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Kia (Page 17)

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 Patrick Rall on June 4, 2014 - 12:46PM
In my time writing about the automotive industry, no vehicle has had a marketing campaign that has gotten more attention than the Kia Soul, but with the introduction of the new and improved Soul for the 2014 model year – Kia has improved on an already very good compact vehicle that delivers great fuel economy, awesome driving dynamics, a ton of space and an impressive number of features for a surprisingly low price.
By Keith Griffin on May 21, 2014 - 1:16PM
With nine days left in the month, a top Kia executive is hinting sales will hit record levels for the month of May. That would follow up on record sales so far this year for April and January and get the company back to healthy full-year sales.
By Keith Griffin on April 14, 2014 - 6:15PM
Thanks to prominent placement on Live with Kelly & Michael, stay-at-home moms all over the land are now familiar with the beautiful 2015 Kia Sedona. With that burst of exposure comes this question - who is going to buy it?
By Keith Griffin on April 10, 2014 - 11:34AM
There's a running joke throughout the movie "Get Shorty" where John Travolta, saddled with driving an Oldsmobile Silouhette, proclaims it "the Cadillac of minivans." Maybe Kia is onto something with the new Sedona being introduced at the NY Auto Show. It looks like the Kia Forte of minivans.
By Keith Griffin on April 9, 2014 - 11:11AM
Kia, coming off some harsh treatment from Consumer Reports, can find comfort in one of its top sellers 2014 Kia Forte getting some loving for being a best value in America.
By Keith Griffin on April 8, 2014 - 2:08PM
Consumer Reports has decided one Kia is no longer worthy of recommendation to the public because it has failed a key safety test.
By Keith Griffin on April 3, 2014 - 1:09PM
Kia has announced that it will introduce a new multi-passenger vehicle at the New York International Auto Show in two short weeks. The question that comes to mind is probably the Kia Sedona going to be a game changer for the Korean automaker?
By Keith Griffin on April 1, 2014 - 4:38PM
While its Korean sibling was struggling, Kia saw its sales kick upwards in March thanks to Forte, Optima and Soul models among others. It was the second best March sales for the company in its 20 years in the United States.
By Keith Griffin on March 23, 2014 - 6:36AM
There are stories flying around the Internet claiming that Kia is poised to introduce a two-door version of the Kia Soul with one strong detractor who claims it's not going to happen. That begs the question: should there be a two-door Kia Soul?
By Keith Griffin on March 21, 2014 - 8:01AM
The New England Motor Press Association, where I am an active member and immediate past president, has bestowed two major awards on Hyundai and Kia. The two brands need to exploit the accolades for Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
By Patrick Rall on March 15, 2014 - 6:10PM
The Kia brand has come a very long way over the past decade and the 2014 Kia Sorento SX AWD is a shining example of the automaker’s progress – offering an impressive list of amenities inside and out in a roomy, sporty midsized SUV that packs a price under $40k.
By Keith Griffin on March 11, 2014 - 11:38AM
At a press conference today in South Korea, Kia has announced pricing for its Soul electric vehicle that will go on sale as a 2016 model. It seems high for the U.S. market by about $10,000.
By Keith Griffin on March 4, 2014 - 7:43AM
Kia announced that its sales for February 2014 were down but unlike its sibling brand did not hide behind excuses and touted the success of the Soul and Forte models.
By Keith Griffin on March 3, 2014 - 3:42PM
Kia has introduced its first luxury sedan: the 2015 Kia K900. On the technical and aesthetic levels the car succeeds but can it excel on the most crucial level: the marketplace?
By Keith Griffin on February 16, 2014 - 7:05AM
It's no secret that Kia as a brand suffered in 2013 with sales down 4 percent while the industry was up 8 percent but 2014 should be a different year, especially because the supply of Kia Fortes is going to increase.
By Keith Griffin on February 12, 2014 - 5:12PM
Kia is in the midst of introducing the 2015 Kia K900 to the American automotive journalists in Orange County. Has the brand succeeded in making it stunning enough to be a success in the luxury market?
By Patrick Rall on January 16, 2014 - 6:09PM
There was a point early in Kia’s existence in the US market where their lineup of small cars focused on nothing but low cost and solid fuel economy but the 2014 Kia Forte EX sedan is a prime of example of how much the industry has changed – and how well Kia has changed right along with the competition.
By Keith Griffin on January 3, 2014 - 9:23PM
Kia Motors America announced that 2013 was the company's second best year but a drop in sales from 2012 doesn't seem to bode well when the rest of the automotive industry saw 7.6% sales growth on average.
By Keith Griffin on January 2, 2014 - 9:45PM
Kia has named the new concept car it is unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 13 the Kia GT4 Stinger as well as revealing details about its horsepower. Its name is old news to TorqueNews.com readers.
By Keith Griffin on December 22, 2013 - 10:26PM
To date, Kia has been coy about its new 2+2 coupe concept coming to the North American International Auto Show but its worldwide PR team has given it a name, but possibly not on purpose.
By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2013 - 10:31PM
Kia is unveiling a concept car at the Detroit Auto Show but it's being coy, as expected on what the new 2+2 concept will be when it debuts. There's speculation on what it might turn out to be across the web.
By Keith Griffin on December 20, 2013 - 8:22PM
It's just been announced the 2014 Kia Soul has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-Star overall safety rating. Could a renewed focus on safety be the key to turning around Kia's slumping sales?
By Patrick Rall on December 16, 2013 - 8:05PM
When the Kia brand was introduced to the US market back in 1994, it was hard to imagine that this super affordable economy brand could one day offer up a gorgeous, engaging large luxury sedan but with the 2014 Kia Cadenza – the smaller of the two Korean brands doing business in North America has stormed into the segment with a beautiful vehicle.
By Keith Griffin on December 15, 2013 - 10:34PM
The 2014 Kia Soul, which basically had its first full month of sales in November, is quickly becoming a hot seller for the Korean automaker with 12,870 sold. There are five solid reasons why the 2014 Kia Soul is a winner for the brand.
By Keith Griffin on December 15, 2013 - 7:32PM
Word comes that Kia will be promoting its upcoming Kia K900 during the Super Bowl broadcast that takes place Feb. 2, 2014 in New Jersey but do television ads really make a difference when it comes to selling vehicles?
By Keith Griffin on December 14, 2013 - 1:08PM
The 2014 Kia Forte has been named the Best New Compact Sedan of 2014 by Cars.com, which is a sentiment first expressed by TorqueNews.com. Better late than never for this compact sedan that's really mashing the competition – except in sales.
By Keith Griffin on December 7, 2013 - 8:32PM
The 2014 Kia Soul is a shining light in the Korean automaker's lineup, which could explain why a special edition Red Zone model is being rolled out. But, one has to wonder, why is a brand-new vehicle getting a special edition already?
By Keith Griffin on December 7, 2013 - 3:32PM
Kia had a great sales year in 2012 but its sales numbers are starting to show signs of weakness as 2013 comes to a close. There are some steps that need to be done in order for it to return to robustness in 2014.
By Keith Griffin on December 3, 2013 - 2:15PM
Kia is out with its sales numbers for 2013, and everything appears to be good, but there could be trouble ahead for the Korean manufacturer because sales overall are lagging behind 2012 numbers at this point.
By Keith Griffin on December 2, 2013 - 3:22PM
When it comes to lengthy car trips my first preference is either midsize sedans (and larger) or crossover utility vehicles. That's why I was initially dismayed to find out I would be piloting a 2014 Kia Forte EX on a 700-mile round-trip drive on a recent wet, windy November weekend but this compact proved it could work well.