 - 4:56PM
Hyundai and Kia are fighting a recall mandate in South Korea and doing so in a most unusual fashion.
By Parks McCants on April 27, 2017 - 8:57PM
Kia’s second generation 2017 Cadenza has captured the interest of value conscious 4-door premium midsize sedan buyers. Cadenza is soon to become the most awarded offering in the segment. This week, Kia’s segment topping, upstart premium sedan earns a Top Safety Pick + rating from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety.
By Will Maley on April 23, 2017 - 10:49AM
When Kia debuted the Stinger at the Seoul Motor Show last month, it did not have a 'Kia' badge. Instead, it was wearing a badge with a stylized E surrounded by a circle. Why is that?
By Parks McCants on March 23, 2017 - 5:30PM
Sitting at the airport in Los Angeles I caught Kia’s Cadenza ‘ blindfold’ touch test on a T.V. commercial, as parking valets guessed the brand of the car they were sitting in. BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes came to mind.
By Patrick Rall on March 23, 2017 - 11:56AM
The 2017 Kia Sportage EX AWD is a great vehicle for daily driving on paved roads, but can this Korean compact SUV handle the rough dirt roads of rural America? I spent a week driving the new Sportage on my local unpaved roads to see how well – or how badly – the smallest Kia SUV performs on some of the worst public roads in the area.
By Will Maley on February 4, 2017 - 11:22AM
If you have checked out the marketing campaign for the Kia Niro, you may have noticed there is something missing.
By Will Maley on January 24, 2017 - 4:09PM
Kia first dedicated hybrid model, the 2017 Niro will soon be heading out to dealers. Before that happens, pricing details have been revealed.
By Will Maley on December 1, 2016 - 9:45AM
The Kia GT sedan has been a source of rumor and speculation since it was first shown as a concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. But this week, we have gotten our first look at the production model.
By Will Maley on November 10, 2016 - 9:06AM
The Kia Soul is one of the funkiest vehicles on sale today thanks in part to its boxy design. Now, there's another reason for its funkiness.
By Parks McCants on November 8, 2016 - 12:00PM
With public acceptance and subsequent production momentum finally taking hold in the North America Hybrid, EV car and light truck segment, “electrification” dominates this year’s Green Car of the Year. A sign of the times? Perhaps.
By Marc Stern on October 31, 2016 - 8:20AM
The quirky Kia Soul and the all-new Cadenza were major winners in this years Active Lifestyle Award. Soul took Lifestyle of the Year.
By Marc Stern on October 30, 2016 - 9:09PM
An agreement Friday between 33 states, the District of Columbia and Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary settles the four-year cloud of mileage overstatement that resulted in fines and fees of almost $800 million.
By Marc Stern on October 17, 2016 - 11:31PM
Kia has recalled 12,200 2016 Optimas to fix a major problem with their right front axle driveshaft. The automaker took quick action when it was determined the problem could cause the front axle to fail.
By Marc Stern on October 6, 2016 - 12:09AM
Kia has had quite a change over the last decade. Starting as a brand looked at primarily as an inexpensive alternative, it has evolved to become the leader in the J.D. Powers annual vehicle quality survey.
By Parks McCants on October 5, 2016 - 10:53AM
It is said that the number one consideration for the majority of minivan buyers is safety.
By Marc Stern on October 4, 2016 - 11:30PM
Kia has done a major redesign job on its top-selling vehicle, the Rio. The new design, completed by studios in California and Germany, is mature and more refined.
By Marc Stern on August 24, 2016 - 10:43AM
Kia Motors, Hyundai's subsidiary, has a major introduction planned For Sept. 29 at the Paris Auto Show. According to the company, its newly restyled Rio will debut.
By Marc Stern on August 22, 2016 - 9:39AM
Auto spies saw the planned Kia compact crossover recently as the carmaker put the as-yet-unnamed vehicle through its paces. Kia is slotting it below the Sportage which is illustrated above.
By Marc Stern on August 5, 2016 - 4:57PM
Hyundai joins General Motors, Kia and Fiat Chrysler in ARC probe, while Takata recall affects 31 makes.


By Will Maley on August 4, 2016 - 4:16PM
Do you ever wish that there was a hotted-up version of a Kia? We have some good news for you.
By Parks McCants on August 3, 2016 - 2:18PM
July continues the upward sales trajectory for Kia with the Soul compact hatchback leading the lineup.
By Will Maley on July 25, 2016 - 9:32AM
One of the downsides of having an older vehicle is not being able to get the latest and greatest in terms of features. A key example is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. But if you own an older Kia, you'll be able to get this feature in the near future.
By Parks McCants on July 21, 2016 - 2:34PM
Kia’s best selling crossover the “Sorento” has earned top safety honors from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Although mostly “a carryover" for 2017, KIa adds a bit of value to this exceptional CUV with a modest price increase.
By Will Maley on June 22, 2016 - 2:32PM
For the past twenty-seven years, J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study had a premium brand stand on top. But this year's study saw a dramatic change, a non-premium automaker was on top.