Kia

Kia Cadenza — Sedan excellence

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Before we climbed into the all-new full-sized luxury offering from Kia, we knew we would like it because we were enamored of its platform mate, the Hyundai Azera, after a 1,500-mile trek last year. What we weren't expecting was how much more we liked the all-new mid-sized Cadenza sedan.

Kia Sorento — A good crossover made better

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A very good Kia Sorento mid-sized crossover sport utility has been made even better with the 2014 model. Kia has endowed the newest Sorento with styling updates, an upgraded interior and a new, more responsive V-6 engine.

2014 Kia Soul



MINNEAPOLIS — When Kia introduced the boxy Soul four years ago in Miami, little did the company realize what a hit it would become. Manufacturers love to predict how many cars they will sell and the Soul has far exceeded their initial expectations selling four times as many as planned. Its success has left its closest competitors — the Honda Element, Nissan Cube and Scion xB — all but dead in the water.

Kia Forte — Hitting all the right notes

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The compact sedan segment is loaded with good products — frankly, it's hard to make a bad purchasing decision these days — but there are standouts among the standouts. And the 2014 Kia Forte sedan is at the top of this exceptional class in terms of styling, a high-quality interior, standard and optional equipment, reasonable performance, and price.

2014 Kia Cadenza



SAN DIEGO — Before we set foot and butt into the all-new full-sized luxury offering from Kia, we knew we would like it because we were enamored of its platform mate, the Hyundai Azera, after a recent 1,500-mile trek. What we weren't expecting was how much more we liked the Cadenza. Both sedans have the same energetic 3.3-liter direct-injection V-6 producing 293 horsepower mated to a six-speed automatic and both provide a generous helping of performance measured in the mid-six-second range from 0 to 60.

2014 Kia Forte



SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. —The Kia Forte this spring will join the popular compact sedan segment that includes such vaunted competitors as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra. This newcomer, based on our afternoon of driving in the Arizona desert, will be  a player.
Oh, hold on, wait a minute. You say the Forte isn't new to the segment, it came on board in 2010 as replacement for the forgettable Spectra.

2014 Kia Sorento



SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Usually when an automobile manufacturer says a new model is a mid-cycle facelift that’s a fairly accurate description. Mostly there are minor changes; maybe it sports a different grille or front and rear fascias. Maybe it has a new dashboard using higher-grade materials. Or in some instances it’s simply called the “new” 20XX vehicle. For its 2014 Sorento CUV Kia has thrown conventional wisdom to the wildebeests.

Kia Sorento — A stylish crossover

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Several times over the past couple of years acquaintances in the market for a mid-sized crossover vehicle have repeatedly told us that the Kia Sorento was at or near the top of their shopping list. We find this rather amazing because not that long ago Kia was anonymous, known only as the builder of cheap high-mileage vehicles, and not on anyone's shopping list let alone at the top — until now.

Kia Rio hatchback — An amiable companion

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We tested the 2012 Kia Rio hatchback during the hectic holiday season and we soon realized it was just the right vehicle; something to jump into and out of without a second thought. The Rio was always ready to negotiate the traffic snarls of holiday suburbia, running here and there.

2012 Kia Rio


 
AUSTIN, Texas — Kia continues to make a statement at each of its new car launches; be it a mid-sized sedan or a B-segment sub-compact. Here in Texas hill country Kia put its growing equity on the line with an all-new B-segment Rio three trim level hatch and sedan equipped with a 1.6-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder engine with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission (LX only) or six-speed automatic.