2018 KIA NIRO EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS RATING FROM INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY

Popular and Practical Hybrid Earns Coveted Safety Accolade

• Niro scores good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests including the new passenger-side small overlap front test
• Award increases total number of Kia vehicles with 2018 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick Plus ratings to nine

IRVINE, Calif., June 19, 2018 —The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded its best rating possible, Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+), to the 2018 Kia Niro when equipped with available Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) and Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEB)¹ as well high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights.       

 “The Niro is one of our most popular models,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, KMA, “and receiving the highest possible safety rating from IIHS provides yet another reason why it should be the top choice for anyone shopping for a small hybrid SUV.”
The TSP+ rating for Niro increases the total number of Kia vehicles with 2018 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick Plus ratings to nine.

“We’re very pleased with this new TSP+ award for Niro,” William Freels, President of Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI), the research and development center for Kia Motors America. “It validates our efforts to develop vehicles that meet some of the industry’s highest safety standards and it endorses the skill and commitment of our designers and engineers.”

To qualify for TSP+, the IIHS testing parameters require a vehicle earn “Good” ratings in six crashworthiness tests – driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint – as well as a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the passenger side small overlap front test, an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and a “Good” rating in headlight testing. To qualify for a TSP rating, a vehicle must earn “Good” ratings in five crashworthiness tests—driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also must earn an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and an “Acceptable” or “Good” rating in headlight testing.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*

KIA SOUL NAMED AMONG 10 BEST FAMILY CARS BY PARENTS MAGAZINE AND EDMUNDS

Iconic Urban Passenger Vehicle Makes Coveted List For Second Consecutive Year

• Kia Soul recognized for value, safety features and spaciousness
• 10 Best Family Cars chosen from over 300 new 2018 models

IRVINE, Calif., June 5, 2018 — For the second year in a row, the Kia Soul has been named among the 10 Best Family Cars of 2018 by Parents magazine and Edmunds.  Experts and editors tested hundreds of new models and selected winners based on value, safety features, convenience and other family friendly attributes.

“Being recognized as a top family car by Parents magazine and Edmunds for the second consecutive year is a tremendous honor for our Soul urban passenger vehicle,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.  “This is yet another testament to the world-class quality, value, and packaging we deliver to our customers.”

Parents magazine and leading car shopping and information network Edmunds have partnered for over 10 years to recognize the top vehicle choices for families looking to purchase a new car.  Like years prior, 2018 winners were awarded after a stringent, six-month long selection process.  “The fun design of the Kia Soul gives families more interior space, so car seats are easy to install,” said Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Parents magazine.

Kia’s iconic urban passenger vehicle offers a fun, funky and functional approach to everyday driving.  The 2018 model focuses on expanding the availability of UVO¹ across the model range, adding the innovative infotainment system to the Base Convenience Package as well as to Soul Plus as standard equipment. The Soul Plus Primo Package now adds Smart Cruise Control (SCC)² and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)².

The full story can be found at www.parents.com/BestCars.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.

2018 KIA SOUL NAMED TO KELLEY BLUE BOOK’S 10 COOLEST CARS UNDER $20,000 LIST

Soul Praised for Unique Combination of Style, Versatility and a Cool Collection of Standard Features

• Funky hatchback continues to personify “fun to drive and fun to own”
• Soul appears on KBB.com’s annual list for the seventh consecutive year

IRVINE, Calif., May 29, 2018 – On the heels of Soul sales crossing the one million threshold in the United States since going on sale in 2009, Kia’s funky urban passenger vehicle has been named to Kelley Blue Book’s 10 Coolest Cars list for the seventh year in a row.  Soul continues to stand out from the crowd with a unique combination of style, versatility and a long list of standard features.
“Soul’s fun and funky personality continues to shine as reflected by being named to Kelley Blue Book’s Coolest Cars list for the seventh consecutive year,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.  “The versatile hatchback continues to provide consumers with a fun-to-own vehicle equipped with many convenience features.”



With a specific focus on “fun to drive and fun to own,” the editors at Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com created a list of the top 10 coolest cars.  Now in its 15^th year, the annual list is gathered to prove it’s possible to find a dynamic and less expensive vehicle that still turns heads.  Each vehicle must be available for purchase starting at $20,000¹ or less, using Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive Fair Purchase Price.

“Unmistakable styling, with a youthful demeanor, makes the Kia Soul a standout,” said Michael Harley, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book.  “The Soul’s long list of standard features and practical utility are sure to please, while its excitement factor is increased by a rainbow of available exterior colors – check out bright green Alien 2.  This is how you do automotive coolness.”

The 2018 Kia Soul enters its fifth model year as a carryover with minor enhancements.  Kia’s iconic urban passenger vehicle offers a fun, funky and functional approach to everyday driving.  The 2018 model focuses on expanding the availability of UVO² across the model range, adding the innovative infotainment system to the Base Convenience Package as well as to Soul Plus as standard equipment.  The Soul Plus Primo Package now adds Smart Cruise Control (SCC)³ and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).³ The new Soul Plus Primo “Lit” Package includes HID headlights and LED positioning lights to enhance Soul’s on-road presence.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*

KIA MOTORS AMERICA’S CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PROGRAM NAMED TO AUTOTRADER’S BEST PROGRAMS FOR 2018 LIST

Kia’s Program Lauded for Outstanding Warranty¹ and Vehicle Availability

• Kia CPO program requires a meticulous 164-point Quality Assurance inspection by certified Kia technicians
• Autotrader evaluates programs based on warranty, inventory and transferability to subsequent owners

IRVINE, Calif., May 25, 2018 — Kia Motors America's (KMA) Certified Pre-Owned Program has been named to Autotrader’s 10 Best Non-Luxury CPO Programs for 2018.  The list recognizes the standout programs car shoppers should consider when buying pre-owned.   

“The Autotrader award is further proof that’s Kia’s CPO Program provides consumers with quality, affordability and greater peace of mind when buying pre-owned vehicles,” said Bill Peffer, vice president, sales operations, Kia Motors America.

The experts at Autotrader researched them all, identifying the 10 Best Non-Luxury CPO Programs and 10 Best Luxury CPO Programs for 2018, which recognizes the standouts car shoppers should consider.  The Programs were identified based on a series of factors, including powertrain warranty length (with a minimum of six years or 100,000 miles of coverage from the original sale date), available inventory, bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, deductible, and transferability to future vehicle owners.

“Thanks to plenty of new models, Kia vehicles like the Stinger and Sorento are getting lots of attention,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. “Still, there’s a lot of financial wisdom in buying a lightly used car from a reputable brand like Kia. Kia’s CPO program bridges the gap between buying a new car or settling for an older used car. Kia’s new car warranty is one of the best in the industry and their CPO program keeps the heart of that – the remainder of their 10-year / 100,000 mile warranty.”

KMA’s CPO program, administered by JM&A Group, accepts only Kia vehicles that are five years or newer with fewer than 60,000 miles on the odometer, and requires a meticulous 164-point Quality Assurance inspection by certified Kia technicians.  CPO vehicles also come with a 10-year /100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty¹ and 12-month /12,000 mile-Platinum Coverage².  Whether it’s the midsize Optima sedan, iconic Soul or the Sorento SUV that drivers dream of, customers get a great price matched with superb quality, bypassing the stress, risk and uncertainty that typically comes with buying a previously owned vehicle.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*

KIA RANKED AS ONE OF 2018’S MOST TRUSTED AUTOMOTIVE BRANDS BY AMCI GLOBAL

Kia Named as One of Three Most Trusted Non-Luxury Brands in Annual Trusted Automotive Brand Study

• 2018 marks second consecutive year Kia has ranked as an industry trust leader
• Study shows trust accounts for more than 50 percent of repurchase decision

IRVINE, Calif., May 21, 2018 — For the second year in a row, Kia has been acknowledged as one of the most trusted non-luxury automotive brands in the annual Trusted Automotive Brands Study (TABS) conducted by AMCI Global.  Trust is one of the key factors leading to brand loyalty and a customer’s decision to repurchase that brand’s products.  Now in its second year, TABS again shows that trust accounts for more than 50 percent of a consumer’s decision to recommend or repurchase a vehicle from an automotive brand.

“Building trust is never easy.  It takes years of delivering great vehicles and standing behind those vehicles with an industry-leading warranty¹ and a dealer network that’s devoted to customer service,” said William (Bill) Peffer, vice president, sales operations, Kia Motors America.  “It’s an honor for Kia to have ranked as one of the most trusted non-luxury automotive brands two years running.”
In January 2018, AMCI conducted its second annual TAB Study.  A nationally representative sample of 2,500 owners across 34 brands participated in the study.  “For both years of our study, Kia dealers have earned very high levels of trust from their customers,” noted Ian Beavis, chief strategy officer, AMCI Global.  “This, combined with strong OEM trust, puts them solidly in the top tier of the industry in terms of trust.”

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*

KIA LEADS ALL BRANDS WITH EIGHT VEHICLES WITH EITHER A 2018 TSP OR TSP+ RATING

2019 Kia Sorento earns 2018 Top Safety Pick Plus Rating from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

• Refreshed 2019 Sorento receives 2018 Top Safety Pick Plus rating¹, elevating the total of Kia vehicles with 2018 TSP+ ratings to four when equipped with front crash prevention and specific headlights
• Four other Kia vehicles have 2018 Top Safety Pick ratingswhen equipped with front crash prevention and specific headlights

IRVINE, Calif., May 15, 2018 —The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded its best rating possible, Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+), to the refreshed 2019 Kia Sorento, bringing to Kia the highest number of vehicles with either a 2018 Top Safety Pick (TSP) or Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating among all brands. Kia’s best-selling SUV received good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests and “Good”-rated headlights when equipped with optional autonomous emergency braking and LED headlights.



“This is a significant and fantastic achievement for Kia,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, KMA.  “It’s an honor to have earned strong safety ratings across so many of our vehicle lines.”

Vehicles with the TSP+ rating include: 2019 Sorento¹, 2018 Forte sedan², 2018 Optima³ and 2018 Soul⁴.  To qualify for TSP+, the IIHS testing parameters require a vehicle earn “Good” ratings in six crashworthiness tests – driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraint.  Also required is “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the passenger side small overlap test, an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and a “Good” rating in headlight testing.  Please see the disclaimer for each vehicle and refer to iihs.org for more information.

Vehicles with a TSP rating include 2018 Cadenza⁵, 2018 Sedona⁶, 2018 Sorento⁷ and 2018 Sportage⁸.  To qualify for a TSP rating, a vehicle must earn “Good” ratings in five crashworthiness tests—driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests.  It also must earn an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in headlight testing.  Ratings are also dependent on specific “built after” date for each model.  Please see the disclaimer for each vehicle and refer to iihs.org for more information.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*

KIA STINGER GT NAMED TO WARDS 10 BEST INTERIORS FOR 2018 LIST

Stinger GT Lauded for Aesthetics, Comfort, Ergonomics, Quality and Technology

• Stinger GT recipient of Wards 10 Best Interiors and 10 Best Engines accolade proving the car's credentials as true Gran Turismo
• Stinger provides the perfect balance between heart-pounding performance and convenience
• Seating for five and up to 40.9 cubic feet of cargo space make Stinger the perfect road-going companion

IRVINE, Calif., April 26, 2018 — The 2018 Kia Stinger GT fastback sport sedan recently was named one of Wards 10 Best Interiors for 2018.  The list recognizes outstanding achievement in aesthetics, comfort, ergonomics, material use, fit-and-finish and user-friendly technology.  The honor comes on the heels of Stinger GT’s 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 being named to Wards 10 Best Engines list for 2018.  Stinger continues to redefine the sport sedan segment previously occupied by more expensive offerings from Germany.



“Ushering in a dynamic new era for the Kia brand, Stinger brings dreams to reality with the perfect combination of aesthetics, comfort, ergonomics, quality and technology,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.  “On the heels of Stinger GT being named to Wards 10 Best Engines, the 10 Best Interiors is a true honor.”

Brimming with power, passion and performance, the 2018 Kia Stinger is a sport sedan dedicated to the thrill of driving while cossetting occupants in luxury.  A strong horizontal plane across the dash presents the driver with a thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters.  Occupants feel a sense of intimacy balanced by warm and inviting available multi-color LED ambient lighting that softly illuminate the interior.  All Stingers come standard with leather trim-appointed seats, typically a high-cost option on many competitors.  Meanwhile, a trio of available high-performance audio systems turn Stinger’s interior into a dynamic concert hall.  Seating for five passengers and 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space (40.9 cu.-ft. with the rear seats folded) without sacrificing room for luggage further enhances the experience.

“After we tallied the scores, the Stinger GT took its spot on our list with no debate.  Its interior is both elegant and athletic thanks to its high-quality leather and soft-touch materials and a just-right mix of black and red on our test car, accented by real aluminum trim.  Our test car also quickly paired our smartphones, had easy-to-understand touchscreen menus, comfortable seats and good fit-and-finish,” said Christie Schweinsberg, WardsAuto Senior Editor.

The 2018 Stinger rides with good company.  Previous Kia recipients of Wards 10 Best Interiors honor include the 2015 Sedona, 2014 Soul, 2013 Forte and 2011 Optima.

About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand.   Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly built in West Point, Georgia.*