Skip to main content

Kia (Page 5)

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 February 12, 2023 - 4:54AM
The other day I plugged in my Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV) at a free, public 240V charging station while I met up with old friends over a bit of nosh. Since I have a PHEV, I don’t need the electric charge, technically, to get around. I can always just burn gas. But there tends to be a notion, among drivers of electric vehicles and those responsible for charging infrastructure, that PHEVs should not use public charging (since they have a gas engine too). I think that idea couldn’t be more wrong.
By Armen Hareyan on February 11, 2023 - 6:41PM
This week Torque News reviews the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV in X-Line Prestige AWD trim. With the Sorento and now the Sportage, Kia now has two PHEV SUVs. But note that there are also regular and hybrid versions.
By Justin Hart on February 11, 2023 - 6:27AM
Do you want a 3-row plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV to pack around lots of people and stuff while lowering your carbon footprint on your daily drives? Are you frustrated by the relative lack of options, and or the prices, for 3-row PHEV SUVs? 2023 is going to see the arrival of at least one new 3-row PHEV SUV and the beginnings of a real competition among the few brands that offer such vehicles.
By Justin Hart on February 4, 2023 - 2:21PM
The Kia Niro EV Wind is the most expensive “entry level” EV on the market. I am using the base MSRP of $40,000 as the upper limit of what defines “entry level” considering that is about the price point where the more expensive EVs with larger batteries and higher performance start showing up and it is also below the current average price of a new car. EV’s in this category start at $26,500 MSRP (excluding destination and other fees) for the Chevy Bolt.
By Justin Hart on February 3, 2023 - 2:44AM
Kia just had its best ever sales results in the US for January, 2023. This is Kia’s sixth consecutive monthly sales record and a pretty good sign that the global supply chain issues that plagued all car manufacturers are no longer (much of) a problem. There are some details in Kia’s January sales figures worth investigating in order to study how their model lineup is doing and where it may be on track to grow the most.
By Justin Hart on February 2, 2023 - 11:55AM
Or it may not, it all depends on Kia. But I have recently tested the 2023 Kia Niro EV and came away thoroughly impressed with its standard kit and the overall driving experience. I want to dive a little deeper into the Niro EV’s standard feature set and compare it to other EVs costing under $40,000 which sold in higher volume last year to try and explain why that trend may be about to change.
By Armen Hareyan on January 31, 2023 - 9:18PM
The second generation of the 2023 Kia Niro is set to make its mark, with an updated exterior and interior design, improved technology, and a focus on preserving the main values of its first generation - to be the most competitive hybrid in its segment. Torque News reviewed the 2023 Kia Niro HEV and we think this is perhaps the most interesting hybrid vehicle of the moment.
By Justin Hart on January 28, 2023 - 7:36AM
Earlier this week I promised a follow up on my initial review of the 2023 Kia Niro EV Wind. This good looking, well equipped, and enjoyable to drive EV deserves more attention than I could give it in a single article. It also deserves some comparison to other EVs that are closest to it in price since it is currently priced a little higher than its closest competitors, but that is no reason to discount this excellent entry level EV, especially considering its standard features are better than most.
By Justin Hart on January 27, 2023 - 6:30PM
At a reader's request, John Goreham and Justin Hart agreed to “combine” their assessments of two competing 3-row plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs: the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Kia Sorento PHEV. John knows the Outlander better and Justin the Sorento, but both are fans of PHEVs. Because it may be hard to pick a winner without arranging a side by side comparison, the two have answered a set of questions about each vehicle and will make recommendations that our readers will hopefully find useful.
By Justin Hart on January 27, 2023 - 5:27AM
I have been driving plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full electric vehicles (EVs) for 12 years. In that time I have learned ways to maximize the efficiency and decrease fueling costs of both my PHEVs and EVs in similar ways. But PHEVs, since they use both gasoline and electricity in hybrid mode on longer distance drives, will typically cost more per mile and be less efficient in terms of energy use as even the most thermally efficient gas engines can’t match the efficiency of equivalently electric motors.
By Justin Hart on January 23, 2023 - 4:47AM
My father in-law just purchased a new, 2023 Kia Niro EV Wind and I had the chance to take it for a 20 mile test drive this weekend. I came away from my test drive solidly impressed and feel the Kia Niro EV is worth every penny of its slightly higher starting point compared to other EVs with MSRPs below $40,000 considering its standard features, roominess, and the quality and comfort of the ride. It makes a perfect first EV!
By Justin Hart on January 21, 2023 - 5:38AM
I’ve owned two plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). They are fascinating vehicles. Though they are not the same class (one: the compact 5 door liftback Chevy Volt, the other: the 3 row midsize Kia Sorento SUV), as PHEVs they both could run in electric only mode for significant distances and consume far less gasoline than equivalent gasoline only vehicles. My two PHEVs behaved differently when driven and while I definitely prefer how Chevy implemented its electric drive mode, I believe that Kia has made a more effective PHEV.
By Justin Hart on January 20, 2023 - 4:17PM
Many of us have family and friends that we like to bring with us on journeys far and wide. We load up our companions and equipment and hit the road for: exploration, (re)discovery, togetherness, solitude, (re)connection. How we get there, what we drive, is an important part of the trip. While I don’t really know what’s right for anyone else’s needs other than my own, I can’t help but feel there’s something wrong with our priorities when it comes to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in the U.S.
By Justin Hart on January 14, 2023 - 4:48AM
There’s been a decent amount of attention in the news lately about how plug-in hybrids (PHEVS) are not living up to their potential. Primarily, blame gets assigned to drivers for not plugging in enough, then to manufacturers for not designing their vehicles to support intended use in better or easier ways, and also to governments for not aligning incentives appropriately. For the sake of argument, let’s assume that is all true even if it isn’t, exactly.
By Armen Hareyan on January 13, 2023 - 9:08PM
The Kia Telluride, a cousin of the Hyundai Palisade, is getting a good update for 2023. This update includes mechanical and technological advancements that will enhance the driving experience and provide better performance.
By Marc Stern on January 11, 2023 - 3:09PM
Ford's F-150 Lightning electric continues to rack up its share of prestigious automotive awards as the pickup has now been named winner of the North American Truck of the Year Award.
By Justin Hart on January 11, 2023 - 2:40PM
Some may say that 2022 was the year that electric vehicles (EVs) really took off, saleswise, or (finally) began to rapidly increase market share in the U.S. It is certainly true that electric vehicles sold in larger numbers than ever before in the U.S. last year, and almost every automaker is hurriedly bringing new EVs to market too. But how big are these increases really, and which automakers are capturing the most EV market share?
By Justin Hart on January 6, 2023 - 4:25AM
Kia had good news to share about its December 2022 electrified vehicle sales; they were up by 142% year-over-year! However, deciphering the precise sales figures is a little bit tricky because Kia doesn’t separately report sales figures for all of its electrified models. There are also some confusing statements in Kia’s recap of 2022 sales that I’ll dig into later.
By Justin Hart on December 31, 2022 - 5:56AM
As an automotive journalist, I read a lot of articles about cars, especially electrified ones. I also spend a lot of time driving them, having owned nothing but electrified vehicles the last 12 years (15 if you count the 3 years I commuted on an electric bike). There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about how much plug-in cars really lower our emissions or save money and other resources, and depending on what you read, it is easy to get the wrong idea.
By Justin Hart on December 30, 2022 - 5:03AM
Kia has shared teaser images on Twitter of its forthcoming EV9 all electric SUV that show off its shape and defining lines of its profile, as well as a glimpse of its front end. Whether you find the lines striking or not, it is certainly going to cause some stir in the marketplace as the first 3 row, mid-sized, fully electric SUV that will start at under $60,000 MSRP (actually it is expected to start around $50k).
By Justin Hart on December 27, 2022 - 6:41PM
While visiting family for the Christmas holiday, I got a chance to do more road testing of our Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV. This time, we put the vehicle through some trials I haven’t been able to attempt before.
By Armen Hareyan on December 26, 2022 - 1:39PM
When it comes to compact SUVs for 2023, two of the most popular choices are the Kia Sportage and the Toyota RAV4. Both vehicles offer ample interior space and cargo capacity, as well as impressive fuel efficiency and convenience features. But which one is the better choice?
By Justin Hart on December 24, 2022 - 4:13AM
Back in April, I took my first long road trip in our Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and the first leg of that trip was the roughly 60 miles drive to my brother’s house in Olympia, Washington from our house in the Seattle suburbs. Today I just repeated that first leg of the trip to go and visit my brother, but it was done in vastly different conditions this time and I am intrigued by the efficiency figures I ended up with.
By Justin Hart on December 23, 2022 - 4:51AM
Temperatures have ranged from the single digits to the low 20’s F for the last 5 days. We are in the grips of icy winter conditions and there is well over a foot of snow on the ground with more on the way. I packed up my family for a little snow covered getaway in the northwestern tip of the continental U.S. and we’ve chosen our Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) to safely get us there and back. And once more, this vehicle delivered us safe, sound and comfortable to our destination.
By Justin Hart on December 21, 2022 - 1:00AM
Tis the season to load up the family cars and go dashing through the snow! Whether it’s to visit family or just visit the slopes, our people hauling machines get a special workout at this time of the year and my sleigh, the Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV), has once again proved it is a capable and comfortable winter ride.
By Justin Hart on December 18, 2022 - 5:49AM
Kia won not one, not two, but three 2023 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards last week. These annual awards go to the “best vehicles for your money” as decided by the editorial team at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) who spend months evaluating, analyzing and testing the new vehicles released each year.
By Justin Hart on December 15, 2022 - 10:41PM
There’s no denying that new vehicles have become terribly expensive in recent years. The average price of all new vehicles for sale in the U.S. is now a little over $48,000. That’s enough to make your head spin, your wallet groan, and your jaw to drop all at once!
By Justin Hart on December 10, 2022 - 4:49AM
Kia recently announced that they are planning to move production of their forthcoming EV9 all electric SUV to their existing U.S. manufacturing plant in the state of Georgia. This is good news both for U.S. consumers because it should create opportunity for better pricing on this highly anticipated Kia vehicle, and for the people of Georgia and Kia’s employees there.
By Justin Hart on December 6, 2022 - 6:29PM
In what I sincerely hope is a thinly veiled U2 reference, the headline of Car and Driver’s recent review of the 2023 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) proclaims that they have found what they’re looking for in this PHEV and that it now “makes a lot more sense”.
By Justin Hart on December 2, 2022 - 6:40PM
Kia has done it again! Their November U.S. auto sales are up more than 25% year-over-year, and set a new record, beating their previous best ever November sales by a healthy 8%. Kia’s electrified vehicle sales were also up 133% year-over-year, but again this is mostly due to increased sales of hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles, and not electric vehicles (EVs).