We appreciate the great review, Carl!

" Everyone was very kind in getting everything done that needed to be done and much to our surprise we were approved and left with a newer car than we had. Due to their cordiality and efficient manner I would recommend this to anyone." - Carl.

2013 Kia Optima SX Limited

Are you in need of some maintenance work for your car? Stop by Paramount Kia Hickory to get $3off our Oil & Filter Special.

2013 Kia Soul

If you are a young professional searching for a reliable new vehicle on a budget the world is not necessarily your oyster. While you may not be able to drive around in luxury car models such as Audi, Lexus, and Acura to name a few you can have a lot of the luxury features such as Bluetooth wireless communications to your media, a sunroof, and fog lights for under twenty thousand dollars.

There are a lot of good lease deals that run year round however there is an auto maker that has something to suit all needs if you are willing to fall for its unique styling and hamster mascot. I am of course speaking about the 2013 Kia Soul + model. The Kia Soul is a spunky, economy box. While its looks may take time to enjoy it is not without its uses. The boxy look is practical, larger adults can sit in the rear and front seats without issues with head or leg room. There is a lot of room for cargo and you can easily fold the seats down with the flick of a button they call them 60/40 fold flat seats.

The Kia Soul comes with a lot of feature standard that will cost a lot more if you went with another manufacture. These features include standard Bluetooth, UVO interactive infotainment system, three months of Sirius/XM Satellite radio, and plenty of storage compartments. There is a center storage arm rest, two large cup holders in the center and on each of the doors, there is a very deep glove box with 2 levels, there is a deep center box below the center speaker on the front dash, it is good for a wallet, or sunglasses anything that could fit in your hand. The Kia Soul comes standard with AUX and iPod jacks as well as two 12v front power outlets and one rear 12v power outlet.

The standard features alone were enough for me to give Kia my attention. Until 2012 I had always driven a Ford vehicle. Most recently I was driving a 2005 Ford Focus a base model without any bells and whistles. The time came for me to look into new cars. I was very impressed by Kia they used to be a subpar car company overall. I would not be alone in making that assessment that they used to be shoddy cars, however now they have improved their overall quality and perhaps this is due to advancements in technology or a partnership with Hyundai Motors.

I was impressed by how much you could get for fewer than twenty thousand dollars. With a down payment of around three thousand dollars you will assume about $212/mo to lease this type of Kia Soul if you are looking at the (+) model and add the premium sound and sunroof/fog light package. The package is well worth it the speakers are amazing the bass is deep; infinity is the name of the company who does the sound. The UVO system works well but it does take some getting used to, you can voice command a hands free phone call, Sirius channels, Radio stations, or explore your usb device. There is a center touch screen and with it you set your favorite stations or adjust settings. You can load music straight to the car it comes with a Hard Drive. You can upload from a USB stick or with a CD that you have MP3's on. It is a nice added bonus that I did not know at first.

The car shifts well it has two drive modes. You can drive in an Eco mode which gives optimizes output but muting the throttle which adds about one mpg in the city and one on the highway. The standard mode utilizes the 6 speed in line four cylinder engine. You can chose a power shift + and - stick to up and down shift through the gears, if you forget to down shift the car will do it for you or you can simply drive as a normal automatic vehicle. Kia offers standard stability and traction control with this vehicle. The ride height is welcomed and while the car does feel light it is balanced and maneuvers very well in traffic. The added insulation does well to dampen outside noise and winds at highway speeds. The interior materials have great feel to the touch they are of good quality. I average about 29 mpg overall. It is suggested you should get 27/35 mpg. This is a fun car to drive and one that you should test drive to see how much you enjoy it. There are two large pillars in the rear but any experienced driver shouldn't have a problem as this has been a design feature on cars for many years. The speed is great and the large windows provide great visibility.

I have never owned a Kia and I am leasing this 2013 Kia Soul. I have had it about a month know and love it. I enjoy all the standard features, the fuel efficiency the modern technology and the price point. It is really a car that delivers regardless of what you are looking for in a vehicle. It gets me around, it can haul five full sized American adults and I can also haul a lot of cargo which is important for shopping, moving, and getting supplies for my home office. I never thought the hamster car with the light up front speakers would win me over, but once I test drove it and did my homework I truly did fall in love with the Kia Soul (+).

Courtesy of Yahoo! Voices

Don’t miss the savings at Paramount Kia Hickory. Check out this 2013 Kia Optima EX, now for just $23,975!

See here for details.

Thank you for your feedback!

"I had a great experience with ted he was knowledgeable about the car. Was able to answer my questions. The price was great and was able to get a lower rate than my bank offered." -revendoaevans.

More great reviews for Harmony Motors!

"The salesman was courteous and knowledgeable. He took time with me to explain all the features of the car. I also received great service from the management staff. Everyone at Harmony Motors seemed to be pleasant to deal with, and I love my new car.
" - robin.

Thanks for the kind words, Eric!

"Great company!! Patrick was an awesome salesman! Would recommend this dealership to anyone! " - Eric

Drive: Kia Rio SX surprises with refinement

Surprising us with its agility and sportiness, we wrapped up our test drive today of the 2012 Kia Rio SX Sedan. The small car packs a lot of style and sportiness into the entry level class in ways we just had to explore. What we found was a refreshing look into the growth and maturity of the Korean brand.

The Kia Rio is the Korean brand's smallest entry in the American market. Here we can get it in both a 5-door hatchback and a 4-door sedan. It falls into the B-Segment shared with the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent and Chevrolet Sonic.

The latest generation Rio sports one of the most fashionable designs in its class, looking far more upmarket than its $13,600 starting price tag might suggest. We have a fully loaded Rio SX model which is the top trim grade, packed with luxury and performance oriented features like sport suspension and handsome 17” alloy wheels.

nside the SX gets a black interior trim scheme with sturdy and supportive cloth seats, full power accessories and a touchscreen audio system with full connectivity functionality. Also included are a backup camera and satellite radio, a handsome leather wrapped steering wheel and remote keyless entry. For 2013 paddle shifters are added to the steering wheel too.

Power comes from a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine with a modest 138 horsepower. We found the engine to be surprisingly smooth and decent to listen to compared to Kia vehicles of the past. While this car is not fast, we would say it's perhaps slightly spunky.

The EPA rates the Kia Rio SX at 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. In our battery of hyper-miling tests we never saw 40 mpg in highway driving, but did manage combined observed fuel economy of 32.5 mpg for the week.

In the SX your only transmission choice is a 6-speed automatic transmission, but it does allow manual shifting via the lever. If you want a manual transmission, you need to look at only a base model Rio. The transmission shifted predictably and followed orders well when you plant your foot hard on the accelerator.

Handling was indeed supple and tight, with a quiet upmarket feel for a car in this class. The electric power steering had a well weighted feel and gave precise predicable feel when carving corners in the desert mountains outside Phoenix.

While the Rio SX does have a “performance suspension”, we would not call it a back road barnstormer. For daily carving through traffic it's spirited in feel. Put push this car hard in the hills however you will find the rubber jounce bumpers of the suspension and the smell of brakes pretty quickly.

The interior if our SX had a black monotone trim which carried through the entire cabin. It lent a more upscale briefcase-like feel. The seats were easily adjusted and plenty comfortable. In our Arizona summer weather we found the air-conditioning to keep up well in the heat.

The touch screen audio system was a bit difficult to use because its graphic buttons located in the tight corners of its plastic frame. This made certain buttons like the station presets sometimes hard to touch accurately while driving. The screen was also hard to see in some light, but once set the system had a quality sound.

Overall we came away impressed with Kia's newest entry level car. It looks and feels several thousand dollars more expensive than it is, which is a major step in the evolution of the relatively new brand from South Korea.

The Kia Rio SX Sedan we tested came in at a total price of $18,245 including a $750 destination charge. The only option was a set of carpeted floor mats for $95. The new 2013 Kia Rio's are landing at dealerships around Phoenix now and as stated can be had for as little as $13,600.

Courtesy of the Examiner

You’ll be sure to turn heads in this 2013 Kia Soul +. Stop by to check one out at Paramount Kia Hickory!

See here for details.

Kia Motors America Partners with HerHighway in a Nationwide Drive to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 18, 2012 - Kia Motors America (KMA) announced today that it has partnered with HerHighway.com, an online site empowering women with bumper-to-bumper automobile knowledge, to supply Kia vehicles for "Drive Breast Cancer Awareness," an across-the-nation drive event, which aims to raise public awareness around breast cancer. The eight-day cross-country road trip will start in Los Angeles on September 25 and finish in New York City on October 2, which marks the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

More than 100 women will participate, including breast cancer survivors, journalists, bloggers and race car drivers Shea Holbrook, Ashley Van Dyke and Melanie Troxel. The vehicles that KMA is providing for the drive include the 2013 Kia Sportage EX, 2013 Kia Soul! (Exclaim) and 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. Along the way, the drivers will make pit stops at various locations to talk about the event and to raise awareness about breast cancer. The public can also follow the drivers via Twitter with the #HerHighway and #Kia hashtags.

"Kia is deeply committed to supporting HerHighway and the 'Drive Breast Cancer Awareness' event which delivers much-needed awareness towards a disease that affects approximately one in eight women in the United States," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. "Kia vehicles such as the Sportage, Optima and Soul are perfect vehicles for a cross-country road trip, and it is our privilege to provide these vehicles that will help HerHighway get the word out about breast cancer."

The "Drive Breast Cancer Awareness" campaign started in 2011 when its founder Christina Selter, HerHighway's Editor-in-Chief, was diagnosed with possible ALCL, a rare form of liquid breast cancer. Since her diagnosis, Selter's goal has been to bring potentially life-saving information about breast cancer to women across the country through this drive. A few weeks after the conclusion of the event, Selter will undergo a full Capsulectomy.

Kia's Unprecedented Growth
Kia Motors is one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling. Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand. In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality¹ and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking². Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds two of the company's best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan*. Kia's value and technology-laden lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

Courtesy of Kiamedia.com

DIY Car Maintenance Moves for Fall: Change your wiper blades

"Wiper blades should be replaced annually every fall," says Tony Molla, spokesman for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence in Leesburg, Va. "You generally use your wipers more frequently in the fall and winter. They'll also be taking a lot more abuse from road grime and windshield-washer solvent, so it's best to have a fresh set then."

Fortunately, replacing wiper blades as part of car maintenance is very easy and requires no tools. They cost from $10 to $20. Be aware that some cars will require same-sized blades for the driver and passenger sides, while others will require a longer blade for the driver-side wiper. So, be sure to consult the in-store sizing guide to buy the right ones. And don't forget to buy a third blade if you own a hatchback, station wagon or SUV, with a wiper for the rear window.

Courtesy of bankrate.com

Another great review for Paramount Kia Hickory!

" I have already recommended this dealership to others. I love my Kia Soul and would recommend a Kia to anyone!" - Ashley.

Kia's new coupé for Paris motor show

Kia will display the new three-door version of its Cee'd hatchback at the Paris motor show later this month.

The Pro_Cee'd is based on the same platform as the new Cee'd and offers a sporty take on that car's styling. There are no details about technical specification, but expect the Pro_Cee'd to use the same independent rear suspension setup as the regular Cee'd, as well as that car's engine line-up of 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol 1.4- and 1.6-litre diesel.

It goes on sale in the UK in the spring and will be a rival to the Renault Megane Coupé and Volkswagen Scirocco.

Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer, said: "This car embodies emotion and energy through and through. You know from a single glance that this is a car you want to drive, not just own. Kia is on a distinctive design adventure and the all new pro-cee'd spearheads this forward looking journey."

Courtesy of the Telegraph

Make sure to visit Paramount Kia Hickory– and with offers like these, who can resist! Hurry in to get our $3 off oil and filter special today.

Kia Powers Forward on the Road to Electrification

You’ve probably heard about EcoDynamics being mentioned a lot from us. It is an innovative technology aimed to contribute to the sustainability of our planet by reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Kia is one of a few global automakers developing all types of electric propulsion technologies including a parallel hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle. Kia puts continuous efforts to come up with the best solution to reduce CO₂ emission.

Today on Kia BUZZ, we’d like to show you a bit of Kia’s stylish environment-friendly vehicles, the Ray EV production model as well as three other concept cars – the Venga EV, the POP and Naimo, to prove that pursuing environment friendliness does not mean giving up on design.

Kia Venga EV

Kia’s zero-emissions, all-electirc, plug-in Venga EV concept car made its world premiere at the Geneva Show in March 2010. It features an electric powertrain placed within the existing engine bay and a twin-pack battery located under the (slightly raised) trunk floor. It could drive approximately 160 km (99 miles) on a single charge – Sufficient for most daily commuting needs – with acceleration to 100kph (62 mph) in 15 seconds and a top speed of 130kph (80 mph).

 

Power comes from a high-efficiency kW electric motor and a battery pack. The pack used innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology which is much more resistant to ambient temperature fluctuations – a crucial factor in battery electric vehicles – and could be recharged to 100 percent in five hours using a household current.

Kia POP

Unveiled at the 2010 Paris Show in September, the unconventional features of the POP – its side-window design, dot-pattern head and tail lights, back-lit front grille, full-length glass roof, and simplistic looking wheels – all pointed to inspiration from outside the usual automotive spheres, such as gliders and high-speed bicycles.

Inside, the purple color scheme created a calm and peaceful environment within the space-ship like three-seater cabin. Behind the front bench seat, the single rear seat was positioned at an offset angle, resulting in remarkable legroom for a 1,740 mm (5.7 ft) wide car with a wheelbase of just 2,055 mm (6.7 ft).

Kia Naimo

The third electric vehicle, 3.9-meter (12.8 ft) long Naimo concept car made its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show in March 2011. Naimo can drive up to 150 km/h (99 mph) and can go 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge.

 

Conceived by Kia’s international design team in Seoul, the uncomplicated overall design was accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wraparound widescreen and asymmetric sunroof design, and the front and rear dot-style LED lights. Simple & complex is a common trait of many traditional arts and crafts, while the typical jade coloring of Korean pottery gave Naimo its unique exterior finish. The showcar was fitted with special low-drag 20-inch diameter alloy wheels. Inside, Naimo was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and featured hand-crafted materials alongside modern features such as a TOLED (transparent organic light emitting diode) instrument panel.

Kia Ray EV

The Venga, POP and Naimo joined Kia’s growing fleet of hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles and played a part in the development period for the next vanguard on Kia’s road to electrification – the Kia Ray EV. Korea’s first mass produced battery electric vehicle celebrated its premiere in December 2011 and is now on sale to government agencies in Kia’s home country with plans to expand sales to the general Korean public in 2013.

 

The front-wheel drive Ray EV is powered by a 50 kW electric motor and a high-capacity 16.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack that is engineered for a 10 year life cycle and packaged under the rear seat and cabin floor. The Ray EV offers drivers’ a choice ‘E’ (‘eco’) mode which minimizes battery consumption and maximizes range or ‘B’ (‘brake’) mode to increase regenerative braking power when driving on downhill mountain roads.

 

Although the Ray EV weighs more than the gasoline model, the electric motor’s generous torque of 167 Nm (an increase of 77 percent) ensures lively performance, with faster acceleration (0-to-100kph (62mph) in 15.9 seconds) than the gasoline models, plus a top speed of 130 kph (80 mph) and a range up to 140 km (87 miles) on a single charge.

 

Kia’s first full EV for global markets is expected to be based on a compact CUV model and will go on sale during 2014. Kia is continuously studying market trends and keeping options open to add further EV models to its product line-up if there is sufficient consumer demand.

 

At present, electric vehicle technologies do not provide the ultimate transport solution that is ideal for every motoring situation and free from all limitations, due to the infrastructure issues such as the battery charging and price. Research work is continuing across broad range of candidate technologies here at Kia, and we hope EV will soon become the ultimate transport for our future, to become the best solution for the environment.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz

Kia Powers Forward on the Road to Electrification

You’ve probably heard about EcoDynamics being mentioned a lot from us. It is an innovative technology aimed to contribute to the sustainability of our planet by reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Kia is one of a few global automakers developing all types of electric propulsion technologies including a parallel hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle. Kia puts continuous efforts to come up with the best solution to reduce CO₂ emission.

Today on Kia BUZZ, we’d like to show you a bit of Kia’s stylish environment-friendly vehicles, the Ray EV production model as well as three other concept cars – the Venga EV, the POP and Naimo, to prove that pursuing environment friendliness does not mean giving up on design.

Kia Venga EV

Kia’s zero-emissions, all-electirc, plug-in Venga EV concept car made its world premiere at the Geneva Show in March 2010. It features an electric powertrain placed within the existing engine bay and a twin-pack battery located under the (slightly raised) trunk floor. It could drive approximately 160 km (99 miles) on a single charge – Sufficient for most daily commuting needs – with acceleration to 100kph (62 mph) in 15 seconds and a top speed of 130kph (80 mph).

 

Power comes from a high-efficiency kW electric motor and a battery pack. The pack used innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology which is much more resistant to ambient temperature fluctuations – a crucial factor in battery electric vehicles – and could be recharged to 100 percent in five hours using a household current.

Kia POP

Unveiled at the 2010 Paris Show in September, the unconventional features of the POP – its side-window design, dot-pattern head and tail lights, back-lit front grille, full-length glass roof, and simplistic looking wheels – all pointed to inspiration from outside the usual automotive spheres, such as gliders and high-speed bicycles.

Inside, the purple color scheme created a calm and peaceful environment within the space-ship like three-seater cabin. Behind the front bench seat, the single rear seat was positioned at an offset angle, resulting in remarkable legroom for a 1,740 mm (5.7 ft) wide car with a wheelbase of just 2,055 mm (6.7 ft).

Kia Naimo

The third electric vehicle, 3.9-meter (12.8 ft) long Naimo concept car made its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show in March 2011. Naimo can drive up to 150 km/h (99 mph) and can go 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge.

 

Conceived by Kia’s international design team in Seoul, the uncomplicated overall design was accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wraparound widescreen and asymmetric sunroof design, and the front and rear dot-style LED lights. Simple & complex is a common trait of many traditional arts and crafts, while the typical jade coloring of Korean pottery gave Naimo its unique exterior finish. The showcar was fitted with special low-drag 20-inch diameter alloy wheels. Inside, Naimo was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and featured hand-crafted materials alongside modern features such as a TOLED (transparent organic light emitting diode) instrument panel.

Kia Ray EV

The Venga, POP and Naimo joined Kia’s growing fleet of hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles and played a part in the development period for the next vanguard on Kia’s road to electrification – the Kia Ray EV. Korea’s first mass produced battery electric vehicle celebrated its premiere in December 2011 and is now on sale to government agencies in Kia’s home country with plans to expand sales to the general Korean public in 2013.

 

The front-wheel drive Ray EV is powered by a 50 kW electric motor and a high-capacity 16.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack that is engineered for a 10 year life cycle and packaged under the rear seat and cabin floor. The Ray EV offers drivers’ a choice ‘E’ (‘eco’) mode which minimizes battery consumption and maximizes range or ‘B’ (‘brake’) mode to increase regenerative braking power when driving on downhill mountain roads.

 

Although the Ray EV weighs more than the gasoline model, the electric motor’s generous torque of 167 Nm (an increase of 77 percent) ensures lively performance, with faster acceleration (0-to-100kph (62mph) in 15.9 seconds) than the gasoline models, plus a top speed of 130 kph (80 mph) and a range up to 140 km (87 miles) on a single charge.

 

Kia’s first full EV for global markets is expected to be based on a compact CUV model and will go on sale during 2014. Kia is continuously studying market trends and keeping options open to add further EV models to its product line-up if there is sufficient consumer demand.

 

At present, electric vehicle technologies do not provide the ultimate transport solution that is ideal for every motoring situation and free from all limitations, due to the infrastructure issues such as the battery charging and price. Research work is continuing across broad range of candidate technologies here at Kia, and we hope EV will soon become the ultimate transport for our future, to become the best solution for the environment.

Courtesy of Kia-Buzz

If you’re looking for a new car, you can’t miss Paramount Kia Hickory. See us today to test drive this Kia Sportage LX for only $23,445.

See here for details

Thank you for making the long trip to see us!

"I would highly recommend this dealership, even to those out-of-town. We traveled from Roanoke, VA and after our experience, we're very glad we purchased from Paramount Kia Hickory! See Jim Moir for excellent service!" - jerricweaver.

About The Contest - Kia Soul "In My Mind" Music Video Challenge

Hey Kia fans! Check out the latest manufacturer’s incentive for the 2012 Sedona. Deals have never looked this good!

2012 Sedona - $1500 Owner Loyalty Offer for Qualified Buyers

Owner loyalty offer available to current Kia owners who purchase a new 2012 Kia vehicle between 9/5/2012 – 10/1/12. See dealer for more details.

Kia’s Best Box Shaped Cars

Making box shaped cars should spell the end for any respectable manufacturer, buy despite this one manufacturer has managed to pull it off perfectly. Call it Korean intuition or call it Japanese design perfected for the global market, but they got the box car right, and they’re basically the only ones to do so.

The first sighting of the modern Kia box is the Soul, which came out as a concept in 2006, born out of Kia’s design studio in California. The box shape stuck, and soon became one of their best selling vehicles, overtaking other box cars sold in the US, like the Nissan Cube and the Scion xB.

The future of the brand hold a little bit more of the same. They recently launched the Kia Ray in Korea, a design that’s basically the same as a Japanse kei car.

In the future, the box shape will be used by a large MPV, previewed as the KV7 at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Another upcoming box car is a sportier version of the Soul, previewed as the Track’ster.

Courtesy of autoevolution.com

Another great review for Paramount Kia Hickory!

"The dealership was a great experience I have always disliked car dealer because they are so pushy,but the dealers at Paramount Kia were very helpful and did not force me to buy a car I didn't want or couldn't afford." - Shawn.