The Kia Sorento has been the brand's best-selling vehicle every month since arriving in January 2010, and with the addition of several enhancements the popular crossover now has one of the highest residual value ratings for the 2012 model year in the compact CUV segment from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. The rating of 58-percent of original manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for 36 months² of ownership is a full 10 points higher than the 2011 model year residual value and can be attributed to the Sorento's class-leading horsepower³ and fuel economy⁴ with the newly available 2.4-liter engine featuring Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). In addition, consumer demand for Sorento has outpaced expectations, and this momentum reflects the significant residual value increase for the 2012 Sorento.

After making a memorable debut during the 2010 Super Bowl, Kia Motors America's (KMA) colorful cast of life-size children's characters are back for another series of adventures in two new 30-second spots for the 2012 Sorento CUV. Titled "Joyride 2," the ads reunite Muno (from YO GABBA GABBA!, the award-winning series created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and which is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment) with In My Own Dream Studio's Sock Monkey character (Fox River Mills, Inc.), MR. X (BLABLA KIDS Collection) and a vintage robot and a teddy bear for a memorable summer road trip that includes skydiving, line dancing, a trip to the beach and a fishing expedition. Along the way, the characters interact with the locals – including one very angry bear – and take a spin in the updated 2012 Sorento which now offers class-leading horsepower¹ and fuel economy² with the addition of Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) technology and several new modern amenities such as Kia's new UVO powered by Microsoft^®3 hands-free infotainment and communications system.

The Sorento compact crossover enters its second model year with an impressive resumé of awards and accolades, including being recognized as a 2011 "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Launched as part of the company's design-led transformation, the Sorento presents consumers with a well-equipped, well-appointed CUV with impressive power, fuel efficiency and handling suited for the fun, dynamic and discerning driver, and offers a generous list of standard comfort and convenience features as well as an impressive array of safety equipment. The Sorento also has achieved a number of historic firsts for Kia, including being the first vehicle built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia, and becoming the company's first vehicle to surpass sales of 100,000 units in a single year.

Consumers Digest, a leading consumer resource for automotive reviews, recently named four Kia vehicles "Best Buys" - the 2012 Kia Optima, 2012 Sorento, 2012 Soul and 2012 Sportage. This latest recognition comes on the heels of Kia Motors America (KMA) announcing the company's best-ever October sales and setting its 14th consecutive monthly sales record.

The award-winning Kia Sorento is again in the limelight, this time being named to Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com coveted "10 Best Family Cars of 2012" list. The ultra-popular CUV enjoys this accolade for a second year in a row. Lauded for its outstanding drivability, functionality, refinement and comfort, the Sorento has defined a number of milestones for Kia, including becoming the first model in the product line to surpass 100,000 sales in a single year as well as being Kia's first U.S.-built¹ vehicle at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Ga.

Total Car Score (www.totalcarscore.com), one of the most comprehensive automotive ranking and comparison websites, has named the 2012 Kia Soul as a "Top Scoring 2012 Economy Car," and the 2012 Kia Sorento as one of its "Top Scoring 2012 Midsize SUVs and Crossovers." The inaugural Total Car Score awards recognize up to two models in each automotive category. The Soul urban passenger vehicle, which received significant enhancements for the 2012 model year, earned high praise for its ease of entry, abundant headroom, standard Bluetooth^®1 and USB connectivity and a variety of colors and interior fabrics offered. The Sorento – Kia's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 – outranked its peers with available third-row seating, a comprehensive array of standard equipment, available UVO powered by Microsoft^®2 voice-activated infotainment system and spacious cargo capacity.

Parents magazine and Edmunds.com have named the 2012 Kia Optima midsize sedan and Kia Sorento crossover utility to the publications' "Best Family Cars of 2012" list. The accolade recognizes vehicles focusing on reliability, safety and affordability as top priorities, with the Optima and Sorento's "Top Safety Pick" designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) playing a key factor in being named as two of only 15 vehicles to the coveted list. Other criteria the judges considered were performance, interior quality, exterior design, family-friendly features and technology.