2011 Kia Sorento Unwrapped & Produced Stateside

2011 Kia Sorento

Kia Motors is waging a friendly battle with its former rival and current business partner, Hyundai Motors. Both Korean automakers have been defying industry trends and are selling more cars and gaining market share at the expense of American, European, and other Asian manufacturers.

That rivalry between the two companies (Hyundai owns 38% of Kia) can be seen with every new product introduction. While Hyundai has been concentrating on the upper end of the market with the Genesis sedan and coupe as well as the midrange Hyundai Sonata, Kia has recently released the compact Koup sedan and coupe, and introduced the 2011 edition of its compact crossover Sorento.

Wider, longer & much more stylish than the outgoing 2009 model.

Friendly Hyundai Competition

The competition between Hyundai and Kia isn’t so much a model v. model comparison, rather how well each new model is received by the car shopping public. Judging by the most recent sales figures Hyundai (+45.9%) and Kia (+18.3%) posted very strong gains for November 2009 and besides Subaru will likely be the only car companies seeing an increase in year over year sales when 2009 draws to a close.

The Sorento has managed to hold its own in an automotive segment that has grown in importance over the past several years. The Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, and the Chevy Equinox are strong contenders for Kia, even the Hyundai Tucson presents a challenge to the Sorento.

The Kia Sorento features an updated, modern interior with all of the expected appointments found in a vehicle in this class.

New USA Facility

Kia recently opened its first manufacturing facility in the United States, a plant in West Point, Georgia that is up and running. Indeed, the 2011 Sorento is the first model to be produced at that plant and it will arrive in Kia showrooms this January.

Two engines are offered with the five/seven passenger CUV. A 2.4L I4 is standard while a 3.5L V6 is optional, both are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Kia says that the six cylinder gets 276 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft of torque, besting such rivals as the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V.

Like the Toyota RAV4, the all new Kia Sorento offers third row seating to carry as many as seven passengers. With seats folded down, this American-built CUV has plenty of storage space.

Well Equipped CUV

Air conditioning, tilt wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, push button start, premium sound system, are among the many standard items with the Kia Sorento while optional voice activated navigation, rear view camera, and air ionization purification technology is optional. Safety features include ABS, ESC, EBD; front active headrests; front, side, and side curtain airbags; while the hood has been re-engineered to soften the blow of contact with a pedestrian and bicyclist.

Available in front- or all-wheel-drive, the 2011 Kia Sorento is longer and roomier than the previous generation model, offering some of the best storage capacity of crossovers in its segment.

Kia has yet to announce pricing for the 2011 Sorento. However, expect that when prices are announced that they’ll be near the $21,545 base MSRP of the outgoing 2009 model as no 2010 model is being offered.

Source: Kia Motors America

Kia Sales Are Up Year To Date

When it comes to automotive brands, Kia doesn’t garner the same level of respect as Toyota, Ford, or even Hyundai, its sister company. Kia has always found itself in a sort of “weak stepsister” role to Hyundai, a brand that has itself taken a generation to improve its image.

Car buyers, though, are the final judge of a brand’s desirability and, if June and first half 2008 sales figures are a good barometer, then Kia is in good shape.

Kia announced yesterday that the brand achieved its best June ever with record sales of 28,292 units, an increase of 7.6% over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 157,619 units, an increase of 2.1% over the same period last year.  The biggest boost for the year was realized in the second quarter, where the company reported sales of 89,405 units.

By far, Kia’s best selling model is its Spectra a compact sedan will a beginning MSRP in the neighborhood of $13,500. Through June 30th, Kia has sold nearly 43,000 Spectras, an increase of almost 6,000 vehicles over the same period in 2007.

Optima and Rio sales are also up, reflecting the shift seen across autodom — small, fuel efficient cars are in while just about every truck, SUV, van, and large car is down. Sales of the Sportage, Sorento, and Sedona are each down for Kia, the first two vehicles are SUVS, while the Sedona is the company’s minivan.

“As the economy continues to fluctuate, consumers are turning to vehicles that are known for value and quality,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG).  “Thanks to a strong marketing plan and the hard work of the Kia dealer network, Kia continues to have success during this difficult economic time.”

Kia is developing additional automotive models slated for the US market including the stylish Kia Koup, a vehicle featured on the Auto Trends site.

(Source: Kia Motors America, Inc.)