Record Year End for KIA Motors

KIA Motors finished the year strong, with more 2016 awards for their reliability and quality than ever! KIA Motors also increased their sales by 3.5 percent over 2015, further demonstrating that KIA’s are quickly becoming the “hot” new cars on the road.

“From J.D. Power and Consumer Reports to many other respected third-party experts, KIA has never been more highly rated for quality and dependability, and customers flocked to our showrooms in December and throughout 2016 to experience all that the ‘New KIA’ offers,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “No auto brand has experienced greater growth in the U.S. over the last 20-plus years, and Kia will be on the offensive once again in 2017 with several new products in the pipeline that will continue challenging everything people think they know about this brand.”

KIA’s record-breaking year included several standout performances, including:

• Four nameplates – Soul, Optima, Sorento and Forte – surpassing the 100,000-unit mark for the first time in company history
• The iconic Soul urban passenger vehicle earning the title of best-selling Kia in the U.S.
• Best-ever annual sales for the Sportage compact CUV and Forte family of compact cars, up more than 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively, over 2015
• Double-digit year-over-year increases for Rio and Sedona

To check out any of these award-winning vehicles for yourself, visit us at Jim Butler KIA located in Chesterfield, MO!

Source: KIA Media

Kia Motors America Impresses With August Sales

Yesterday, Kia Motors America announced their August sales performance and it did not disappoint. Led by the Soul and Optima, the company sold a total of 54,248 units. Additionally, the Sedona experienced doubled sales when compared to the same period last year and the Forte family reached their best August sales yet.

Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA stated, “Despite the signs that the industry-wide sales may have peaked in 2015, Kia is up nearly four percent through August on the the strength of double digit year-over-year increases for Rio, Forte, Sportage and Sedona.”

The year-to-date sales is up 3.8% for Kia Motors, which also happens to be the highest scoring nameplate in the industry, according to J.D. Power. To get in the Kia action yourself, be sure to stop by Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO to check out the 2016 and 2017 Kia vehicle lineup!
 

Kia Offers UVO Upgrade To Late Model Year Vehicles

Kia Motors America is driven to provide customer satisfaction and they surely don’t fall short. The company recently announced they will be enabling owners of late model year vehicles- equipped with the UVO platform- to upgrade to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Eligible owners of these certain vehicles will have access to this free software update at the end of this month at www.myuvo.com. These vehicles include:

• Kia Forte (MY17)
• Kia Soul (MY14-16)
• Kia Soul EV (MY15-16)
• Kia Optima (MY15-16) 
• Kia Optima Hybrid (MY15-16)
• Kia Sedona (MY15-16)
• Kia Sorento (MY16)
• Kia Sportage (MY17)

Through Apple CarPlay, users have the ability to access the iPhone interface through the UVO infotainment system. Drivers can make phone calls, send and receive texts, utilize Siri voice control and get directions all while staying focused on the road. Similarly, Android Auto connects the user’s device- providing access to apps such as voice-guided Google Maps navigation, hands-free phone calls and text messaging, voice recognition and Google Play Music.

Managing Director Connected & Mobility Services, KMA, Henry Bzeih stated “With the advanced growth of telematics and infotainment systems, Kia is excited to offer to more of our customers the opportunity to have the latest software update for their vehicle free of charge via myuvo.com. Providing CarPlay and Android Auto to a greater number of vehicles in our lineup will revitalize our current owners’ systems with an additional element of convenience while maximizing the benefits of connectivity.”

As mentioned earlier, Kia Motors America is focused on customer satisfaction, just as Kia drivers should be focused on the road. This update ensures that. Call Jim Butler Kia if you have any questions and don’t hesitate to stop in to check out our lineup!

2016 KIA Optima and Soul Drive Away with Two Great Awards

Both the 2016 KIA Optima midsize sedan and the the 2016 Soul hatchback have been named among the 10 Best Family Cars of 2016 by Parents magazine and Edmunds.com. KIA Motors America is one of just two brands that had two vehicles make the prestigious list.

Parents magazine and Edmunds.com create this annual list after evaluating a variety of factors, which include the quality of the ride, comfort and capacity, fuel efficiency, price and value, safety, and reliability. The Optima and Soul were designed with these qualities in mind, with the Optima earning the title of “Best Sedan” and the Soul being recognized as “Best Budget Vehicle”.

Dana Points, editor-in-chief of Parents magazine stated, “The Soul is a great starter model for young families, with surprising room at a base price of $15,900. Additionally, the redesigned Optima sedan is striking inside and out, with advanced technology, a smooth ride and better fuel economy than the previous car.” 

Customers at Jim Butler KIA enjoy the fuel economy of the Soul and its utility. As for the 2016 Optima, St. Louis drivers appreciate its spacious interior and available technology, in addition to its great safety features. 

Check out and test drive both of these awesome vehicles at Jim Butler KIA in St. Louis, MO! 

Source: KIA Media 

The 2016 KIA Optima Wins Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick Plus Award

The 2016 KIA Optima earned the most distinguished safety award from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Top Safety Pick Plus award has been revised and is more rigorous from the previous years. Each vehicle must earn “good” ratings in the five crashworthiness tests, “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention in order to qualify for the award, and have driver assistance technologies to aid in crash prevention.

The 2016 Optima features a wide range of safety features including:

• Rear-camera display
• 360-degree Surround-View Monitor (SX and SXL Trims Only)
• Advanced Smart Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning System
• Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Front Collison Warning System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Rear Parking Assist

The all-new Kia Optima has significantly improved because of its extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel and with 51-percent of the body-in-white consisting of Advanced High Strength Steel that has improved by 39-percent. Furthermore, the Optima has more than a football field’s length of structural adhesives.

The all-new 2016 Kia Optima features an athletic identity but rides on a longer and wider chasis. It comes in three engine choices. The newest engine has a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. The all-new KIA is roomier and has a luxurious cabin that comes standard on five trims (LX, LX 1.6T, EX, SX, and SXL).

The 2016 Kia Optima earns the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Pick+ Award

The newly redesigned 2016 Kia Optima was awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Pick+.  To earn this award, the 2016 Optima had to be rated as ‘good’ in all tests, including the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint test. The Optima also had to earn an advanced or superior for the front crash protection system test. Not only did the Optima pass but it was able to avoid collision at both 12 mph and 25 mph.

Jim Butler Kia is excited to have such a safe, affordable, and fun car on its lot. It has made an excellent addition to the fleet and will continue to be a customer favorite.

The Little Engine That Can: 2016 Optima’s New 1.6-L Powertrain Offers Economy for Gas Tank, Wallet

With the full release of the 2016 Optima, KIA dealers near St. Louis such as Jim Butler KIA have the new Optima in-stock. Two of the engines carried over from the previous 2015 Optima: the base 2.4-liter and the top-of-the-line 2.0-L turbocharged four-cylinder. However, KIA added a third engine option for the new 2016 models. We’d like to introduce you to the 1.6-liter turbo engine: the little engine that could — and can.

What can this new engine do for your 2016 Optima? Other than the obvious “power the vehicle,” this 1.6-L turbo engine actually outputs more torque than the base 2.4-liter (195 lb.-ft. versus 178). Found on the LX 1.6T trim, this engine is nearly 200 pounds lighter than the engine found in the Ford Fusion 1.5-L EcoBoost. Fuel economy is improved because of this.

EPA ratings for the 2016 KIA Optima LX 1.6T are at the top of its class. The agency ranks the engine at 28 mpg city and up to 39 mpg on the highway, which makes the new Optimas at Jim Butler KIA a great choice for daily commuters in St. Louis. The transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic sets it apart from the onslaught of CVTs in its segment.

The cabin is more driver-oriented than ever. The smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel is always a nice touch, and options such as navigation, blind-spot warning system and cross-traffic alert for the rear make the Optima T1.6 quite competitive to other efficient-engine models.

If you’re in the market for a cost-effective yet still powerful sedan in St. Louis, we’ve got your next vehicle from The KIA Butler! We invite you to come check out our selection on new 2016 KIA Optimas near St. Louis at our Chesterfield Valley KIA dealer. To learn more, give us a call at 636-256-9600 or contact us online 24/7!

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2016 KIA Optima ‘Shines’ in Competitive Midsize Sedan Segment

Coming off a KBB Best Buy Award, the 2016 KIA Optima at Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley still continues to earn the compliments and praise from the Kelley Blue Book writers and reviewers. In KBB’s latest Quick Take on the 2016 KIA Optima SX, Keith Buglewicz examined the midsize sedan and saw that it was, in fact, worthy of its “upset victory” in the KBB Best Buy Awards.

“The impressively well-rounded new Optima boasts the style, features, and driving experience you'd expect from a class-leading midsize sedan,” Buglewicz said.

The KIA Optima beat perennial favorites such as the Honda Civic and up-and-comers such as the Mazda 6. It was that well-roundedness that propelled the KIA Optima to the top of the charts. With its new turbo engine, the performance has been upped. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine pumps out up to 245 horsepower to give some oomph into your daily drive.

Speaking of which, the day-to-day drive is where KBB said the KIA Optima shines. Buglewicz called the 2016 Optima’s dash logically designed which should be easy to operate in the driver’s seat described as “ergonomic perfection.” Rear seating is roomy and comfortable, making the 2016 Optima look better and better as an option for a family sedan.

When one thinks of popular midsize sedans, the KIA Optima may not always be at the top of the list. But as a Best Buy Award Winner in one of the most competitive segments in the U.S., perhaps it’s time to see what all the accolades are about. Come check out a KIA Optima for yourself at Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley! To schedule a KIA test drive near St. Louis or to learn more about the 2016 KIA Optima, contact Jim Butler KIA online or give us a call at 636-256-9600.

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2016 Optima and 2016 Sorento Win International Car of the Year Awards

Globally-recognized award winners are in-stock and for sale near St. Louis at Jim Butler KIA

As KIA vehicles at Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley continue to win awards, the global recognition for the brand’s most popular models keeps trending upward as well. The 2016 KIA Sorento and the new 2016 KIA Optima were both honored with Road & Travel Magazine’s (RTM) International Awards.

The 2016 Optima was named RTM’s International Car of the Year (ICOTY). The ICOTY panel consists of automotive journalists from such publications as Consumer Guide, MSN and RTM. The last victory for the Optima as an ICOTY was in 2013.

The judges at RTM were impressed with the 2016 KIA Optima’s long list of standard and available features. The engine options in the 2016 Optima also wowed those at RTM as the previous generation’s 2.4-liter and turbo 2.0-L engine return along with the addition of a new 1.6-liter turbo engine. RTM made mention of the 2016 Optima’s value as well, something those in St. Louis looking for a new sedan will appreciate.

It wasn’t just the Optima that got on the good side of the ICOTY jurors. The 2016 Sorento, already an award-winner in its own right, won the International SUV of the Year Award. The available all-wheel drive capabilities combined with the premium cabin quality and protective safety features made the Sorento a shoe-in for the award.

The Sorento and Optima marked the fourth consecutive year that KIA won an ICOTY award for the brand. Previous winners also include the K900 and Cadenza. Courtney Caldwell, RTM’s editor-in-chief, said KIA is an industry success story that always wows the staff.

“We’ve never had one brand win this award four years in a row, but KIA has done it,” Caldwell said. “It goes to show just how exceptional the new KIA models are, providing clear direction of where the KIA brand is headed. We are near speechless at the level of progress the Kia brand has made in spite of the stiff competition.”

See why the judges were speechless with a test-drive of a new 2016 Optima or Sorento. At Jim Butler KIA, we know KIAs, and we’re ready to help you every step of the way in your KIA purchase journey. Call us today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online!

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All-new 2016 Optima Garners KBB Best Buy Award

Popular KIA model takes top prize in midsize car category for driving dynamics, value

The 2016 KIA Optima has already started showing trends of being the best in its class with the latest award. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) awarded KIA’s popular nameplate with a 2016 Best Buy Award in the midsize car segment. After narrowing down the field to 49 finalists overall, KBB decided on 12 of what they consider the best 2016 model year vehicles, and the 2016 Optima at Jim Butler KIA made the elite list.

The maturity and ever-evolving refinement of the Optima were just some of the factors that helped set it apart from the competition according to Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning at KIA Motors America.

“To be recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book as a Best Buy among some of the toughest competition in the industry is a true honor and strong indication that the all-new Optima is poised to continue its sales success and the ongoing elevation of the KIA brand,” Hedrick said.

KBB knew that the midsize car segment is quite possibly the most competitive and packed in the United States, and this made the victory that much more impressive for the 2016 Optima. The design, features, value and driving dynamics all worked together beautifully to propel the Optima to the No. 1 slot in its category.

“No single attribute set the Optima apart; instead it was the all-new Optima’s combination of high-value elements that prompted us to bestow on it our prestigious Best Buy Award,” Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KBB.com, said.

The mindset of not only topping the outgoing models but also its segment rivals is clearly seen inside and out for the 2016 KIA Optima. Inside, the cabin is roomy, ergonomic and comfortable. The knobs and switches are all laid out in a convenient fashion, and the trunk space rivals that of a full-size sedan.

Under the hood, new Optima owners have a choice of three engine choices. The 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine comes standard on the entry-level LX and EX trims, while the all-new 1.6-L turbocharged engine is exclusive to the LX 1.6T trim. For more pep in your step, the fun 2.0-L turbo engine powers along the SX and SX Limited options.

The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on new KIAs gives new Optima owners in St. Louis confidence. If you’re looking for an award-winning sedan with the style and economy to boot, you can shop our selection of new 2016 KIA Optimas right now!

To learn more about the next-generation Optima or to schedule a test drive of a KIA Optima near St. Louis, call Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield at 636-256-9600 or contact us online!

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2016 KIA Optima Updates Include More Luxurious Cabin, New Engine Choice

Sporty performance sedan looks to build momentum as KIA’s No. 1-selling nameplate

The KIA Optima has been not only KIA’s best-selling model but also one of the most popular cars in America. However, KIA found a way to improve the sedan for the 2016 model year. Under the care of KIA president and chief design officer Peter Schreyer, the Optima built on its modern design cues and athletic identity.

On the exterior, the 2016 Optima is longer, taller and wider. These changes translate into a roomier cabin and more cargo space in the trunk. On SX and SXL trims, the iconic tiger nose grille design resembles the luxury K900. Three new design choices for the 18-inch wheels vary on the trim level, and three new exterior colors are available — a vibrant blue, dynamic grey and deep red.

New turbo engine choice and transmission

Three new engine choices for 2016 strike a balance between efficiency and sportiness. The 2.4-liter engine and the 2.0-L turbo engine will still sit happily under the hoods of 2016 Optimas, but a newcomer will now be available. A 1.6-L I4 turbo powerplant will be offered on the LX trim for 2016. Drivers can get up to 195 lb.-ft. of torque, and this turbo offering is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a first for KIA.

Interior craftsmanship

A larger cabin with class-up touches defines the interior. KIA’s premium models such as the K900 and Cadenza played a role in the design of the 2016 Optima’s interior as more soft touch materials are seen throughout. More hand stitching, metallic accents and a more unified design showcase the care and attention for the KIA Optima by its builders and designers.

The interior design team also paid particular attention to seat comfort.  A stiffer seat frame reduces vibration and soft foam in the headrest and upper back, and denser, more supportive foam in thigh-support areas allows occupants to nestle into seats with deeper side bolsters.

Convenience and technology both see an upgrade for the new model year. The UVO infotainment system comes standard, and the 2016 Optima will have available Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on models later in the release, a first for KIA. A back-up camera is available for every Optima trim level along with helpful driver-aid technology. This driver-aid technology includes blind spot detection, lane departure warning system and more.

The Optima is set for another great year satisfying owners new and loyal with its engine offerings, refined cabin and overall superb feel. Check Jim Butler KIA’s inventory for the latest and greatest KIAs in Chesterfield Valley!

To learn more about the KIA Optima or to schedule a test drive, call Jim Butler KIA today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online. As your St. Louis KIA dealer, we invite you to check out our new Optimas in-person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler KIA, you can make your new vehicle purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, MO, and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights KIA dealer.

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Photos, Early Info on 2016 KIA Optima Released Before NY International Auto Show

KIA’s No. 1 best-selling mid-size sedan will see some changes in 2016 as the newest edition of the Optima is set to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).

On April 1 at 12:20 p.m. CST, the world will get its first in-person look at the popular sedan. Some early design renderings and a front fascia shot of the Optima have been release by Kia Motors America (KMA).

The concept-type design rendering looks much like the Sportspace concept Kia unveiled earlier this year, and some speculate that could be what the next generation Optima looks like. However, for 2016 there are some differences from the ’15 model on the outside.

New exterior features include a new grille trim, a new angle for the headlights and sporty flares on the fascia. The interior sees an upgrade with more premium features, more space and a number of technologies not previously offered on the sedan.

The Optima has done its fair share of growing Kia over the past 20 years. The Optima has been Kia’s best-selling vehicle for the last three consecutive years. Less than a week awaits the 2016 debut of the passionately crafted Optima.

No sale date has been released yet, but you can be sure when the newest Optimas hit the streets, you can get yours at Jim Butler Kia of Chesterfield Valley, your St. Louis Kia dealer! Our wide selection of new Kias and our expertise will give you the Kia buying experience you’ve been searching for!

To learn more about the Optima, call us today at 888-392-6606. As your St. Louis Kia dealer, we invite you to check out the Optima in person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler Kia, you can make your Optima purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, Mo., and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights Kia dealer.

Head on over to our Optima inventory!