Tag: Award

Kia Sportage: 2017 Must Test Drive Vehicle by Autotrader

KiaSportage

From: http://www.kianewscenter.com/News/ALL/kia-sportage-named-a-2017-must-test-drive-vehicle-by-autotrader/s/1c7c07fa-337e-426b-b0b6-041ccb2eb55c

Award-Winning, Fourth-Generation Sportage CUV Recognized for Sophisticated Design, Refined Premium Interior and Intelligent Packaging

  • The 2017 Sportage stands out in the hot-selling compact CUV segment
  • Cutting-edge design, engaging driving dynamics, advanced driver assistance systems, and premium materials take Sportage to the head of the class
IRVINE, Calif., March 24, 2017– The 2017 Kia Sportage has been named one of Autotrader’s 2017 Must Test Drive vehicles.  The prestigious consumer-focused program showcases the best new vehicles shoppers need to experience prior to making a purchase.  Award winners are selected by Autotrader’s editorial experts and have the potential to change the way a consumer perceives an entire segment or brand.
“Winning an Autotrader 2017 Must Test Drive Award is further testament to the transformation of the Kia brand and marks another accolade for the Sportage, our longest-running nameplate,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning Kia Motors America (KMA).  “Sportage balances world-class craftsmanship and outstanding design, while delivering a host of standard features at a low starting price.”
To be honored as a Must Test Drive award winner a vehicle must be of the current or next model-year and available to purchase at the time of the awards announcement, have a base price under $75,000 and offer a significant value.  Vehicles also must score no lower than a 3.5 on Autotrader’s five-point scale.
“The redesigned Kia Sportage is on our Must Test Drive list mainly because it’s so good at so many things.  The Sportage has a wide range of prices and options, has a unique look and comfortable interior. The 240 horsepower Sportage SX turbo is simply a blast to drive, something we were not expecting from a small SUV,” said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader.
The 2017 Sportage, an IIHS Top Safety Pick + (when equipped with optional front crash prevention) 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.  The 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four 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.
About Kia Motors America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. Recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands and 50 Best Global Green Brands by Interbrand, Kia proudly 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 crossovers built at North American manufacturing plants in West Point, Georgia* and the municipality of Pesqueria in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com​​.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert​.
About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today’s empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader’s comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.
Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.​

 

KIA MOVES UP TO THIRD AMONG ALL NON-PREMIUM NAMEPLATES IN J.D. POWER AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE, EXECUTION AND APEAL STUDY

Kia-Optima-JD-Power

KIA MOVES UP TO THIRD AMONG ALL NON-PREMIUM NAMEPLATES IN J.D. POWER AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE, EXECUTION AND LAYOUT (APEAL) STUDY
From: http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/11587/kia-moves-up-to-third-among-all-non-premium-nameplates-in-jd-power-automotive-performance-execution
 

Four J.D. Power APEAL Awards Marks the Most in Kia’s History

  • U.S.-built Optima and Sorento land a double victory for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia
  • Sedona minivan earns second consecutive APEAL accolade
  • Funky Soul continues to wow customers with the perfect mix of fun and functionality


IRVINE, Calif., July 27, 2016 –
Kia Motors has earned its most-ever J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) awards with the Optima, Sorento, Sedona and Soul, all garnering awards in their respective segments.  The quadruple award win has moved Kia to third in the industry among Non-Premium Nameplates, according to J.D. Power, propelling the brand up from seventh place in 2015.  The announcement follows on the heels of Kia Motors recently being ranked highest in the industry in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).

“Customers want vehicles they’re proud to drive, and Kia earning four J.D. Power APEAL awards, a record for the brand, reflects our global focus of placing our customers first,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.  “Buyers today are smarter than ever and are looking for vehicles that offer a superior combination of design, technology, safety and premium amenities. The Optima, Sorento, Sedona and Soul are prime examples of these important attributes as more people discover the new Kia and its world-class model line every day.”

The Optima and Sorento, both built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), beat tough competition in their respective segments, with Optima performing a substantial 25 points above the segment average.  The Sorento bested offerings from strong competition in the hotly contested midsize SUV segment.  In the Minivan category, the Sedona beat segment rivals and 2016 marks the second consecutive year Kia’s highly regarded people mover scores an APEAL award.  The Soul, a long-running favorite among consumers looking to stand out from the crowd, garnered its fourth APEAL award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), making it the vehicle with the most APEAL accolades in Kia’s lineup of award-winning vehicles.

The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction with their vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership.  The results are divided into 10 categories and weighted accordingly: exterior, interior, storage, audio, seats, heating and ventilation, driving dynamics, powertrain, visibility, and fuel economy.

 

CHEVROLET LEADS J.D. POWER INITIAL QUALITY STUDY

Chevrolet JD Power 2016

Source: http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/jun/0622-chevrolet.html
By: Kyle Suba
 
 

DETROIT – Five Chevrolet vehicles led their segments in the J.D. Power 2016 Initial Quality Study. No other brand has more J.D. Power Initial Quality awards than Chevrolet — for the fourth consecutive year.This follows the brand’s strong showing in the 2016 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, where Chevrolet also had more models ranked highest in its segments than any other brand.“These results play two critical roles in our strategy to bring new retail buyers to the brand,” said Alan Batey, Global Chevrolet president. “First, the study results will help attract new buyers to Chevrolet, as J.D. Power data shows ‘expected reliability’ is customers’ top purchase consideration for a new vehicle. Second, the improved ownership experience of our new vehicles will help convert first-time Chevrolet buyers into repeat customers, as J.D. Power indicates customers who have a positive experience in the first 90 days of ownership are more likely to become repeat buyers for the brand.”Chevrolet’s focus on the customer has fueled a 3 percent gain in retail sales for the first five months of 2016. In the same period, Chevrolet’s share of the retail sales grew 0.6 percentage points, making Chevrolet the fastest growing full-line brand in the industry.Chevrolet segment awards in the 2016 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study include:

  • Silverado swept the full-size truck categories, with the Silverado 1500 receiving the top marks for light-duty trucks and the Silverado HD receiving the top marks for heavy-duty trucks.
  • Equinox led the compact SUV segment (in a tie), with study results that were 15 points better than the segment average.
  • Tahoe lead the large SUV segment, with study results that were 19 points above the segment average.
  • Finally, the Spark dominated the city car segment, with study results that were 48 points higher than the segment average.

The study, now in its 30th year, examines problems experienced by vehicle owners during the first 90 days of ownership. Initial quality is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.The 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2016 model-year vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study is based on a 233-question battery organized into eight problem categories designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. The study was fielded from February through May 2016.For more information about the 20