Kia Soul bags Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Award in subcompact car segment

The all-new Kia Soul has managed to bag the 2017 Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Award for the third consecutive year in the subcompact car segment.

The 2017 Kia Soul is powered by 201-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that adds 40 horsepower to the previous capacity. At a fuel economy of 28 miles-per-gallon, city and highway combined, the mileage of the new Kia Soul is better than the combined mileage of the 2.0-liter normally-aspirated 161-hp engine in the Soul Plus and in the 130-hp Soul Base 1.6-liter.

Kia has ensured that the new Kia Soul offers a much better performance and to ensure that it has added a new 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which contributes to a more engaging driving experience. Other new options for the 2017 model year are convenience systems such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection. The 2017 Exclaim also gets standard UVO32 with e-Services with integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Kia Motors America VP Orth Hedrick claimed that consumers opt for Kia Soul not only because what the car has to offer in terms of style and extensive feature set, but also the value it offers to its owners. No matter what your lifestyle is, Kia Soul matches perfectly and a testimony to that is the third consecutive year of Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy award that proves the Soul continues to be a crowd favorite.

Each year Consumer Guide Automotive editors select the best vehicles from 20 segments to receive Best Buy Awards, with vehicle price and value being major factors in their selection process. By prioritizing these key consideration points in the car-buying process, the Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Awards serve a practical purpose to everyday car shoppers. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017, Consumer Guide Automotive is one of the most trusted names in the automobile industry.

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2017 Kia Sportage Wins Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com Best Buy Award For Small SUV/Crossover

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America's (KMA) longest running nameplate in its fourth-generation, the Sportage, wins the Best Buy of the Year Award among small SUVs/crossovers on behalf of Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.  The all-new 2017 Sportage earned a spot on Kelley Blue Book's list of 12 winners after an extensive yearlong data collection process, vehicle testing and evaluation of hundreds of 2017 model-year vehicles.  

"The all-new 2017 Sportage has improved in all the right areas, from its expressive styling and functional interior to its refined performance," said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. "To be recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book as a Best Buy among some of the toughest competition demonstrates the all-new Sportage is a breed apart from the CUV segment."

With its distinct European styling, innovative packaging, turbocharged engine and feature-rich interior, sales of IIHS Top Safety Pick + have been on a sharply upward trajectory, with year-over-year sales up 59.3 percent.

"The new-for-2017 Kia Sportage offers versatility, ease-of-use and laudable utility in a fun-to-drive package," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  "Its value-price and the length and comprehensiveness of its warranty were also keys to its 2017 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award win in the red-hot Small SUV/Crossover category."

The Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards provide a significant service to consumers by identifying the top 2017 model-year vehicles.  More than 300 new-car models were tested and evaluated in order to determine the finalists and, ultimately, the winners.

About the 2017 Sportage

The all-new 2017 Sportage wraps a contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than ever before. Advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD improve the Sportage's driving dynamics while premium materials create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment. The 2.0-liter inline-four turbo found on the FWD SX Turbo makes 240 horsepower (237 on AWD models) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, while LX and EX trims use a normally aspirated 2.4-liter engine that produces 181 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage is built at Kia's production facility in Gwangju, Korea.

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5 Reasons why 2016 Kia Optima bagged midsize car Best Buy Award

When it comes to best buy among midsize cars in the market today, the 2016 Kia Optima is on top of the pecking order in this class and no less than Kelley Blue Book, one of the most respected and trusted automotive research and car valuation companies in the U.S. today, has put a stamp of their approval on this.

The race for the honor of being known as the family-friendly midsize car with a lot of bang for the buck includes a lineup consisting of other standouts from one of the most competitive segment of the market. The five other midsize sedan finalists are the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 2016 Honda Accord, 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 2016 Mazda Mazda6 and 2016 Toyota Camry.

"The Optima's success has come through constant improvement. Throughout its life this family sedan has persevered to be better, evolving from an also-ran when it debuted 15 years ago to what it is today: a refined, advanced, rewarding-to-drive midsize sedan with luxury looks at a mainstream price," wrote KBB on its site.

"The all-new 2016 Kia Optima is even more focused, besting not only the outgoing model but edging out rivals in one of the market's most competitive segments."

Now, here are some of the reasons why 2016 Kia Optima bagged the midsize car best buy award.

1. The 2016 Optima was redesigned with the comfort and convenience of the consumers in mind. The standard trim includes features like height-adjustable passenger seat, stain-resistant cloth interior and compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latest in mobile connectivity these days. Car and Driver also notes the easy to use and properly-positioned controls and switchgear.


2. Inside the new Kia sedan, the interior space also offers plenty of space for both the passengers and cargo. The engineering team of the Korean maker made sure that there is a bigger cabin compared to previous models, which makes it even more family-friendly.

3. One aspect that judges from KBB gave the Optima a high score for is its exceptional warranty that really offers buyers peace of mind and security upon purchase. The new model comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain, covering major components such as the engine and transmission, just like any Kia vehicle.

4. The new exterior look of the Optima, which was designed by ex-Volkswagen Group designer Peter Schreyer, is sporting an all-new front and rear frascia. One of its selling features in terms of aesthetics is Kia's signature Tiger nose grille.

5. The new Kia vehicle also offers a lot of safety features that come standard for its different trims. These include dual front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, driver's side knee airbag, and rear child-safety door locks.

As for its price and release date, the 2016 Kia Optima now comes available in five trims that potential owners can choose from. These are the LX starting at $21,840 and the EX at $24,890, both of which equipped with a 2.4 liter (185HP) engine; the 1.6 liter, turbocharged (178 HP) LX 1.6T starting at $23,990; and the 2.0 liter, turbocharged (245HP) SX at $29,690 and SX Limited at $35,790.

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