27-OCT-2016

Kia Soul and Cadenza Named Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year Award Winners

Soul Crowned King of Urban Category for Fifth Consecutive Year

2016 Soul praised for its expansive and versatile interior
2017 Cadenza’s feature-rich roster, fun driving dynamics and practicality helped earn it points

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2016 — For the fifth consecutive year, Kia Motors America’s (KMA) iconic urban passenger vehicle, the Soul, was named a winner at the 13^th annual Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year awards held recently in Chandler, Arizona. Once again, local media and elite athletes rated the Soul best in the urban category after dynamic and real-world evaluations, while the all-new 2017 Cadenza wowed them with its stunning new design and comfortable passenger space.

“Winning the Active Lifestyle Vehicle award for the fifth consecutive year is a clear indication that the Soul makes a great companion for urbanites who are constantly on the go,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “Its unique combination of style, fun-to-drive attitude, extensive feature content, and practicality make the Soul a crowd favorite, while the Cadenza’s upscale design, ample interior, and advanced convenience features make it a fierce competitor in the full-size sedan segment.”

The 2016 Soul is one of KMA’s best-selling nameplates for good reason. The fun-loving Soul combines a funky and functional design, premium interior and a long list of standard and optional amenities. With a starting MSRP of just $15,900 (excluding destination charges of $850), the 2016 Soul boasts value and utility in a small and stylish package. For 2017, the Soul aims to increase its popularity with the addition of a turbocharged engine option. The all-new Cadenza will soon be arriving in showrooms with an estimated starting price just below $32,000.

“Buyers with active lifestyles have always been value focused. They need vehicles with the versatility to haul their gear, but want to have money left over to afford the new bicycle, kayak or skis they’ve been lusting after,” said Nina Russin, founder of the Active Lifestyle Vehicle program. “The Kia Soul won the urban category for the fifth consecutive year because it’s a stylish, affordable vehicle with a spacious cargo area and small footprint that functions well in congested city centers. And along with its industry-leading warranty, the new Cadenza is proof that a luxurious car doesn’t have to break the bank.”

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and set an all-time annual sales record in 2015, surpassing the 600,000 unit mark for the first time in company history. Kia offers a complete line of vehicles in the U.S., including the rear-drive K900 flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona minivan, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia’s North American manufacturing operations include plants in West Point, Georgia*, and the municipality of Pesqueria in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.