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Kia (Page 22)

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 Adam Yamada-Hanff on November 3, 2011 - 5:40PM
Kia has announced that it plans to build a third manufacturing plant in China. This is in order to meet increasing demand in the country and to maintain its sales momentum in the Chinese market, which has been strong.
By Adam Yamada-Hanff on October 30, 2011 - 10:48PM
Kia has been making significant advances and developments in alternative-powered vehicles. This includes development into hydrogen fuel-cells, hybrids, and fully electric cars. Other automakers should take note, and follow in Kia's lead.
By Keith Griffin on October 25, 2011 - 10:05AM
Fresh on the heels of the unveiling of the 2012 Kia Rio 5-door, the price for the 2012 Kia Rio sedan has been announced. In its most basic trim level, the Rio sedan will be available for $13,400 with a six-speed manual transmission.
By Patrick Rall on October 18, 2011 - 3:06PM
The 2011 SEMA Show opens exactly two weeks from today but the corporate teaser shots continue to flow, with the folks from Kia offering up a shot of their compact Kia Soul - giving us a glimpse at what to expect from the six sporty vehicles coming to the Las Vegas Convention Center later this month.
By Keith Griffin on October 15, 2011 - 9:28AM
Shopping in Paris is a fine art, which may explain why Kia is going upscale with its Picanto and selling it in a shopping mall in Paris. Befitting the bespoke nature of Paris, shoppers can customize their Picantos at the mall.
By Keith Griffin on October 12, 2011 - 11:51AM
The hot spot in the automotive world right now is the B class or sub-compact segment as most folks know it. Sweet in that hot spot is Kia with the 2012 Rio five-door hatchback currently in dealers and the four-door sedan that rolls out by year’s end. The base 2012 model has the same price as the 2011 model but much more value.
By Keith Griffin on October 11, 2011 - 11:47PM
At the national media launch of the 2012 Kia Rio and 2012 Kia Soul in Austin, Texas, company executives were singing the Korean manufacturer’s praises and emphasizing that it’s not going to be overshadowed by its corporate sibling Hyundai.
By Don Bain on October 6, 2011 - 5:30PM
Not content to solely sell cars, Kia’s music-loving Hamsters have been recognized by the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame who honored Kia's hamsters yesterday with the first-ever "Rookie of the Year" award.
By Gordon Block on October 1, 2011 - 1:13PM
Kia has announced that it will build an electric vehicle based on the Hyundai i10 BlueOn previewed at the Frankfurt Auto Show last month, with plans for more EVs by 2014.
By Hawke Fracassa on September 29, 2011 - 10:50PM
A new Mitsubishi auto dealership is opening in November near Portsmouth, N.H., in the town of Stratham. Stratham Mitsubishi is setting up shop at the same location where new Jeeps were sold for almost half a century until hard economic times choked off sales and put the dealership out of business.
By Keith Griffin on September 29, 2011 - 11:05AM
TrueCar.com rightly asks the question, "What recession?" as it reports that new car sales are up 10.1 percent over last September. The car site is predicting that annual new car sales for 2011 will be 12.75 million.
By KC Kelly on September 26, 2011 - 10:11AM
Kia Motors America announced Monday an incredibly affordable price for its new 2012 Rio. The Rio is a completely redesigned vehicle that was first unveiled earlier this year at the 2011 New York International Auto Show.
By Don Bain on September 20, 2011 - 2:13PM
The Kia Soul Shuffle Slam invites dancers to party rock and showcase their moves in electro-pop group LMFAO-Inspired dance videos following the debut of the new "Share Some Soul" ad that has been viewed more than three million times on YouTube. Contestants have the opportunity to win $10,000 and to dance on stage with LMFAO.
By Keith Griffin on September 12, 2011 - 9:46AM
BorgWarner has created a new silent chain for the balance shaft drive on Hyundai's four-cylinder gas direct-injection (GDI) and turbo-GDI engines found in the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sorento that is going to make using your in-vehicle technology a whole lot easier.
By Patrick Rall on September 8, 2011 - 7:54PM
In mid-August, we got our first look at the new Kia’s new rear wheel drive sport sedan that many believed would be called the Veredus but based on newly unearthed pictures of this new sport sedan, it looks like this car will be known as the Kia GT.
By KC Kelly on September 6, 2011 - 11:29AM
The sophisticated men's lifestyle magazine Esquire has named the 2011 Kia Optima the "Most Gorgeous Car Under $20K". Optima also got notoriety as one of only nine finalists for the "The 2011 Esquire Design and Technology Awards".
By Armen Hareyan on August 30, 2011 - 2:40PM
The 2012 Kia soul will offer company installed HD Radio, adding the brand to nineteen other automotive brands offering HD radios.
By Frank Sherosky on August 29, 2011 - 10:58AM
Although GM and BMW are the only auto manufacturers to have production facilities on the East Coast in the path of Hurricane Irene, all manufacturers have dealerships including some suppliers in the storm’s path.
By Hawke Fracassa on August 27, 2011 - 10:05PM
NADAguides has taken into account safety, price, fuel efficiency and cost of ownership in compiling its 2011 choices for best back-to-school vehicles. This list is intended to satisfy drivers and their parents. Vehicles that fit all criteria include models from Chevrolet, Ford, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.
By Patrick Rall on August 19, 2011 - 1:13PM
When the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show opens next month, the world will be introduced to what could be the next era of Kia vehicles and today, we have our first look at the unnamed Kia rear wheel drive sport sedan that will drop in Germany.
By Armen Hareyan on July 28, 2011 - 10:59AM
How many nail bottles of nail polish will it take to pain a new Kia is one of the questions the company tackles in a new Picanto ad by targeting women and competing with Fiat 500, Ford Ka and Renault Twingo. It's called Kia Picanto nail art animation.
By Don Bain on June 28, 2011 - 5:33PM
A Mobile, AL county jury has returned a $40 million wrongful death verdict against Kia Motors of America after five years of litigation and two appeals to the Alabama Supreme Court. The case, filed by Tonya Leytham, was focused on the A97 seatbelt buckle installed in Kia Sportage and Sephia models from 1995 to 2000.