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Kia (Page 18)

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 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.
By Keith Griffin on November 25, 2013 - 8:37PM
It's a derivative looking luxury sedan but the 2015 Kia K900 should still be a hit among auto buyers looking for either good price or enhanced value in a rear-wheel drive full-size car but there's one thing wrong with it: the choice of power plants.
By Keith Griffin on November 19, 2013 - 3:13PM
It's always good news for a vehicle owner to hear that a new vehicle will still be worth something three years down the road but it's also good news for someone attempting to lease the same vehicle. Kia has that "problem" with the 2014 Kia Soul.
By Keith Griffin on November 19, 2013 - 2:02PM
Kia, as of the last few years, has been on a winning streak with the production of the Sorento CUV and the Optima mid-size sedan, two of the brand’s top selling models in the U.S., at its West Point, Ga., facility. A lawsuit could have threatened the harmony at the production facility that turns out 360,000 vehicles a year.
By Keith Griffin on November 15, 2013 - 8:44PM
One of the sad facts of life is most teen drivers just aren't up to the complicated task of driving an automobile. That's why Kia has stepped in to help train teens across the United States in better driving skills through a program called B.RA.K.E.S.
By Keith Griffin on November 14, 2013 - 11:08AM
It's still at least six months away from market yet Kia's claims of 120 miles of range for its 2014 Soul EV are already being called into question. One expert says the range may be at least 20 percent below that stated number.
By Keith Griffin on November 13, 2013 - 10:22PM
Judges from three media organizations that specialize in covering the automotive industry have proclaimed a Kia compact to be the best compact sedan "in its league" and it was up against some stiff competition.
By Keith Griffin on November 12, 2013 - 6:20AM
Well that didn't take long as the same day that Kia announces its new 2014 Kia Soul EV, a review is posted and it looks like it "has potential." While it still seems like the Soul EV is not ready for the U.S., it won't fail because of internal design but it might because of a glaring exterior design problem.
By Keith Griffin on November 11, 2013 - 1:26PM
The Kia hamsters are going to be doing the Electric Slide in 2014, but the question is, does the Korean automaker need to join the electric vehicle bandwagon at this point with the 2014 Kia Soul EV? The short answer is no in my opinion.
By Patrick Rall on August 12, 2013 - 12:27PM
Kia has offered up a pair of teasers showing off a new B-segment compact coupe that will debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show and while these early shots show features that will likely not make it past the concept stages – this new compact could offer up some hints to the future of Kia vehicle design.
By Patrick Rall on July 29, 2013 - 1:34PM
The 2013 Kia Sportage SX AWD offers all of the amenities and capabilities that you would expect from a modern compact sport utility vehicle but unlike the majority of SUVs large and small – the Sportage SX is a total blast to drive.