Kia Morning Urban Facelift Launch
Kia Motors has unveiled the facelifted model of its beloved compact car, the Morning, today. This marks the first major update since the third generation of the Morning launched in 2017. The official name for this new model is #MorningUrban.
Interestingly, the official images released earlier in the morning didn't convey much of an "urban" vibe. The front design has a slightly stronger impression than its predecessor, resembling a cautious mask-wearing look, possibly influenced by recent visits to clubs in Itaewon.
Personally, I find the added safety and convenience features, such as lane-keeping assist and collision prevention assist, more appealing than the revamped exterior design of the Kia Morning Urban facelift. These features are essential for a compact car.
Moreover, I hear they’ve introduced ventilated seats for the driver’s seat as a new feature.
I went to Kia Beat 360, located next to the Galleria Department Store in Apgujeong, to check out the actual vehicle. The flashy exterior of the building resembles that of a luxury brand more than a car dealership.
I got a firsthand look at the Morning Urban. Due to COVID-19, they held a photo day instead of an official launch event, inviting only a small number of guests in the morning and afternoon. The atmosphere felt like everyone was waiting for the stage to clear for personal YouTube filming from a specific channel. It was a bit frustrating...
I understand that those producing content in a limited space and time work hard, but I wish they had considered the other attendees who took time out of their busy schedules to be there. It felt like a new type of negative consequence created by the competitive YouTube culture that pushes people to show their content first!
Anyway, that’s not the Morning's fault...
While I have my disappointments, I’ll just share what I want to say.
First, let’s ignore the earlier mention of masks. The front design of the facelifted Morning Urban looks stunning enough to make you want one.
The new color, #Honeybee, gives it a charming look that feels more pretty than striking.
The four-point X-Cross daytime running lights and the elegantly designed tiger-nose grille, reminiscent of Porsche but first seen on the K3, along with the large radiator grille and air intake design, create a solid and complete impression.
The new 16-inch wheels look larger thanks to their bold spoke design. Nowadays, domestic cars have impressive wheel designs that can compete with even high-end supercar brands. I know a few business owners in the aftermarket wheel distribution industry, and they often express how challenging the competition is.
The rear design of the new Morning Urban facelift doesn’t appear to have changed significantly.
The details of the LED lamps seem to have become a bit more intricate. As for trunk space...
In fact, having any trunk space in a compact car is a plus!
Looking inside...
As a facelift, not much has changed dramatically. The steering wheel remains the same, and the overall layout is almost identical to the third-generation Morning. However, upon closer inspection, you can still see the improvements of the new model!
The steering wheel and seats feature stylish orange stitching, making them look sharp.
They’ve also paid attention to the gearbox cover.
The driver’s seat now includes a ventilated seat button, right?
The infotainment monitor seems larger, and they’ve updated the UI. Additionally, they’ve moved the cluttered buttons around the touch panel down for a cleaner look.
The trip computer screen in the cluster has also upgraded to a 4.2-inch color display.
And these little details...
The starting price of 11,950,000 KRW (approximately $8,900 USD) is hard to believe, right?
The new Kia Morning Urban facelift starts at 11,950,000 KRW ($8,900 USD) for the Standard model, 13,500,000 KRW ($10,000 USD) for the Prestige model, and 14,800,000 KRW ($11,000 USD) for the Signature model. Including essential options, the price could approach around 18,000,000 KRW ($13,500 USD).
The price has increased compared to the previous model, but considering the addition of autonomous driving features, ventilated seats, and various IT functionalities, it’s understandable. However, spending nearly 20,000,000 KRW ($15,000 USD) on a compact car like the Morning feels a bit excessive...
Whether it’s worth that price remains to be seen.
I will explore this further in an upcoming test drive.
That concludes my thoughts.