2011 Kia Sorento Named to 'Top 10 Family Cars of 2011' List by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com

First Kia Vehicle Built in the U.S.(1) is Lauded For Superior Mix of Ride, Handling and Interior Appeal


- Stylish, family-friendly CUV combines fuel efficiency and spacious interior for the best of both world
- Kia's best-selling vehicle offers families a child-friendly option at an outstanding value

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV has received a lot of attention since arriving in January 2010, and that trend continues this week as Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com names the compact CUV one of the "Top 10 Family Cars of 2011." Recognized for its exceptional mix of ride and handling as well as a stylish and functional interior, the 2011 Sorento has achieved a number of historic firsts for Kia, including becoming the company's first vehicle to surpass 100,000 units in a single year and being the first vehicle built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia.
The Sorento combines Kia's distinctive design language with a comprehensive list of standard safety, convenience and technology features and was named a 2010 "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
"Sorento's recognition as one of the 'Top 10 Family Cars of 2011' by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com is well deserved with its striking design and standout combination of performance, safety equipment and family friendly features," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America. "As one of several recently introduced and dynamically styled products from Kia, Sorento accounts for more than 30 percent of our sales volume, making it the most popular vehicle in the Kia lineup."

Editors from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com judged vehicles based on characteristics that make vehicles family-friendly, including safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, a reasonable purchase price and good resale value. The kbb.com editors believe that all of the worthy vehicles on this year's "Top 10 Family Cars of 2011" list will provide an excellent ownership experience for the families who choose to make them their own.
"The 2011 Kia Sorento is our new favorite in what we often label the two-and-a-half-row segment," say editors from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. "If you need three rows on a daily basis or plan on putting adults in the way back, you'll be better served by something larger. But if your three-row needs are occasional and involve at least a couple elementary-schoolers, the 2011 Kia Sorento is a more affordable, more fuel-efficient, more maneuverable alternative. A superior mix of ride, handling and interior appeal helped cement the Sorento's spot on this year's list of 'Top 10 Family Cars'."
About the 2011 Kia Sorento
The 2011 Sorento, the first vehicle to roll off the line at Kia's new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia, encompasses both the brand's signature design cues as well as its distinct combination of value, safety and style. The 2011 Sorento, which has been Kia's best-selling vehicle each month since going on sale in January 2010, offers consumers a well-equipped, well-appointed CUV, suited perfectly for the fun, dynamic and discerning driver. Available in LX, EX and SX trim levels, the 2011 Sorento features a starting MSRP of $22,395 (2).




2011 Kia Motors America Product Line
Kia's model year 2011 vehicle line includes the Sorento CUV, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio sub-compact sedan, Rio5 sub-compact hatchback and Sedona minivan.

Whale of a Sale

We are so excited to announce our partnership with the Tallahassee Junior League. We are one of their proud sponsors for the 2011 Whale of a Sale!

The Whale of a Sale what some may call a garage sale; it features gently used, quality merchandise at prices.We hear that the day of the sale is a sight to see within itself. Outside of the sale will be our first Tent Sale of 2011! We will have tons of cars and our salesteam to help customers out at the sale. The actual sale starts at 8am and goes to 3pm at the former Goody's location in the Tallahassee Mall.



The reason We, at Kia Autosport of Tallahassee, have chosen to sponsor this event is that all the money raised flows back to the community through the Junior Leagues various charities. The Junior League focuses on children and families throughout Tallahassee. From Operation Prom Dress, Fostering Hope, Kids Boutique, and Kids in the Kitchen; we share in The Junior League's dedication to serving a community.

As if the sale, within itself, is not exciting, there is a pre-party THIS Friday from 6-10pm at the same location as Saturday's sale. The tickets to this are $25.00 day of, and the party features food and drinks catered by The University Club of Tallahassee, a live auction, entertainment, and of course view our 2011 Kia Lineup! For tickets and more information please visit www.jltallahassee.org.

Information for both events are posted on our Facebook Page!

2011 Kia Optima nabs another honor

The midsize sedan is among the Top 10 Cars to Look Forward to this year.

2011 Kia Optima
Available today at Kia Autosport of Tallahassee

Irvine-based Kia Motors America continues to garner praise for its 2011 Optima model. The auto has earned a spot on CarsDirect.com's list of the Top 10 Cars to Look Forward to this year.



Editors for the Los Angeles-based online vehicle-buying service singled out the Optima as being well-equipped and a “stand-out” among other sedans, and stated that it was poised to overthrow the mainstays in the midsize vehicle class.



"Optima's latest recognition as one of the ‘Top 10 Cars to Look Forward to in 2011' by CarsDirect.com is a tribute to its stunning design, fun-to-drive performance and tremendous value," said Michael Sprague, vice president for marketing and communications at Kia Motors America.



Among other recognitions, the model also has garnered attention as a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a Best New Model by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and was named on Cars.com’s Best of 2011 list.



"The all-new Optima adds world-class style and emotion to our award-winning vehicle line," said Sprague

Move Over, Toyota: Kia’s Moment May Have Finally Arrived

Here’s another reason why Kia (KIMTF.PK) isn’t just a flash in the pan: A recent study from Experian Automotive gave Kia the No. 1 model in terms of brand loyalty — plus two other slots in the top 10. Stalwarts Toyota (TM) and Lexus, by contrast, didn’t even crack the top 10.

Kia and its corporate cousin, Hyundai (HYMLF.PK), have posted big sales increases in the U.S. market the last few years in a row, including a 19 percent increase for Kia in 2010, to 356,000. That was a U.S. record for the brand. Kia and Hyundai both belong to South Korea’s Hyundai Group.

Win them over, then hold onto ‘em

 Now it looks as if Kia isn’t just attracting people — it’s keeping them, too. In the third quarter of 2010, almost 70 percent of Kia Forte owners who bought a car bought another Kia, according to Experian. That made it the No. 1 model in loyalty for the quarter. The Kia Soul and the Kia Sorento were also in the Top 10.

That result isn’t just a fluke, either. In the latest J.D. Power Customer Retention Study, which was published in December, Kia was No. 4. Hyundai was in a three-way tie for No. 2 with Toyota and Lexus. Ford was No. 1. According to J.D. Power, the auto industry average loyalty rate is only 48 percent.

Need an Extra $25.00?

Everyone can use an extra $25.00 right?

Well, we have just the event for you!

Follow the directions at this link. All you have to do is come down to our dealership and test drive a 2011 Optima!

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/partner/KIA/optima-launch/op2_sem.html

We hope to see you soon!

Kia Fortes Are Taking Over The World!

"Kia's Forte appears to be attempting to take over the world. It's available as a sedan and a coupe, and later on, as a 5-door hatchback.

For now, though, since this is a family-car Web site, the question is, is the Forte Koup a good choice for families?

Let's start with the basics. The Forte Koup shares 2.0- and 2.4-liter four-cylinder powertrains with its sedan brother. The smaller engine can be paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, while 2.4-liters can be matched to a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. There are three trims: base LX, EX, and sport-themed SX. Koups are only available in EX and SX guise. My tester was an SX with the 6-speed manual and the 173-horsepower 2.4-liter.

The base price was $17,500, and standard features included 17-inch wheels, satellite radio, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system, USB and auxiliary input jacks, a wireless cell phone link, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and more. Safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, front-side airbags, and side-curtain airbags.

Leather seat trim and heated front seats were added at no apparent extra cost. Including the $695 destination fee, the total came to $18,195.



Coupes are primarily aimed at singles or positioned as fun second cars for families. But that doesn't mean they can't be good family cars.

Certainly older kids and taller adults don't like being stuffed into the rear seat of most two doors. But I fit just fine in a very quick, unscientific test. The back seat is bigger than it looks.

The large rear trunk will also appeal to families. But otherwise, this is a sporty coupe, and it's meant to be driven as such.

Forte Koup is surprisingly quick under heavy throttle, although it will never be mistaken for a Corvette. Floor it on an empty road, and it scoots away with no trouble, but it won't scare you.

What is scary is the clutch. Its take-up is maddeningly inconsistent, with a tendency to snag as the clutch is engaged. This makes for a decidedly non-smooth driving experience. Give the engine too much throttle as you move away from a stop and torque steer kicks in. Try and feather the throttle, and you risk stalling. I felt like I was in driver's ed again. The lack of smoothness continues when engaging the clutch after an upshift.

Ride is a bit on the stiff side, but not back-breaking. Handling is flat and stable in corners, and high speeds don't faze the Koup's stability. The biggest negative here? A need for constant mid-corner corrections. At least the steering is nicely weighted.

The interior is handsome, and the exterior styling is sharp, if a bit on the boring side. One flaw: The roofline is a bit low for taller folks. Folks with spiky hair might find it flattened after a long drive.



Fuel economy is a draw for cars this size. The Koup is rated at 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. I managed 26.4 mpg in 225 miles of city and highway driving--not too bad, when a couple of full-blast acceleration runs were factored in.

In the end, the Forte Koup does not a great family car make, but it's passable as far as sporty coupes go, thanks to its big trunk and decent rear-seat space. But as a compact coupe, it functions well. It's not quite a Civic-beater, but it's darn close."

-familycarguide.com, contributing writer Tim Healy