Kia Moves Up to Third Among All Non-Premium Nameplates in J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution And Layout (APEAL) Study
Kia Motors has earned its most-ever J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) awards, with the Optima, Sorento, Sedona and Soul all garnering awards in their respective segments. The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction with their vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership.
The quadruple-award win has moved Kia to third in the industry among Non-Premium Nameplates, according to J.D. Power, propelling the brand up from seventh place in 2015.
“Customers want vehicles they’re proud to drive, and Kia earning four J.D. Power APEAL awards, a record for the brand, reflects our global focus of placing our customers first,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America.
The Optima performed a substantial 25 points above the average of its segment. The Sorento bested offerings from strong competition in the hotly contested midsize SUV segment. In the minivan category, the Sedona beat segment rivals, and 2016 marks the second consecutive year Kia’s highly regarded people mover scored an APEAL award. The Soul, a long-running favorite among consumers looking to stand out from the crowd, garnered its fourth APEAL award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), making it the vehicle with the most APEAL accolades in Kia’s lineup of award-winning vehicles.
2017 Kia Cadenza
The all-new 2017 Cadenza arrives to market with higher levels of luxury, technology and convenience than its predecessor, and it comes wrapped in a beautiful, bold design. The second-generation Cadenza boasts a stronger body structure and powertrain enhancements along with offering a more engaging driving experience than before.
Bolstering the new Cadenza are cutting-edge driver-assistance features such as Advanced Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Detection.
Thanks to the use of aluminum instead of steel in areas like the front steering knuckles, the overall chassis is lighter, while larger bushings on the front and rear subframes improve lateral stiffness and NVH characteristics. Further improving the ride are Amplitude Selective Damping (ASD) shock absorbers that maximize ride comfort without sacrificing stability, in addition to a Hydraulic Rebound Stopper (HRS) that works to provide a smoother ride over harsh or broken surfaces.
Under the hood is a revised version of Kia’s 3.3L V6 engine, which has been retuned for improved fuel economy, with 290 hp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. The newly developed eight-speed transmission is highly efficient, providing quick and crisp shifts for a more engaging driving experience through the available column-mounted paddles.
