And the "International Car of the Year" Award goes To! | Mark Kia Scottsdale

The All-New 2016 KIA Sorento and Optima

Kia Brand Wins Road & Travel Magazine’s International Car of the Year (ICOTY) Awards for Fourth Consecutive Year

• Optima claims the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) award for second time in four years
• Sorento wins International SUV of the year award for the first time

IRVINE, Calif., November 18, 2015 – In conjunction with the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Road & Travel Magazine (RTM) has named the 2016 Kia Optima as its International Car of the Year. RTM jurors praised the all-new edition of Kia’s perennial best-seller for its aggressive design, long list of available features, impressive powertrain options and great value. RTM also named the 2016 Sorento its International SUV of the Year. The Sorento garnered acclaim for its combination of premium interior amenities, extensive safety features and all-wheel drive capability. Together, the awards propelled Kia to an extraordinary fourth consecutive win of the prestigious ICOTY brand award. The ICOTY jurors honored Kia’s K900 luxury sedan in 2015, the Cadenza premium sedan in 2014, and the previous-generation Optima in 2013.

“The Optima and Sorento are two of Kia’s best-selling vehicles and both were instrumental in the transformation of the brand,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “To win the prestigious ICOTY award four years in a row, with two models winning their categories this year, is a clear indication that our products continue to offer a world-class balance of design, amenities, craftsmanship, safety and value for today’s savvy consumers.”

2015 marks the 20th anniversary for RTM’s annual “Of the Year” judging, which includes three awards: International Car, International SUV, and International Family Vehicle of the Year. In addition to product attributes such as style, comfort and performance, award criteria also factor in how well each brand connects emotionally with consumers through its marketing efforts. The winner is chosen by the ICOTY jury, which consists of nationally renowned automotive journalists from respected publications such as Consumer Guide® Automotive, MSN Autos, New Car News Syndicate and RTM.

“We’ve never had one brand win this award four years in a row, but Kia has done it. It goes to show just how exceptional the new Kia models are, providing clear direction of where the Kia brand is headed,” said Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine. “We are near speechless at the level of progress the Kia brand has made in spite of the stiff competition. It is without a doubt the brand that gets the most ‘wows’ from our staff and is truly an industry success story that we can relate to in many ways.”

Find your very own 2016 Kia Optima or 2016 Kia Sorento at Mark Kia in Scottsdale, AZ also serving the Tempe, AZ & Mesa, AZ areas. To get a test drive arranged, give us a call, send us an email, visit us on Facebook, or just walk in!

2016 Kia Sorento

Kia has made a habit out of surpassing expectations, and over-delivering has become tradition. Today, we look to the 2016 Sorento to continue this trend and add a few, pleasant surprises along the way.

A Refined Look

As you approach the 2016 Sorento, you notice the refreshing changes applied to its exterior. It’s similar in some ways, sure, but vastly different in others. Terms like "rugged" and “planted stance” may enter your mind, and they coordinate with Sorento’s capabilities. The redesign was no simple task for designers, but they delivered on all fronts. The clean profile is incredibly unique, enhanced with stronger shoulders and a long hood. A significantly longer wheelbase and increased width all contribute to your enjoyment of improved leg and head room. Newly-designed headlights are thoughts borrowed from the Kia Cross GT concept, bringing future aesthetics to the present. Below those are the lower intake and fog lamp pockets, creating a much sportier appearance. All these features are sitting atop four new alloy wheel designs, where you choose 17 to 19 inches depending on your wheel selection.

Step Your Style Up

If you stepped directly into the 2016 Kia Sorento from the 2015 iteration, the first thing you would notice is the overwhelming presence of luxury. You’re immediately surrounded by soft-touch materials and premium textures. Your eyes move toward the center console and instrument panel, which displays the most important information at-a-glance, in a clean and classy manner that’s unlike anything else in the CUV segment. The Sorento is a people-mover, and it guarantees comfort and pleasure in all aspects. Available heated and ventilated seats, heated rear seats, 14-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seats, driver’s seat thigh extension, a 4-way headrest with one-button adjustment, dual-zone climate control and Kia’s second-generation panoramic sunroof are a mere taste of the Sorento’s amenities.

Upgraded Tech

We mentioned the crystal-clear, 8-inch capacitive-touch color screen earlier, and it deserves much more than a mention. Available navigation keeps you on-track, and features SD card storage to handle all the data you can throw at it. It’s an updateable interface, and the USB 2.0 provides for high-speed updates to ensure you’re always running the most optimum programs. A 4.3-inch TFT color touch screen comes standard, and it comes with Bluetooth and voice-recognition capabilities. Other important information like weather, Pandora, Local Search by Google® are also available. You will never be without an answer in Sorento.

A Better Driving Experience

We discussed the visual changes to the 2016 Sorento, but they come with added bonuses. The enhanced structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the previous generation. Indeed, this is the most robust Sorento to date. Safety features have been upgraded to include seatbelt anchor pretensioners and six airbags. Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hill-start Assist Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and more are all available to contribute to your overall peace of mind. Three engine selection are available to you, as well as two-wheel or all-wheel drive options. Sorento can be truly yours.
It’s difficult to pin one reason down as to exactly what makes the 2016 Kia Sorento so special. This being the case, we encourage you to come visit Mark Kia to come see what it can do for you. Give us a call, reach out on Facebook or just walk in today!

2016 Kia Soul

Following an exciting 2015 release, the 2016 Kia Soul turns up the style dial and adds a plethora of convenience and safety features, all tightly bundled inside one of the most stylish bodies on the road. Let’s take a look at exactly what is making the Soul so much better for 2016.

A New Level of Customization

Yes, getting yourself from points A to B seamlessly is the need driving your purchase decision, and the Soul most certainly does that. The difference here, however, is that Soul will do it in an incredibly stylish manner. New to 2016 is the Designer Collection, bringing you the ability to dress up your Soul with a two-tone paint scheme and other unique elements. Additional rooftop color selections have arrived and allow wheels are now standard. Level up with the Designer Collection, which also brings 18-inch alloy wheels with black spokes and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob. In the mood for a dash of luxury? Opt for the option package which brings premium Nappa leather seating surfaces and door armrest accents.

A Smarter, Safer Soul

The state of technology changes at a rapid pace, and some cars companies find it difficult to keep up. That’s not the case for the 2016 Kia Soul. No, Sir. Not one bit. With the premium package, you’re getting Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems (LDWS). The camera-based LDWS helps monitor the Soul’s position and provides visual and auditory warnings to the driver when the vehicle drifts a little too close to the lane markers. Stay on-course with the navigation system, and treat your ears to the upgraded Infinity audio system.

That’s it, right?

Wrong. But don’t feel bad! Soul is the gift that keeps giving. Is it a little cold outside? Make it seem warmer by changing the string-LED surround mood lighting to a warm shade of red, and make it actually warm with heated seats for you AND your passengers. Little toasty out there? No worries, your seats are ventilated. To top it off, the driver’s seat is adjustable in 10 different ways.

Take soul for a spin!

We’ve got a Soul with your name on it at Mark Kia. To get a test drive arranged, give us a call, send us an email, visit us on Facebook, or just walk in!

Some Tips For Getting Your Teen's First Car

Make sure you're setting them up for safety right from the start.

1. Choose the Right Car

Let's face it, if you left the decision up to your teen, you would probably end up with either a huge SUV or a suped up sports car, neither of which is particularly safe for a young, new driver. However, there are plenty of options out there to make both you and your teen happy. And with the right research, you can find a car that is not only fun to drive, but also safe and reliable, too.

Choosing a midsize car is the best way to go, according to The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and the Insurance Information Institute. Depending on your budget, you can opt for either a new or used model - just make sure the car is in good condition with updated safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Also, you'll want to check out crash test and safety ratings before making your final purchase.

Fuel efficiency is another important factor to consider, especially in today's economy. Unless you're willing to cover the cost of filling your son or daughter's tank each week, buying your teen a gas guzzler is probably not a good idea.

2. Get the Best Auto Insurance Rate

The truth is that no matter what car you choose, insuring your teen driver will increase your auto insurance rates. But there are some things that you can do to make these costs as manageable as possible. In fact, another great reason to opt for safety first at the car dealership is that it can help keep your auto insurance premiums down. Because safer cars tend to have a lower accident risk, they are usually less expensive to insure.

Another way to get the best auto insurance rates possible is to scope out potential discounts. If your teen is a full-time student, for instance, he or she may be eligible for a good student discount. Researching your options beforehand will help you to make an informed decision when trying to find the right car for your teen.

3. Set Boundaries

Choosing a good car and purchasing the right auto insurance are only the first steps in keeping your teen safe on the road. Talking with your teen about safe driving and setting clear rules and guidelines are also important. To ensure that your teen stays safe behind the wheel, you can:

• Limit the number of passengers your teen can have in his or her car at any one time;
• Establish a "no cell phone" policy to ensure that your teen does not text or call while driving;
• Discuss what to do in cases of emergency, including accidents and adverse weather conditions.

Source: Allstate Insurance