Ever since, Kia has been steadily conquering segments of the European market, especially through the Cee'd, Sorento and Rio models. Kia found itself rejuvenated by 2001 when, following its owner's example, it started working on a new vehicle line-up with an emphasis on quality and long-warranty offerings. The somewhat bland styling was not exactly what buyers were looking for in a car either so both had to undergo costly restructuring stages. Both companies have experienced trouble and low sales due to reliability complaints over their vehicles. The major Korean car-builder got rid of competition by means of merger.

Trouble began in the late '90 when the company became stagnant and thus unable to rollout new models. From that point on, Kia suffered a fate very similar to that of Hyundai, company it would later blend into due to unsuccessful management of financial difficulties. The main selling point of Kia cars was its affordability which was later supplemented by Kia's expansion into other market segments through the introduction of their first sport utility vehicle in 1995, the Sportage. Ever since, Kia has been methodically expanding, reaching every state except north Dakota. Great for family Check out the Telluride, Sportage or Seltos There is a Kia for every lifestyle. Want something exciting Check out the Stinger or K5. In 1992, the brand was incorporated into the US and timidly started business through a tiny four-dealership network that sold its first vehicles in 1994. Discover the newest Kia models in a wide selection of sedans, crossovers, SUVs, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, electric cars (EVs) & MPVs. The Korean manufacturer had not yet reached US shores on its own but it was only a few strokes away. The Avella was rebadged as the Ford Aspire on the North American market. Only a few years later, Ford would manifest interest in the Avella, a subcompact car available in a 5-door hatchback version and a 4-dour sedan powered by either a 1.3 or a 1.5 liter engine. Some of Kia's newer models at the time were rebadged and marketed abroad such as the Pride which sold overseas as the Ford Festiva. Peugeot and Fiat) with whom it partnered to house production of some of their models such as Peugeot's 604 and Fiat's 132.īy the 80's Kia had expanded to almost the size of its main competitor, Hyundai who was still the no. Kia's sounding debut and modern technology caught the eye of different foreign producers(e.g. The first Kia built car was unveiled one year later, a medium passenger car named Brisa. Fully integrated and equipped with the latest cutting, bolting and welding machinery, the plant ulteriorly became the womb in which Kore's first internal-combustion gasoline engine would develop. By 1973, the new facility at Sohari saw completion, becoming Korea's first of its kind. The whole conversion process took Kia about two and a half decades to complete.īigger, richer and propelled by the enthrallment of having their own car brand, Kia poured a considerable amount of cash into a plant to accommodate its assembly lines. Once the first step was made, Kia rushed through the process of developing light means of transport, such as scooters and fast forwarded through motorcycle building upon the point of reaching the necessary resources and experience to start building cars. Six years later, Kia would reveal Korea's first bike. In fact, the Korean car builder has done so from its very inception in 1944 when it began as a steel tubing and bicycle parts producer. The 'Real MPG' figure is typically 20% lower than the official figures.Kia sounds surprisingly playful for a car manufacturer's name and as the brand's tag line reads, they really are all about the power to surprise. Therefore Next Green Car has calculated a 'real MPG' figure which is based on actual driving data. However these official MPG figures increasingly do not reflect realistic, achievable MPG figures in 2022. The three official MPG figures (urban, extra-urban and combined) are derived from the 'New European Directive Cycle' (NEDC) which tests car on a rolling road. Thus, buying a high MPG KIA model not only reduces running costs through lower fuel costs but also through lower emissions which may result in lower car tax and company car tax.įour different MPG figures are included in the KIA listing above. Fuel economy is linked to the tail-pipe CO2 emissions from a vehicle: the lower the CO2 emissions the higher the achievable MPG. Smaller, lighter vehicles like city cars and superminis typically have higher MPG, whilst large family cars or MPVs will have lower fuel economy. MPG for KIA models varies substantially according to the type of car.