KIA IS AMONG TOP THREE BRANDS WITH MOST 2019 IIHS SAFETY AWARDS FOLLOWING STRICTER CRASH STANDARDS

                     A Total of Eight 2019 Kia Models Meet More Stringent Requirements

• All-new 2019 Forte is among five Kia models to receive 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus designation when equipped with front crash prevention and specific headlights
• Three other Kia models with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights earn 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick status

IRVINE, Calif., December 21, 2018 — Kia Motors America (KMA) is proud to announce that a total of eight Kia models were included in the 2019 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Awards, making it  one of the top three brands to rack up the most safety awards following tougher IIHS requirements for 2019. The all-new 2019 Forte, which just went on-sale this past summer, is one of the five models to earn a Top Safety Pick Plus award – the IIHS’s highest designation possible – when equipped with front crash prevention and specific headlights.

“We are honored to receive so many IIHS safety awards across our lineup, especially considering these designations are much harder to achieve in 2019,” said Orth Hedrick, Director of Car Planning and Telematics, KMA. “The IIHS safety awards are highly regarded by today’s consumers, and we see these latest accolades as validation of Kia’s dedication to its customers and to the continuous efforts to build better and safer vehicles.”

The number of awards is especially impressive in light of the new testing standards implemented by IIHS this year. In order to achieve the TSP+ rating, vehicles now require a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test versus an “Acceptable” or “Good” rating for the 2018 award. The IIHS testing parameters also require a vehicle earn “Good” ratings in all other crashworthiness tests and an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, as well as a “Good” rating in headlight testing. Kia IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus models when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights include: 

1. 2019 Forte
2. 2019 Niro
   
3. 2019 Niro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
   
4. 2019 Optima
5. 2019 Sorento
   

An “Acceptable” or “Good” rating in the passenger-side test is also new criterion to earn a 2019 Top Safety Pick. To further qualify, a vehicle must earn “Good” ratings in all other crashworthiness tests, plus an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in headlight testing. Kia Top Safety Pick models when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights include:

1. 2019 Rio (sedan only)
   
2. 2019 Soul
   
3. 2019 Cadenza
   

“Safety is a top priority for our vehicles,”  said Andy Freels, President of Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI), the research and development center for Kia. “Having earned eight of these prestigious safety awards reflects our commitment to consistently striving to improve the safety and integrity of our products.”