Tag Archives: KIA

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Kia Expands Its EV Lineup with Three New GT Performance Models

Kia is pushing its electric vehicle strategy into more performance-oriented territory, unveiling GT versions of the EV3 crossover, EV4 hatch and fastback, and EV5 SUV at the Brussels Motor Show. These newcomers join the existing EV6 and EV9 GT models, expanding Kia’s roster of high-performance electrics.

The trio shares a philosophy articulated by Alex Papapetropolous, Kia Europe’s planning boss, who told Autocar, “We don’t treat GT like a one-off, like some competitors. GT models are about more than just extra power. We have hardware to deliver everyday emotion – and we want to deliver that in a sophisticated way.”

The EV3 and EV4 GTs are built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform and share a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that pairs a 194-hp front motor with a 94-hp rear unit, producing a combined 288 horsepower. Both draw energy from an 81.2-kWh battery, the same as the Long Range versions of their standard siblings. Official range figures haven’t been released, but performance is respectable: the EV3 GT hits 62 mph in 5.7 seconds, while the more aerodynamic EV4 GT clips that by a tenth of a second.

Kia has gone beyond raw numbers with these models. Bespoke chassis tuning, electronically controlled suspension with unique GT settings, cornering stability enhancements, and 20-inch performance tires are all part of the package. A dedicated GT drive mode further sharpens throttle response, steering, and suspension behavior for what Kia describes as a “more focused and immersive driving character.”

Inside, the EV3 GT features bucket-style seats inspired by the EV9 GT and neon-accented trim. The EV4 GT, offered in both hatch and fastback forms, adds a three-spoke steering wheel and other sporty interior touches. Both models also feature Kia’s virtual gearshift system, which uses active sound design to enhance the driving experience—a feature familiar from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the forthcoming Genesis GV60 Magma.

Kia GT Performance EV Lineup

The EV5 GT, meanwhile, steps up with a slightly more powerful powertrain: a 208-hp front motor combines with a rear motor for a total output of 302 horsepower, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint in 6.2 seconds. While Kia hasn’t disclosed battery size or full performance specs, the standard EV5’s 88.1-kWh pack is a likely candidate. The SUV also benefits from electronically controlled suspension with a “road preview system” that adjusts automatically to upcoming bumps and curves, along with performance tires and bespoke sport interior elements.

Production of all three GT models is slated for the second quarter of 2026, though pricing and UK availability have not yet been announced.

With these additions, Kia is signaling that GT is no longer just a halo badge—it’s an ethos across its EV lineup, combining everyday usability with genuine driving excitement.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

Kia EV2 Wants to Be the Budget Electric Crossover That Doesn’t Feel Like One

Kia’s electric onslaught continues, and this time it’s aimed squarely at the heart of Europe’s fastest-growing segment. Meet the Kia EV2, a B-segment electric crossover that’s lining up to take swings at the reborn Renault 4 and Volkswagen’s upcoming ID Cross—while promising the longest range of the bunch and a price that undercuts most of them.

Unveiled at the Brussels motor show, the EV2 is the smallest and cheapest member of Kia’s dedicated EV family, slotting in below the EV3 and EV4. It rides on a simplified version of the brand’s E-GMP platform and will be built in Žilina, Slovakia, alongside the EV4. That European production could make it eligible for incentives like the UK’s electric car grant, which matters when your target price is a hair under €30,000 (about £25,000). Kia’s product and pricing boss Alex Papapetropolous says some trims will dip even lower—and that’s no accident. More than a quarter of the European market lives below that €30K line, and Kia clearly wants a piece of it.

Visually, the EV2 doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a baby SUV. It borrows the squared-off stance and pixelated details of its larger siblings, wrapped around a compact footprint designed to maximize usable space. At 4060 mm long, it’s slightly shorter than the Renault 4, but with an 1800-mm width and a 2565-mm wheelbase, it’s clearly been stretched where it counts. The revised “tiger face” front end gives it family resemblance without overdoing the sci-fi.

Powertrain options are straightforward but competitive. Standard Range models launch first, using a 42.2-kWh LFP battery good for a claimed 196 miles of range and a 145-hp front-mounted motor. The Long Range version arrives later with a larger 61.0-kWh NMC pack, stretching range to an impressive 278 miles—comfortably ahead of the Renault 4’s 254-mile max—paired with a slightly less powerful 134-hp motor. No all-wheel drive here: the EV2’s cost-conscious E-GMP variant uses a torsion-beam rear suspension instead of the multilink setup needed to package a rear motor.

Charging hardware reflects the EV2’s urban mission. It runs on a 400-volt system rather than the 800-volt architecture of the EV6 and EV9, but Kia claims both batteries can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. More interesting is AC charging: the EV2 will be Kia’s first model available with both 11-kW and 22-kW onboard chargers, a big win for city dwellers who rely on public or workplace charging.

Inside, the EV2 feels familiar but intentionally simplified. The dash is dominated by three screens—a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 5.3-inch climate display, and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen—running a new “lite” version of Kia’s infotainment software. The idea is to keep costs down without sacrificing essentials like over-the-air updates. Practicality gets equal billing: buyers can choose between four- and five-seat layouts. The four-seater uses individual reclining rear chairs that slide forward to open up as much as 403 liters of cargo space, while the five-seater still manages a respectable 362 liters. Both versions add a small 15-liter frunk up front.

Trim details are still being finalized, but Kia has confirmed a range-topping GT-Line with 19-inch wheels and sportier styling touches. Lesser trims will roll on 16- or 18-inch wheels, presumably in the name of efficiency—and cost control.

The EV2 doesn’t chase headline performance numbers or futuristic gimmicks. Instead, it plays the long game: solid range, sensible packaging, and pricing that undercuts rivals without feeling stripped bare. If Kia delivers on its promises, the EV2 could become the default recommendation for buyers who want an electric crossover that fits real-world budgets—and real-world lives.

Source: KIA

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Kia Hits Historic High in 2025 U.S. Sales

Kia didn’t just have a good year—it had a landmark one. With 852,155 vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2025, Kia cleared the 800,000-sales barrier for the first time in its American history, posting a 7 percent gain over 2024 and locking in its third consecutive all-time annual sales record. That’s not a blip or a rebound. That’s momentum.

Zoom out a little and the picture sharpens. Retail sales through Kia dealers rose 5 percent year over year, marking eight straight years of growth and a sixth consecutive retail sales record. The payoff? Kia’s highest-ever U.S. market share, a data point that matters far more than bragging rights. It suggests Kia isn’t just selling more cars—it’s taking customers from someone else.

At the heart of that growth is a lineup that hits the market’s sweet spots with unusual consistency. SUVs continue to do the heavy lifting, with Kia’s utility vehicles up 5 percent for the year. Electrified models climbed an even stronger 24 percent, while sedans—supposedly a dying breed—quietly surged 13 percent year over year. That three-pronged success story explains why Kia’s sales charts don’t hinge on a single hero product.

Still, some heroes deserve naming. Four Kia models posted their best-ever annual sales totals in 2025: the Carnival minivan (+44 percent), Sportage (+13 percent), Telluride (+7 percent), and the K4 (+1 percent). Among them, the Sportage stands tallest, delivering the best annual sales performance of any Kia model ever. With 182,823 units sold in 2025, it didn’t just outperform its 2024 self—it rewrote Kia’s internal record book.

The Telluride, meanwhile, continues to justify its reputation as one of the most successful three-row SUVs of the past decade. Sales climbed to 123,281 units, up from 115,504 the year before, even as competition in the segment gets fiercer and pricier. The Carnival’s leap—from 49,726 units in 2024 to 71,917 in 2025—is especially notable in a minivan segment that’s more stable than explosive. Kia didn’t just steal sales here; it capitalized on families realizing that sliding doors still make a lot of sense.

Sedans deserve their own footnote. The K4/Forte line finished the year at 140,514 units, essentially flat year over year but still a massive volume play. The K5, however, surged from 46,311 units in 2024 to 72,751 in 2025, proving there’s life left in the midsize sedan when styling, pricing, and feature content line up.

Not every column in the sales table points upward. EVs were a mixed bag in raw numbers. The EV9 and EV6 both saw year-over-year declines compared with 2024, with EV9 sales landing at 15,051 units and EV6 at 12,933. But taken together—and combined with electrified versions of gas models—Kia’s electrified portfolio still set a new annual sales record. In a cooling EV market, holding ground and building long-term credibility can matter more than chasing short-term spikes.

December closed the year on a steady note. Kia delivered 75,003 vehicles in the final month of 2025, edging past December 2024’s total. Sportage (16,869 units) and Telluride (12,158 units) again anchored the brand’s month-end performance, while the K4/Forte posted a strong 13,595-unit finish.

Beyond sales, Kia spent 2025 padding its trophy case. The upcoming 2027 Telluride earned a spot on Newsweek magazine’s list of 2026’s Most Anticipated New Vehicles, a nod to just how much weight that nameplate now carries. Safety credentials also stacked up. The 2026 Sorento secured the IIHS’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating for models built after September 2025, bringing the total number of Kia vehicles earning that top-tier designation in 2025 to five. Joining the Sorento are the 2026 Sportage, 2025 K4, 2025 EV9, and 2025 Telluride—each tested under the IIHS’s toughest protocols to date.

Kia’s leadership is understandably bullish. Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, points to the brand’s record sales and market share as proof of its competitive strength—and he’s not wrong. With a second-generation Telluride and a highly anticipated K4 hatchback arriving in showrooms in the first quarter, Kia isn’t planning to coast into the new year.

The bigger takeaway, though, is this: Kia has evolved from a value alternative into a full-spectrum brand with credible answers in nearly every major segment. When minivans, compact SUVs, midsize sedans, and three-row family haulers are all firing at once, sales records stop looking accidental. If 2025 proved anything, it’s that Kia’s climb isn’t just continuing—it’s getting harder for the rest of the industry to ignore.

Source: KIA