Like its sister company Hyundai, Kia makes cars that the everyday driver can afford—but that doesn’t mean luxury options are completely off the table. With rumors of Kia moving toward more upscale models, Kia already manufactures standout cars right on the edge of luxury.

With Kia, you can depend on a well-crafted driving experience for less. Plus, Kia offers some of the best warranty coverage in the business with five years or 60,000 miles on the Limited Warranty and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the Powertrain Warranty. And if that isn’t enough to win you over, just take a seat inside a poised

Kia K900

—if that isn’t luxury, it’s pretty darn close!

So if you want to upgrade to a more luxurious Kia, let

Jerry

take you on a ride through the best that Kia has to offer. And since Jerry is the

trustworthy insurance comparison app

, we’ll end off with some tips on how to reduce your

Kia car insurance costs

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Is Kia a luxury car?

Technically, no—Kia is not a luxury brand. However, it does make a few models that wouldn’t look out of place next to a

BMW

or a

Lexus

. Before we get into those, let’s revisit what makes a luxury car tick.

What makes a luxury car?

Kia models like the K900 share a driving platform with

Genesis

(Hyundai’s luxury division). Is that enough to make it a luxury car? Or is it what’s inside the cabin that counts?

What a luxury vehicle actually is may be up for debate, but it’s generally agreed that certain elements in combination make a luxury vehicle. They include:

Performance features: Think powerful engines that would impress a race car driver while also adding upgraded suspensions to provide a quiet and smooth ride.

Comfort features: If you get into the passenger seat and spot leather upholstery and heated or power-adjustable seats, you know you’re in an upscale vehicle.

Technology features: What’s a luxury vehicle without a premium audio system equipped with hands-free tech?

Style features: Most often, the interior of a luxury vehicle will speak for itself with moody lighting, high-end components, and modern and sophisticated design.

Sure, your everyday driver might have the same safety features or a comparable engine, but the plush high-end interiors and design quality of a luxury vehicle place it in a world all its own.

MORE:

Does Kia have a self-driving car?

Is Kia a good luxury brand?

Kia isn’t really a luxury brand, but it has a few contenders in the upscale market.

Generally, Kias are good investments because of their stellar warranty coverage, high reliability scores, and affordability. RepairPal gives Kia a 4.0/5.0 rating for reliability, with a third-best placement out of all car brands in that category.

However, if you’re looking for pure luxury at any cost, you may want to consider a luxury brand like Genesis for some upscale options.

The best Kia luxury cars

Kia has a lot to offer any car buyer, and that includes those who want something extra fancy to drive. Let’s review Kia’s top options when it comes to luxury.

Kia K900

There’s no doubt—the 2020 Kia K900 is swanky enough to be called a premium vehicle. At a starting price of $60,935 when new, it’s also appealing for its affordability. You’ll get way more than your money’s worth with this upscale sedan.

The driving experience is smooth and enjoyable, and passengers will enjoy dual-zone climate controls to keep their part of the car just right. Plus, the K900 comes standard with a suite of surprising yet delightful features like rain-sensing windshield wipers. Although it falls a little short when it comes to interior materials, the K900’s value makes up for it.

Standard features include:

19-inch wheels

Automatic LED headlights

Daytime running lights

Fog lamps

Heated power-folding side-view mirrors with integrated turn signals and auto-dimming

Power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats

Heated rear seats

Heated steering wheel

Keyless entry and push-button ignition

Head-up display

Nappa leather upholstery

Sunroof

Blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera

12.3-inch touchscreen

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

Navigation system

17-speaker Lexicon sound system

SiriusXM satellite radio

Wi-Fi hotspot

The Luxury base trim is the only one available, so what you see is basically what you get with the K900. Here’s an overview of the key specs to give you a better idea of what to expect:

Key Specs	2020 Kia K900
Engine	Turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive
0 to 60	5.0 seconds
EPA fuel economy (mpg)	21 combined/18 city/25 hwy

Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™

Check my rates!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Kia Stinger

For a near-luxury option that’s a little more recent, let’s take a look at what the 2022

Kia Stinger

has to offer.

Starting at a respectable $37,435, the Stinger has an undeniably luxurious feel. From the roomy interior to the sleek exterior lines, to features like adjustable ambient lighting and an optional 10.3-inch infotainment display, the Stinger is an attainable vehicle if your goal is luxury.

Standard features include:

Hatchback liftgate

8.0-inch touchscreen with physical controls

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Six-speaker stereo system

More safety features and tech features are available as add-ons or by upgrading to the GT1 or GT2 trims. The GT1 trim is generally considered the most cost-effective with a sunroof, Harman/Kardon audio system, automatic high-beam headlamps, a power-adjustable steering column, ventilated front seats, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention monitor.

Key Specs	2022 Kia Stinger
Engine	300-hp 2.5-liter turbo-four OR a 368-hp twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive OR all-wheel drive
0 to 60	4.6 seconds
EPA fuel economy (mpg )	20 combined/17 city /24 hwy

MORE:Kia paint codes

Kia Telluride

We’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention Kia’s highly rated SUV, the

Telluride

. In addition to a starting price of $34,725, the Telluride also has a perfect 10/10 score from Car and Driver along with an Editors’ Choice award and a 10Best accolade.

But how does it measure up when it comes to luxury? The Telluride comes standard with a suite of safety features and a rich tech-savvy interior, while the top trim level adds luxury features like front and rear sunroofs and Nappa leather upholstery.

Standard features include:

Plenty of interior storage options

10.3-inch touchscreen

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking

Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

Blind-spot monitoring

It’s true that to get many of the above luxury features, you have to go up the trim ladder, but tricking out your Telluride may be worth it. With the highest

trim, you get a 12-way power driver's seat, a Harman Kardon stereo system, two sunroofs, and second-row captain's chairs for under $45,000 MSRP.

Key Specs	2022 Kia Telluride
Engine	291-hp V-6
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Front-wheel drive OR all-wheel drive
0 to 60	7.1 seconds (SX trim)
EPA fuel economy (mpg)	21 combined/19 city/24 hwy

MORE:

Everything you need to know about Kia electric cars

How to save on Kia insurance with Jerry

While Kia may not be a luxury brand, it still has a few upscale vehicles to offer. Unfortunately, upscale vehicles usually come with more expensive insurance costs—unless you use the

Jerry

app, that is!

car insurance

shopping isn’t your forte, don’t worry about it—Jerry can gather custom quotes from over 55 insurance providers to find you the coverage you want for the best price. You won’t have to wait for insurance companies to call you back or respond to your online quote request—with Jerry, you’ll have all of the best rates at your fingertips in under a minute.

No hassles, just savings! With Jerry, you can save $800+ per year on car insurance.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

FAQ

Is Kia more luxurious than Lexus?

The short answer is no. Kia isn’t a luxury brand, and although models like the K900 come close to being luxury vehicles, they can’t compete with a luxury-focused manufacturer like Lexus. However, Kias tend to win out for value and passenger space when compared with Lexus vehicles.

Are Kia cars expensive?

Kia produces affordable vehicles, but its more upscale models can be on the pricier side. As long as you stick with the base trim, however, you can still get an attractive and luxurious Kia for a relatively low price. It’s also worth noting that Kias generally have high reliability ratings, meaning that it’s less likely you’ll have to pay for repairs over time.

Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?

Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month

Check your rate!