Kia Optima, Cadenza and Sportage Rank Highest in Satisfaction with Latest Awards from AutoPacific

• AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards honor vehicles that best meet buyers’ expectations and requirements
• Optima tops the midsize car category for second consecutive year

IRVINE, Calif., June 13, 2017 – Three of Kia Motors America’s (KMA) highly acclaimed models, the 2016 Optima midsize sedan, the 2016 and 2017 Cadenza premium sedan as well as the 2017 Sportage Compact CUV, have been named segment winners in AutoPacific’s 2017 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) in the midsize car, large car and compact crossover SUV categories, respectively.

“Kia is a leader in design, quality, technology and value, and the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are another validation of our world-class products and their ability to meet and exceed customer expectations,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, Kia Motors America.  “As a two-time winner, Optima illustrates that if you buy a Kia, you are going to love it.  With Cadenza and Sportage also winning their categories, Kia is delivering what buyers are looking for in any size of vehicle.”

AutoPacific’s VSAs identify the most satisfying vehicles on the market, based on more than 54,000 responses from owners of 2016 as well as 2017 cars and light trucks, which were purchased from September through December 2016. These responses measure owner satisfaction by evaluating more than 49 separate attributes ranging from interior comfort and styling to fuel economy and performance.

 “Kia’s performance in our Vehicle Satisfaction Award research shows that Kia’s new products are more-than-competitive in their product segments,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “It is tough to win AutoPacific’s VSA two years in a row and Kia Optima’s performance shows it not only has eye-catching style, but also has the outstanding functionality midsize car buyers require."

About Kia Optima

The West Point, Georgia-built* Kia Optima midsize sedan offers several compelling features, including award-winning design, comfort, spirited performance and fantastic equipment.  Kia Optima’s stellar features combined with the brand’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty¹ keep it a perennial bestseller. The 2017 Kia Optima is available with three engine choices, including two turbocharged options, and five trim levels LX, LX 1.6T, EX, SX and SXL. The Kia Optima SX boasts standard 18-inch alloy wheels and SXL is now equipped with 18-inch chrome alloy wheels.  In addition, LED dual-projection headlights with Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) is standard on SX and SXL.  High-Beam Assist (HBA) is standard on SXL and available in the new SX Technology package. Technology is synonymous with the Kia Optima.  Android Auto² and Apple CarPlay³ are now standard on EX trim.  Meanwhile, advanced driver assistance systems⁴ are now available in the EX Technology package, which include Autonomous Emergency Braking⁴, Forward Collision Warning System⁴, Advanced Smart Cruise Control⁴, Electronic Parking Brake⁴, High-Beam Assist⁴ and Lane Departure Warning System.⁴   The Kia Optima also achieved a Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for vehicles built after March 2017 when equipped with optional front crash prevention and LED headlights with High Beam Assist and comes with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty¹. 

About Kia Cadenza

The 2017 Kia Cadenza boasts luxury refinements with expressive styling, advanced technology, and refined powertrain. Designed at Kia’s California design studio, the second-generation Kia Cadenza is available in three trim levels and comes with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty¹. The handsomely equipped Premium, Technology and Limited models feature an enhanced 3.3-liter V6 that produces 290 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. The powerplant comes paired to an efficient, yet responsive eight-speed automatic transmission, a Kia first for a FWD vehicle.  Standard premium features include leather seating surfaces with heated front seats, 7-inch color display featuring Apple CarPlay³ and Android Auto² capabilities, and dual zone climate control.  The Kia Cadenza offers available advanced driver assistance systems such as Advanced Smart Cruise Control⁴, a Forward Collision Warning System⁴, Autonomous Emergency Braking⁴, a Lane Departure Warning System⁴ and a Smart Blind Spot Detection System⁴.  The Kia Cadenza also achieved a Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) designation, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the highest designation possible when equipped with optional front crash prevention and LED headlights and comes with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty¹.

About Kia Sportage

The 2017 Kia Sportage SUV, the fourth generation of Kia Motors America’s longest-running nameplate, wraps a stunning and contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than ever before. Advanced driver assistance systems, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD vastly improve the Kia Sportage’s driving dynamics while premium materials and world-class craftsmanship create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment. The Kia Sportage boasts a roomier, more luxurious cabin featuring an impressive level of craftsmanship, with high-quality, soft-touch materials and a range of technologies improving overall comfort, convenience, and connectivity. Updates to the drivetrain provide enhanced efficiency and performance, while changes to the suspension deliver better ride and handling. Kia Sportage is available in three distinct trim levels (LX, EX, SX Turbo) and comes with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty¹.