From manufacturing bicycle parts in the early 1940s to designing alternative fuel vehicles of the future, Kia has a remarkable presence in shaping the global automotive landscape. The company moved from bicycle parts to motorcycles and trucks in the late 1950s before making its way to America in the 1990s after a prosperous partnership with Ford Motor Company. Today, your local Kia dealership is a reflection of Kia’s hard work and its position as one of the largest automakers in the world, known for being ahead of the curve when it comes to innovative technology.
There’s no greater example of Kia’s position at the helm of intuitive technology than its 2022 lineup. Models like the EV6, Soul, Sportage, Sorento, Telluride, and Stinger are laden with state-of-the-art technology that’s designed to keep you informed, safe, and connected wherever the road takes you. It’s this technology – the advanced safety and driver-assist tools, smartphone integration and connectivity features, and EV or hybrid capability – that set Kia apart from every other automaker in the industry. Here’s a closer look at the features that put every Kia ahead of the curve.
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Have you heard? The future is electric, and Kia is jumping on board with the promise to deliver 16 alternative fuel vehicles by 2025. We’re already seeing this promise fulfilled with popular models like the Sorento getting plug-in hybrid alternatives that are designed to ease you into an all-electric future. You can expect even bigger things from Kia with models like the Niro EV, an all-electric vehicle that offers a 239-mile range, or the EV6, which promises a 300-mile range and a 5.2-second launch from 0 to 60 mph.
Kia recognizes that switching from a traditional powertrain to a hybrid or electric vehicle can be daunting. To give you more confidence in these alternative fuel vehicles, Kia offers one of the best hybrid and EV warranties in the industry. This warranty covers the battery for ten years or 100,000 miles, which shows you the confidence Kia has in these advanced powertrains and their ability to perform reliably mile after mile.
Kia Drive Wise
Kia’s intuitive technology extends from alternative fuel vehicles like the Niro EV, EV6, and Sorento Hybrid to an exceptional array of safety and driver-assist features. These tools give you the confidence you need when you’re behind the wheel and are part of Kia’s Drive Wise technology suite. These standard and available safety features are designed to minimize the potential for collision whether you’re navigating your daily commute, running errands in town, or traveling at highway speeds.
Depending on model and trim, you’ll find the Kia Drive Wise suite includes tools like:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Lane-Keeping Assist
- Lane Following Assist System
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
Kia’s Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist alerts you to potential collisions at the front of the vehicle so that you have enough time to respond. If you fail to respond, it will automatically apply the brakes to reduce your speed and minimize impact.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist are like having an extra set of eyes around your vehicle. Blind-Spot Collision Warning uses radar sensors in the rear bumper to alert you to vehicles in your blind spots. Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist adds to this feature and can apply the brakes if it detects an impending collision in your blind spot. Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist works similarly by keeping an eye out for vehicles and objects behind your Kia. Together, these tools make it easier to change lanes and navigate areas with heavy traffic.
Kia’s Lane-Keeping Assist and Lane-Following Assist System are designed to keep you safe in your lane and alert you when the Kia is drifting off the road or out of its designated lane and into traffic. Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is one of the most in-demand features because it replaces traditional cruise control and makes your time behind the wheel stress-free. Rather than constantly setting and resetting your cruising speed based on traffic, Smart Cruise Control constantly monitors the flow of traffic and adjusts your Kia’s speed as needed. This means your focus stays on the road ahead.
UVO Link: Connectivity That’s Convenient
Smartphone integration is standard across the industry via tools like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Kia, however, manages to make this even more convenient with its UVO Link system. You can use the system to seamlessly connect your smartphone or personal device with your Kia for a better experience when you’re behind the wheel.
UVO Link allows you to pair your smartphone to your Kia via the Kia Access App. This means that you can use your smartwatch to control your Kia remotely whether you want to lock or unlock the doors, start the engine, or set the temperature inside the cabin. UVO Link also gives you access to your Kia’s remote WiFi hotspot and compatible tools like Amazon Alexa, the latter of which equips your Kia with a virtual assistant that can give you weather or news updates, stream your favorite music, respond to messages, and make calls with a simple voice command. If your Kia is equipped with navigation, you’ll find the tool is housed in the UVO Link system and gives you real-time traffic data and greater arrival time accuracy based on that data.
Kia makes UVO Link accessible to new Kia owners with a one-year free trial of the system depending on the model or trim. You also have the chance to upgrade the program to various packages – Lite, Care, Plus, and Ultimate – that build on one another for a monthly or an annual fee. For example, the Lite Package offers remote charging, maintenance alerts, and 911 Connect, while the Care Package adds Curfew Alert, a Vehicle Alarm Alert, and Roadside Assistance. The Ultimate Package includes Remote Lock/Unlock, Find My Car, Remote Climate, Home-to-Car Alexa, and Home-to-Car Google.
Innovative Performance
Kia proves that innovative technology isn’t limited to connectivity features like smartphone integration or driver-assist tools like Smart Cruise Control. Kia’s technology also extends under the hood, where you’ll find every model is ready for the road and the adventure ahead. This is especially true on models like the Stinger GT, which is powered by a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine to deliver 365 horses and 376 lb-ft of torque. This power translates to a launch from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.
Kia’s driving technology also includes its active Dynamax all-wheel-drive system that you’ll find on models like the Telluride, Sportage, Sorento, and Seltos. The system continuously monitors the condition of the road to deliver the traction you need exactly when you need it. This increases your stability and your safety on rough terrain. Beyond this, you’ll also find a suite of leading technology like the available head-up display that puts all the data you need in a crisp display on the windshield and adds another layer of convenience to the Kia lineup.
Where Will Kia Take You?
Kia’s journey from building bicycle parts to becoming the fifth largest automaker in the world is a truly remarkable story of successes and failures. Throughout this journey, Kia has continuously learned from both its wins and its losses to position itself at the helm of innovation throughout the industry. This is especially apparent when you look at Kia’s 2022 lineup and the exceptional array of technology that keeps you connected, informed, and safe wherever the road leads.
