But why do they think it will only appeal to young buyers?
KIA MOTORS HAS TODAY revealed the first image of its new small SUV. Due to be revealed fully in the Northern Summer, the new vehicle is said to have the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package.
With a design inspired by the 2019 Kia SP Signature Concept, the SUV will even further strengthen Kia’s strong brand presence and identity.
The traditional SUV design characteristics coexist with sophisticated exterior design details, such as a long hood, a strong, sophisticated character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its strong shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness.
Externally, LED headlamps, which extend over the radiator grille, feature a three-dimensional light graphic and a highly technical diamond pattern at their trailing edges. The design is also echoed in the rear LED lamps.
Byung Chul Juh, Head of Kia Styling at Kia Motors Corporation, comments: “We have created a car which stands out everywhere, from the city to the countryside. Its robust yet sporty design will be matched by a wide range of features and technologies that are universally suited to younger buyers in markets around the world. Our new small SUV is a proposition that no other car in its class will match.”
By adding a new global small SUV to its line-up, Kia Motors is extending its range of SUVs to fulfill the needs of customers in every region, although it is once again disappointing to hear, from the head of styling, that this new design is “universally suited to younger buyers”. Why? Do over-50 buyers suddenly lose their sense of style, fun and excitement the moment they pass a certain age?
It seems some lessons are just never learnt. When Kia launched its cleverly designed Soul some years ago, they were convinced it would be a hit with the under-25s and aimed their advertising and marketing budget accordingly. Instead, its practical design, high seating position, compact dimensions and ease of entry and exit made it a popular choice with open-minded over-50 buyers.
Yet again, we get the message that clever design is for the young, despite over-50 buyers being in the majority, and having considerably more disposable income. It’s about time some of these car companies begin to listen.
Kia’s first global small SUV, the new model will go on-sale in Korea in the second half of 2019, with sales in other regions to follow soon after.
Once we have tested and assessed the new small Kia SUV, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.