[KIA MOTORS NEWS] Kia Rio & Rondo vehicles recommended by 2010 Consumer Guide & About.com

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michael Choo (  mjc@kia.co.kr),
International Communications Manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Tel:
+82-2-3464-5663

Kia Rio & Rondo vehicles recommended by 2010 Consumer GuideR & About.com

 

-         Rio selected by Consumer Guide for fuel economy, user-friendly
instruments and driver controls

-         Crossover utility vehicle, Rondo, honored by respected online
resource About.com and Consumer Guide Automotive for its quality,
budget-friendliness and space

 

(Seoul) January 28, 2010 - Kia Motors America (KMA) announced its popular
subcompact and midsize CUVs, Kia Rio and Rondo (known as 'Carens' in some
markets), have been selected as 2010 Consumer Guide Automotive Recommended
Vehicles for the vehicle's offerings of quality, comfort, function and
value.  The announcement comes on the heels of Kia Rondo being named to the
'Best Family Cars Under $20,000' list with About.com, a respected online
resource for US consumers.

 

"Receiving the 2010 Consumer Guide Automotive Recommended Vehicle
designation is a tribute to the ongoing evolution and continued improvement
of the Kia brand," said Michael Sprague, Vice President, Marketing, KMA.
"This distinction from such a trusted automotive resource reinforces to
consumers our commitment to providing the highest quality vehicles infused
with great design, value, safety features, utility and practicality."

 

Consumer Guide Automotive editors reviewed and selected the top vehicles
across 18 vehicle categories, including Subcompact Car, Compact Car, Midsize
Car, Premium Midsize Car, Large Car, Premium Large Car, Sporty/Performance
Car, Compact SUV, Midsize SUV, Large SUV, Premium Large SUV, Minivan, among
others.  For more than 40 years Consumer Guide has been empowering buyers to
shop with confidence and receives 2.6 million unique visitors each month.

 

About.com reviewed and selected a number of 2009 and 2010 model year
vehicles, finally selecting the top 10 cars they felt best offered families
an exceptional combination of value, comfort and seating for under $20,000.
"In today's economy, consumers are constantly looking for ways to save money
while retaining quality, and Rondo offers the functionality and safety of a
minivan or SUV without the heft, low fuel economy or high price tag," said
Sprague. 

 

The Rio line is often noted for its small footprint, spacious interior,
exciting handling and impressive fuel economy. In line with Kia's dramatic,
design-led transformation, Rio offers style flexibility for the fun and
frugal.  Its full body-color bumpers, a revised tabbed grille that matches
the new look of Kia, black bezel headlamps, body-color side moldings and a
stylish exposed exhaust outlet further add to its sprightly appearance.  

 

Rondo offers consumers numerous amenities, capable handling and impressive
standard convenience and safety features while maintaining a good starting
price.  The midsize CUV includes space for seven passengers with three rows
of seating, offering the same variety of seating arrangements as a full-size
SUV or minivan without the bulk or low fuel economy. 

 

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Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) -- a maker of quality vehicles for the
young-at-heart -- was founded in 1944 and is Korea's oldest manufacturer of
motor vehicles. As part of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Kia aims to
become one of the world's premier automotive brands. Nearly 1.5 million
vehicles a year are produced in 13 manufacturing and assembly operations in
eight countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of
distributors and dealers covering 172 countries. Kia today has over 40,000
employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$14.5 billion. It is the
major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of
FIFA -- the governing body of the FIFA World CupT -- as well as a EUROTOP
partner of UEFA. Kia Motors Corporation's brand slogan -- "The Power to
Surprise" -- represents the company's global commitment to surpassing
customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.