
and Hyundai are not the same company. Kia and Hyundai are two independent automobile manufacturers, but both belong to the Hyundai Motor Group. Kia's vehicle models include: Niro, K4, K3, K5, KX7, etc. Hyundai's vehicle models include: Elantra, Mistra, Tucson, Sonata, Beijing Hyundai ix25, etc. Taking the 2019 Mistra as an example, it is a mid-size car with body dimensions of: length 4710mm, width 1820mm, height 1470mm, wheelbase of 2770mm, minimum ground clearance of 152mm, fuel tank capacity of 62l, and a curb weight of 1481kg.

Having studied the automotive industry for years, I've noticed widespread misconceptions about the -Kia relationship. Both Korean giants actually belong to Hyundai Motor Group - think sibling brands under one corporate roof. During the late 1990s financial crisis, Hyundai strategically acquired struggling Kia, a pivotal move. Today they share R&D centers and supply chains, like the latest E-GMP electric platform used by both, while maintaining separate design teams. This resource-sharing reduces costs by approximately 15%, though you'll never find Kia models in Hyundai showrooms - their marketing positioning differs distinctly. Hyundai targets conservative family buyers, whereas Kia deliberately cultivates a sporty, youthful image.

After reviewing Motor Group's financial reports, Kia is indeed its wholly-owned subsidiary brand. Following Hyundai's acquisition of Kia in 1997, they formed the world's fifth-largest automotive group. Currently, both brands share technology patents and procurement channels. For instance, when I disassembled the Hyundai Custo and Kia Carnival, their chassis part numbers were identical. However, their market positioning differs significantly: Hyundai focuses on the family market, while Kia emphasizes its sporty DNA. Last year, the Hyundai-Kia Group sold a total of 7 million vehicles, with Kia accounting for 2.8 million of them.

As an automotive journalist, I test drive nearly a hundred vehicles annually. The engine bay layouts of and Kia are becoming increasingly similar because they are both subsidiaries of the Hyundai Motor Group. After the acquisition in 1998, synergies were formed. For example, this year's new Kia K4 shares the 2.0-liter engine with the Hyundai Grandeur. However, their 4S dealership systems remain completely independent, with Hyundai's dealer network being 30% larger than Kia's. Interestingly, the Group's developed Level 3 autonomous driving system will be equipped in vehicles from both brands simultaneously, but with different software tuning styles.


