Why did Kia Change Their Logo?

One search query has become popular over the last year: KN Car. Drivers are seeing new vehicles with a seemingly odd KN branded label. Except the label isn’t read as KN—it’s Kia! The new logo’s complexity contrasts with the fairly simple original logo that featured an oval surrounding the name Kia.

New Kia models now feature a contemporary writing of the name, and, unfortunately for the brand, the new script isn’t easy for the public to decipher. Why did Kia change their logo from simple to edgy? According to a press release from Kia, the new logo “…represents Kia’s ambitions to establish a leadership position in the future mobility industry by revamping nearly all facets of its business.”

Kia’s Plan S and the New Logo

Kia’s press release also details that the revamped logo is part of a larger change for the automaker. Dubbed Plan S, Kia’s strategy for the future will focus on the electric market and providing customers with new mobility services.

On January 15, Kia also released more information related to its new slogan “Movement that Inspires.” In addition, the company updated its name from Kia Motors to Kia and announced that it planned to release seven new electric vehicles by the year 2027.

Why is the Logo Misinterpreted as KN?

The new logo might be more abstract and edgy, but it has caused confusion on the road. Some consumers might have interpreted the new logo as a new car brand called “KN.” Why is the new logo read as KN?

Kia’s updated logo is designed to appear as though each letter moves into the other. There are no divisions between the “k,” the “I” and the “a.” There also isn’t a dot to denote that the “I” is the letter “I” and the capital “A” used in the logo design doesn’t include the slash through the letter to mark it as a standard uppercase A. As the “I” and “a” merge together, they appear as a backward “n.” This is why and how the Kia logo has been interpreted as KN.

The Logo is Memorable

As many auto sites have noted, the confusion might not be all that bad for Kia. The KN searches are still leading customers to find the new Kia logo news. In addition, their searches also could lead them to the Kia site—thus, boosting traffic.

The new logo has people talking, and whether it’s loved or hated, the update might be here to stay. All new cars feature the trendy updated logo, and the design leans into the future of the company and its mission moving forward.

New Kia Models for 2023

Consumers searching for KIA cars might surf onto Kia’s website and peruse the brand’s 2023 models. While Kia is focusing on releasing more electric vehicles in the future, the current lineup already includes two electric models: the Kia EV6 and the Kia Niro EV. Here’s what buyers should know about each model.

2023 Kia EV6

The 2023 EV6 starts at $48,700.The model is designed as a crossover and has space for five. It has an estimated range of 310 miles. In addition, the 2023 EV6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating/award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

2023 Kia Niro EV

The Niro EV is slightly more affordable with a starting MSRP of $39,550 and also is a crossover that offers space for five. The Niro EV offers an estimated range of 253 miles. The 2022 Kia Niro EV received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What are the Most Affordable 2023 Kia Models?

While the Kia logo might be revamped, buyers might wonder if new models are bumping up in price or if Kia is changing its price point. Kia models remain some of the most affordable; EV prices for all brands, though (including Kia), might command a higher price.

Kia’s most affordable models within its lineup include:

• Kia Rio
• Kia Forte
• Kia Soul
• Kia Seltos
• Kia K5
• Kia Niro Hybrid

2023 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is one of the most affordable vehicles available. The Rio starts at $16,750 and is incredibly fuel efficient; it can get an estimated 36 MPG on the highway. While it’s a small sedan, those who need a vehicle for a long commute could find that Rio’s low price point and high fuel economy make it a good daily car.

2023 Kia Forte

The Kia Forte is a midsize sedan and starts at less than $20K ($19,690). It can get an estimated 35 MPG on the highway.

2023 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is a small wagon that starts at $19,890. It can get an estimated 33 MPG on the highway.

2023 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Kia Seltos is a small SUV that has a starting MSRP of $23,340. It can get an estimated 30 MPG on the highway. The 2023 Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating/award from the IIHS.

2023 Kia K5

The 2023 K5 is a sports car that is priced affordably at $25,290. The K5 offers power and fuel efficiency–it can accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 5.7 seconds and can get an estimated 32 MPG on the highway. The 2023 K5 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating/award from the IIHS.

2023 Kia Niro Hybrid

The Niro Hybrid is a midsize SUV that has space for five, and it can get an estimated 49 to 53 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent).

What 2023 Kia Models Offer the Best Safety Ratings?

Kia is known for offering affordable vehicles. In addition, many of the brand’s models have received safety honors from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Consumers can search for a particular make/model via either the NHTSA or the IIHS to review safety and crash test data/reports.

The NHTSA rates the safety of vehicles using a star-based ratings system. A five-star safety rating from the NHTSA is the highest safety score. Kia models that received a five-star rating include:

• 2023 Kia K5
• 2023 Kia Stinger AWD and RWD

The IIHS honors the safest vehicles with either a Top Safety Pick+ or a Top Safety Pick rating/award. The vehicles that receive the “+” designation offer good/acceptable headlights as a standard feature, while those that receive the Top Safety Pick rating offer these headlights as an option. All other safety criteria to earn both honors are the same.

Kia models that received a Top Safety Pick+ award:

• 2022-2023 Kia K5 4-door sedan
• 2022-2023 Kia Stinger 4-door hatchback
• 2022-2023 Kia EV6 4-door SUV

Kia models that received a Top Safety Pick:

• 2022 Kia Soul 4-door wagon
• 2022-2023 Kia Seltos 4-door SUV
• 2023 Kia Sportage 4-door SUV
• 2022 Kia Sportage SUV
• 2022-2023 Kia Sorento 4-door SUV
• 2022 Kia Telluride 4-door SUV
• 2022-2023 Kia Carnival minivan

Kia Moving Into the Future

Competing against brands like General Motors that are moving towards all-electric lineups, Kia and other manufacturers also need to evolve to meet the changing needs of the customer and the change within the automotive industry, too. Is gasoline going to be passé? Will standard fuel stations be replaced by charging stations?

While the industry might be slowly moving towards electric, this pivot doesn’t change the fact that many standard internal-combustion engines (ICE) will remain functional. There isn’t going to be an ICE graveyard; at least, not yet.

Owners might keep their standard gas-guzzling vehicle until it needs to be replaced. For some buyers, the move to electric might not be feasible; for now, electric vehicles might be too expensive for buyers on a tight budget. For this and other reasons, standard engines still have a place on the road and in the lineups of many brands—including Kia.

Car shoppers who are searching the internet for KN cars will discover that the search leads to Kia and its new logo. While consumers might see the new Kia logo on models and think that the logo denotes a new brand, they might need to take a closer look. The interconnecting letters illustrate movement, and, for Kia, this movement is forward and into an electric future. Although the logo redesign could be causing confusion, the buzz around KN also might lead to more publicity for the logo change and more customers visiting Kia’s site.

Kia’s logo might have received an update, but the brand still remains the same related to affordability and safety. Several of Kia’s models are less than $20K, and many models have received top safety honors from either the NHTSA or the IIHS (or both).

Kia’s lineup only includes two electric models, but the company has announced its plans to release seven electric models by 2027. As the future of the automotive industry moves towards electric power, Kia’s new logo also reflects the undercurrent of this change.

Kia’s new logo is a sign of a new future for Kia, and it also signals that the industry is changing and that customers need to be prepared for more electric vehicles to enter the market.