Kia America Earns 8 Honors in 2023 Newsweek Auto Awards

As the Thanksgiving table centerpieces are being prepared during the seasonal flurry of events, it’s a very special and activity-packed time of year for us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis! Just as the thrill and family fun of one holiday is over, the next one comes in rapid succession, and it’s a great time to know that you’ll arrive at these gatherings safely and efficiently courtesy of Kia. The holiday stars shone even brighter upon us this week, as Kia America earned 8 honors in the 2023 Newsweek Auto Awards.

The Kia Carnival took home “Best Minivan” for the lineup for the third year in a row, while the brand itself was recognized as the “most innovative vehicle brand.” The Kia Seltos took home “Best Small SUV”, while the Kia Sportage laid down a pre-turkey day’s claim to “Best two-row SUV.” The long-awaited Kia EV9 was rewarded with “Best Premium SUV”, along with “Best SUV Interior.” All these accolades firmly reinforce our ongoing commitment to master design excellence, while providing a diverse product lineup with something amazing for every driver.

The EV9 has eagerly delivered on so many very high-tech features, efficiently packaged into one downright amazing EV. With rich and appealing interior appointments, generous space for cargo, towing capability, excellent exterior design, and leading vehicle dynamics, the EV9 is guaranteed to keep things exciting during each day of ownership. Kia has gone from admittedly existing as a budget choice to a front-runner capable of competing fiercely with the best, and the EV9 has doubled down on a very determined plan to do everything with fantastic flair.

The EV9’s front end still boasts Kia’s signature “tiger nose” graphic, and a very clever optical feature that adds to a powerful sense of width. The interior feels quite modern and spacious, and all the necessary driving-related technology is smartly centered around the brand-new steering wheel design. Future Kia models are committed to cutting back on featuring leather, with natural oils in the seat foam, and recycled interior plastics from materials like the fishing nets that are rapidly polluting our seas. 

We are thrilled that these esteemed media outlets are recognizing our new take on what luxury means, and firmly non-traditional approach. These brand lineup awards were based on Newsweek Editor’s opinions after testing for style, comfort, materials quality, layout, and seamlessness of technology display. Front-running vehicles such as the 2023 Seltos also received a high amount of praise from Edmunds.com over the past quarter. This editing team deemed it fantastic for being “stylish, roomy, and available with plenty of the latest technology and safety features. 

The Sportage made quite a large splash with its crisp, aggressive styling that will likely dictate the look and feel of Kia’s coming future vehicles. a very intuitive infotainment system, a wide array of standard safety features, and a stellar warranty make it even more appealing. The Motor Trend auto review crew praised the 2023 Seltos for its spacious interior, impressive tech, and segment-leading hybrid model. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard on almost every trim, along with a great amount of efficiency with an engaging drive making for a sure-fire home run. 

We invite you to come check out any of these award-winning models this fall here at Jim Butler, where we are proud to host this fleet of earth-friendly and high-achieving vehicles of the future!

Kia EV9 To Debut This Month Offering Accessible SUV Identity, Sustainable Mobility

Official image releases always get us excited here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, and last week the Kia Corporation revealed images of the exterior and interior design of the brand new EV9. This vehicle’s visual presence draws inspiration from Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ Design Philosophy; blending aspects of nature and modernity harmoniously to create a striking vehicle. The EV9’s enjoyable driving experience will most definitely originate from segment-leading design, connectivity, and environmental consciousness. 

We know that our customers will especially appreciate the exterior design, which was designed with Kia’s “Bold for Nature” vision in mind. The front is characterized by familiar clear-cut lines and body surfaces, which promote a first impression of confidence and calm. The Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, along with unique vertical headlamps blend well together with Kia’s signature digital tiger grille face, adding to what is already a thrillingly futuristic look. In fact, the CarBuzz.com auto review staff praised the EV9 for having “nothing shy about it” as far as aggressive exterior style. They fondly claimed that if the “Kia Soul was a middle school student with a cool dad, the EV9 would be that dad”, and were also very impressed with the intricate front and rear lighting. 

Built on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform, the EV9 sports a long wheelbase, lower beltline and very flat electric vehicle build, which ultimately provides a segment-leading amount of space and comfort for all occupants. Those in the first and second row can recline and take a breather during charging, and the second-row seats can even turn around 180 degrees to chat with (or keep an eye on!) those in the third row. The various seating configurations in the EV9 will be able to accommodate six or seven occupants and will offer what we compare to “a lounge-like space” in every single row. 

The vibe inside the cabin is spacious and uncluttered to allow for the enjoyment of a very user-friendly design. Additionally, two 12.3-inch touchscreens enhance the digital experience inside the EV9, offering an easy way to control all of the vehicle’s functions without overwhelming you with too many buttons to choose from. This is going to be a great, practical vehicle for families who are looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle.

Another eye-catching and memorable element is the futuristic 21-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin tires, along with the added touch of slightly off-center Kia logos. The blacked-out A-pillars leave ample space for the passenger compartment, with official images depicting closed roof and dual sunroof -option models. It is suggested that base-level models will have rear-wheel drive, so they very likely will only possess a single electric motor.

Power outputs are expected to be around 200 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, which would be an ample amount for a vehicle that is generally geared towards families. Moving up from there, sources suggest that outputs could rise up to 400 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, which is where dual motors and all-wheel drive are expected. The 0-60 mph sprint here will drop from 8.5 to six seconds, and the highest-level trim could see a boost in torque from 380 to 480 lb-ft. 

The concept EV9 currently promises a range of around 300 miles, and the option to have charging speeds of up to 350 kW. Leaving the “overnight game” completely out of the picture, this charging option will take just 18 minutes to get the battery from 10-80%.

Our team here at Jim Butler Kia can’t wait for the official release of the all-new Kia EV9! In the meantime, we will keep you apprised of any updates we come across. Stay tuned!

Kia Telluride Speaks Ranks Tops for Daily Usability After Claim To “Best 3-Row SUV For Families”

For the second year in a row, the Kia Telluride was named “Best 3-Row SUV For Families” by U.S. News and World Report! Using criteria such as automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, and keeping occupants entertained and connected, vehicles with the highest composite score in their class claimed the title of Best Car for Families for their specific category. For all of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, this just solidifies the Telluride's status as one of the best SUVs on the market.

Another area where all of these front-running winners needed to excel was family-friendly technology offerings. Providing features such as teen driver controls, automatic braking, surround-view parking camera systems and hands-free cargo doors helped Telluride outrank the stiff competition. Customers that are looking for the vehicle to make their daily lives easier thrive on technology offerings that do the busy work for you, making features such as front automatic braking a hard-earned plus. Tri-zone climate control is a massive benefit during trips of any length, and teen driver features are the all-inclusive way to monitor exactly what the newest drivers in your family are doing and when.

An immaculately comfortable ride, well-shaped seats that offer premium comfort during the entire trip, and a spacious interior for large families on the move are traits that the Telluride has impressed all of us with since its debut. During Edmunds.com's thorough 20,000-mile test of the Telluride, they deemed it luxurious while practical enough to make the move away from prestigious numbers such as Land Rovers to arrive back down to Earth in a sensible family-oriented choice.

After driving the Telluride for just three weeks, this testing team claimed that they would immediately allow it to take the spot of their previous personal favorite. At a lanky 6'1”, one auto reviewer claimed that he had absolutely no trouble with stretching out behind the front row and that he was firmly supported no matter the position. Going as far as to state that there is “no other mainstream three-row crossover that pulls this off like Kia”, the ability to combat many types of fatigue during the trip is right at your fingertips.

The Telluride's interior provides a lighter visual essence that offers a great deal of contrast as well as open space. There's a convenient button right on top of the second-row seats that allow the seat-back to fold and the entire seat then slides forward for easy access. A scenic and adventuresome drive through Yosemite Valley offered this particular crew an excellent chance to enjoy the sunroof, allowing them to see pristine sights they may have otherwise missed. This is a cabin that is exceptionally quiet even at freeway speeds, and the seats provide the best in comfort when the miles really begin to roll repetitively by!

Kia K900, Souls Offer St. Louis Families Best-in-Segment Awards

Each Kia vehicle wins top honors in respective segments

As St. Louis families search for a new family vehicle, Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis has award-winning hatchbacks and luxury large cars perfect for what fits their needs. Jim Butler Kia is St. Louis’ exclusive K900 sedan dealer, and the Kia Soul is an outside-the-box hatchback that makes for a great family vehicle.

U.S. News & World Report (UNWR) ranked its best family cars for 2015 across nine segments (SUVs and minivans each had their own segments as well). Kia’s top honors were the hatchback and luxury large cars with the Soul and K900 winning their respective categories.

Kia Soul: Personality and Practicality

In UNWR’s overall review of the 2015 Kia Soul, it ranks in the Top 10 of each in affordable small cars, affordable compact cars and hatchbacks. The Soul beat out other finalists for best family hatchback such as the Ford C-Max Hybrid and the Mazda Mazda3.

“The 2015 Kia Soul impresses reviewers with upscale cabin materials and an abundance of standard and optional features,” UNWR said.

Other facets of the ’15 Soul impressing judges were the spacious rear and front seats, competitive cargo space for the segment and the standard Bluetooth. More features standing out to the judges included the optional UVO infotainment system, rearview camera and panoramic sunroof.

The Kia Soul hatchback comes in three trim levels — base, Plus and Exclaim. The base trim is powered by a 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, while the Plus and Exclaim have the 2.0-L I4. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, and the six-speed automatic is optional.

“The Soul has an excellent combination of space, safety and reliability ratings, as well as available family-friendly features. Those factors combined make it our 2015 Best Hatchback for Families,” UNWR said.

Kia K900: Flagship Luxury Sedan without the Luxury Price Tag

Your exclusive St. Louis K900 dealer is Jim Butler Kia, and St. Louis families looking for a luxury family sedan can check out the 2015 K900, winner of UNWR’s 2015 best large luxury car for families.

The K900 continues to hold its own as a rear-wheel drive luxury five-seat sedan as it topped the Audi A7 and Cadillac XTS in UNWR’s rankings. While some luxury car aficionados might hesitate at a Kia badge on a luxury sedan, the K900 causes them to double-take with its amenities and price tag.

Comfortable and supportive seats, spacious trunk, beautiful interior design, UVO infotainment system, a long list of standard and optional features — all those characteristics families would expect to see on an Audi or Cadillac, Kia delivers at a fraction of the cost.

The 2015 K900 is powered by either a 3.6-L V6 or a 5.0-L V8 mated with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

“...the 2015 K900 delivers a smooth ride, a powerful V8 and lots of features at a good price,” UNWR said. “It has the best combination of interior space, safety and reliability ratings and available family-friendly features in its class, making it our 2015 Best Luxury Large Car for Families.”

To learn more about the 2015 Soul or K900, call us today at 888-392-6606. As your St. Louis Kia dealer, we invite you to check out  the award-winning K900 and Soul 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 Soul and K900 purchases 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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