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Kia expects US to be Soul EV's top market

While its sister brand Hyundai invests in hydrogen fuel cell technology, Kia is entering the battery-powered electric vehicle market with the new Soul EV. The Korean automaker plans to sell some 5,000 units of its first electric vehicle around the world. While it's not saying exactly what proportion it hopes to sell in (or how many it's allocating to) any individual market, the latest reports indicate that it expects the United States to be its biggest market.
Part of that may come down to the growing popularity of electric vehicles in America, but also to the substantial incentives offered by federal and local government agencies towards buying an EV. Though the Soul EV retails for a reported 42.5 million won in South Korea - equivalent to less than $41,500 at today's rates, of which the battery alone accounts for about 40 percent - incentives will mean that the actual cost to a buyer in the US will be about half that, although Kia hasn't announced official pricing yet.
The latest electric vehicle on the market is based on the existing Kia Soul hatchback, a vehicle chosen due to its packaging vis-à-vis more conventionally shaped vehicles. The 27 kWh lithium ion battery pack adds about 330 pounds to the vehicle's curb weight, resulting in a 0-62 time of 11.2 seconds and a 92-mile range. The Kia Soul EV will initially be sold only in California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

2021 Kia Seltos fuel economy revealed at up to 31 mpg combined

The 2021 Kia Seltos made its official debut in the U.S. just a couple months ago at the L.A. Auto Show. Now its fuel economy numbers have been published by the EPA. The compact crossover's numbers are roughly on par with its smaller Soul sibling and significantly better than the larger Sportage. The Seltos is available with two different engines, a 146-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder coupled to a CVT, and a 175-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with a dual-clutch transmission. The former is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the latter only comes with all-wheel drive. Unsurprisingly, the most efficient model is the front-drive 2.0-liter with city fuel economy of 29 mpg, highway economy of 34, and 31 combined. Adding all-wheel drive drops those numbers to 27 in town, 31 on the highway, and 29 combined. The turbo Seltos brings up the rear with 25 mpg in the city, 30 on the highway and 27 combined. Compared with its smaller sibling, the Soul, the Seltos performs impressively, with the front-drive model matching the Soul Eco Dynamics combined fuel economy of 31 mpg. On the other hand, the turbo Soul's 29 mpg combined rating is better than the turbo Seltos. The turbo Seltos does have all-wheel drive, which the turbo Soul lacks. In fact, no Soul is available with all-wheel drive, a worthy selling point for the Seltos. When comparing the Seltos numbers to the bigger Sportage, which also offers all-wheel drive, every version of the Seltos outperforms the best Sportage's combined fuel economy number of 26 mpg. Comparing the Seltos with other small crossovers, it fares well. Looking at front-drive competitors, only the much more expensive Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the smaller, cheaper Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue top the Seltos in fuel economy. The Buick Encore ties it. With all-wheel drive, the Seltos is also competitive. The non-hybrid Subaru Crosstrek's 30 mpg combined beats the Seltos by just one, and the Honda HR-V is tied with the Kia. The 2020 Kia Seltos will go on sale early this year. The base price will be below $22,000. Related Video:

UPDATE: 2021 Kia K5 name confirmed in fuel economy listing

UPDATE: Additional Kia K5 fuel economy data has been added to the FuelEconomy.gov website. It includes two sets of fuel economy numbers for what seems to be front-wheel-drive trims of the 1.6-liter turbocharged K5. You can find those numbers in the updated text below. The website has also seemingly removed the numbers for the all-wheel-drive version, but those are still present in this article. We've already seen Kia's new midsize family sedan, but details about it are still being fleshed out, including what it will finally be named. Based on a listing at the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website, it seems the sedan will officially be known as the 2021 Kia K5, dropping the old Optima name. Besides the name, we also get snippets of information about one engine in multiple configurations. The engine in question is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, likely the same engine found in the Hyundai Sonata, which makes 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The Hyundai uses an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Kia probably will, too. With what is likely the front-drive model, the K5 will get 29 mpg in town, 38 on the highway and 32 combined. There's also a version that gets slightly worse economy at 27 in town, 37 on the highway and 31 in combined driving. It's probably a heavier, more well-equipped trim. Both versions do get better fuel economy than the Sonata with the same engine (27 city / 36 highway / 31 combined). The third set of numbers is for the all-wheel-drive version, which will be unique to the Kia. According to the listing, it returns 26 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway and 29 in combined driving. Though all these numbers are for the 1.6-liter, there is another engine coming, which Kia has also previously said will be another turbocharged engine. It will probably be the 2.5-liter for the Sonata N-Line with 290 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. With the Kia K5's option for all-wheel drive, it will join a growing group of midsize sedans with the drivetrain: the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and the soon-to-be-discontinued Ford Fusion. Based on the engine size and output, this Kia K5 will be a direct competitor to the Altima and Camry, as well as the Legacy with the naturally aspirated engine. Depending on trim levels, the K5 ties or beats the Camry, which returns 28 to 29 mpg combined. The Altima returns 29 to 30 mpg combined depending on trim level, and the Legacy hits 30 mpg. Related Video: