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

Hyundai, Kia Recall Protest Unprecedented

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.

Kia's upstart premium sedan earns IIHS Top Safety Pick + rating

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.

Kia Introduces A New Premium Trim for South Korea

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?

2017 Kia Cadenza Features Exceptional Premium Sedan Value

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.

Driving the 2017 Kia Sportage EX AWD in Rural America

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.

The Curious Case Of Kia Not Mentioning 'Hybrid' With the Niro

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.

Kia Talks Pricing for 2017 Niro Hybrid

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.

Picture of Production Kia GT Leaks Out. New Video Teases It

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.

2017 Kia Soul Adds Some Turbo Goodness

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.

Electrification Defines 2017 ‘Green Car of the Year’

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.

2016 Kia Soul Takes Lifestyle of the Year Award

Quirky Soul, New Cadenza Take 2016 Active Lifestyle Award

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.

Hyundai and Kia Have Settled Their Four-Year Mileage Suit

Hyundai, Kia Now Free To Move On From Mileage Issues

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.

Protecting Buyers, Kia Is Quick To Recall 12.2K Optimas With Bad Driveshafts

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.

How Kia Has Become A Top Value For Consumers

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.

2017 Kia Sedona earns IIHS Top Safety + Rating for 2016

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.

When Kia’s Rio Arrives In 2018 It Will Feature More Passenger, Cargo Space

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.

Kia Plans International Debut Of Fourth-Gen Rio At Paris Auto Show

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.

There’s A Lot To Be Said For Auto Spies; How Else Would We Know Of New Kia Crossover?

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.

Car Companies and Makes Affected By ARC Probe and Takata Airbag Recalls

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.

Kia Readies GT Models For Their Worldwide Lineup

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.

Kia Soul leads Korean maker to all time July sales record

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.

2017 Kia Sportage SX Infotainment System

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Coming Soon To Older Kias

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.

2017 Kia Sorento Awarded Top Safety + Rating by IIHS

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.

Kia Surprises All In J.D. Power's Annual Initial Quality Survey

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.

2016 Kia Forte 5 Review: Just Short of a Hot Hatch

By Patrick Rall on June 16, 2016 - 2:45PM

The 2016 Kia Forte 5 SX isn’t marketed as a performance model, but this compact 5-door handles well and it has enough power to make it a fun daily driver – falling just short of the “hot hatch” designation without even trying while preserving all of the comforts needed to be driven through the daily grind.

Kia Quietly Teases A New Soul Model

By Will Maley on May 26, 2016 - 3:07PM

Sometimes, an automaker will pull a fast one when announcing new model or variant. Whether it be flashing an image during a commercial or dropping bread crumbs in a press release.

2016 Hyundai Sonata Eco vs. Kia Optima LX 1.6T - Fuel Sipping Family Sedans Under $27k

By Will Maley on May 23, 2016 - 10:05AM

You need a midsize sedan that does decently on fuel, but you don't want to put down a lot of cash for it. Lucky for you, Hyundai and Kia offer such a vehicle.

2017 Kia Sportage SX FWD Turbo: The affordable performance crossover

By Parks McCants on May 3, 2016 - 12:42AM

It's often tough to capture in a few words what a car will or will not do. Such is the case with Kia's 2017 Sportage SX FWD, the affordable performance crossover.

Kia's Georgia Plant Builds Their Two Millionth Vehicle

By Will Maley on March 30, 2016 - 10:04AM

Almost seven years ago, Kia starting building vehicles in the U.S. at a new production facility in West Point, Georgia. Recently, the facility reached a milestone.

Kia Makes the Full-Size Sedan Relevant Again With the 2017 Cadenza

By Will Maley on March 23, 2016 - 4:23PM

The full-size sedan class is one that carries one without many changes. But whenever an automaker introduces a redesigned or an all-new model, people take notice.

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