If it feels like you’re seeing more Kias on I-80 than you used to, you’re not imagining it.
Kia has spent the last several years turning itself from a value-brand afterthought into one of the fastest-growing names in the auto industry, and that momentum has landed squarely in the Omaha metro.
The clearest sign: H+H Kia is opening a second Nebraska location at Village Pointe, just steps from the Village Pointe Shopping Center in West Omaha.
Here’s a look at the numbers behind Kia’s rise, why so many Nebraska drivers are making the switch, and what to expect from the new store.
The National Numbers Behind the Growth
Kia’s momentum isn’t a one-year fluke — it’s an eight-year streak of retail sales growth in the U.S., and 2025 and 2026 have been record-setting even by Kia’s own standards.
| Period | U.S. Sales | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 (full year) | 775,532 vehicles | +13% vs. 2022 |
| 2025 (full year, record) | 852,155 vehicles | +7% vs. 2024 — first time over 800,000 |
| Jan.–Aug. 2026 (YTD) | 590,377 vehicles | +3% vs. the same period in 2025 |
| August 2026 (single month, record) | 83,793 vehicles | Best August in brand history |
A few other data points worth noting:
- Kia’s U.S. market share climbed from roughly 4.5% to 4.9% between 2022 and 2023 alone, and it’s held onto those gains since.
- Retail sales through Kia dealerships rose 5% year-over-year in 2025, marking eight consecutive years of retail growth — Kia’s longest such streak.
- Electrified Kia models (hybrid and EV combined) grew 24% in 2025, and EV-specific sales were up over 54% in early 2026, showing the growth isn’t limited to gas-powered SUVs.
The Kia Seltos is a good example of how fast a single model can move. In August 2026, Seltos sales jumped 53% year-over-year:
| Model | Aug. 2026 Units | Aug. 2025 Units | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Seltos | 9,214 | 5,574 | +53% |
Year-to-date, Seltos sales sit at 50,525 units compared to 35,430 during the same stretch last year — a jump that’s arriving right alongside the redesigned 2027 model.
Why Nebraska Drivers Are Choosing Kia
National numbers only tell part of the story. Here’s what’s actually pulling Midwest buyers toward the brand:
- Warranty coverage that’s hard to match. Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty remains one of the strongest in the industry — a real consideration for drivers logging highway miles between Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs.
- Safety ratings that hold up. The 2026 Kia Sorento earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, the organization’s highest designation, for models built after September 2025.
- A lineup built for how Nebraska families actually drive. SUVs dominate Midwest sales, and Kia’s SUV lineup — Sportage, Sorento, Telluride — covers compact to three-row without pushing buyers into luxury pricing.
- Standard equipment that usually costs extra elsewhere. Advanced driver-assist features, larger touchscreens, and upgraded audio are frequently standard on Kia trims where competitors treat them as options.
- Reliability that’s earned, not just marketed. Kia continues to post above-average scores in J.D. Power and Consumer Reports reliability surveys, with models like the Sportage, Sorento, and Forte building long ownership track records.
Popular Models at H+H Kia
| Model | Segment | Why Nebraska Buyers Like It |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Telluride | 3-row SUV | Named to Newsweek’s 2026 Most Anticipated New Vehicles list ahead of the redesigned 2027 model |
| Kia Sorento | Mid-size SUV | IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rated for 2026 models built after September 2025 |
| Kia Sportage | Compact SUV | Strong reliability track record and competitive pricing |
| Kia Seltos | Subcompact SUV | Fastest-growing model in the current lineup, up 53% year-over-year |
| Kia Carnival | Minivan | Family-oriented features without the minivan stigma |
| Kia EV6 | Electric | Kia’s dedicated EV platform, part of a lineup that grew EV sales over 50% |
A New H+H Kia Is Coming to Village Pointe
The clearest local proof of Kia’s growth is happening in West Omaha. H+H Kia has broken ground on a second Nebraska dealership at 17833 Burke Street — tucked between Walgreens and Core Bank, just southeast of 180th and Burke, right next to the Village Pointe Shopping Center.
What to know about the new location:
- Site size: Nearly 10 acres (9.77 acres), with room for roughly 600 vehicles on site
- Address: 17833 Burke Street, Omaha, NE 68118
- Timeline: Construction is underway now, with completion targeted for the end of 2026
- What it adds: Sales and full-service capability in a part of the metro — Elkhorn, West Omaha, and the Millard corridor — that’s been growing fast in its own right
| H+H Kia – Papillion (open now) | H+H Kia at Village Pointe (opening soon) | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 10902 S. 150th St., Papillion, NE 68138 | 17833 Burke St., Omaha, NE 68118 |
| Status | Currently open | Under construction, targeted for late 2026 |
| Nearby landmarks | Highways 50 & 370 | Village Pointe Shopping Center, 180th & Burke |
| Site size | — | 9.77 acres, ~600-vehicle capacity |
Until the new store opens, the Papillion location continues to handle sales and service for the full lineup — Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, Seltos, Carnival, and EV6 included.
FAQ
Why is Kia growing so fast right now? A combination of factors: record-setting SUV sales, rapid growth in electrified models, strong safety ratings, and a warranty and equipment package that undercuts competitors on price while matching or exceeding them on features.
Is Kia considered a reliable brand? Yes. Kia continues to post above-average results in J.D. Power and Consumer Reports reliability surveys, and models like the Sorento, Sportage, and Forte have built solid long-term ownership records.
When will the new H+H Kia at Village Pointe open? Construction is underway now, with completion targeted for the end of 2026. The Papillion location remains open for sales and service in the meantime.
Where exactly will the new dealership be located? 17833 Burke Street in Omaha, NE 68118 — between Walgreens and Core Bank, just southeast of 180th and Burke Street, adjacent to the Village Pointe Shopping Center.
Can I test drive a Kia before the Village Pointe location opens? Yes. The H+H Kia location in Papillion is open now and carries the full current lineup, including the Telluride, Sorento, Sportage, Seltos, Carnival, and EV6.
References
- Kia America — August 2026 U.S. sales results (autoevolution)
- Kia America — Seltos and lineup performance, July–August 2026 (TopSpeed)
- Kia America — 2025 full-year sales record and eight-year retail growth streak (Diehl Kia of Massillon)
- Kia — U.S. market share growth, 2022–2023 (Kia of Lincoln)
- Kia — Electrification and EV sales growth, Q1 2026 (Sci-Tech Today)
- Grow Omaha — H+H Kia Village Pointe West groundbreaking details
- IIHS — 2026 Kia Sorento Top Safety Pick+ designation
