Ten Best Korean Cars to Buy in the United States
The Korean auto industry has come a long way since the turn of the 21st century, and the ten Best Korean Cars to Buy today are some of the most popular and satisfying choices in America. Of course, these vehicles aren`t all made in South Korea–as even Hyundai and Kia have joined the flock of imports with a U.S. manufacturing presence–but they do showcase Korean roots and a certain amount of Seoul power that`s missing from the competition.
Even better, these cutting-edge Korean cars can be found across the marketplace, from entry-level economy cars to ultra-lux flagship sedans, with even a minivan and crossovers thrown into the mix.
That being said, just reminisce that the actual Korean competition here in the United States is a bit of a civil war, as Hyundai and Kia are both managed by the same ownership group, and the only other qualifiers for today`s honor roll come from GM Korea.
2016 Chevrolet Spark
Rising like a little phoenix from the ashes of GM Daewoo, the Chevy Spark has become a modest hit here in the United States and is the foot city-sized vehicle among the country`s best Korean cars to buy. But potential customers shouldn`t be fooled by its lil’ footprint: The urban-friendly Spark can be packed with sophisticated features, highlighted by a mobile wi-fi hotspot, 4G LTE connectivity and, for the brand-new two thousand sixteen models, some of the industry`s top driver-assistance measures. As a result, the redesigned Spark rolls into the fresh model year with forward collision alert, lane departure warning and side blind-zone alert.
And keep in mind, the two thousand fifteen Spark is the only vehicle in its class to earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.
As for the two thousand sixteen Spark, it`s scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter, also backed by a16 percent boost in horsepower and a 40-mpg EPA high point.
2015 Chevrolet Trax
Like the Spark, the two thousand fifteen Chevrolet Trax can trace its ancestry back to GM Daewoo, albeit this subcompact crossover is just going on sale in the United States this year–right in time to get in on the ground floor of a fresh and growing segment. The Trax also will go after in the tire tracks of the Spark with the key benefit of 4G LTE connectivity, a mobile-wi-fi hot-spot, Siri Eyes Free integration, a standard turbocharged engine and a entire lot more premium features that were designed to remind customers that «puny» doesn`t necessarily mean «cheap.»
Nor does «petite» necessarily mean «petite,» at least in terms of cargo space: Further adding to its resume as one of the best Korean cars on sale, the Trax can hold up to 48.Four cubic feet of gear, which is more than entries like the Jeep Renegade or Nissan Juke.
2015 Kia Soul
Hands-down one of the most popular Korean cars sold in the United States is the inimitable two thousand fifteen Kia Soul.
Part crossover, part hatchback, the Soul is all about style, too, showcasing a wild exterior and special cabin accents, including speaker lights that can be set to pulse with the strike. But it also offers a compelling value, thanks to an MSRP of $15,190 that covers six-speaker audio (with dash-mounted tweeters and USB port), Bluetooth technology, rearview camera, cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel and even Kia`s Flexsteer system. With that feature, Soul owners can tailor the vehicle`s steering spectacle with Normal, Convenience or Sport settings.
On the other arm, those who want more goodies can get them, since Kia additionally offers upgrades like heated and ventilated leather front seats, a heated 2nd row, Infinity audio, Voice Directive navigation, and a UVO infotainment setup.
2015 Kia Sedona
It may be hard to believe, but one of the greatest Korean cars for sale is actually a minivan: the two thousand fifteen Kia Sedona. In fact, the brand-new model proceeds to leverage its latest makeover for triple-digit monthly sales gains and has begun to build up an identically astounding amount of attention from the critics. For example, the Sedona recently earned a spot on the two thousand fifteen Ward`s ten Best Interiors list, one of the industry`s most-watched awards programs and an especially welcome prize for a people hauler.
But regardless of whether owners configure that cabin with «Slide-N-Stow» seating, for optimum cargo plasticity, or a more lounge-like «Very first Class» setup, highlighted by winged headrests and retracting lower legrests, safety comes standard. After all, the Sedona has both a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the IIHS and a Top Safety Pick ranking from the IIHS, honors missing from half the traditional minivan competition.
2015 Kia Forte Koup
Hyundai and Kia sell a number of sporty Korean cars for U.S. drivers, but the two thousand fifteen Kia Forte Koup stands out for its under-the-radar spectacle package. While most mainstream brands look to serve up affordable athleticism with a hot hatch, only Kia and Honda do so with coupes. However, when comparing the Forte Koup SX with the Civic Coupe Si, the Kia offers a twenty lb.-ft. advantage in torque and a $Two,300 discount in MSRP; the Civic does have an extra three hp, but it`s not available until 1,000 rpm higher in the power band.
Plus, beyond the particularly potent SX trim–leveraging a 201-hp turbocharged engine that produces one hundred ninety five lb.-ft. of torque–there`s also an entry-level EX edition that starts at $Eighteen,590 with massive output leads over the entry Civic coupe.
2016 Kia Sorento
Following right in line with industry trends, the best Korean crossovers in America have become strong sellers for their brands, with the two thousand sixteen Kia Sorento being a nice case in point. It`s long been near the top of the volume leaderboard for Kia, but now, following a utter redesign for the two thousand sixteen model year, the Sorento has seen request ratchet up yet further.
Certainly helping matters are upgrades such as:
- A fresh, stronger bod structure that enables more headroom and legroom in all rows, as well as more total cargo room
- Sorento`s very first available turbocharged engine, combining two hundred forty hp, two hundred sixty lb.-ft. of torque and an EPA line of 20/27/23
- Two other powerplant choices, suggesting up to twenty nine mpg or two hundred ninety hp
- Cutting-edge technology, including Harman «Clari-Fi» audio and UVO connectivity and infotainment
- Lux cues like Nappa leather seating with a heated and ventilated front row, 14-way power-adjustable driver`s seat, and heated 2nd row
2016 Hyundai Veloster
After a major refreshing for the two thousand sixteen model year, it looks like the Hyundai Veloster will extend its reign as the king of the cool Korean hatchbacks.
Consider: The two thousand sixteen Veloster is hitting dealerships with fresh styling up front, fresh features up and down the roster, and a fresh range-topping Rally Edition that will raise the spectacle bar significantly. That newest hi-po Hyundai still holsters a 201-hp turbocharged engine that also makes one hundred ninety five lb.-ft. of torque, but the Rally model will leverage off the hook aero figure lumps, lightweight 18-inch RAYS wheels, a sport shifter sourced from B&M Racing, and a suspension upgrade over the already hot-handling R-Spec model.
The standard Veloster and Veloster Turbo are enhanced for two thousand sixteen as well, with the former suggesting such fresh content as black-and-yellow sport seats and a revised 7-inch infotainment/navigation setup, and the latter highlighted by its very first seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
2016 Hyundai Elantra
Here`s an interesting factoid: The Hyundai Elantra is suggested in three separate bod styles–coupe, sedan and five-door hatchback–providing the only three-car lineup in the mainstream compact segment. And while that contributes to its position as literally the best-selling Korean car in the country (when this story went to press), the Elantra doesn`t put quantity over quality.
Instead, it already offers standout EPA and safety ratings, complemented by high levels of technology, and will soon introduce further advances for the two thousand sixteen model year–beginning with the two thousand sixteen Elantra GT hatch. That model launched this spring with an array of Elantra enhancements that includes Hyundai`s next-gen navigation and telematics technologies, freshened grille and wheel designs, and, for the very first time in the segment, ventilated driver and front-passenger seating.
Unnecessary to say, customers will be able to look for those features on the rest of the two thousand sixteen roster, too.
2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan
Hyundai and Kia have launched a number of Korean luxury cars in the United States, but mostly to mixed results–except in the case of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan. True, it doesn`t contest against the ultra-lux entries like the Hyundai Equus or Kia K900, but the vehicle has carved out a solid place among the entry-luxury choices by delivering a sophisticated and refined design, the very first all-wheel-drive technology ever suggested on a Hyundai car, and Hyundai`s most powerful V8, too.
But despite its relatively affordable pricing, the Genesis does serve up its fair share of premium cues, ranging from real wood and aluminum accents to a comprehensive Sensory Surround Safety system to 17-speaker Lexicon audio to the latest infotainment technologies, all backed by a 9.2-inch high-def display screen.
A Genesis Coupe also joins the Sedan at Hyundai dealerships, where it provides a distinctive complement to its four-door sibling.
2016 Hyundai Tucson
One of the newest Korean cars on sale this year will be the two thousand sixteen Hyundai Tucson, which is expected in dealerships in July with one of the largest portfolios of safety equipment in the small-crossover segment.
In the mix here will be all the expected driver-assistance measures, such as a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping technology, backup sensors and a standard rearview camera setup, but the Tucson also shoves ye olde envelope by introducing automatic braking with a pedestrian-detection function.
Then, as those features are expected to raise the Tucson`s safety ratings, engineers also have notably boosted the vehicle`s EPA ratings, with Hyundai expecting owners to love up to a 5-mpg increase in certain models. And that`s with a fresh 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that makes one hundred seventy five hp and one hundred ninety five lb.-ft. of torque, with that output routed through the segment`s very first seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.