Here is our pick of the best Kia models ever built.
Throughout its history, Kia has evolved from a manufacturer of cheap, unreliable cars to a car brand that offers reliable and safe vehicles of good design and quality. Thus, most of the best Kia vehicles are modern models. When saying “the best” we meant best-selling cars or remarkable ones, game-changers.
Kia Stinger
This practical 5-seater liftback, a grand tourer (GT) with a sizable trunk offers serious performance provided by 2.0- and 3.3-liter V6s or, since 2021, by a 2.5L 300-hp 4-cylinder, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The power is sent to either two rear wheels or to all four wheels.
The production model debuted in 2017. The latest 2023 Stinger is a great option in the luxury small car class: it is affordable (starts at $36,600), offers a lot of standard features for the price, and has a long 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Besides, it can boast two punchy turbocharged engines, a user-friendly touchscreen, a nice-looking comfy interior, and surefooted handling.
Kia Soul
This versatile subcompact crossover debuted in 2008 when boxy Asian vehicles like the Nissan Cube or the Honda Element gained popularity. Those two are not still around, but the Soul not just remains in the market and on the roads but features consistently high sales.
The Soul is a great pick if you want to have a new SUV on a tight budget to drive around the city. In addition to a memorable boxy exterior you won’t confuse with another, the model offers a spacious interior with an easy-to-use touchscreen, a roomy cargo area, many standard features, fairly agile handling, and a comfortable ride.
An all-electric version is fine, a Turbo variant starting at $29K with 201 hp and a manual gearbox (on older models) is extra perky.
Kia Telluride
The award-winning SUV has become a hit in sales since it debuted in 2020. It is the brand’s true success in America, a well-rounded vehicle with almost no flaws but with an excellent ride and enjoyable drive due to a smooth V6 engine, packed with many standard convenience and safety features,
A relatively low starting price and Kia’s long powertrain warranty (10-year/100,000-mile) are the icings of the cake.
Kia K5 GT
The midsize sedan is a re-imagination of the Kia Optima, and it represents one of the largest leaps forward between generations in recent automotive history.
Offering more traction, more turbo (1.8- and 2.5-liter 4-cylinders with 180 and 290 hp) together with a new 8-speed “wet” dual-clutch transmission and available AWD, a new design identity, and next-level technologies, this model is a complete rethinking of a traditional sedan.
Kia EV6
High-tech, zippy, well-packed, and comfortable, the all-new model has already won several awards including the prestigious 2022 Car of the Year (COTY) title. Kia claims the car can charge quicker than a Tesla, go farther than the related Hyundai Ioniq 5 (up to 310 miles) when choosing the right version, and out-accelerate the Porsche Taycan 4S in favorable conditions,
It has a premium up-to-date cabin though with a somewhat undersized cargo area, Well, the EV6 is a blend of efficiency, performance, and practicality, and the mass buyer has yet to appreciate the electric car at its true worth.
Regardless of its market success, the EV6 has already entered the history of the brand as Kia’s very first dedicated electric vehicle.
Kia Sportage and Kia Forte
These two are best-selling global models with strong positions in various rankings. The Kia Forte (also called K3 or Cerato) compact car is the Kia Spectra’s successor.
It has been manufactured since 2008 and is available as a 2-door coupe, a 4-door sedan, and a 4-door hatchback with a varied range of engines (gasoline, diesel, hybrid, turbocharged I4s). The model is feature-packed, fuel-efficient, straightforward, and affordable – that is, the Forte is good…but not outstanding,
Kia’s notable model – the Sportage – is worth mentioning here too. This is a good choice if you need a family-friendly compact SUV with lots of cargo space and standard features. Plus it offers a balanced ride and handling in addition to a well-crafted interior. Indeed, this is a decent mass-market model with a solid reputation.
