Kia Motors in Europe announced that all 2008 model year of their Kia Sportage compact SUV assembled in their Zilina facility in Slovakia will be offered with the best vehicle warranty sold in the continent. Each Kia sportage will be offered with the 7-year/150,000 kilometer car warranty like that of the Kia cee’d. In the SUV segment, the Sportage is the first ever model to be offered together with this comprehensive warranty which is free and transferable to its next owners as long as the vehicle follows its maintenance and servicing schedule.

“Kia has taken the bold step of introducing a revolutionary warranty for the new 2008-model Sportage which will once again demonstrate to consumers in Europe our brand’s ‘Power to Surprise’ and also to delight,” enthused Mr Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe.

“Thanks to the high quality of vehicles coming from our new facility in Slovakia, Kia is delighted to underline its commitment to delivering maximum customer satisfaction, together with lowered costs of vehicle ownership and better residual values.”

“We view this warranty as a corporate statement and an important long-term customer relations measure. The 7-Year warranty is an endorsement of Kia’s three core brand values – quality, trustworthy, dynamic,” added SVP Lievens. The extended warranty of the Sportage since November 1, 2007 from the 3 year/Unlimited kilometer cover that goes with the previous model was due to improved quality because the Sportage started its production in the Zilina plant last August.

The seven year warranty is also “retroactive” so the customers who already bought the 2008 Kia Sportage (the interior have Auto floor mats) in Europe will also be covered by it. The new Sportage is Kia’s new sport utie with better exteriors, refined interiors and improved towing capacity.

“Since its launch in Europe during 2004, the Sportage has attracted more than 100,000 buyers and has played a key role in raising public awareness of the Kia brand across the broadest spread of European consumers,” commented Jean-Charles Lievens. “Now made in Europe, the new 2008 Kia Sportage retains all the popular attributes of the original model and offers customers an even better drive in greater comfort and refinement.”