Country & Base – South Korea – Seoul
Key Models:
- [Picanto [city car]
- Rio [supermini]
- Venga [supermini MPV]
- Soul [supermini MPV]
- cee'd [family hatchback and estate]
- Optima [medium range]
- Sportage [compact 4x4]
- Carens [compact MPV]
- Sorento [4x4]
- Sedona [large MPV]
Netcars Need To Know:
Is there a more progressive car company out there than Kia? Mercedes-Benz are in a purple patch at the moment, but if you want to see real bold design and smart product planning, look no further than Kia. Once a bit of an industry laughing stock, it has undergone a programme of accelerated development and is now a demonstrator of what South Korea can do. The range is, at present, split between old Kia and new Kia, with models like the Picanto, Rio, Venga, Sportage, Sorento, Soul, cee'd and Optima representing the new with the Carens and Sedona the not quite so new.
Used Kia buyers can find value right across the range. The three-door pro_cee'd is a handsome hatch that's available from less than £6,000. The second generation Kia Picanto is a functional and super cheap city car that might not win any style prizes but nevertheless looks a good buy at £7,500. Not quite so well known is the used Kia Venga, but this small MPV looks tidy and can be yours from around £8,500.
Don't overlook the much-improved Sportage. The first cars to bear this badge weren't much to shout about but the latest Sportage, built from 2011, is a really tidy bit of design and the 2.0-litre CRDi engine that powers it offers plenty of torque for off-roading or towing. The new Kia Soul is another model that's worth looking up. It has appealed to younger, urban buyers and its squared off styling has succeeded where Nissan's Cube and Toyota's Urban Cruiser have failed. It's just another example of Kia's deft design touch.
