[stncls]

It probably does not affect the cheaper models to the same extent, but Kia's design language has changed quite a bit over the last 5 years.

For example, The Grand Tour's James May was full of praise for the Kia Stinger in 2017 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht1Zh-1q7LU ).

More recently, the Kia Telluride was 2020 "World car of the year". In 2019 it was basically sold out everywhere, and it ended up moving more than double the numbers as the Hyundai Palisade, which is essentially the same car with a different exterior design.

The evolution has been attributed by some to their poaching of European talent, like German car designer Peter Schreyer of Audi TT fame.