2010 Kia Soul base price – 13,995
US buyers of the Kia Soul are in for a pleasant surprise. In spite of having outstanding levels of roominess, quality and safety, and a dynamics that can take on and beat the finest Y-generation cars from Japan, the diminutive Kia Soul still manages to have a price tag of at least $1,500 lesser compared to it’s rivals from Scion and Nissan.
Set to go on sale in March 2009, the Soul will be available with four different equipment levels (Soul, Soul+, Soul! and Soul Sport).
In spite of low starting price tag, entry level Kia Soul comes equipped with 1,6L gasoline engine, 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, auxiliary audio input jacks, solar glas, 15-inch steel wheels with cowers. Standard safety features include 6-airbags, ABS system, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and electronic stability Control (ESC).
The next trim level, the Soul + ads goodies such as Bluetooth hands-free kit, electric powered outside mirrors, 16-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, disc brakes on all “corners”, keyless entry and cruise control, while the top of the trim levels, the Soul! and Soul Sport bring 18-inch allys, fog lights, leather wrapped steering wheel and audio upgrade and metal finish interior trim.
Soul! trims have also some nice additional features such as sand-black interior trim with cloth seats and sunroof, while Soul Sport benefits from sport-tuned suspenssion, sport pedals, sport seats and exterior styling kit that includes side sills, rear spoiler and sportier grille.
The 142 hp, 2,0L gasoline engine equipped Soul! costs $17,645, while the top of the range Soul Sport model, with all the bells and whistles goes for well bellow 20 Grands. The top of the range Soul will be yours for $18,595. All prices include a $695 destination charge!
Once on sale in US, Kia Soul will also have a wide range of different accessories that were developed especially for the Soul crossover! SPeaking of accessories, the Soul will be available with the most comprehensive list of accessories ever developed for any Kia vehicle. Those include performance intake, sport springs, short throw shifter, axle back exhaust, front strut tower brace, alloy fuel door, front air dam, different vinyls and others.
So, do you agree that Kia has priced the Soul very competitively? Starting price for the 2010 Kia Soul is very low, I’d say and it’s a really hard to beat one. I guess Scion and Nissan will have some trouble selling their “4-wheeled boxes” in 2009! [Source: TheKiaSoul]
You can check out the Soul accessory catalogue for Canadian market here: 2010 Kia Soul accessory catalogue
2010 Kia Soul +
2010 Kia Soul !
2010 Kia Soul Sport
Would you like to receive latest Kia news to your e-mail? Subscribe to KIA-WORLD news!
December 29th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Now all we have to do is wait for Canadian prices and content
December 29th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
The Soul will do very well for Kia
December 29th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
With such attractive pricing they can’t go wrong! In my opinion, Souls will be flying of the Kia showrooms as soon as they hit them.
-
Some dealers are already taking pre-orders and I’m wondering how many buyers have already aplied! We have some dealers among our readers, so perhaps they can provide us with some numbers. Can you, please?!
December 30th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Pretty competitive pricing. but, As we have seen on the forums, the lack of leather and seat wrmers, seems to be turning people away. should still sell well though. can still be hopeful
December 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Seat warmers are nice but you can get it installed aftermarket for about $450 or so, It really shouldn’t be that much of a concern b/c with the price and options you get why would you complain the xD and xB probly don’t offer them either I don’t think (xB might…I am not sure)
December 30th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Himi: I have an options list on our Soul webpage too for standard options and comparision to vehicles like the cube xB and xD
December 30th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Himi: Could you put a link to our site in this post? You did use our site for the post
December 30th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Yeah, sure Colby! No problems!
-
You got those info and comparisson tables from Kia Motors America right?
December 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Yeah, they are from a micro brochure about the US Soul.
December 30th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
After I posted the site we got over 500 new visitors to the site in 2 days!
December 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Cool! I have seen you’retaking preorders at the site. I was wondering how many people have ordered the Soul where you work?
December 30th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
We had a pre-order list of about 20 people who are interested in buying the Soul, so far we have 3 actual deposits but that will rise once people start coming in to look at it. With the holidays every penny counts and many people haven’t left the deposits.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Our site has only been up for about 2 or 3 weeks and we have had over 1500 visitors
December 30th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Holy hell, that’s cheap!
December 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
It is the same price as a Rio5 LX, but you get more vehicle for your money
December 30th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
We have had 4 people leave deposits here West Michigan. Plenty more coming in and taking a long look at it.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Many people wanted to know basic pricing and options before they left a deposit. Now with this info we should get between 40-100 pre-orders in total.
December 30th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Canadian content for all Soul models was released before Xmas…we’ve placed orders for ten…no pricing was given by Kia Canada
December 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
So all these dealers have Korean Spec Diesels on their showroom floor… And all the US models will be gas…
December 30th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Get ready rumor in Kia Dealerships is that the lights on the speakers are not coming to the US, if that is true that will be BS im sorry but it is. The car is really nice just saw it at a dealership in Houston, TX the Korean one atleast could not test drive or turn on but sit and look at it, and there are somethings missing from the list that I saw at the dealer.
December 30th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Get ready rumor in Kia Dealerships is that the lights on the speakers are not coming to the US, if that is true that will be BS im sorry but it is. The car is really nice just saw it at a dealership in Houston, TX the Korean one atleast could not test drive or turn on but sit and look at it, and there are somethings missing from the list that I saw at the dealer.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
yes we know. the markets outside Korea don’t get much options on the soul as Korea
December 30th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
there is an option for interior lighting but I am not sure what it will be for
December 30th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
backlighting colours perhaps or lights in the foot well for driver.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
possible
December 30th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Canadian content – model code #SO5520 and up will receive “Soul speaker mood lamp”
December 31st, 2008 at 12:20 am
It is a fact that the US spec Souls will NOT offer the stereo mood lighting system…..which is a shame.
December 31st, 2008 at 3:39 am
Well then people can go get them installed in CANADA!
December 31st, 2008 at 4:35 am
Now this is a DEAL!
January 4th, 2009 at 8:33 am
1.6L I4? Isn’t that a bit… underpowered for a big vehicle like Soul?
January 4th, 2009 at 9:10 am
THANK YOU! Finally someone who agrees with me!
January 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
its pretty much a hatchback. a tall hatchback. doesn’t look so big to me… but that engine sucks for any car. the thing peaks at 6000 rpm!!! WTF?!!!
January 5th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Boris, why is an engine peaking at 6000 rpms so unusual? Most compacts and subcompacts peak above 5500 rpms. But the 1.6 is under-sized for sure…..the Soul is too heavy for such a small engine. Any car that weighs more than 2500 lbs needs at least a 1.8……preferably larger.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
1.8 is an odd engine displacement.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Well, the cee’d weighs more than SOul and has the same 1,6L engine, with same hp rating and it delievers a respectable performance. Of course, it’s not a “6,5 sec” sports car, but it provides decent performance. And there is even smaller 1,4L engine in the cee’d with 109 hp only.
-
I have driven the 1,6L powered Soul, and it drives nice. Enough power for easy driving. It can also accelerate fast, but you have to push it to higher revs. One interesting thing about that engine: it’s soooo quiet at low speeds and especially when you stop and the car is still running. You just can hear it, so quiet it is!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
For Canadian buyers, only the base Soul receives the 1.6L – the rest will have 2.0L with 142HP and 137 Lb ft trq with 5 speed manual or 4 speed auto…
January 7th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I can’t drive stick so it’s still sixteen five
January 8th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Actually, you probably learn to drive a stick. It is not hard. You just have to know your car. You’re gonna grind gears every time you get behind the wheel of a different stick shift, because each one has different gear ratios. That means that you clutch at different speeds and RPMs, you need to find each gear’s sweet spot, once you do, you can shift with only a tap of the clutch.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I am not willing to pay MSRP. If I could get a below invoice price similar to what dealers are offerring for cars on their lots, I would order in advance a Soul Sport for my son.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I will have to disagree with some who might say that Nissan and Scion might have trouble selling the Cube and Xb. Scion, probably, Nissan, I don’t think so! The Cube will be starting for the same ammount that the Soul would be going for, $13,995.00 the difference is that Nissan has a much longer standing reputation than Kia, no doubt that all three are great cars but consumers will go with reputation a lot of the times rather than taking a chance with a manufacturer that has not been around the block like they have, so to say. I like the Kia Soul and would like to have one but Nissans have been tried and true for me, I have driven them into the ground and the only reason I get rid of the vehicle is because I want something new (get tired of dirving the same car for years and years) I am sure that the Soul will do well and if they brought the price down to say $11, 995.00 then I am sure that they might do better in sales than Nissan and a lot better than Scion, but to be priced the same as a big manufacturer like Nissan (Cube) who is well established and has a standing reputation, I personally feel that they may have a hard time beating Nissan. :O)
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 am
You make a good point there; however, it reputation alone just isn’t enough. Hyundai had a bad reputation too but compared to Hyundai/Kia sells and Nissan/Infiniti sells, the Koreans out sold them in the U.S. and Nissan has a better reputation than both of them. And the cee’d is one of the youngest cars in it’s class and outsold many cars that has been on sell for years like the Mazda 3. Reputation just isn’t enough.
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:39 am
Also, Mazda has a better reputation too. The Mazda 5 came out first and a few months later the Rondo out sold that.
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 am
Plus I see more Sedonas on the road than I see Quests. But your right about the reputation even though Hyundai and Kias quality has been better than Nissan a few times by J.D. Power and Associates.
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 am
“I have driven the 1,6L powered Soul, and it drives nice. Enough power for easy driving. It can also accelerate fast, but you have to push it to higher revs. One interesting thing about that engine: it’s soooo quiet at low speeds and especially when you stop and the car is still running. You just can hear it, so quiet it is!”
-
I have to agree with you! For being so small, that engine is peppy! Quiet too! Every time I stopped I thought I had stalled it!I would go to turn it on and hear that awful starter grinding noise. I kept thinking, “Damn it, I hardly ever stall, what’s the matter with me today – *GRIND* – oh shit, it’s still running!” LOL!
April 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I feel what your saying JTZ but when you have a Nissan that is going for the same price as a KIA, I think that the KIA will not be able to keep up with the Nissan. Kia and Hyundai both do very well here in the U.S. but globally Nissan kills both of them put together. in our current economy the KIAs and Hyundais are a better bang for your buck (value, so it is not surprising that thay have been doing so well and they are really good cars) due to Nissan being in a higher price bracket in each model class, but again it is my opinion that when you have two cars going for the same value and one has a reputation and one is still in the works of building their reputation and proving themselves to the American people that they are a good car company then I think it would be logical to say that more buyers will be pulled towards the Nissan Cube. Like I had exspressed my opinion above, if the Soul went for a couple of thousand less then I think that people would for sure go with the Soul VS the Cube. Thanks everyone for all the great opinions and feedbck I feel we all have important views to share and I hope I can get a Nissan Cube and a KIA Soul! They are both really nice. :O)
April 8th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Well, I think that Kia has the advantage of people 40+, those kind of people are young at heart, but too mature for the Cube. Also, for features at the same price point, Kia has them slain again. There is no feasible way for Kia to sell the Soul for any cheaper. It is one of their cars that they make the least amount of profit off of.
April 8th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I can not say that I agree with the age issue “different strokes for different folks” and as of being too mature for the cube but young at heart for the Soul, I am not sure I understand your point unless you are saying that the Cube only appeals to the younger generation which both the Soul and the Cube are geared at anyways. The only thing that really separates the two is styling which neither should be and I do not feel is geared toward maturity/age. I would not look at the situation any differently seeing a 40, 50 or 60 year old in a Soul rather a Cube and in European countries and Asian countries that is not even a factor but rather a means of transportation in crowded communities (small cars like the Cube and Soul). I am 38 and would like both the Nissan Cube and the KIA Soul and it has nothing to do with me being young at heart or too mature, I like them because I like them, both for different reasons. I do agree that the Soul does come with a lot of added feature so they can not sell for a cheaper price, but their advertising should then focus on that being the strength of the Soul to show the consumer, both adds for the Cube and Soul do not go into depth on all the innovative (cool) features (bells and whistles) that the cars are/can be equipped with. As for us we do our research but for many they do not and sometimes rely on reputation alone. I have asked many people why they bought a Toyota; they do not point out specifics but rather say plainly “because it’s a Toyota and I know Toyotas are reliable and good cars”. The same can be said about Nissan, Honda, Subaru and Mazda, all reputable car companies that have endured and built their reputation, something that KIA and Hyundai are still working on. Hyundai has proven themselves more and KIA is the baby still, both proving that they are good car companies that sell a good product. KIA and Hyundai do so well do to their competitive sales, offering better pricing on models that compete on the same level or above their competitors, without that they would not have done as well as they have.
April 8th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I don’t know but last time I checked, even though Kia’s reputation is still in the works, Kia alone out sells many cars with better repurtation like Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru. So that just conflicts why you think the Soul will not sell very good compared to its rivals. If reputation is 100% effective, they would have went out of business like Oldsmobile (with a better repurtation) did. Saab and Saturn have better reputations too and Kia’s outselling them. So repurtation alone is not a 100% fact.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Never said that reputaion was the #1 factor, what I said is that a lot of people tend to go with a reputable car company, I never said that was the only factor that is just what I based my OPINION on. It is like you saying that because someone can buy a cheap no name brand of shirt from Wal-Mart that it will sell better than a name brand like Polo or Gap Etc. With a better reputaion comes the view of quality and when you have a car company that has been around a long time that has built that reputaion then people expect quality, when you have a new car company who is still green and building their reputation then some may question the quality because the reputation is not there yet. These are simple principles to understand, yes there are a lot of other factors involved but just because the car sell for cheap does not give it a reputaion and therefor does not mean it will sell better (kind of like you all are telling me, cheap prices alone will sell more vehicles? I don’t think so, “so cheap prices alone is not a 100% Fact”). When Hyundai came out their cars were cheap too and their cars were also crap, so you get what you pay for! (and now look at Hyundai, selling a lot of cars and they make a quality vehicle) Now I am not saying this is the case with KIA and I am sure they learned from Hyundai’s early mistakes along with the mistakes of other car manufacturers. I keep hearing the same old thing over and over “KIA sells more cars” I have never said that they do not, but I will say that when you have two cars going for the same price then the Price factor is weighed out (KIA’s Strength) and then it is based on reputation and preference. That has been my point all along. Thus why I said I “FEEL” that the Cube would do better.To give you personal opinion, based on price I would go with the Cube (I know its well made and the reputation speaks for it’s self, no guessing) If I had to go with the styling I would go with the Soul hands down, it just looks more edgy and sporty (has nothing to do with the MATURITY FACTOR just preference) If you do your research, and I have and I had to go with performance/ride (Overall) then I would go with the Cube.This I want to share with you is my “opinion” basede on what I have seen and read (seems like I am rubbing KIA fans the wrong way) and furthermore I am a huge Asian import fan (hate American cars) so I do not favor one particular car manufacturer, just calling it like I see it (again OPINION) and to calrify something, when I mentioned Mazda, Subaru, Etc. I never said that they sold more cars , but what I did say was that they had built up a reputation. To end this debate I will quote something I had written in a previuos entry “I hope I can get a Nissan Cube and a KIA Soul! They are both really nice. :O)
April 18th, 2009 at 5:28 am
What Dustin said “when I mentioned Mazda, Subaru, Etc. I never said that they sold more cars, but what I did say was that they had built up a reputation.” So did Kia when the Cee’d was produced and was ranked better than the Mazda 3. So did Kia when the 06′ Rio was awarded best quality in it’s class 3 years in a row better than Versa, Yaris and Aveo. So did Kia when the Sedona was awareded most safe minivan ever tested 3 years in a row. So did Kia when they bought the ex Audi designer. So did Kia when they showed the world they could back a pickup turck. So did Kia when Edmunds thought the new Borrego was better than the Ford Explorer. So did Kia when the cee’d sold over 200,000 units in less than one year. so did Kia when the Soul won a design award. So did Kia when the Forte Koup came in first place at 2009 NY Auto Show. so did Kia when Kia sold over 300,000 units in the USA. So did Kia when I could go on forever. They already proven quality. Kia shown good reputation when the Soul sold 5000 units in Europe and over 1000 units in the USA before the popular Soul commercial was on air. So did Kia when the Borrego Fuel Cell was shown at the LA auto show. See your problem is when you think of Kia’s reputation, your thinking back in the Kia Sephia years. Kia’s has proven it’s reputaion when the 2004 Kia Spectra raced against the 2003 Chevy Cobalt and was best off road and on road and came in first place beating the 03, Civic, 03 Toyota Corolla and 03 Nissan Sentra. So what you talking about Kia still has to show that their cars are dependable. Just look it up on this internet better yet most of this is on this blog. Look it up. Kia has the first model to have LPN Hybrid. What will happen if that rumored 2.0L engine did have turbo? what whould happen if the VG really did have AWD. what would happen if the CH does debut. What about those facts? The bof Sorento is one of the best off road SUVs in its class and was tied with the toyota 4 runner back in 2003. Isn’t that showing Kia isn’t no joke? What about that huh? I want to see the new Sorento take on the Nissan Murano. If the old Cerato took on the Sentra why can’t the Sorento take on the Murano. So did Kia when they arrived with a V8 engine that has a mpg of 22 on the highway better than chevy Tahoe Hybrid. And you say cheap prices. when was the last time you been to Kia.com? I remeber when the Rio was America’s most affordable sedan. I remember when the Optima used to start around $12,000. The Sorento used to start under $20,000. Cheap? If Kias are so cheap, then why isn’t the Borrego selling so well? If the Borrego was cheap then it would sell good wouldn’t it? The Optima starts around $19,000 so it’s cheap because it’s just a couple grand less than most rivals. Their destination charge used to be $550 dollars back in the Kia sephia years. Personlly, I’d rather have a 2010 Kia Sorento over the nissan Murano because I don’t want what everyone else is driving. Like Camry, Altima or Accord.
April 18th, 2009 at 5:42 am
And I’m not like most people because once the VG debuts, while everyone will have the same Camry or Accord, I’ll have the only car in the neigborhood with the VG. Take Borrego for example, I rather have looked up what Kia is really about and purchase a Borreog than the same Explorer, Trail Blazer or 4 Runner ever time I turn a corner. If the Borrego it’s different. And if you don’t think so, then take a look at the Pathfinder’s tailights and look at Mercury’s last minivan’s tailights before it died?
April 21st, 2009 at 3:51 pm
JTZ, I think that you went way overboard (and it shows) trying to prove that KIA has built a reputation like other manufactures! Again I never said that they did not have a reputation built for themselves, again what I said is that they are still a new car company (as car company’s go) and they are still building their reputation. “SO” I could go on forever about any import I wanted to, beating out KIA in different areas If I so chose to (and believe me Nissan, Toyota, Honda has plenty more than KIA when it comes to accomplishments). Again I also never said that KIA was a bad car, you know what, go to a mall or someplace where there are random people walking around and ask this simple question, “If you were going to buy a car which would you buy a KIA or a Nissan” (or Toyota, or Honda) do a poll and then the math and then come back to me and tell me that more people chose KIA, (which will not happen, unless you put the price factor into play but this is to prove the reputation factor and if you were to tell each person you talked to that they could have any comparable model “Class” for the same price, no price difference) then you will find that the reputation factor plays a part and that most people will go with a Nissan, Toyota, Honda. Now you and I know about KIA’s and that they are good cars but the average Joe does not. Don’t go into KIA beating Nissan in sales because you only talk about US sales and until KIA starts spanking Nissan globally in sales, I don’t care. Again KIA does well because of the price factor, start selling KIA’s for the same amount as Nissan’s or Toyota’s and I guarantee you that they will not do as well as they have been. If people (and I am not saying everyone) had the money they would not buy a KIA over another reputable brand, people buy what they can afford, and some are thrifty (I don’t care I just need a car that I can afford that gets me from point A to B, which happens to be a lot of people) and as KIA builds a better and better reputation their cars will become more and more expensive like every other car (when you have a reputation you can do that). There are KIA’s that I would buy over other import models because they are better in my opinion, but I also do research and Money does not really play a factor for me when buying a car so for people like us that research things and want a quality car we do not go by price or reputation alone all the time, unfortunately most people are not like that, if you do a lot of research on marketing and how people respond with different marketing of different products, then you would understand where I am coming from and you will understand that reputation plays a part, it’s that simple and that has been my point, all along. This all started with me saying “The Cube will be starting for the same amount that the Soul would be going for, $13,995.00 the difference is that Nissan has a much longer standing reputation than Kia, no doubt that all three are great cars but consumers will go with reputation a lot of the times rather than taking a chance with a manufacturer that has not been around the block like they have, so to say” Again my OPINION. This is to point out that it will be a lot harder for KIA to beat out others like they have done (in the US) the last couple of years now that their car is competing for the SAME price as a reputable manufacturer like Nisan, Toyota, and Honda (Reputation factor in price factor out) I hope that KIA does outsell everyone else I am not apposed to it at all, for now that means that others will try and stay competitive sort of like Nissan selling the same type of car for the same amount (Cube/Soul) that is better for everyone and everyone wins and then you have more to choose from, and we will all be happy :O)
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
This is some good reading material that I found that backs up the point I have been trying to get across.
Hyundai and Kia, owned by the same South Korean conglomerate, are investing heavily in the USA. They are adding dealers, introducing an ambitious slate of new vehicles and courting increasingly upscale customers. Hyundai trails only BMW as the fastest-growing car brand, import or domestic, in Autodata’s listings so far this year. It has set a 15% sales increase in the USA as its 2005 target — and lagged behind its goal by less than a percentage point for the first two months of the year.
Kia is also off to a promising start after a solid 13% sales gain last year.
Those gains have been in sharp contrast to General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor (F), which were off 9.9% and 7.4% in the first two months of the year. GM dramatically cut its earnings forecast.
Though the Koreans are on a tear, keeping up the pace of their gains won’t be easy: Hyundai faces the challenge of maintaining quality and cost advantages as it starts production of its top-selling models at its first-ever U.S. plant. Both Hyundai and Kia still lag behind the industry in name recognition — and lots of buyers are still hesitant to take a bet on an unknown.
“You don’t have to explain to your neighbor why you’re buying a Toyota,” says George Peterson, president of automotive consultants AutoPacific. “But you have to have some strong reasons why you’re buying a Hyundai or a Kia.”
Yet having reached fourth and seventh places respectively among import brands, Hyundai and Kia have caught the attention of Japan’s Big 3 — Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
Asked if he’s worried about an invasion of Chinese-made cars, Toyota’s chief operating officer in the USA, Jim Press, told a Detroit radio interviewer last month that the real threat “in the rearview mirror is Hyundai, the Koreans. They’ve been learning quite a bit, and they’re coming on.”
At Honda, “We take them very seriously,” says spokesman Andy Boyd about the South Koreans. “They’re coming up the ladder, no question.”
Rival automakers have watched Hyundai and Kia rise from niche purveyors of tinny, problem-plagued cars to world-class automakers sporting full lines. They now have vehicles designed to fit the needs of just about every customer, from college students to executives.
“There was a feeling at one time that we had the lower end of the market cornered, and that was it,” says Bob Cosmai, CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “But as far as I’m concerned, we’re appealing to the entire general market.”
The biggest push is yet to come. Kia, which has gone from two models in 1999 to nine today, plans at least two more by the end of the decade. The brand already has such upscale wheels as the $25,500 Amanti sedan and $25,900 four-wheel-drive Sorento SUV in showrooms. A restyled Sportage SUV was launched March 7.
Hyundai has unleashed its “24/7″ plan. It’s introducing seven models over 24 months, including revamps being unveiled today at the New York Auto Show of the lowest- and highest-end sedans in its lineup. Next month, it starts selling the new version of its flagship Sonata midsize sedan, which it now considers fully competitive against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Both divisions say their buyer bases are moving upscale along with their product lines. Four years ago, the average Kia buyer paid $12,000. Today, the average sale is more than $20,000, says Peter Butterfield, CEO of Kia Motors America.
“People don’t understand what Hyundai is. They are aware of the name, but they don’t know the brand,” says Ian Beavis, former executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors, now a consultant.
Hyundai and Kia executives say they know many buyers are still discovering them. But they say their own research is encouraging. Hyundai is fourth among major brands in retaining customers for another purchase. And 74% of all Hyundai buyers are switching over from another major automaker, Cosmai says.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Wow, that is an old news story!
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
It does not matter if it is a older news article (petty point that this is an old article) my point is shown and I am sorry, these people do this for a living and know more about this than anybody on this site. I put it in to show that the reputation factor is not just something I am spouting off about like I do not know what I am talking about, plain and simple concepts, obviously to complex for some to grasp, others just KIA blind and in denial that their car is the best just cause they own a KIA! I am looking at the big picture not favoring one Asian import over another, dispute what I am saying if you like it does not changes reality. It does not surprise my though that my opinions are crashed upon being I am on a KIA site and any site I have ever been on where others are fanatics and have closed minds (can’t see outside the box) usually respond trying to make everyone that does not agree with them look as if they are wrong and do not know what they are talking about. My point is proven (read above) not one KIA fan has said something non-biased and agreed that I do have a point. I own Nissan’s and my best friends have KIA’s and I have mentioned before that I would gladly own a KIA, so I guess I am the only non-biased person on here. Sorry to disappoint by not falsely hyping KIA’s and pointing out info that most KIA fans do not want to hear.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
How old do you think this story is and it does not matter how old it is (you act like it is ancient and it is not that old), the point is KIA has not grown much more than when this news story was put out there, the fact still remains KIA is still a new car company and they are still building their reputation, you comment as if they have established themselves (to be up there with the big dogs) since this article came out and so this is not a factor anymore. You discredit other manufacturers that have spent a great many of years obtaining the reputation they have by arguing that KIA is just as reputable as every other Asian import car company out there, let’s be realistic people.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Hey Dustin, all I did was prove you that Kia build up their reputation. I frankly don’t care what your saying because everytime you reply you keep changing your meaning. “I didn’t say that, I said this”. So to end things when the end of this month comes. let’s see if Nissan Cubes out sold the Soul. And if it didn’t , you were just proven wrong. Then what. Kia’s back when Butterfield days didn’t have horsepwoer, much luxury or towing capacity like now. So yes old news does matter. Kias are now groundbreaking too. They wasn’t then.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
JTZ, it’s hopeless trying to get you to understand anything (like talking to a brick wall) you say I keep changing my meaning, do you have reading comprehension skills, again my point has always been that reputation matters and I have said it does not count for everything (sorry my wording is not identical every time I explain the same concept over and over but the concept remains simple and the same every time) something you continue to disregard going completely around everything I say and creating something new to defend yourself, going in circles only to end up where you began. I have numerous friends that I have told to come to this sight and read what has been posted because I think it is ridiculous that such a simple concept can be argued so much and taken the wrong way. I have many friends that are non-biased that heave read the entries (because I asked them “am I wrong in making my point”) and they have said to me that what I am saying makes sense and that they do not understand what is so difficult to understand. If I just said “everything you all are saying on this site is so true and you all are the all knowing about all things’ then I guarantee you would have no problems because at that point I would be a closed minded KIA fan. But because I point out something that I have now pointed out numerous times the same way and it states a truth you have a problem with it. It really shows ignorance, it would be like me saying “Nissan is the best and regardless of any points anyone else has I will argue with you and I will still say even though I am wrong that KIA will never out due Nissan, period”. I have never come across that way, but all the responses that come back from trying to explain a simple concept, get’s contorted and then I hear over and over again KIA has a reputation so you don’t know what your talking about. To make you all happy here I will make you smile and at the same time I will be smiling too knowing I am the bigger person and I will give in to what you all want, here- you go, get ready to smile feeling very accomplished that you know it all and can not see outside the box “KIA is so awesome, I love their cars so much, they outsell everyone else because they have built a reputation just as big if not bigger than all these other pathetic car companies like Nissan, Toyota, Honda, well all other car companies just suck compared to KIA! :O) Does this make sense, probably not huh, I am sure I will have to explain it a few more times. I now know what a broken record feels like
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 pm
First of all, I always knew Toyota and Honda out sold every car manufacturer in the world. But this is what you said, “The same can be said about Nissan, Honda, Subaru and Mazda, all reputable car companies that have endured and built their reputation, something that KIA and Hyundai are still working on.” But it’s funny, you never brung up Subaru and Mazda again after I came back. Now everytime you make a commet, you return it using Nissan or Toyota. I know Nissan out sells Kia in America, why do you think I said when Kia sells are combined with Hyundai it outsells Nissan and Infiniti put togather? I only did that because I KNOW the koreans does not have good as quality like the big 3 Japenese car manufactuers. But the fact that togather they out sold Nissan in USA conflicted with why the reason that reputation thing isn’t a 100% fact. Yes you I know you latered agreed that reputation alone wasn’t the case. You also said this, “Hyundai has proven themselves more and KIA is the baby still, both proving that they are good car companies that sell a good product. “, So you you know Kia a good car compnay.
Now find in any of my replies have I ever said Kia out sold nissan and Kia was better than, Toyota or Nissan. For your information, that commet that I made on April 18th wasn’t for Nissan, Toyota or Honda but for your one commet that I quoted at the begining of my topic was for Suburu and Mazda so that gets rid of that brick wall cliche. And you know what, it worked you never mentioned that again. If you mention it now it’s only because I just said it. Read my reply on April 18th again. Nissan was never mentioned on their. It was for Mazda and Subaru. Get it. And one other thing, I never said Kia was better than Mazda or Subaru I just wanted to say Kia brung up its reputation just like the others. I do have good reading skills. they are good enough to identify cliche like the “Broken record” or the “brick wall”. But I’m the broken record but you keep bringing up nissan everytime I make a reply.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:08 am
So really this is what you keep doing. I bring up Kia sells and cee’d sells and Kia awards and how fast Kia sells are going and you want to bring up Nissan reputation and sells. Hmm, Kia sells are really good when compared to Suzuki, Subaru, Saturn and others. Hmmm, I never said they were better. But, if the Cube does outsell the Soul I don’t care. It’ll outsell the Suzuki sx4 then and the Dodge Caliber and the Chevy Spark. I hope the Forte is better than the Daewoo I mean the Chevy Cruze. It’s funny, the Suzuki Sx4 and Dodge Caliber never got this much attention on articles and comparisons like the Kia. Why is that?
April 24th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Now what you gonna do? bring up Nissan, Toyota and Honda and make it as if I keep repeating myself?
April 24th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Thank you for explaining a little bit more and giving some detail behind what you were saying JTZ. I only referred to Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mazda because they have been around for a while and have built a reputation, If you look I do not just talk about Nissan and Toyota and a lot of the time I reference Nissan, Toyota and Honda (The big three) and I said that I keep hearing that KIA sells more cars than Nissan, yes I did not add Infinity in there, but what I was saying was that until KIA sells more than Nissan globally I don’t care. I have tried to say without stepping on anyone’s toes is that if the price factor was taken out then the reputation factor accounts for a whole lot (I have given examples thus why I added the news report info they say the same thing also) and that the more and more KIA/Hyundai gain a better reputation (which they will, no doubt about it and yes they are doing very well considering the amount of reputation they have built thus far) their cars will become more and more price competitive and then you are faced with car companies that have developed a reputation but not as reputable as others and then the price factor is weighed out and reputation factor in. That is why I have had a hard time because others tend to try and defend KIA and I am not here to put KIA down only to point out what is real. Would you agree that this makes sense? Yes I like Nissan, this is why I reference Nissan first, but I am not opposed to buying a KIA over a Nissan, frankly I like some of the KIA’s more than I do the Nissan’s and likewise for different models from other import manufacturers. Other than a Subaru and KIA I have owned numerous Nissan’s, Toyota’s, Honda’s, a Hyundai, a Mazda, and a Mitsubishi. All have their strengths and all are very good cars. I hope to be a KIA owner soon (Soul) and eventually a Subaru (WRX sti). Excited to have the opportunity to have owned at least one of each of these Asian import cars.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Like I said before I could bring up accomplishments that surpass things that KIA has accomplished not just from Nissan either. Notice how I speak for all Asian imports and you keep on going about KIA and how much better they are compared to this model and that model, yes my point has been proven. Other models from different manufacturer out sell KIA models but do I keep saying that over and over pointing it out, no it is irrelevant to the point that I have been getting across, I don’t care how much KIA outsells other reputable car companies whether her or abroad the fact still remains that they are new and the bottom line is that they have not built a reputation the likes of other import manufacturer (Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi Etc. people know of these car companies, so don’t tell me your average Joe knows just as much about KIA or even Hyundai for that matter.) And like you I share the same way I don’t care if the Cube outsells the Soul or the Soul outselling the Cube!
April 24th, 2009 at 1:00 am
I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS!
April 24th, 2009 at 4:47 am
We just don’t see eye to eye. I’m done. but that’s cool. but at least we have something in common neither one of us can care less which model outsell the other. Bye now.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:48 am
But I got to admint after reading our commets it sorta funny howall this is because of a Soul and Cube. lol.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Hey, they are both really good cars, I guess they are really worth the debate; hope I can get my hands on both the Soul and the Cube! My Sentra has just been paid off and in a little so will my Xterra, I think I will get the Soul first and then finance the cube, another two car payments at the same time, just what I need, but hey, it will definitely be worth it.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
im really excited about this car. my wallpaper my screensaver. i cant get it out of my head. i wonder when its gonna hit the philippines. i really want this carrrrrrrrr, cant wait to drive around with this awesome thing.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:18 am
hye there, im the kia soul biggest fan. lurve the design, lurve the specs. i wonder when it’ll come to malaysia? sooo xcited. i hope 2010 will be the best time for soul to be launch here. the sooner the better. i dun wanna wait so long n have to buy other cars instead. i have been saving this year just to buy soul, my soul.