2017 Kia Sportage Named Kelly Blue Book "Best Buy Of The Year"

The Kia Sportage, Kia Motors America’s longest running nameplate, has been named Kelly Blue Book’s KBB.com Best Buy of the Year among small SUVs/crossovers. Following substantial yearlong data collection, which also included testing and evaluation, the Sportage was one of 12 winners out of the 300 total new-car models included in the process.

“The new-for-2017 Kia Sportage offers versatility, ease-of-use and laudable utility in a fun-to-drive package,” stated Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Its value-price and the length of comprehensiveness of its warranty were also keys to its 2017 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award win in the red-hot Small SUV/Crossover category.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage was designed with flexibility in mind- with tons of safety features, innovative packaging, a turbocharged engine and a completely driver-friendly interior.

“The all-new 2017 Sportage has improved in all the right areas, from its expressive styling and functional interior to its refined performance,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “To be recognized by the experts at Kelley Blue Book as a Best Buy among some of the toughest competition demonstrates the all-new Sportage is a breed apart from the CUV segment.”

The 2017 Kia Sportage has also been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

These awards speak volumes and you can’t deny that you want to check out the 2017 Sportage for yourself… Visit us at Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis, MO- we’d love to help you find your next car!

KIA Optima, Sedona Named to Top Family Vehicle List by KBB

Jim Butler KIA vehicles assert value and family functionality with latest Kelley Blue Book awards

Two KIA models available at Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley earned spots on Kelley Blue Book’s (KBB) 16 Best Family Cars for 2016 list. For the family of any size, from newly married couples to ones with newborns to the experienced families, Jim Butler KIA has the 2016 Optima and the 2016 Sedona, both KBB choices.

The Sedona is the KIA brand’s minivan, and the model garners attention wherever it goes. The outgoing model was named the ultimate minivan by MotorWeek and Cars.com, and the 2016 edition takes these attributes even further. KBB editors placed the Sedona on its list because of the van’s style, function, modern interior and overall value.

“Sedona was designed for today’s active lifestyles and families on the go with more power, a longer wheelbase for improved leg room and unique seating configurations combined with intuitive technology and safety,” Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for KIA Motors America (KMA), said.

Winning design and first-class comfort set the 2016 Sedonas at Jim Butler KIA apart from the rest of the minivans in St. Louis. Active and passive safety features, dual sunroofs, heated/ventilated seats and more technology than you could shake a smartphone at will make your choice of a KIA Sedona a smart one.

Optima a top choice for St. Louis family sedan

While minivans usually scream “family vehicle,” the sedans can still serve a family just as well. KBB was impressed with the Optima’s family-friendly style and bevy of features. Safety, convenience and spaciousness for passengers and child safety seats also weighed heavily in the 2016 Optima’s favor.

“The all-new 2016 Optima has matured in all the right ways, from the European sport-sedan design to the premium interior materials to its vastly improved ride and handling and advanced safety features,” Hedrick said.

Five trim choices and two turbo engines will have the Optima fitting whatever needs your family has. The new 2016 Optima at Jim Butler KIA dares you to break away from the cookie-cutter sedans you see at any other dealer. This award is the second in the past few months for the Optima which was also named to KBB’s Best Buy list last November.

“When looking at the car market through the family friendly lens, KIA vehicles deserve serious consideration,” Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KBB, said.

Come see for yourself why the Optima and Sedona are on everyone’s lists! To schedule a KIA test drive in St. Louis, contact Jim Butler KIA online today or give us a call at 636-256-9600!

Shop new Optimas 

Search new Sedonas

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.

Shop new 2016 Optimas today!

Kia Soul Named "2010 Top 10 Back to School Cars" list by Kelley Blue Book

Urban Passenger Vehicle Honored for its Affordability, Versatility, Reliability and Fun

• Funky hatchback is an eye-catching way to roll for students headed back to school
• Soul's value driven packaging makes it an attractive ride for students

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 9 -- The 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle was recently named to the "2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars" list for the second year in a row by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a leading provider of new car and used car information. The highly personalizable vehicle was praised for its modern styling, generous interior space and long-list of modern technology features.

"With its unique styling and personalization options and outstanding safety and reliability ratings, the Soul appeals to both younger buyers and their parents," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "The award-winning five-door urban passenger vehicle, along with the 2011 Sorento and Sportage, reflects Kia Motors' design-led transformation and continues to attract new buyers to Kia showrooms."

Compiled by editors at Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, all vehicles selected offer reliability, safety, affordability, practicality as well as the latest and greatest safety and technology advancements. Editors considered all new cars with a New Car Blue Book Value less than $18,000 and all used cars 2005 model year and newer with a Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value of less than $12,000.

A 2010 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Soul has a trophy case full of awards and accolades, including: "Best Family Cars for 2010" by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine, "Best Hatchback of 2010" by Cars.com, "2010 Top Cars for Families" by Motherproof.com, and 2010 "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Soul is available in four trims – Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport. Pricing for the versatile five-door begins under $14,000(1).

Soul stands out from the crowd with modern, unique styling aimed toward the young and young-at-heart and offers a distinctive combination of style, value and personalization options. An available Audio Upgrade Package includes speaker lights that can pulse to the beat of the music or add mood lighting to the interior cabin, enhancing the overall personal lounge feeling. The Soul+ offers funky black cloth seats with "glowing" Soul logo inserts while the Soul! trim comes with a distinctive sand-black interior with houndstooth-patterned inserts, and the Soul sport presents a bold red-black interior trim with red-trimmed cloth seats and metal-finish interior accents.

Kia Motors America in 2010

Kia Motors is in the midst of a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand's continued gains in U.S. market share. With three new vehicle introductions and several other key initiatives planned for 2010, Kia is poised to continue its momentum and build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and with new technology such as UVO powered by Microsoft®(2), an advanced hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system (expected to be available in select Kia models in the U.S. later this year).

For more information about the 2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com please visit http://kbb.us/back2school2010.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 700 dealers throughout the United States. For 2009, KMA recorded its 15th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

(1)Starting MSRP for base Soul excludes $695 destination and handling fee, and title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

(2)Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

[Source: Kia Motors America]