2007 Kia Sedona and Sorento Awarded 'Good' Ratings From Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Kia Minivan and SUV Given Highest Possible Rating in Rear Impact Evaluations

IRVINE, CA - July 3, 2007: Today it was announced the Kia Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV both received "Good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for rear impact collisions. A "Good" is the highest possible rating given by IIHS and according to the institute represents the best protection for people of all sizes in a typical rear-end crash.

"It is becoming well-known that Kia builds safety into all of its vehicles and Sedona and Sorento are just the latest examples to pass independent testing," said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America (KMA). "We strive to provide our customers with quality vehicles that are equipped with the best available safety features."

IIHS bases their ratings of "Good," "Acceptable," "Marginal" or "Poor" on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that, according to the IIHS, when combined assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in an average rear crash. According to IIHS injuries to the neck are the most commonly reported by victims of car crashes; the Sedona and Sorento's standard active head restraints offer optimum and essential passenger neck and back support and protection.

Kia Sedona

Serving as Kia's flagship safety vehicle, the Sedona has collected a number of accolades, including receiving the company's first five-star crash safety rating for each seating position from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) when it debuted in 2002, as well as receiving the "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS for the past two consecutive years. The current generation Sedona, both Long and Short Wheel Bases, tout other standard safety features including six standard airbags (dual advanced front and front seat-mounted side air bags, and full-length side curtain air bags for all three seating rows), a four-channel, four-sensor, antilock brake system (ABS), and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Kia Sorento

Refreshed for 2007 and building off of a five-star crash safety rating from NHTSA for both front and rear side impact crash tests in 2006, the Sorento now boasts even more standard safety features than its predecessor, offering such standard equipment across all trim lines including advanced two- stage airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control (TCS), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), driver knee airbag, and three-point seat belts for all seating positions with adjustable anchors and pretensioners with force limiters in front.

Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov).

Kia Motors America -- the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea -- offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 630 retailers throughout the United States.