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Kia (Page 2)

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 May 7, 2024 - 9:27AM
A new scam is targeting private-party used car sellers. To avoid being scammed, check out the details here. 
By Justin Hart on May 7, 2024 - 3:33AM
The way to get the best efficiency from a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Kia Sorento is by manually controlling which drive mode the vehicle is in. This is most likely true of any PHEV, since we humans are more capable than the algorithms of strategic application.
By Denis Flierl on May 5, 2024 - 6:48AM
Hybrid models are a hot car segment with shoppers. But which models are most and least cost-effective? Check out this report, and it may surprise you.
By Timothy Boyer on May 4, 2024 - 10:52AM
Here’s the latest update toward choosing a great SUV that is both fuel-efficient and reliable with Consumer Reports new listing of the best Hybrid SUVs for under $35,000.
By Denis Flierl on May 3, 2024 - 9:17AM
Which car brands have the most speeding tickets? Here are ten of the worst offenders. Is your car brand on the list?
By Bhavik Sreenath on May 3, 2024 - 7:54AM
Forget sleek sports cars! Discover the weird and wonderful world of convertible SUVs. From quirky crossovers to head-scratching oddities, these open-top vehicles defy expectations.
By Justin Hart on May 3, 2024 - 3:45AM
April 2024 saw Kia’s best ever monthly sales total for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US, led by the EV6 and EV9 models. As exciting as that may be for fans of Kia’s EVs, the news was somewhat disappointing when we look at Kia’s overall US sales.
By Armen Hareyan on April 29, 2024 - 12:47PM
Dan seems happy overall with his Kia EV9 but highlights a few minor frustrations and one regret regarding the trim level he chose. After 2,000 miles on his KIA EV9, he regrets not going a trim level up.
By Justin Hart on April 28, 2024 - 10:20PM
My father-in-law is planning an approximately 1,200 mile round trip drive in his Kia Niro EV to visit some friends and family that live in Oregon and Northern California. The only challenges are figuring out where he’ll charge up and what to expect.
By Justin Hart on April 27, 2024 - 2:01PM
If you own an electric vehicle (EV) that isn’t a Tesla, you may know it is now possible to use Tesla Superchargers (in some cases for some EVs). But how and where is changing over time and it can be confusing depending on which EV you drive.
By Justin Hart on April 20, 2024 - 5:21PM
How much should a new vehicle cost in order to be considered affordable? The answer will depend on who you ask and what their needs and budgets are, but it may be sufficient to say affordable means significantly less than the average price of a new car.
By Bhavik Sreenath on April 19, 2024 - 1:57PM
Safety first, gas bills second! Discover the top 5 hybrid SUVs that offer 5-star safety ratings and incredible fuel economy. From spacious family haulers to stylish city cruisers, we've got you covered.
By Timothy Boyer on April 15, 2024 - 10:08PM
Ten solid, safe, and reliable new models recommended by CR analysts who state that these models have the lowest transaction prices today. Plus, avoid these 5 dealership rip-off tactics.
By Justin Hart on April 6, 2024 - 7:38PM
It may not come as a surprise, but Kia has abruptly announced that it plans to increase the introduction and production of hybrid models as it expects demands for EVs to slow. To be fair, Kia also expects to focus on more affordable EV models too.
By Justin Hart on April 5, 2024 - 2:32PM
Last week, Kia released US sales data for March and as much as Kia focused on the positive details in its press release, the hard truth is that its sales were down again, for the 4th month in a row. This begs the question: why are Kia’s sales declining?
By Justin Hart on April 3, 2024 - 2:18PM
What body style is that, you ask? Why none other than the venerable wagon, or “estate” as they say in the UK. Which 2025 Kia model will be available as a wagon? That would be the brand new Kia K4, which replaces the outgoing Forte sedan.
By Dimitar Angelov on April 1, 2024 - 10:37AM
Toyota Camry continues to dominate the sedan market, but these slightly used Japanese and Korean models provide great alternatives if you don't want to go for a brand-new car.
By Armen Hareyan on March 26, 2024 - 11:54PM
Kia's big bet on electric vehicles looks like a winner. Having driven both, I can tell you the all-new 2024 EV9 rockets past the Telluride in every way.
By Justin Hart on March 26, 2024 - 3:29AM
I’ve revisited a drive to Washington wine country in my Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and this time tried a different combination of drive modes. The results were surprising and a little disappointing. At least I can say I know what not to do.
By Justin Hart on March 22, 2024 - 2:11PM
The other day my neighbor tells me he is thinking about replacing his 2 gas powered vehicles with one electric vehicle (EV). But there’s a catch: he works from home, rarely drives long distances, and isn’t that sure about what the future holds, per se.
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!