The key to business today is developing an edge that sets you apart from your competitors. Often referred to as a competitive edge, this is especially the case with the increasingly crowded field of automakers. Each manufacturer is looking for something to set its vehicles apart, and that can be anything from pricing to luxury or performance. Some try to be the most affordable vehicle, while others opt to make their cars the most luxurious. If you head over to your local Kia dealership, you will find that this automaker is looking to stake out a place as the builder of some of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the road today.
Investment in innovation is something that Kia is looking to use to differentiate its sedans, minivans, and SUVs from those of its chief competitors. This can be seen in three different ways. First, Kia is using technology to make its cars safer. Second, Kia utilizes innovation to improve vehicle connectivity, a key factor in today’s highly connected world. Third, Kia has been using technology to improve performance through alternative fuel vehicles. While Kia is not the only automaker that has embraced technological innovation, it is among the industry leaders in this regard, and technology is a major reason why Kia is setting itself apart from the competition.
Keeping Safe With Kia Driver-Assist Technology
Safety has become one of the biggest issues for automakers. However, it wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, manufacturers thought that simply making their cars heavier would also make them safer. This proved to be an incorrect hypothesis. Vehicle safety required seatbelts that worked, airbags that reduced passenger injury, and crumple zones that allowed the vehicle to absorb the impact instead. Fortunately, that has all changed.
Today, the automotive industry is committed to passenger safety. Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) test and rate most passenger vehicles for safety in a collision. When you look at a list of Top Safety Picks for the IIHS and five-star safety ratings from the NHTSA, it reads like a roster of vehicles manufactured by Kia. For example, the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ award winners for 2022 include Kia models such as the Forte, K5, and Stinger sedans, Carnival minivan, and Soul, Seltos, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride SUVs. Similarly, the NHTSA gave 5-star overall safety ratings to the Telluride, Sportage, K5, and Stinger. This means that when you buy Kia, you are getting a vehicle designed to maximize passenger safety.
Part of the reason behind these high safety ratings is the use of technology to provide drivers with safety assistance features. Kia has divided its driver safety technologies into two groupings: technologies to avoid impact and safety warning systems. There are three specific driver assistance technologies that Kia offers on its vehicles to help drivers avoid collisions.
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance engages the emergency braking system to bring the Kia to a safe stop if the system detects an imminent impact. This is achieved using a radar system in the vehicle’s front bumper that works in conjunction with a camera mounted behind the windshield. When it detects another vehicle or a pedestrian in the path of the Kia, it engages the system to prevent a collision.
There are also three safety warning systems as part of Kia’s driver assistance technologies. Lane departure warning will alert you if you drift out of lane while driving your Kia. The camera mounted on the Kia’s windshield will detect any time the vehicle crosses a lane without signaling and will give you a warning so you can stay on the straight and narrow. This is especially helpful as drifting out of lane is a symptom of a drowsy driver.
Forward collision warning acts as your first line of defense to avoid a front-end collision in your Kia. If the front bumper radar and windshield camera detect the vehicle in front slowing down or stopping, it will give you an audio and visual alarm so that you can bring your Kia to a stop.
A final safety feature on Kia vehicles is a tire pressure monitoring system. Underinflated tires can reduce the effectiveness of the steering and brakes on your vehicle, making it more difficult to handle. The tire pressure monitoring system will let you know if there is a problem with the tire pressure in your Kia. As with the other active safety features, this utilizes technology to make driving a Kia safer than ever.
Staying Connected With Kia Infotainment Technology
Kia has always been on the cutting edge of infotainment technology with the UVO system. This is all part of keeping folks connected using information technology like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system is now called Kia Connect, and it is advertised as giving drivers and passengers smarter convenience. One of the newest features is a Wi-Fi hotspot powered by Verizon that Kia will be featuring on the 2022 EV6 electric SUV and the Carnival minivan. This will help your smart devices to maintain connectivity almost anywhere you take your Kia. In addition, Kia now offers a Kia Access App that is Smartwatch compatible for iOS and Android devices. This will allow you to send remote commands to your Kia, such as starting the engine on a hot summer afternoon or cold winter morning.
The Kia Connect system provides an exceptional integration of key entertainment features, so you will have no problem listening to your favorite music and programming wherever your Kia may take you. Getting there will also be easier with the different navigation apps at your disposal. This even includes the Amazon Alexa App, available on the Kia Connect system to help you on the road just like it does in your home. The key is the use of innovation to improve your enjoyment of your vehicle. Kia is banking on the fact that its technological innovation in the area of connectivity will help set its vehicles apart from those of its competitors.
Saving Fuel With Kia Alternative Fuel Technology
Fuel prices across the country have been spiking over the last year. Many drivers are looking to save by switching to alternative energy vehicles. In addition, folks are more conscious of the environmental impact of conventional gas-powered vehicles. This is why there has been an increasing demand for alternative energy vehicles. Kia is on the cutting edge of this technology, offering a wide variety of electric vehicle (EV), hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models. In fact, Kia offers six different alternative energy models: the EV6, three EV and hybrid versions of the Niro, and two hybrid versions of the Sorento. This variety will give you the ability to find an alternative fuel model that can best fit your family’s lifestyle.
There are some differences between the models depending on their powertrains. For example, the EV6 and Niro EV are fully electric vehicles, using an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to propel the vehicle. In contrast, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models utilize a combination of a gas engine and an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. The electric motor will do all the work at lower speeds while the gas engine helps keep the battery charged. At higher speeds, the hybrid system will balance performance between the gas engine and electric motor in an efficient manner. The result is a vast improvement in fuel economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The main difference between the hybrid and plug-in hybrid is one of convenience, as you can easily recharge the Kia plug-in hybrid models at home or on the road at a public charging station.
Technology Is Kia’s Competitive Advantage
Kia has leveraged its investment in technological innovation to provide drivers with improvements in safety, connectivity, and fuel economy. The goal is to provide the company’s vehicles with a competitive edge in the marketplace. The fact that Kia recently upgraded its infotainment system from the UVO link to Kia Connect shows that it cannot rest on its laurels if it wishes to maintain this competitive advantage, as technological advances in the automotive industry are being made faster than ever.
