Kia Models are a Great Option for Your New Car

Kia Motors is growing quickly in America. The Korean-based company has sold millions of cars and was named amongst the "Top 10 Best Car Brands for 2012" by Total Car Score. So, why are these cars so popular?

Fuel Efficiency

Kia cars are known for the fuel efficiency. Obviously, fuel efficiency is influenced by several different factors including your personal driving style, the terrain through which you're driving, the temperature of the outdoor air, the local weather you're driving through, the loads you're carrying or towing behind you in a trailer, the length of your trips, how long the engine is left running if you're sitting, and whether you have a manual or automatic transmission. Various tests are performed on each new car that's developed to determine its fuel efficiency, and the results are used to determine the car's overall performance.

Low Cost Quality Cars

Though in the past Kia models had a reputation as cheap but unreliable cars, the company has made strides in their manufacturing process. Many dealerships offer flexible payment plans, further underlining their affordability. Even those with bad credit may be able to purchase a car and utilize the payments to bring up their credit score.

One of the Most Popular Models: The 2012 Sorento

The Sorento has been listed as one of the most popular models this year. This crossover SUV has four different trim levels. The base version features a 6 speed manual transmission and seventeen inch wheels. You'll also find cruise control, air conditioning, a high-tech steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, a trip computer, and many amenities for the sound system.

If you upgrade this vehicle, you'll get an automatic transmission instead of a manual. The outside mirrors are colored to match the car's exterior. Additional features include turn signals feature LED lights and an armrest for passengers in the second row. Add-on options include fog lamps, roof rails, heated seats, a rearview camera, and rear parking sensors. You may also add a third seat to the back, which is functional for adults as well as children.

The EX model increases the value by adding eighteen inch wheels, dual climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and many other options included in only the most modern vehicles. Rear parking sensors come standard with this model, and it also features an Uvo electronic interface that is voice-activated. Potential buyers may also select outside mirrors that can fold automatically, leather seats, a navigation system, an luxurious sound systems.

Drivers could also choose to upgrade to an even higher model, which comes with more advanced performance options. If you love the sunshine, you can choose a panoramic sunroof.

Courtesy of American Chronicle

Van Griffith Kia - Coupons

Don't forget about our special offers going on this month! Get $50 off a timing belt replacement or 10% off any repairs over $200. Stop by today to take advantage of these great deals. These offer end on June 30th!

Congratulations to the author of this review on purchasing their sixth Kia at our dealership!

"My family and I have purchased 5 or so Kias from this dealership. I stopped in to ask a question on Saturday and ended up with my 6th purchase from Van Griffith Kia a used one this time! The staff is always kind and courteous and remember what I have purchased in the past.The service staff is always wonderful and timely. They don't add a bunch of stuff I don't need on to my service repair. The Kias in general have been great cars and I love the 100,00 mile warranty. I have run the mileage out on all of the Kias that I have purchased. I love my current Kia Sorento and will probably keep it
when I buy my 2013 Kia Sorento from the Van Griffith Crew."-holliberries

 

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2012 Kia Soul Ranked Highest in Initial Quality Study by J.D. Power and Associates

From breakthrough advertising to runaway sales success, the Kia Soul has made quite a splash since entering the marketplace in 2009, and today the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Initial Quality Study (IQS) ranked the popular urban passenger vehicle highest in initial quality in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment. The study captures feedback from owners after 90 days of purchase in two distinct categories: quality of design and quality of production. Refreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul was fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements, and consumers have responded with sales up more than 22 percent through the first five months of the year.

"Kia Motors is dedicated to building world-class, high quality vehicles, and the Soul's recognition in the automotive industry's authoritative study on quality is the latest example of Kia's maturity and momentum in the U.S. market," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG). "The Soul signaled the beginning of Kia's design-led transformation when it launched in 2009, and it continues to be one of our most popular vehicles, attracting new consumers to the Kia brand with its eye-catching design and outstanding record of quality, dependability and reliability and playing a vital role in Kia becoming the fastest-growing automotive brand in the U.S."

In the study, the Kia Soul was honored as the highest-ranking model in the compact multi-purpose vehicle segment, while the Kia brand made significant advancements with gains that outpaced the industry average. The annual report includes 233 vehicle models and measures attributes across eight categories, including the driving experience, engine and transmission, and a broad range of quality problem symptoms reported by vehicle owners.

About the 2012 Soul
Refreshed for the 2012 model year, the Kia Soul has been fine-tuned with a significant number of technological, powertrain and style enhancements. The 2012 Soul delivers class-leading horsepower[2] and significantly improved fuel efficiency of up to 35 miles per gallon (mpg)[3] on the highway. Kia Motors' hatchback remains a class-leading value[4] with the lowest starting price of its competitive set at $13,900 MSRP[5].

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[6] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[7]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia -- KMMG -- is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. -- the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

 

Courtesy of The Auto Channel

2011 Sportage 2WD 4dr LX

Stop in to Van Griffith Kia to take a closer look at this 2011 Kia Sportage that is on sale for just $19,970! This special offer ends on June 30th so we hope to see you soon for a test drive!

2012 Kia Sportage makes AAA’s ‘Top Cars For Teens’ List

The 2012 Kia Sportage compact CUV has been named one of the “Top Cars for Teens” by the Automobile Association of America (AAA). The Sportage was lauded for its dynamics, dependability, overall value, standard safety features and performance in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash safety tests, including a “no tip” evaluation during the tests.

“We are honored that AAA, one of the most respected authorities on travel and transportation, is recognizing the Kia Sportage as a top car for teenage drivers,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, Kia Motors America (KMA) in a written press statement. ”Knowing that the Sportage, our longest-running nameplate, has been chosen not only for its attractive design that appeals to all ages, but more importantly, for its safety features, reliability and value is evidence that consumers do not have to sacrifice curb appeal for dependability.”

 

Courtesy of Better Roads

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2010 Kia Soul at Van Griffith Kia

Happy Monday fans! Stop by and see us this week to take advantage of our current specials. You can get this 2010 Kia Soul for just $13,999! Click here for more information.

Kia Back At Vans Warped Tour

Kia is back for year five as "Official Vehicle of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour." The automaker first used the tour five years ago as a way to tease the U.S. market with the concept version of the Soul vehicle before the on-sale date in 2009.

Kia will bring Soul and the newly redesigned Rio -- Kia's smallest car -- to the 40 cities where the tour stops. This time around, Kia will also be official sponsor of the tour's two main stages, which will be called the Kia Soul Stage and Kia Rio Stage. The stages will physically bookend an airborne rigging display showing the Soul. 

Over the years, the division of Hyundai Motor has shifted toward a definite Millennial positioning -- especially with the debut of the Soul three years ago, Kia's answer to the protean urban-centric cars from Scion, intended to be hip and multi-utilitarian. While Soul ad creative (DavidAndGoliath in Santa Monica, Calif. has handled the brand for over 10 years) features the anthropomorphic hamsters as hipsters, the company has applied that kind of rakish quality to other more traditional cars like the 2013 Optima. That car was supported with a Super Bowl commercial featuring a mash-up of supermodel, UFC fighter, and Mötley Crüe playing "Kickstart My Heart."

Said Michael Sprague, VP of marketing: "Going back out on the road again with the Vans Warped Tour was an obvious fit as a way to maintain our status as a young, current and engaging brand."

Kia says it will also have its Soul Lounge on site at tour stops. The exhibition has things like a music station where people can mix and customize beats, get personalized bandanas, and vie for VIP passes for access to a private riser near the main stage or on the two main stages. As in previous years, Kia will have a "Warped Tour" blogger, Steve Guttbinder, who will writing about the shows and field questions and upload photo and video content.

"Kia is an innovative company that understands the culture of Warped, and their support allows us to bring back two main stages for the 2012 tour," said Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour founder and producer. 

Vans Warped eschews the temptation to be über-branded, and relies instead of a roster of over 70 smaller sponsorships, particularly from not-for-profit organizations. In addition to Vans, the other top-tier sponsor with Kia is Monster Energy. Trojan, the Truth Campaign, the Air Force Reserve and many niche and endemic brands in music and fashion tend to fill out the rest.

The music and extreme-sports tour, which Vans (which makes skateboarding shoes) has sponsored since the mid-1990s, kicks off this weekend in Salt Lake City, and all told will comprise 90 punk, rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, indie rock and electronic artists. Markets include Las Vegas, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Portland, Detroit's suburbs, and Milwaukee.

Courtesy of Karl Greenberg; Media Posts

New 2013 Kia Rio 4dr Sdn Man LX

Stop in today and get a brand new New 2013 Kia Rio for just $14,894! Call us at (817) 439-6923 or stop in to schedule a test drive!

Kia Named To "Top 10 Best Car Brands for 2012" List By Total Car Score

Total Car Score ( www.totalcarscore.com ), one of the most comprehensive automotive ranking and comparison websites, has named Kia Motors America (KMA) as one of its "Top 10 Best Car Brands for 2012." One of only two non-luxury brands listed, the fastest-growing automotive brand in the U.S. also posted the biggest improvement over 2011 with a gain of 3.76 points. The list, based on the average Total Car Score for every model within the manufacturer's product line up, comes on the heels of the 2012 Soul urban passenger vehicle and 2012 Sorento midsize CUV being honored with "Top Scoring Car Awards" and the 2012 Forte compact sedan landing on the "Top Cars for College Grads" list from the website.

"With record sales that have contributed to Kia becoming the fastest growing car company in the U.S. over the last five years and a full line of critically acclaimed vehicles, consumer awareness of the Kia brand has dramatically increased, and this recent accolade from Total Car Score is further evidence of the breadth of our transformation," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Kia continues to be committed to offering consumers a comprehensive array of vehicles with a hard-to-beat formula of cutting-edge technologies, high fuel efficiency, immense value and world-class design."

The "Top 10 Best Car Brands for 2012" list by Total Car Score is based on numerical ratings for 2012 model year vehicles currently on the market. The list provides a data-driven assessment of which automakers are producing the most desirable, highest quality cars, crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks.

"As one of only two non-premium brands on the list, Kia has validated its ongoing efforts to produce some of the best cars on the market," said Karl Brauer, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Total Car Score.

Kia's Unprecedented Growth

Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[2] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[3]. Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia - KMMG - is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. - the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

SOURCE Kia Motors America

Weekly Specials

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Van Griffith KIA Specials

Stop by and see us this month to take advantage of our special offers. You can get $50.00 off a timing belt replacement or 10% off any repair over $200! Click here to get your coupons today.

Kia Raises A Guinness For Optima Hybrid

Kia has launched a campaign for its Optima Hybrid car that spotlights the vehicle’s achievement of winning a Guinness World Record. The car got Guinness props last year for having achieved the lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid when a couple of pro drivers toured the 48 contiguous United States on 5½ tanks of gas. They went 7,899 miles at 64.55 miles per gallon by driving at optimal speeds and under optimal conditions.

The new campaign, targeted to Gen Xers and younger Baby Boomers, re-tells that story with two professional drivers randomly pulling over in the middle of a desert highway to chat with a man going cross-country on a pogo stick, who is also attempting to set a Guinness record. In the end, the drivers tell the pogo guy that they, too are in the process of setting a World Record and then take off into the sunset. Tag: "Not your average hybrid."

The campaign, via David&Goliath, Kia's long-time U.S. agency, also has print, direct-mail, collateral, and promotional elements. The digital component of the campaign, at Kia.com/Hybrid, allows consumers to delve into the Guinness World Record road trip and get info on how to optimize -- so to speak - their own hybrid driving.

The TV ad began airing on June 5 on network with cable, syndication on schedule. The spot will run on all the networks, plus around 30 cable channels, including Adult Swim, BET, Discovery, Comedy Central, Travel, E!, Oxygen, and Spike.

"When we first started launching about a year ago we did a very product-focused campaign,” says Michael Sprague, Kia Motor America VP marketing. “This lets us tell more of a story." He tells Marketing Daily that the company and its agency dreamed up the Guinness attempt as a way to talk about the car beyond merely advertising it. "We were trying to think of creative ways of telling consumers about our new hybrid and after lots of research we found there was opportunity to set that Guinness record. We looked at it and figured out that yeah, we could do that. We worked with the Guinness organization to make sure it could be validated by them and then set off to do it."

Sprague says the issue for the Optima Hybrid is actually not demand so much as capacity. "We are just finishing rolling it out across the country. We started on the West Coast, then the East Coast, followed by the southern markets in the spring and now the Midwest, and what we've learned is that availability -- the right color, or options -- is the reason people don't buy they vehicle. They want a certain package, but due to constraints, can't get it."

While no advertising might be the best advertising when supply is tight, Sprague argues that the Optima Hybrid campaign serves a broader purpose. "It promotes the product but also builds familiarity and awareness of us as a brand. Someone might not want to buy a hybrid, but they want to be associated with a brand that sells one, and is environmentally conscious." There’s something to that: Toyota's Prius has probably done more for Toyota branding equity than it has for Toyota sales volume.

Courtesy of Marketing Daily

Parallel Park Kia’s All-New cee’d? No Problem

Let’s admit it –parallel parking isn’t exactly the best part of driving, and it can be both tricky and stressful, especially in some tight European city spaces. That’s why Kia came up with the ‘parallel park assist system’ for our All-New cee’d, so you can just sit back, relax and let 10 parking sensors do the rest.

Don’t believe us? Check out the video from Kia UK below to see the cee’d’s parallel park assist system in action:

 

Courtesy of Kia Buzz

Congratulations to John and Rosie White!

Congratulations to John and Rosie White on winning the $500 Gas Card Contest.  

Hope you have a great trip to Disney Land!! 

 

 

First Coast Gears: Kia Track'ster

Imagine if the Kia Soul got shots of tesosterone and hired a trainer at the gym. The Track'ster concept from Kia (shown here) might just be the result.

Kia juiced up the Soul's personality for the Track'ster concept with all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged 2.0-lter four-cylinder that produces 250-horsepower. “The idea was to make the Track’ster tough looking, like a bulldog,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia Motors America.

The wheelbase is nearly an inch longer than the Soul and it's five inches wider. The braking is bulked up with Brembos and of course the interior and exterior received custom styling touches such as sculpted front-wheel arches, and immense LED driving lights.

The Track'ster is a pure concept. There are no plans for production.

Courtesy of First Coast Gears

We truly appreciate our customers taking the time to let us know how we're doing!

"I had done my research online on all the Kia Dealers in the DFW metroplex and after reviewing and reading all the customer reveiws, I decided to go with Van Griffith Kia and I do not regret that decision at all. Eddy met us outside and let Brad know we were there. The only disappointing moment came when they told me there was not an Exclaim available within a 4 state area. I asked what they could come close to in the Plus. Within a few minutes they drove one up in the color I wanted. Yes, it didm't come with everything the Exclaim would have but it did have everything I wanted plus a few extras and the cost was less than the Exclaim.

I already had my fiancing through my bank at what I thought was a very sweet APR. They asked if they could beat it, would I fiance through them. They were able to beat it by more than 1%. Needless to say I took it and was happy that I let them check.

I also picked up some rain guards for the doors from them and Eddy was nice enough to install them for me.

Would I recommend them? Absolutely!!!"-denna76028

 

Congratulations to John White!

JOHN WHITE! He is the winner of our Facebook contest and will receive a $500 gas gift card. We will be reaching out to him by email to have him come claim his prize. Congratulations John!