Over the years, Kia has been recognized for its value, design, safety, and more. As a result, the brand is certainly no stranger to consistently winning awards. Here are some of the latest awards that our team at Gossett Kia South is especially excited about.

2022 Newsweek Autos Awards

The second annual Newsweek Autos Awards winners were selected, with three Kia vehicles being recognized by the organization. The 2022 Carnival was named the Best Minivan (for the second year in a row), the 2022 K5 was named the Best Family Car, and the 2022 Sportage was selected as an Editor's Pick - one of just five vehicles to be chosen as such.

When assessing the over 200 vehicles in contention, Newsweek editors looked at various factors to find the best of the best. The seven categories included: technology, handling and braking, performance, seating, interior appointments, pricing, and cargo area.

2022 Automotive News Notable Champions of Diversity Awards

Many companies put a strong focus on diversity and inclusion in recent years. Automotive News has praised 18 executives in the industry for their work demonstrating their commitment to these values within their organizations as well as in their communities.

Sophia Cavalli - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) & Social Responsibility Sr. Manager at Kia - was named a winner of a 2022 Notable Champions of Diversity award. Cavalli has been instrumental in the implementation of various initiatives within the organizations. One way the brand is giving back is through its expanded scholarship programs for students of color through the United Negro College Fund, American Indian Services, and more.

2022 Strategic Vision Total Quality Impact Awards

The Strategic Vision Total Quality Impact Awards are a bit different than most other awards from organizations. With these awards, the organization looks at standard areas like infotainment user-friendliness, seat comfort, and driver-assist tech. But it also considers the emotional impact that a vehicle has on an owner.

For 2022, four Kia models received top marks in the TQI report. The K5, Seltos, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, and Carnival were all praised by Strategic Vision in their respective categories of Mid-Size Car, Entry CUV, Alternative Power Train - Utility, and Minivan. The Kia K5, though, did exceptionally well, having received a higher TQI score than any other mass-market and luxury car in the report.

2022 J.D. Power U.S. Dependability Study

J.D. Power is one of the most recognizable and relied upon organizations for assessing a company's value. The 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Dependability Study ranked automotive brands from both mainstream and luxury segments to determine the best in various categories. After reviewing nearly 30,000 surveys covering 32 different nameplates, Kia was named the No. 1 mass-market brand in the Upper Midsize SUV category. 

This can be attributed to the redesigned Sorento, which is built at a state-of-the-art facility in West Point, Georgia. Compared to other models in the study, the Sorento had the fewest number of problems experienced by owners during a 12-month period. This included issues relating to component replacements, software updates, deterioration, and overall vehicle appeal.

2022 IIHS Top Safety Picks 

Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests vehicles from all automotive brands to see which are the safest. These six crashworthiness tests include: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, original side, roof strength, moderate overlap front, and head restraints. After the assessments, the IIHS will give certain vehicles its top rankings of Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ (Plus). 

For 2022, a total of eight Kia models were given awards by the IIHS. Six Kia vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick award: Carnival (built after March 2021), Seltos, Sorento, Soul, Sportage, and Telluride. These models were deemed TSP winners when they are equipped with their optional front crash prevention technology and specific headlights. The K5 and Stinger were given the most coveted Top Safety Pick+ accolades thanks to their standard headlight equipment and high crashworthiness test ratings.

2022 Car and Driver Editors' Choice Award

Along with winning awards for safety and reliability, Kia has also been recognized simply for offering appealing vehicles. Car and Driver is an automotive website that frequently reviews the latest models in the industry. The online magazine releases its annual Editors' Choice Award list, which represents the publication's standard of automotive excellence.

The 2022 Car and Driver Editors' Choice Award-winners included six Kia vehicles. The Car and Driver editors pored over more than 400 different models and selected the Carnival, K5, Rio, Sorento, Soul, and Telluride as some of the best in the auto industry. Each of these Kia models were selected as the top in their respective segments and were praised for things like attractive exterior styling, spacious interiors, good feature-per-dollar ratios, and powertrain options.

2022 U.S. News Best Car for the Money

One of the winningest vehicles in the Kia lineup is the Telluride. Ever since the SUV hit the market, everyday drivers and prestigious organizations have been singing its praises. The Telluride was the first vehicle to display Kia's newer design language and comes with a wealth of standard features at an affordable price. That is why the 2022 Kia Telluride was recognized as the Best 3-Row SUV for the Money in the U.S. News "Best Car for the Money" list.

Compared to other vehicles in the segment, the 2022 Telluride ranked the highest when it came to its useful standard technology features, high-quality cabin filled with premium materials, and roominess for passengers as well as cargo. 

It's great to see Kia being recognized for creating such a diverse lineup of reliable, stylish, and affordable vehicles. If you'd like to see what Kia models we have available, feel free to contact us or visit our team at Gossett Kia South in Memphis, Tennessee.