Kia Morning: The Affordable Car That's Winning Hearts Across America!

The Kia Morning has been a beloved national compact car for many years.

Its affordability and the various benefits associated with compact cars have contributed to its popularity.

In 2023, it sold over 25,000 units, confirming its consistent popularity.

In December 2024, the Morning's sales reached a cumulative total of 25,879 units from January to December 2023,

showing an average monthly performance of over 2,000 units.

I also had a junior who picked up their car in December,

and while it used to feel 99% cute, now it seems quite sophisticated.

Personally, I found the Milky Beige color attractive, but it feels a bit common.

Recently, many people have been looking for the Adventure Green seen in photos.

The rear features a three-dimensional bumper and vertically curved LED rear combination lamps,

giving it an overall balanced design.

Despite being a small and compact car, it offers a youthful and stylish experience.

In the past, some people felt embarrassed driving a compact car, associating it with financial struggles,

but recently, the MZ generation has embraced them as practical and trendy vehicles.

Is this a reflection of the MZ generation's mindset, where they no longer care about others' opinions?

Although the size may be somewhat disappointing for camping or outdoor activities,

compact cars offer various benefits, making them advantageous in terms of maintenance costs.

Many people buy them as their first car, using it until they save enough for a larger vehicle.

Even with a compact car, you still enjoy sufficient maneuverability,

leading to an increase in purchases for travel or work before marriage.

Although the hatchback style doesn't offer a spacious trunk,

it seems sufficient for enjoying dates around the outskirts of Seoul.

I also drove it around Seoul during a test drive,

and I found it easy to navigate narrow alleyways without any worries,

allowing me to comfortably visit famous cafes in the northern part of the city that I usually avoided.

What benefits come with owning a compact car?

The benefits of compact cars are numerous, often applied without the owner even realizing it.

First, you receive an exemption from the individual consumption tax and public bond purchase, so you only pay the vehicle price,

which reduces the burden of initial costs.

When buying a car, insurance is mandatory, but

you also receive a 10% discount on liability insurance premiums.

You can also receive a 50% discount on tolls for highways and other paid roads.

A travel YouTuber I know frequently travels to Incheon Airport, and they mentioned that switching to a compact car significantly reduced the tolls on the Yeongjong Bridge.

Public parking lots also offer up to a 50% discount,

leading to feedback from owners that it feels like they earn money the more they drive.

What many people don’t know is that you can receive up to an 80% discount at subway transfer parking lots.

Additionally, compact cars are exempt from the vehicle restriction system, allowing users to operate their vehicles reliably for work purposes.

Given the numerous benefits of compact cars, there's really no need to drive a larger vehicle and waste fuel, right?

Let's take a look at the specifications and estimated pricing information for the 2024 Kia Morning.

Length: 141.7 inches

Width: 62.8 inches

Height: 58.5 inches

Wheelbase: 94.5 inches

Front track: 54.9 inches

Rear track: 55.3 inches

Engine: Inline 3-cylinder

Displacement: 61.0 cubic inches

Maximum output: 76 hp / 6,200 rpm

Maximum torque: 70.7 lb-ft / 3,750 rpm

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Tire size: 175/65R 14

Unladen weight: 2,018 lbs

Combined fuel efficiency: 35.4 mpg

City fuel efficiency: 32.5 mpg

Highway fuel efficiency: 39.7 mpg

the charm of compact cars shines brightest in urban settings.

Depending on your primary use, you could spend more to buy a Hyundai Elantra, but

the Kia Morning offers mobility at a lower cost and maintenance expense,

making it a popular choice for young professionals purchasing their first car.

The interior and exterior design feels small and compact yet stylish,

with a visibility-friendly monitor and cluster combination that ensures a comfortable view,

allowing even beginners to drive with confidence.

The model shown in the video is the gasoline 1.0 Prestige model.

I conducted a mock estimate for the most popular Prestige trim.

2024 Morning Gasoline 1.0 Prestige Trim

Vehicle price: 1,485,000 won (approximately 1,115 USD)

Acquisition tax: 0 won (exempt for compact cars)

Bond discount: 0 won (exempt for compact cars)

=> Estimated actual purchase price: 1,485,000 won (approximately 1,115 USD)

Since both the acquisition tax and bond amount are exempt, the vehicle price becomes the actual purchase price.

For reference, the trendy trim costs 1,315,000 won (approximately 990 USD), while the signature trim is priced at 1,655,000 won (approximately 1,235 USD).

The Kia Morning is particularly popular as a first car for young professionals,

as those who have just started working might find spending over 10,000,000 won (approximately 7,500 USD) to be quite burdensome.

For those individuals, I recommend the KS Auto Plan's long-term rental service, which allows you to use the car for your desired duration with zero initial costs.

KS Auto Plan specializes in long-term new car rentals and works with all major capital companies,

comparing and confirming conditions that best suit the customer before offering the most affordable rental rates.

Those with limited driving experience may face higher insurance rates, but

using a rental car allows you to benefit from the rental company's insurance rates, resulting in relatively lower premiums.

If an accident occurs due to driving inexperience, your personal insurance rates won't increase,

making it a good option to use a rental car until you gain confidence in your driving skills.

This post was created with support from KS.