What Do Kia Model Names Mean?

In today’s world, there are hundreds of products and brands that have become household names, used in casual conversation without a second thought. But, what is an Oreo, really? Why is it called Pepsi? When we stop to consider many of these names, they begin to seem odd. Some — like PlayStation — make perfect sense, while words like Verizon have no inherent meaning.

At Landers Kia in Little Rock, Arkansas, we’ve had customers ask the same questions about our inventory. Why is it called the Telluride? Or the Seltos? Or the Niro? If you’ve ever been curious about Kia model names and the meaning behind them, keep reading for the secret origin of these outstanding vehicles!

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Kia Telluride

This one has quite the history! In the late 1800s, many people in the U.S. were traveling west to explore the land and find gold. As settlers passed through Colorado, there was one trail in particular that was known for being extremely dangerous. So many died on this trail that the locals warned travelers: “If you continue down this path, then to hell-ya- ride.” Eventually, the town at the end of this trail was named “Telluride.” 

The Kia Telluride is named after the town of Telluride, Colorado. This is because of the tough and capable nature of the Telluride, and because the vehicle resembles the large wagons that families rode down the perilous trail.

Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos, introduced in 2018, is named after the Greek legend Celtos, who was the son of Hercules and a Celtic princess named Celtine. Said to be the forefather of the Celts, Celtos was a bold and brave leader, qualities that Kia wanted the Seltos to embody. The “S” was added to convey the SUV’s sportiness. 

Kia Niro

While it might seem like this crossover is named after Nero, a particularly brutal Roman emperor, this is not the case. The name is actually a combination of the words “near” and “zero”, which is meant to refer to both the number of flaws in its design and the number of emissions it produces. “Near zero” — or “Niro” — brings to mind the clean, efficient, and streamlined nature of the Niro Hybrid and the Niro EV.

Kia K5

The Kia K5, formerly known as the Kia Optima, has a simple name with a simple backstory. In 2021, Kia America formally changed the name of its mid-sized sedan in order to match the name used in South Korea and other countries around the world. In fact, outside of the U.S., Kia also produces the K7, K8, and K9! This trend can also be seen with the Kia EV6 and the upcoming EV9. 

We hope this article helped demystify some of our more uniquely-named models. If you are interested in test-driving these or any of our other new vehicles, stop by Landers Kia in Little Rock, Arkansas! Our team of experts can find you the perfect Kia for your lifestyle.