Summary

• Kia had a profitable 12 months in 2023 with its highest-ever gross sales within the U.S., displaying that the automaker has overcome its repute for low-quality automobiles.
• The Kia sedan lineup had blended gross sales in 2023, with the Kia Forte seeing a rise in gross sales whereas the Kia Stinger noticed a big drop.
• The Kia Rio, which is the most affordable providing within the sedan lineup, can be discontinued after the 2023 mannequin 12 months. It affords fundamental options and a small engine however has restricted normal security options.

2023 was a record-breaking 12 months for Kia within the U.S.: The automaker recorded its highest-ever sales stateside and saw a 13 percent increase in sales from 2022. The Korean producer has come a good distance because it started operations in America again within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, promoting the sub-compact Kia Sportage and the Sephia sedan. Thanks to these woeful early choices, Kia gained a repute for providing low-cost, low-quality automobiles.

But Kia has labored exhausting to alter the general public’s notion of its fashions, because of attributes like striking exterior designs, vastly improved feature-packed interiors, and industry-leading warranties. While the automaker’s present choices, proceed to stay inexpensive, they’re not related to low high quality. In phrases of worth for cash, Kia automobiles are proper up there.

The firm’s sedan lineup skilled a blended 2023, by way of gross sales. For occasion, Kia Forte gross sales elevated by 14 p.c, whereas Kia Stinger gross sales dropped by 30 p.c. The different two sedans – the K5 and the Rio – recorded slight drops in annual gross sales. Let’s discover the Kia Sedan lineup in higher element and what the Korean automaker has in retailer for 2024.

In order to provide the latest and correct data doable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Car And Driver and Edmunds. The fashions beneath have been ranked based mostly on their beginning MSRP.

2023 Kia Rio

MSRP: $16,750 – $17,390

The most cost-effective providing within the Kia sedan lineup is the soon-to-be discontinued Kia Rio. 2023 will be the last model year for the Rio, which, along with the Nissan Versa and the Mitsubishi Mirage, are three of the most affordable new subcompact automobiles out there. It’s provided in two trims – the LX and the S – and in two physique shapes – sedan and hatchback. The sedan options what Kia calls a ‘tiger-nose’ grille, halogen headlights, and outstanding physique traces.

Standard options on the bottom LX variant embody an 8.0-inch infotainment show and wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You actually don’t get a lot with the entry-level journey. Therefore, it’s most likely wiser to spend additional for the top-ranked S trim, which provides distant keyless entry, cruise management, a sliding heart armrest, and a rear USB outlet. The S variant additionally has extra elective extras, together with the Technology Package. Acres of plastic line the Rio’s easy, however neatly organized inside.

The local weather controls are nicely laid out, and the lean steering wheel options audio controls. Tall passengers might really feel cramped within the rear, however contemplating the Rio is without doubt one of the smallest new automobiles out there, it’s fairly roomy. It affords a commendable 13.7 cubic ft of cargo area; you’ll be able to improve the cargo space by folding the seats.

Key Features

• Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• 8.0-inch infotainment show
• Folding rear seats
• Roomy inside
• Cruise management and keyless entry on the S variant

Performance And Specifications

All Kia Rios function a 1.6-liter inline-four engine that put out 120 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the entrance wheels by way of a CVT. 120 horsepower is comparatively low, even for a automotive that weighs round 2,900 kilos. Therefore, take additional care when lining up an overtake or merging onto the freeway. One advantage of such a small engine is that the Rio may be very economical, sipping a gallon of gasoline each 32 miles within the metropolis and consuming an analogous quantity after each 41 miles of freeway driving. The Kia Rio has a combined MPG rating of 36 miles.

(Specs: Kia)

Pros

• Frugal engine
• Well-organized inside
• Affordable sticker value

Cons

• Few normal security options
• Lethargic engine
• Cramped rear seats

2024 Kia Forte

MSRP: $19,790 – $25,390

The Kia Forte is available in 4 trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, and GT. The Forte has a sporty entrance finish and demeanor that will get sportier as you climb the trim ladder. Luxury and normal tools additionally improve because the trims get dearer. The base LS trim options an 8-inch infotainment display as normal, as does the LXS variant.

The high two fashions, GT-Line and GT, have a bigger 10.3-inch show with SiriusXM and in-dash navigation. As with the smaller Rio, wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are normal. The inside is nicely laid out, with probably the most important capabilities managed by bodily buttons and dials. Given the worth of the Forte, you shouldn’t count on a cabin with premium supplies. However, the Forte’s inside is so skilfully put collectively that you could be forgive the dearth of high quality contained in the cabin.

Key Features

• 8-inch or 10.3-inch infotainment display
• Sporty exterior
• Neat and useful inside
• Ample passenger and cargo area
• Many normal options

Performance Specifications

The base LX and the mid-range LXS and GT-line function a 2.0-liter inline-four engine good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It’s not quick, nevertheless it affords glorious gasoline economic system. The top-of-the-line GT trim gets a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four churning out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The distinction in efficiency between the 2 engines is stark – the turbocharged Forte hits 60 MPH from zero 1.5 seconds quicker than the naturally aspirated Forte.

(Specs: Kia)

The naturally aspirated energy unit pairs with a CVT, whereas the turbocharged engine pairs with a seven-speed computerized or a six-speed guide. The guide gearbox prices $700 greater than the dual-clutch auto, a small value to pay for the driving engagement {that a} stick shift supplies.

Pros

• Availability of a guide gearbox
• Sports-tuned suspension and twin exhaust on the GT trim
• Large trunk for its class

Cons

2024 Kia K5

MSRP: $25,590 – $31,990

Kia affords 4 K5 variants: LXS, GT-Line, EX, and GT. The K5 shares plenty with its Korean sibling, the Hyundai Sonata. The K5’s exterior options daring traces, a sporty entrance finish, a fastback roofline, creative headlights and taillights with snaky parts, and a tall rear trunk lid. Like the cheaper Forte and Rio, the K5 has a well-organized inside, with buttons and dials controlling important capabilities.

Unlike its extra inexpensive siblings, nevertheless, the K5 sports activities upscale supplies and options like wooden trim and ambient inside lighting, justify its larger sticker value. An 8.0-inch infotainment display providing wi-fi Android Auto and Apple Carplay sits subsequent to the gauge cluster of the bottom LXS variant. The different trims get a much bigger 10.3-inch display, which, weirdly, requires cables to combine Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Key Features

• A sporty exterior
• Standard wired or wi-fi Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Two engine choices
• Standard FWD and out there AWD on GT-Line trim
• Well-organized inside with high-quality supplies

Performance And Specifications

The base engine is a 180-horsepower turbocharged inline-four, which produces much less energy than the turbocharged inline-four powering the Kia Forte GT. As such, variants powered by the inline-four are slower to 60 MPH than the top-of-the-line Forte. All variants come normal with front-wheel drive; Kia affords all-wheel drive as an possibility with the GT-Line trim.

(Specs: Kia)

The most expensive GT variant features a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine churning out 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of twist. Other distinctive options of the GT embody a specially-tuned suspension, giant 19-inch rims with broad tires, larger brakes, and an unique eight-speed computerized gearbox.

Pros

• Sporty exterior and fashionable inside
• Powerful GT trim
• Optional AWD with the GT-line variant

Cons

• All-wheel drive solely provided on the GT-line trim
• Underpowered base engine
• No elective summer time tires

2023 Kia Stinger

MSRP: $36,690 – $51,890

It’s stunning that arguably probably the most engaging and positively probably the most highly effective sedan within the Kia lineup, the Stinger was a significant model for Kia, nevertheless it did not stay as much as its potential. Sales dipped massively in 2023, suggesting that Kia was proper to discontinue the Stinger after a six-year run. It is available in two trims – the GT-line and the GT2.

The broad Stinger featured a protracted, sculpted hood, raked windscreen, and a modern, aerodynamic physique.

Dark chrome accents, twin twin-exit exhausts, and bulging fenders intensify the Stinger’s sporty seems. The elective Grand Tourer and Apex aesthetic packages add black facet view mirrors and exhaust suggestions. Inside, you get a leather-based inside as normal and elective Nappa leather-based seat trim.

Rising from the middle of the dashboard is an 8.0-inch or 10.3-inch touchscreen, relying on the trim chosen, and a nine-speaker audio system is normal. Tech choices embody a Harman/Kardon audio system with 15 audio system, in-dash navigation, and wi-fi smartphone charging.

Key Features

• Sleek, sporty exterior
• Hatchback rear door
• Leather-lined inside
• Optional V-6 engine
• Spacious inside

Performance And Specifications

The base Stinger mill is a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing an honest 300 horsepower. It is highly effective sufficient for the Stinger, however not the best selection for consumers seeking to exploit its full sporting potential. A 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 delivering 368 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque caters to the efficiency sedan fanatics.

(Specs: Kia)

Both engines channel power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed autobox. All-wheel drive is elective on each trims. On the bottom GT-line, choosing AWD additionally provides a heated steering wheel; the AWD bundle on the top-ranked GT2 variant provides a heated steering wheel and 19-inch all-season tires.

Pros

• Powerful engine choices
• Optional AWD
• Hatchback rear door

Cons

• Sloping roofline reduces rear headroom
• The high GT2 trim could also be too costly
• AWD possibility replaces summer time tires with all-season tires on the GT2 variant