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New Delhi, <keyword id="4151067" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kia-india" source="Orion">Kia India</keyword> on Tuesday unveiled the updated version of its mid-sized sports utility vehicle Seltos, as it aims to garner a 10 per cent market share in the domestic passenger vehicle (PV) segment. The automaker, which currently has a market share of around 7 per cent in the domestic market, also aims to double its existing sales network to 600 plus outlets from over 300. <br /><br />"Seltos is the product with which we entered India, and since then, the journey of Kia India and the Seltos has been almost identical. We have a segment disruptor and a segment winner in the new Seltos and are confident to take forward the strong legacy of the <keyword id="17897717" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="brand-seltos" source="Orion">Brand Seltos</keyword> to lead the premium RV market," Kia India Managing Director and CEO Tae-Jin Park said. <br /><br />This strategic launch is key to the company's ambitions of attaining a 10 per cent market share soon, he added. <br /><br />"We feel that there is a lot of growth potential in the mid-SUV segment, and the new Seltos will grow the premium end of it," Park noted. <br /><br />With the refreshed look, most powerful engine in the segment, and host of safety and smart features, the new Seltos inevitably will emerge as the most preferred drive for new-age customers, he added. <br /><br />Seltos brand currently contributes 55 per cent to Kia India's overall sales. <br /><br />It is one of the biggest brands for the Kia Corporation, with one out of every ten Kia cars sold globally being a Seltos.  <br /><br />The new Seltos comes with all-new interiors and various safety features, including level 2 advanced driver assistance systems. <br /><br />The model is powered by 1.5-litre petrol and diesel powertrains mated with manual and automatic transmissions. <br /><br />Kia will open the bookings for the model, which would be available in 18 trims, on July 14 and commence sales on July 25.

Kia eyes 10% market share in PV segment as it unveils updated Seltos

<ul><li>Kia is now India’s fifth largest car company. </li><li>In October alone, Kia sold 12,800 cars. </li><li><keyword id="7720018" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kia-seltos">Kia Seltos</keyword> and <keyword id="7205241" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="mg-hector">MG Hector</keyword> both were the only cars to have positive news while the country was in the middle of an auto slowdown.</li></ul>Kia Seltos and MG Hector could have chosen a better time to launch in India as auto sales have been dipping. Unexpectedly though neither of these international brands suffered from what is affecting top players in India. <br /><br />Amidst the melee, Kia emerged as one of India’s largest car companies. It grew so fast that it took up the fifth position in sales, beating Honda and Toyota. In October alone, Kia sold 12,800 cars, whereas its bookings raced past 50,000. <br /><br />Kia Seltos has also been nominated for the 2020 World Car of the year. On Dhanteras, an Indian festival, Kia delivered over 2100 cars.<br /><br />What worked in Kia’s favour, is that all three of its variants are BSVI compliant. Most other companies are still selling their BSIV models even as the Indian government set an April 2020 deadline to sell them. This is one of the many reasons for the auto slowdown.<br /><br />Meanwhile, MG Hector— India’s first internet car —launched in June. It got 10,000 bookings with a 4-month wait period. The carmaker had to stop taking bookings after the number hit 21,000 and later restarted. It also delivered 700 units of MG Hector on Dhanteras day. <br /><br />Both these cars are SUVs. While the price for Kia Seltos ranges between ₹9.6-16 lakhs, MG Hector ranges between ₹12-₹16.8 lakhs.<br />

Kia Seltos and MG Hector – the two cars that beat the slowdown blues

New Delhi, Automaker Kia India on Thursday said it will increase prices of Seltos and Carens by up to 2 per cent from October 1, according to a senior company official. However, the company will not hike the prices of its entry-level model Sonet. <br /><br />"We are looking to take about a 2 per cent price increase on Seltos and Carens from October 1," Kia India National Head (Sales and Marketing) Hardeep S Brar told PTI. <br /><br />The company had last hiked prices in April this year as it upgraded its portfolio to conform to Real Driving Emission (RDE) norms, he said. <br /><br />"While many of the companies have already taken the price increase post-April, we, however, did not take...besides the raw material prices are going up.. and we introduced the new Seltos and a lot of investment has gone into the product..so we think it is time that we take the price increase," Brar said. <br /><br />Kia India also sells an electric model EV6 in the country.

Kia India to hike Seltos, Carens prices by up to 2% from Oct

New Delhi, Dec 2 () Kia Motors India on Monday said it sold 14,005 units of Seltos SUV in November.
<p> With a 9 per cent increase from last month's sales, Seltos continues to be the bestselling SUV in the country for the second consecutive month, Kia Motors India said in a statement.
</p><p> The company said it has delivered more than 40,000 Seltos units to its customers since the launch in August 2019.
</p><p> It has already received 86,840 bookings till date, the company added.
</p><p> "The 100 day-journey of Kia Seltos has been nothing short of a delightful ride. This is a true testament to positive growth and the trust that the consumers have shown for us," Kia Motors India Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing Manohar Bhat said.
</p><p>The company said its Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) based plant is capable of producing 3 lakh units annually and second shift has been initiated in the facility.
</p><p> The automaker is  also in the process of expanding its network to more than 300 touch points till the end of March 2020, it added.
</p> "The company is closely observing the Indian market and has recognised areas like northeast, northern part of Telangana, Karnataka, western Rajasthan, etc. for the said expansion," Kia Motors India said.   MSS
MKJ

Kia Motors sells 14,005 Seltos units in November

<keyword id="19997865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kia" source="keywords">Kia</keyword> India on Friday said it is voluntarily recalling 4,358 units of a petrol variant of its mid-sized sports utility vehicle <keyword id="20037256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="seltos" source="keywords">Seltos</keyword> to replace the electronic oil pump controller. The company is recalling Smartstream G1.5 Petrol Seltos with IVT transmission, manufactured between February 28 and July 13, 2023, the South Korean automaker said in a statement. <br /><br /> The recall has been prompted by a potential error in the electronic oil pump controller, which may impact the performance of the electronic oil pump in the specified transmission variant, it added. <br /><br /> The company said it has informed the Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways (MoRTH) about the voluntary recall initiative. <br /><br /> Since the safety of car owners is a top priority, the company is proactively replacing the electronic oil pump controller in the affected units for a seamless ownership experience, the statement said. <br /><br /> The automaker will directly reach out to the owners of the vehicles concerned to update them about the voluntary recall. <br /><br /> Kia sells models, including Seltos, Sonet and Carens, in the Indian market.<br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-add-subscribers-as-vis-subscriber-base-continues-to-decline/articleshow/107934565.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-add-subscribers-as-vis-subscriber-base-continues-to-decline/articleshow/107934565.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel add subscribers as Vi’s subscriber base continues to decline</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-neo-9-pro-vs-oneplus-12r-which-mid-range-phone-should-you-buy/slidelist/107938249.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/iqoo-neo-9-pro-vs-oneplus-12r-which-mid-range-phone-should-you-buy/slidelist/107938249.cms" target="_blank">iQOO Neo 9 Pro vs OnePlus 12R – which mid-range phone should you buy?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/kawasaki-ninja-500-sports-bike-launched-in-india-at-5-24-lakh/slidelist/107916430.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/kawasaki-ninja-500-sports-bike-launched-in-india-at-5-24-lakh/slidelist/107916430.cms" target="_blank">Kawasaki Ninja 500 sports bike launched in India at ₹5.24 lakh</a></b>

Kia recalls 4,358 units of Seltos to replace electronic oil pump controller

New Delhi, Apr 1 () Kia Motors India on Wednesday said it has sold 8,583 units of in the domestic market in March.<p>The company sold 7,466 units of Seltos and 1,117 Carnival last month, Kia Motors said in a statement.</p>"While the company retained its position of being the number three car manufacturer in the country, Seltos became the highest selling SUV in India for the third time in a row," it added.  MSS  BALBALBAL

Kia Motors retails 8,583 units in March

Greater Noida, Feb 5 () South Korean auto maker Kia Motors on Wednesday launched its premium multi purpose vehicle Carnival, and showcased a new concept for a global SUV Sonet at the Auto Expo here.<p> Carnival is being launched in India in three different specifications at a starting price of Rs 24.95 lakh for its Premium variant (ex-showroom), Rs 28.95 lakh for its Prestige variant (ex-showroom), and Rs 33.95 lakh for its Limousine variant (ex-showroom).</p><p> Kia Sonet concept will be developed further ahead of a launch in the Indian market in the second half of 2020.</p><p> Kia Motors India said it had received more than 1,400 bookings for the new car on the first day of orders and has a total of more than 3,500 bookings received till date.</p><p> Kia had entered the Indian market with its SUV Seltos, which was displayed as SP Concept in the previous edition of the Auto Expo in 2018.</p><p> Commenting on the India journey, Kia Motors India MD and CEO Kookhyun Shim said: "We have sought to understand Indian customers' aspirations, and match them with best-in-class products and services."</p><p> He further said, "Our latest vehicle, Kia Carnival, is a clear example of this approach. Though it represents a leap up from the Seltos, into a premium, aspirational segment, it has been devised with the same passion."</p><p> Shim further said, "As the Indian market evolves, we will continue to offer customers here the best and most innovative products and services."</p><p> Kia Sonet concept is a compact SUV which will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki's Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Ford Ecosport.</p><p> Kia Motors said the vehicle will be launched in India in the second half of 2020.</p><p> Carnival, on the other hand, looks to enter a segment dominated by Toyota's Innova Crystal. It is powered by a 2.2-liter VGT BS6 diesel engine, paired with an eight-speed "Sportsmatic" transmission.</p> Kia is also showcasing its Seltos X-Line Concept, a bolder reinterpretation of the Seltos SUV along with Soul EV, Niro EV, compact SUV XCeed and compact utility vehicle Stonic.  RKL  ANSANS

Kia Motors launches premium MPV Carnival at Auto Expo

<keyword id="20034542" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kia-india" source="keywords">Kia India</keyword> on Tuesday said it has appointed <keyword id="20034541" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="gwanggu-lee" source="keywords">Gwanggu Lee</keyword> as the new Managing Director and CEO with immediate effect. Lee succeeds Tae Jin Park, who retires after a 36-year journey with <keyword id="19997865" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="kia" source="keywords">Kia</keyword> Corporation including a four year stint with Kia India, the automaker said in a statement. <br /><br /> Lee has held leadership positions in various capacities in both developed and developing economies, including roles in the US, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kia Headquarters in Central and South America, and Kia Europe Headquarters in Germany. <br /><br /> His recent role as President at Kia Mexico played a pivotal role in the company's substantial growth and establishment as a production and export hub, the company said. <br /><br /> With two segment-breaking updates -- the new Seltos and the new Sonet, and a host of more innovative products on the way, Kia India is surely on the right path to sustainable business growth, Lee stated. <br /><br /> "My vision is to unlock the next phase of growth through inspiring Kia brand experiences thereby creating more value and long-lasting impact for our customers, partners, and employees alike," he added. <br /><br /> Kia currently sells five models, including Seltos, Sonet and Carens, in the Indian market.<br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:</b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-creta-to-punch-ev-cars-hitting-indian-market-in-january-2024/slidelist/106479554.cms" target="_blank"></a><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/new-creta-to-punch-ev-cars-hitting-indian-market-in-january-2024/slidelist/106479554.cms" target="_blank">New Creta to Punch EV – Cars hitting Indian market in January 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-motors-hyundai-sales-rise-maruti-suzuki-reports-a-decline-in-december-2023/articleshow/106474205.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-motors-hyundai-sales-rise-maruti-suzuki-reports-a-decline-in-december-2023/articleshow/106474205.cms" target="_blank">Mixed December – While Tata Motors, Hyundai sales rise, Maruti Suzuki reports in the slow lane</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/iqoo-12-vs-oneplus-11-vs-samsung-galaxy-s23-the-battle-of-the-affordable-flagships/articleshow/106200031.cms">iQOO 12 vs OnePlus 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 – the battle of the affordable flagships</a></b><br />

Kia India names Gwanggu Lee as new MD, CEO

New Delhi, Jan 7 () Kia Motors India (KMI) on Tuesday said it has appointed Tae-Jin Park as Executive Director and Chief Sales Officer with immediate effect.
<p>Park, who replaces Yong S Kim, will be responsible for driving Kia Motors' sales, marketing, service and network development in the Indian market, the company said in a statement.
</p><p>Kim is moving back to Kia Motors Corporation headquarters in Seoul. He had played an instrumental role in establishing Kia in India, setting up its sales network and contributed to positioning the brand amongst the top five automobile manufacturers in just four months of operations, it added.
</p><p>Commenting on the appointment, Kia Motors India Managing Director &amp; CEO Kookhyun Shim said Park comes with immense knowledge of global markets and expertise in penetrating a new market.
</p><p>"We have witnessed a huge demand for Seltos in India and the love for brand Kia grows continuously. We are confident with Park's joining Kia will grow from strength to strength," he added.
</p><p>Shim further said, "With the launch of Carnival and our compact SUV lined up this year, I am sure he will help us propel forward the success of Seltos and find a place for Kia cars in many more households in India".
</p><p>KMI said Park brings over 30 years' experience in the automotive industry to his new role, having most recently served at the Kia Motor Corporation headquarters as the head of operations for the Middle East, Africa and Asia base in Seoul, South Korea.
</p>Prior to this, Park served as the Head of Sales, Kia Motors Mexico.  RKL  BAL

Kia Motors India appoints Tae-Jin Park as ED, Chief Sales Officer

<keyword id="19896016" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-delhi" source="keywords">New Delhi</keyword>, <keyword id="20034542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kia-india" source="keywords">Kia India</keyword> on Friday said it is planning to have around 700 sales and service touchpoints in 300 cities by the end of the year. The automaker, which sells models like <keyword id="20037256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="seltos" source="keywords">Seltos</keyword> and Sonet, has 522 such touchpoints across 236 cities. <br /><br /> The company said it is focussed on strengthening its presence in Tier-1 and Tier-2 markets, contributing 40 per cent to its total network strength. <br /><br /> <keyword id="19997865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kia" source="keywords">Kia</keyword> <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> is also focused on expanding its touchpoints in the Tier-4 and upcountry markets, it added. <br /><br /> "We have expanded our touchpoints network from 285 to 522 since starting our operations in India. As part of Kia's 2.0 strategy, we are aiming to close the year with over 700 touchpoints, thereby making Kia more accessible to our esteemed customers," Kia India National Head Sales &amp; Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar said. <br /><br /> The automaker is also committed to sustainability by introducing the green workshop concept and encouraging all its dealer partners to transition to eco-friendly workshops, he added. <br /><br /> Kia India also intends to increase its certified pre-owned network to 100 outlets by the end of 2024. It currently has 59 such outlets across the country.

Kia India looks to expand sales, service network to 700 touchpoints by year-end

Hyderabad, Jan 19 () South Korean automaker Kia Motors plans to keep rolling out new models at regular intervals in India as it aims to fully utilise its current installed production capacity of 3 lakh units by March 2022, a senior company official said.
<p> The company, which has got to a flying start in the country with its first product Seltos, aims to bring in two more models this year.
</p><p> It will drive in luxury multi purpose vehicle Carnival at Auto Expo, followed by a compact SUV later during the year.
</p><p> Similarly, the company would also look at bringing in two more products next year as well.
</p><p> "We have already stated that we will keep introducing a new model every six months. Our first goal right now is to fully exhaust the installed production capacity," Kia Motors India Head Marketing and Sales Manohar Bhat told  here.
</p><p> It should take around 4-5 models from the company's stables to achieve the target in 2022, he added.
</p><p> Kia Motors' manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh has an installed production capacity to roll out 3 lakh units per annum on a three shift basis.
</p><p> The company is currently running two shifts at the plant.
</p><p> Commenting on Carnival, which was showcased here, Bhat said the company would be creating a new segment with the model.
</p><p> "Carnival is going to be our flagship model in India. There is no product like it in the country right now. It would meet the evolving needs of elite customers in the country," Bhatt said.
</p><p> Carnival will be powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engine with a claimed fuel efficiency of 13.9 km per litre.
</p><p> "We will redefine the market place with this product as well as we did with Seltos. It will have BS-VI compliant engine right from the start," Bhat said.
</p><p> When asked to comment on sales expectations from the model, he added that the company is not looking at it from volume point of view, but wants to showcase its prowess in terms of quality and luxury.
</p><p> The compact SUV model, which would be showcased at the Auto Expo and launched later during the year, would be more of a volume cruncher for the company, he added.
</p><p> On sales network expansion, Bhat said the company is already present in 165 locations across the country with 200 dealerships.
</p> Kia is now trying to consolidate in regions where it currently lags in terms of presence, he added.  MSS  RVK

Kia Motors eyes full capacity utilisation in India with slew of new models

Automaker <keyword id="6372046" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kia" source="Orion">Kia</keyword> India on Thursday said its total wholesales increased 3 per cent to 24,770 units in May. The company undertook a plant maintenance shutdown from May 15-20. <br /><br /> It had dispatched 24,079 units to dealers in May 2022. <br /><br /> While the overall domestic sales stood at 18,766 units, exports accounted for 6,004 units in May 2023. <br /><br /> Sonet sales stood at 8,251 units last month, while <keyword id="7719901" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="seltos" source="Orion">Seltos</keyword> and <keyword id="12647263" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="carens" source="Orion">Carens</keyword> dispatches stood at 4,065 and 6,367 units, respectively. <br /><br /> The company also reported sales of 83 units of its electric offering EV6. <br /><br /> "Although we faced some production limitations due to our plant annual maintenance shutdown for a week in May which impacted our numbers, we are confident of strong performance in coming months," <keyword id="17580649" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="kia-india-national-head" source="Orion">Kia India National Head</keyword> (Sales &amp; Marketing) Hardeep Singh <keyword id="3972428" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="brar" source="Orion">Brar</keyword> said in a statement. <br /><br /> The company is witnessing a growing demand for the iMT range, he added. <br /><br /> "This month, iMT has contributed 38 per cent of our total sales," Brar said.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-announces-new-e-scooter-450s-with-3-kwh-battery-pack/articleshow/100675350.cms">Ather announces new e-scooter '450S' with 3 kWh battery pack</a><br /></strong><strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-manufacturing-sector-hits-31-month-high-growth-in-may/articleshow/100675339.cms">India's manufacturing sector hits 31-month high growth in May</a></strong>

Kia India sales up 3% in May at 24,770 units

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2020 Kona is <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword>'s compact SUV, slotting in between the subcompact Venue and the Tuscon in Hyundai's crossover and SUV lineup.</li><li>The Kona comes in five trims, with the 2021 model featuring a $20,400 base trim and a $28,050 top trim.</li><li>This 2020 review loaner had a Lime Twist exterior, a 175-horsepower turbocharged engine, and a $28,980 MSRP.</li></ul><p>The 2020 Hyundai Kona has a lot going on. Its busy front end challenges you to put the pieces together - the thin front lights that would look aggressive if they weren't so cutesy, the studded grille, the abundance of plastic cladding - while its orange and lime-green paint options remind you that, yes, there are more choices in this world than just white, silver, or black. </p><p>The quirkiness is surprising, given that the Kona is a response to Americans' current car craze: crossovers and SUVs, where carmakers can capitalize by simply producing vehicles with the necessary ride height and cargo room but without much personality. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2196" width="3992" msid="79708397" hostid="261"></div><p>Hyundai could have played it safe, but instead went for a slight departure from the norm - the very norm to which the Kona was introduced to cater. It's bold, and it kind of works. </p><h2><strong>The 2020 Hyundai Kona: Capitalizing on the crossover craze</strong></h2><p>Hyundai <a href="https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/2440">first introduced</a> the US-market Kona in late 2017, marketing it as a practical crossover that could be fun and quirky, complete with a lime-green show car and what it called an "urban smart armor" exterior. Whatever that means.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2301" width="3992" msid="79708400" hostid="261"></div><p>As buyers flock toward bigger vehicles in the name of safety and more space, the Kona fills an important niche for Hyundai. It slots in right above the subcompact Venue crossover, the smallest entry in Hyundai's lineup of crossovers and SUVs.</p><p>The move paid off. Even without name recognition, the Kona shot up Hyundai's sales charts. In 2019, Hyundai Motor America <a href="https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/2944">sold</a> more than 73,000 Konas - just 14,000 fewer models than its Sonata nameplate, which has been around for decades.</p><h2><strong>Details and safety ratings: Watch the headlights</strong></h2><p>The Kona has five trims, and for 2021, the base SE trim starts at $20,400 while the top Ultimate trim starts at $28,050. Front-wheel drive is standard on every trim and all-wheel drive is $1,400 extra.</p><div type="image" title="trim options 2021 hyundai kona" height="732" width="1450" msid="79708403" hostid="261"></div><p>This 2020 review loaner was a Kona Ultimate with a "Lime Twist" exterior and without the optional AWD, coming to $28,980 with fees. The only added feature, in fact, was carpet on the floor mats for an extra $135. Everything else was standard for the top trim. </p><p>Those standard features include, among other things: a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine making a claimed 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque; a seven-speed dual clutch transmission; 18-inch wheels; high-beam assist; rain-sensing windshield wipers; and safety features including forward-collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, automatic cruise control, and a parking warning while in reverse. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2682" width="4020" msid="79708410" hostid="261"></div><p>The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2020 Kona top <a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/hyundai/kona-4-door-suv/2020#headlights">crash ratings</a> in every category, but watch out for the headlights.</p><p>The most expensive two trims on the Kona, the Limited and Ultimate, have LED headlights with the IIHS' top ratings. The bottom three have halogen lights, which got the IIHS' bottom of four safety ratings. The halogen low beams, the IIHS said, provided inadequate visibility in all of its tests. </p><h2><strong>What stands out: Green on green on green</strong></h2><p>Listen. Your argument about buying only black, white, or gray cars because of the "resale value" is tired. It's boring. Do you want to be tired and boring? No, you don't. Neither does this Hyundai Kona, which is why it's green.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3992" width="2661" msid="79708412" hostid="261"></div><p>It's not a safe, muted forest green or a green that's trying to pass for black, either - it's bright, in your face, look at me green, more fit for a Lamborghini than any crossover kind of green.</p><p>Boring? Maybe you are, but this Kona's color isn't.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2651" width="2015" msid="79708414" hostid="261"></div><p>The green bleeds into the interior of the car, accenting everything from the seats to the dashboard. Hyundai's had some interesting takes on the Kona - including an "Iron Man Edition" that a local Hyundai salesperson tried to sell me, of all people, once - but the bright green one is a winner.</p><p>Along with the green, a tiny honeycomb pattern runs the length of the Kona's dashboard. The material looks neither expensive nor cheap, which is a good compromise in a $29,000 car that could have just slapped some bland plastic panels on there and called it a day. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2396" width="3992" msid="79708415" hostid="261"></div><p>Hyundai also carried this Kona's black interior onto its headliner, giving it a cohesive look on the inside. But that doesn't appear to be the case with every model from Hyundai's range-topping Ultimate trim, since <a href="https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=549953307&amp;zip=10001&amp;referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D10001%26city%3DNew%2BYork%26startYear%3D2020%26incremental%3Dall%26endYear%3D2020%26modelCodeList%3DHYUKONA%26makeCodeList%3DHYUND%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceASC%26location%3D%255Bobject%2BObject%255D%26state%3DNY%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Dinclude%26searchRadius%3D0%26trimCodeList%3DHYUKONA%257CUltimate%26isNewSearch%3Dfalse&amp;startYear=2020&amp;numRecords=25&amp;firstRecord=0&amp;endYear=2020&amp;modelCodeList=HYUKONA&amp;makeCodeList=HYUND&amp;searchRadius=0&amp;trimCodeList=HYUKONA%7CUltimate&amp;makeCode1=HYUND&amp;modelCode1=HYUKONA&amp;clickType=listing1=HYUND&amp;modelCode1=HYUKONA&amp;clickType=listing">some appear on Autotrader</a> with black interiors and stark, light-gray headliners. </p><p>Interior-matching headliners are always king.</p><div type="image" title="hyundai kona headliner" height="652" width="1956" msid="79708417" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kona emits a low, uncharacteristically aggressive snarl as it gets up to speed. Its pedals are sensitive - tap the gas just a bit and you're lurching out of your parking space; graze the brakes and prepare to get a gut check from your seat belt.</p><p>The steering is the opposite, numbly swaying from left to right as the car's turbo supplies a bit of boost to the engine without the characteristic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM7WTTeo_iE&amp;ab_channel=VisioRaceracer"><em>whoooosh</em></a> sound. Quieter cars are fancier, remember. </p><p>The Kona has a sport mode, which can be told apart from its normal drive mode by the usual characteristics: Sport mode makes the car feel and sound slightly more growly without transforming your little crossover into anything more than a little crossover. <em>Grr</em>, though!</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3988" width="2817" msid="79708418" hostid="261"></div><p>In the year 2020, it's also nice to come across a car whose interior isn't one large touchscreen from Hell. The Kona's infotainment screen is easy to navigate and allows the driver to use those all-familiar buttons, while also offering fun menu options like the one that shows how long you've spent idling versus driving on a trip. </p><p>If there's any existential wisdom I want out of life, it's how many years I've lost while sitting in traffic. For that, Hyundai, I thank you.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3111" width="5183" msid="79708422" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kona's telescoping steering wheel also provides a third dimension of adjustment, allowing a driver to not only move it up and down, but toward and away from them as well. And before you say, "That sounds very basic; doesn't every car do that?" you should go outside and check your own. Every car does not do that. </p><p>Every car doesn't come in an Iron Man theme either, I guess. </p><h2><strong>What falls short:</strong> Plastic, plastic, plastic</h2><p>The Kona, in this spec, is a $29,000 car. That's mild compared to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/average-prices-for-cars-increased-during-covid-19-over-demand-2020-8">average new-car price</a> of nearly $40,000, but it's still $30,000, and $30,000 should buy some less plasticky materials inside. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2431" width="3992" msid="79708426" hostid="261"></div><p>While the overall vibe of the interior - black with electric green accents - is charming, the details aren't. Cheap-looking materials line the infotainment screen, the shifter, the parking brake, the cup holders.</p><p>The door handles and steering wheel feature a nice, glossy piano black material, but that stuff only stays nice and glossy for about five minutes before grime piles on. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-seltos-review-2021-price-photos-suv-hyundai-reviews-specs-2020-5">Ask the 2021 Kia Seltos</a>. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2414" width="4006" msid="79708429" hostid="261"></div><p>There's also a catch with this lovely green: While it and an equally lovely orange were available on Konas in the past, neither option shows up in the build configurator for the 2021 car. A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed that they're not available for special order for 2021 or beyond, telling Business Insider that "trendy colors like that typically last a year or two." </p><p>If you want to go green, you have to go pre-2021.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2440" width="3994" msid="79708431" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kona has all of the wind noise and road feel of a car in its price range: there, but ignorable. But don't touch the navigation controls if the car is in drive: You can select from popular locations - gas stations, restaurants - but you can't manually enter addresses.</p><p>Hop in the back of the 2020 Kona and you'll notice a few things: The roof feels low because of its gradual slope; legroom isn't anything to brag about; and there are no vents to be seen. Zero. Not one.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2518" width="3989" msid="79708507" hostid="261"></div><p>Were people meant to sit back there during the summer or winter? Perhaps as a form of punishment. </p><h2><strong>How the Kona compares to its rivals: Close competition</strong></h2><p>Given that crossovers and SUVs are all that American buyers want right now, the categories are competitive. The Kona stacks up well against its competition, including the 2021 Kia Seltos, the 2020 Mazda CX-30, and the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek, and vice versa. </p><div type="image" title="2021 Kia Seltos 2020 Hyundai Kona 2020 Mazda CX-30 2019 Subaru Crosstrek" height="1150" width="1830" msid="79708510" hostid="261"></div><p>Since Hyundai and Kia are sister companies, the Seltos and Kona are sister vehicles. They also offer longer warranty periods than their competitors do, with five years or 60,000 miles on the countdown clock compared to the industry standard of three years or 36,000 miles. </p><p>And while the Seltos' all-wheel-drive $29,485 SX Turbo model was more enticing in both looks and use than the front-wheel-drive $28,980 Kona Ultimate <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-seltos-review-2021-price-photos-suv-hyundai-reviews-specs-2020-5">during our testing</a>, the Kona beats it in base price and headlight safety.</p><div type="image" title="kona, seltos, crosstrek, cx-30 updated with kona headlights" height="1300" width="1860" msid="79708513" hostid="261"></div><p>Buy the $20,300 base 2020 Kona, nothing added, and you'll come in about $1,700 under the $21,990 Seltos. It's not a lot in the scheme of a $20,000 car, but it's not nothing. </p><p>But the Seltos really loses out in its headlights, receiving the IIHS' lowest rating of "poor" across the board. The Kona might not have good headlights on every trim, but they are an option. </p><h2><strong>Our impressions: A quirky car in a conventional segment</strong></h2><p>The US circa 2020 will go down as a few things in automotive history: the time when people found out luxury EVs other than Teslas exist; when cars marketed for their "autonomy" weren't really autonomous; and when the age of the crossover really took hold. The Kona, like much of its competition, wants to take hold as well.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2537" width="3992" msid="79708519" hostid="261"></div><p>But unlike much of its competition, the Kona - at least in lime-green form - wants to remind you that being a crossover buyer doesn't mean assimilating with the masses of crossover buyers. Practicality doesn't mean you have to be a bore, the Kona says. You can buy your high-riding, cargo-carrying crossover, but you can give it lime-green interior accents too. What a concept. </p><p>The Kona is a commuter vehicle for folks who want to spend less than the average American does on a new car, whether it's for the $20,000 base trim or the $28,000 top trim. It's not the fanciest car on the road, nor is it even the fanciest looking among its competitors. </p><p>But it does have a personality, and sometimes that makes all the difference. </p><p style="text-align: center;">♦♦♦</p><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3456" width="5184" msid="79708525" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2444" width="3989" msid="79708529" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2580" width="3997" msid="79708537" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2567" width="3992" msid="79708543" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3079" width="5029" msid="79708547" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2336" width="3992" msid="79708552" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="3159" width="5123" msid="79708557" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2337" width="3983" msid="79708560" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2354" width="3992" msid="79708562" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Hyundai Kona AK edits" height="2327" width="4023" msid="79708565" hostid="261"></div>

REVIEW: The $29,000 Hyundai Kona crossover offers a quirky take on a conventional segment

New Delhi, Mar 2 () Kia Motors India on Monday said its wholesales in February stood at 15,644 units.<p> The company despatched 14,024 units of Seltos and 1,620 units of Carnival to dealers last month, Kia Motors India said in a statement.</p><p> The automaker said it has now become the third largest car manufacturer in the country.</p><p> "Our latest offering, the Carnival, has been received well and this has helped adding to our sales numbers," Kia Motors India Managing Director and CEO Kookhyun Shim said.</p><p> This not only testifies the quality, reliability and design prowess of Kia vehicles, but also gives a hint that India is evolving and Indian customers now don't just settle but opt for better product offerings, he added.</p> "With the upcoming new compact SUV, Sonet launch slated for the second half of the year, I am confident that we will continue to carry this momentum throughout this year," Shim said.  MSS ANUANU

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