Kia Cars and SUVs: Reviews, Pricing and Specs Driving (2024)

Kia history in Canada

Korean automaker Kia dates back to 1944, however, it became part of the Hyundai Motor Group in 1998 — this has seen both Hyundai and Kia go from strength to strength. Following the union, Kia came to Canada in 1999. Back then it arrived with the first-generation Sportage and watch-it-rust-when-it-rained Sephia. Both were truly dreadful. Twenty years later, Kia sold its 1,000,000th vehicle in Canada.

The credit for the reversal of those early faux pas and the growth in sales came from Group’s ability to share platforms and technology while retaining a degree of autonomy between the two brands. The fact the Group is the only maker to produce its own steel is an edge not to be overlooked.

The pivotal moment for Kia came with the launch of the funky Soul — it was and is the only vehicle that does not have a Hyundai equivalent. When it arrived, the Soul cast a very different light on the company and its portfolio. Pre-Soul Kia vehicles were purchased based solely on the monthly cost; post-Soul customers were buying based on merit. The Soul also marked the start of Kia’s stylistic revolution. It was led by head designer Peter Schreyer, the man behind the Audi TT. This, a keen attention to detail, and the fact no model is left untouched for too long has served the company well — the Seltos arrived as a 2021 model; the all-new 2024 model is ready to launch this year. Finally, Kia is in the process of rebranding, and now has a new logo.

Kia Cars

Kia’s car lineup is anchored by the perky Rio hatch, one of the few cars left with a manual transmission. Nobody will mistake it for a sports car, but it’s a nimble, city-friendly drive that’s well-suited to the entry-level buyer. If more room is needed there’s the Forte. It is offered as both a sedan and a hatch (Forte5). One of its key plusses is the availability of a 201 hp, 1.6L turbo-four. The sedan rates as a true sleeper; the hatch is hot!

The family sedan is found in the K5, a ride with the style and substance needed to set it apart. The all-turbocharged lineup is anchored by the top 290 hp GT. Of course, if performance is the aim, the all-wheel-drive Stinger rivals many much more expensive options for chutzpah — it’s stylish, plush, fast and it has the versatility of a hatch.

Kia Crossovers and SUVs (and minivan)

With crossovers being the big sellers, Kia has expanded that side of its portfolio very quickly. The entry-point is the front- or all-wheel-drive Seltos. It’s stylish, roomy and benefits from the latest technology. It’s quick, too, with an available turbocharged engine.

The North American-built Sportage, which is all-new, and Sorento both represent a complete departure from previous generations. Each brings a blend of quality and practicality to go along with conventional, hybrid and PHEV powertrains. In both cases, the PHEV and its 55-km of electric-only driving earns the full $5,000 rebate from the Feds.

At the top of Kia’s crossover ladder is the Telluride. It makes light work of the family and it can take the toys to the cottage. There’s seating for up to eight, a maximum cargo capacity of 2,455L and a V6 engine with a tow capacity of up to 2,495-kg. Finally, for the extended family, there’s the “not-a-minivan” Carnival. It has seating for up to eight and an apartment-like 4,110L of cargo space with the seats folded/removed. It can tow 1,587-kg.

The vehicle that straddles both the crossover and electric categories is the inimitable Soul. Its boxy shape gives it a roomy cabin and cargo area. It’s also fun to drive and has gas and electric models. This makes it a Canadian-only proposition — the U.S. dropped the Soul EV after the 2019 model. If you do decide to go electric forget the Soul EV Premium with 248-km of driving range and take the Limited with a more realistic range of 383-km.

Kia EVs

On the all-electric side of the ledger comes the all-new Niro. Technically, it’s a hybrid, PHEV and a full-on EV with a driving range of up to 407-km. The rethink has taken the Niro from an also-ran to something that will contend on its own merits. The plus is the PHEV comes with the full $5,000 Federal rebate.

Kia’s electric flagship is the EV6. While it’s offered with a small 58-kWh battery and rear-drive, a larger 77.4-kWh battery with rear- and all-wheel-drive choices, it’s the GT that’s stealing the headlines. It delivers champagne performance on a baked bean budget — try a Porsche-like 576 hp on for size!

Kia Reliability

In the Consumer Reports rankings, Kia comes in at the 10th spot with a score of 61, just ahead of sister brand Hyundai. In the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Kia came up with 187 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is better than the study average of 190, placing Kia in 8th spot. In the same study, Kia Sedona tops the minivan class ahead of the Japanese rivals Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey.

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