It's not everyday you have the chance to visit a brand spanking new automotive assembly plant, but the new Kia plant in western Georgia (USA, not Eastern Europe) makes Kia latest "transplant" to build new vehicles in the States. Kia began producing the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento in small volumes in fall 2009, right on schedule. Full production begins in mid-November.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) is a 300,000 unit capacity assembly plant situated along Interstate 85 in western Georgia adjacent to the Alabama border. Its location is about 85-miles east up the 85 from the Hyundai assembly plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Surrounding and between the plants are suppliers providing components not only to the Kia and Hyundai plants in the area but some also produce components for Honda, Mercedes, and Nissan plants in Alabama and Mississippi.

Continue reading "Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia" »

Posted by George Peterson at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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OK, OK. I know that title has been used for about every traditional SUV that has evolved into a Crossover SUV in its latest incarnation and that is just what the 2011 Kia Sorento has done. Sorento becomes thoroughly modern with the introduction of its 2011 model.

The first generation Sorento; Kia's first entry in the mid-size SUV arena, was a traditional SUV It had body-on-frame construction, was based on rear wheel drive architecture, had a traditional shape, carried five passengers and was powered by a V6 engine. Many people thought the Sorento was based on the Hyundai Santa Fe, but that was far from the truth.

The first year the Sorento was on the market it won AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award for best-in-class Mid-Size SUV. Clearly, its owners liked the product.

Now comes the all, new Sorento...

Continue reading "2011 Kia Sorento Crosses Over - Becomes Soft-Roader" »

Posted by George Peterson at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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This summer, a new Kia came to town. Following the hot and hip Kia Soul, the brand's bread-and-butter compact sedan was updated. Instead of carrying on the Spectra name, this all-new and much improved model took the Forte name, hopefully losing some baggage along the way.

Forte deserves its new name. The model now takes fresh exterior and grown-up interior; the ongoing maturation of the company can be seen in the transition from Spectra to Forte. Since entering the U.S. market in 1993 with bargain-basement, marginally competitive products, Kia has made great strides in closing the gap against established makers. We've said this before, and we'll probably say it again, at least until the Chinese brands start playing the in the States and Hyundai-Kia stop being the newest kids on the block.

Kia continues improving features, style, and content availability. The Forte offers crisp, modern style in a nicely sized package. Exterior cues include slim headlights and taillights, not unlike Acura TSX and nicely done. Not too big, not too small, and besting 30mpg highway, Forte competes against the likes of Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, and Honda Civic. The sedan's tailored look also makes for a nice complement next to the more fun-loving and cheery Soul. Both are inviting, happy, and willing to play, but Forte has a more adult attitude.

Continue reading "2010 Kia Forte: Kia's Growing Up" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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"The Kia Sportage delivers what its owners want, winning AutoPacific's 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Compact Crossover SUV segment. While winning the Ideal Vehicle Award is a big deal, Sportage also won AutoPacific's 2009 Vehicle Satisfaction Award. Since both awards are based on owner ratings, this is definitely an outstanding achievement," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, Inc. The Sportage scored particularly well in the following areas:
* Exterior styling
* Handling
* Visibility
* Interior lighting

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Kia Sportage wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award for the Compact Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle segment on the strength of a combination of high-scoring product and financial characteristics. Sporting a fresh face for 2009MY, the four-year-old Sportage won against newer competition, including the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Jeep Compass and Patriot. Areas in which the Kia Sportage leads its segment include:
• Ride and handling
• Safety features and feeling safe while driving
• Quietness inside the vehicle
• Feel of interior fabrics and materials
• Innovative technology
• Warranty
• Price, operating costs and value for the money

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Nicely Developed, Designed, and Executed, but Can Kia Overcome Bad Timing?
In the midst of a shaky economy and frenzy over high fuel costs that hasn't quite died down, Kia's new Borrego appears to be the wrong product at the wrong time. Borrego isn't alone in facing an uphill battle this fall, as the Dodge Challenger muscle car, Cadillac CTS-V performance sport sedan, Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram pickups, and king of any hill Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 are just a few of the other thirsty, function-oriented entries this year.

Yet Kia may pull some success out of an apparently difficult situation. First, Borrego is well done, competitive, and has nothing to apologize for. Second, Borrego is supported by a significant marketing program, advertising mid-size SUVs when no one else dares; this is the one segment with comparatively little ad clutter today and with the chance to grab some buyers feeling guilty about their suburban jungle Expeditions, or looking to shave a bit off the monthly payment to compensate for increased fuel costs. Third, the model is sold in South Korea as well and Kia could offer a lower-content version for some emerging markets if they chose. Finally, if sales don't take off as expected, the economy is the easy the fall guy. If sales beat (likely readjusted) targets, then they've got a success to report back home.

Continue reading "First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Not only has Kia improved its image, it has reinvented itself with vehicles like the Sorento. Owners rallied around the Sorento, commending its passenger room, visibility and interior storage in awarding the vehicle a 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Mid-Size Sport Utility segment.

A vehicle still true to its off-road-capable lineage, the Jeep Liberty is no poser. Owners granted it the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award in the Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle category, with highly rated safety features, technology, seat firmness and interior lighting. The Liberty also scored very well in exterior size and passenger room.

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Tustin, California, June 30, 2008 – An “ideal” is defined as an excellent or perfect example. In the annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA), announced today by automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific, owners rate their new 2008 model year cars and trucks by how close they come to their ideal, as measured by 15 key vehicle attributes. The cars or trucks that owners would change the least are the most ideal.

Continue reading "AutoPacific Announces 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards" »

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Tustin, California, May 29, 2008 - A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

The brand with the highest satisfaction rating is Cadillac. The vehicle - car or truck - registering highest overall satisfaction in 2008 is the new-for-2008 Toyota Sequoia Large Sport Utility Vehicle. The passenger car with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

There are twenty-eight Vehicle Satisfaction Award categories. At the manufacturer level, multiple top ranked award winners include: General Motors (eleven categories), Toyota (nine categories), Ford (six categories), Volkswagen (four categories), Honda (three categories) and Hyundai (two categories).

"Cadillac wins the Vehicle Satisfaction Award as the top brand in a close race. Strong satisfaction performance by Cadillac cars and trucks has Cadillac winning over other leading luxury marques including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW says AutoPacific president George Peterson. "Top ranked finishes by Cadillac's Escalade, CTS and DTS helped cement their industry topping position."

Peterson continues, "Vehicles that are all new received top rankings in several categories: Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Mitsubishi Lancer, Scion xD, Toyota Sequoia, Audi Q7, Buick Enclave, Hyundai Veracruz, GMC Acadia, Saturn Vue and Nissan Rogue. These new-for-2008 vehicles were strongly rated by their owners showing that the industry continues to improve as new vehicles are added to the hotly contested American car and light truck markets."

From a vehicle type perspective, Traditional Sport Utility Vehicles received the highest ratings as a class closely followed by Crossover Sport Utility Vehicles. Peterson says, "Clearly, SUVs continue to be one of the most popular and satisfying vehicle types available in the USA today. Even with skyrocketing gas prices, SUVs are attractive and Crossover SUVs fill the bill for most SUV buyers with better fuel economy." Cars scored slightly below industry average followed by minivans and pickup trucks.

Continue reading "AutoPacific Announces 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward.

Continue reading "New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The all-new Kia Borrego, introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, is Kia's new flagship SUV. Named for California's Borrego desert or the big horn sheep found there, Kia's new range topper appears to be a fully competitive traditional SUV. No crossover here.

Over the years, Kia has shown an uncanny ability to plan, style and implement trucks that hit the center of their product segment target. The first example was the Kia Sedona, quickly followed by the Kia Sorento mid-size SUV. The Borrego promises more of the same.

Clearly, the Borrego benchmarked the high volume body-on-frame Premium Mid-Size SUV of the era - the Ford Explorer. Borrego even looks similar. It is nicely styled. Conservative. Will not offend anybody.

Code-named HM during development, the new Kia Borrego is the first (large) mid-size SUV from Kia and features a body-on-frame construction. With seating for up to seven occupants, Kia identified a very quiet ride as a key for acceptance and long term customer satisfaction. Incorporating the latest NVH engineering, Kia targeted enhanced refinement as a goal. The Borrego's third-row seating is designed to comfortably accommodate two adults. The operative words here are "comfortably" and "adults".

The Kia Borrego will be manufactured in Korea and go on sale in its home market early in 2008, with sales in the USA and other export markets beginning in the late spring or early summer. The Borrego will be available with a choice of V6 or the company's first V8 gasoline engines (depending on market) and will boast Kia's largest-ever towing capacity.

Has Kia Missed by Producing a Traditional SUV Rather Than a Crossover SUV?

Showing Kia's commitment to designing products to suit specific markets, the Borrego is primarily intended to meet the needs of consumers in the USA and there are no plans to market this model in Europe. But Borrego is introduced just as the American market is quickly shifting away from traditional SUVs and towards crossover (car-based) SUVs. The Borrego certainly will be competent in off-road and towing situations, but those are just occasional use prerogatives (to lift a phrase from Jeep). Next time around, Kia should test the crossover market, after all, the benchmark Ford Explorer will become a crossover SUV at its next major model change (see Explorer America).

Heritage from 2005 Kia Mesa Concept

The Kia Borrego styling is derived from the Kia Mesa concept vehicle first shown by Kia at the Detroit Motor Show in 2005 and is larger than Kia's popular Sorento model.

We'll drop in more information and additional photos from the showfloor next week.

Posted by George Peterson at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Detroit Introduction Set for New Entry
Back in 2005, also at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, Kia showed a truck-based, mid-size SUV concept called Mesa. Disguised as a design study, three years later Kia is ready to show us the production version.

More details will come in January, but we know now that it will be built in Korea, named Borrego, and arrive at Kia dealers in 2008. See Kia's release below the jump. This first image of the Borrego shows a much more realistic product than Mesa was, but one that carries a very traditional SUV shape.

Is Timing Right?
When we first saw the Mesa concept in 2005, we asked if this was the right product at the right time. Three years later, it is still a valid question. Especially if you believe the media hype, the trend now is to socially responsible vehicles as small as you can get for your needs. General Motors and Ford are both set to walk away from truck-based mid-size utilities, as either car or new purpose-built platforms are better suited to the real-world jobs these vehicles are actually asked to do.

Customers, the ones who really matter, get to decide late next year the answer to this question.

Continue reading "2009 Kia Borrego: Expanding Kia's SUV Lineup" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Key to Kia's Design Future
Last year, Kia scooped up Volkswagen AG designer Peter Schreyer and opened a European design studio in Frankfurt. Schreyer, during his tenure at Audi and at VW, is credited with the first TT concept, Audi A6, and VW Concept R. With credentials like these, Kia expects Schreyer to liven up their design. In a market filled with many competitive entries and lots of noise, Kia cannot afford bland design.

At the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, Kia showed off one the first efforts to be led by Schreyer, a two-plus-two sports coupe called Kee; the concept is touring upcoming auto shows as well, and this tour will include at least one appearance on the U.S. circuit. Kee's name was inspired by both the idea that it is key to the brand's design future and by the Chinese and Korean "cultural concept" for spiritual energy or life force. They'd have been better off spelling it Key or K; while the pronunciation of Kee is pretty obvious and the inspiration strong, it looks odd and contrived.

Continue reading "2007 Frankfurt Motor Show: Kia Kee" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 2:33 PM | Permalink

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Kia Motors America showed the Kue concept Crossover SUV at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. An interesting exercise, it opens the discussion about Kia's sporting pretentions in the USA market. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific staffers were on hand at Detroit to evaluate the Kue and its potential for success. In a word... success as a 2-door - NOT!

Kia "Sporty" Sibling to Mainstream Hyundai Motor America

No there haven’t been to many Kias parked within the flags at the local enthusiast car shows. In terms of Asian imports maybe Mazda Miatas, Subaru WRXs, Mitsubishi EVOs, Nissan Zs, and Toyota Supras; but no Kias. Being Hyundai’s ‘sporty sibling’ we might be able to follow the train of thought into believing that there may be a following for a supercharged V8 infused with passion and earmarked for that coveted space in the garage. That time may very well come; but we’re not there yet.

Continue reading "2007 Detroit Auto Show - Kia Kue - Knocking on the door of Passion and Pride of Ownership?" »

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Kia's Lineup Expands for 2009
Kia's display concept at the 2007 North American International Auto Show was a concept called the Kue, but their announcement about last year's concept is bigger news. At the 2006 North American International Auto Show, Kia showed a four-door SUV called Soul. This year, Kia announced that the Soul will be built in Korea and imported for U.S. sales. No specifics were given, other than the plan to have it in dealers sometime during 2008 (2009 model year).

Does Kia have room for three SUVs? It may seem illogical to need SUVs on top of SUVs, but Soul could be to the Sportage what Ford's Edge is to their Escape. With more SUV look than substance, this entry could have the cargo/people hauling advantages of a box but reduce the fuel-cost disadvantage.

Many of the concept's more outrageous elements, like the fold-out laptop computer, aren't likely for production, but a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and a front-drive-base are good bets, as is optional AWD. Bluetooth, advanced ambient lighting, power liftgate, and an advanced audio system with auxiliary inputs are some features that might make the transition. Cost is a bigger deterrent for those features than technology or engineering. Kia claimed the concept Soul's rear-hinged second door setup met safety standards, but we're skeptical about the likelihood of anything but traditional, forward-hinged doors in real life. (For more about concept Soul's features and images, click to our 2006 concept report here.)

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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IIHS released the results of its 2007 Safety Pick Awards on November 20. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific feel that these results are important to communicate to our readers. Along with other awards for quality, satisfaction and performance, safety awards can and should be among the information sources a buyer uses when deciding which new vehicle to buy. After all, the Internet gives us almost perfect information.

While we do appreciate the safety value of electronic stability control, it will take years for the entire fleet to be equipped with ESC. For IIHS to eliminate all vehicles lacking ESC eliminates many otherwise safe vehicles from their analysis. This is too simplistic an approach.

2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award winners: award criteria are tougher; SUVs eligible for first time

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announces 13 vehicles that earn TOP SAFETY PICK awards for 2007. Winners include 4 cars, 7 SUVs, and 2 minivans. This award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC).

WINNERS

Large car
Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later

Midsize cars
Audi A4
Saab 9-3
Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control

Minivans
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Sedona

Luxury SUVs
Mercedes M class
Volvo XC90

Midsize SUVs
Acura RDX
Honda Pilot
Subaru B9 Tribeca

Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control

Continue reading "IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2007 Model Year" »

Posted by George Peterson at 1:28 PM | Permalink

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INTELLICHOICE.COM AND AUTOPACIFIC TEAM UP TO ANNOUNCE FIRST ANNUAL MOTORIST’S CHOICE AWARDS

- Awards Recognize Vehicles with Highest Driver Satisfaction and Lowest Cost of Ownership -

- Infiniti QX56 Wins Highest Rating Among All Classes/Vehicle Models -

AutoPacific, the industry source for automotive owner satisfaction ratings and IntelliChoice.com, the online source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced the results of the newly established Motorist’s Choice Awards for the 2006 vehicle model year.

IntelliChoice.com and AutoPacific created the Motorist’s Choice Awards to determine the vehicles that delivered both the highest satisfaction and lowest cost of ownership. The collaboration between the two respected firms, who have each been authorities on the U.S. car market for the last 20 years, takes selected owner satisfaction data from AutoPacific’s surveys of new car and light truck buyers and combines it with IntelliChoice.com’s rating methodology to create a new measurement that speaks to both the hearts and minds of car buyers.

“While the economic analysis of car ownership remains very important—it can save or cost you thousands of dollars over the life of the vehicle—it is also important to recognize owner satisfaction as another significant influencer in vehicle purchases,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. “These are the two key benchmarks we think car buyers should be most attuned to.”

“Ratings of owners’ satisfaction with their new car and truck illustrates how well the vehicle is satisfying the emotional and practical needs of the driver. Satisfaction is more than simply how well a product is screwed together and there are many more dimensions to the equation. Combining AutoPacific’s satisfaction results with the value analysis from IntelliChoice provides the car buyer with an outstanding benchmark to use when selecting a new vehicle,” said George Peterson, President of AutoPacific.

WINNERS

For the inaugural awards, IntelliChoice.com and AutoPacific identified 29 winning models by segment and class. The top-ranked vehicles in their respective categories are:

o Cars: Lexus LS430
o Trucks: Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 (2WD)
o SUV/Crossover: Infiniti QX56
o Minivans/Wagons: Audi A6 4.2 Quattro

In terms of overall rankings, the Infiniti QX56 SUV scored highest in both driver satisfaction and lowest cost of ownership, followed closely by the Lexus LS430 sedan.

Continue reading "Motorist's Choice Awards - a New Benchmark Rating Automotive Excellence" »

Posted by George Peterson at 4:25 PM | Permalink

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This is what we do. AutoPacific and VehicleVoice contuously monitor the American and worldwide auto industry for issues that impact VehicleVoice panel members. The simple fact that Asian manufacturers are adding capacity or delaying capacity additions in North America are major issues.

Kia Puts 300,000 Unit Plant in Georgia on Hold

In early March 2006, Kia announced that they were going to build an all-new greenfield assembly plant in Western Georgia. This 300,000 unit, $1.2 billion plant likely would have provided Kia with the NAFTA capacity to build an all new pickup truck. This plant, along with Toyota adding capacity at the newly available Subaru indiana Automotive plant (to build the Toyota Camry) put more pressure on the Big Three.

Pressure is temporarily off given Kia's April 27 decision to indefinitely defer building the plant in Georgia and an additional plant in Eastern Europe in Slovakia. This is a total of $2.4 billion in new plant construction put on hold. The suspension was due to the management crisis Hyundai-Kia is facing in Korea with its Chairman Chung Mong Koo having been put in the slammer (Seoul Decention Center) on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust. Chairman Chung has been closely involved in all decisions concerning Hyundai and Kia plans - worldwide and in the USA.

Honda Decision for a New Plant Replaces Kia Threat

While Kia backed off in late April, Honda announced on May 17 it is building a new 200,000 unit assembly plant in North America. Honda, a master at flexible assembly and super-efficient plants, will have capacity for about 1.6 million units in North America when the new plant is on line in 2008. At present, the site for the new plant has not been announced.

Kia Likely Will Be Back Soon

We also have to believe that the deferral of the Kia assembly plant is only temporary. Kia's pickup truck concept has been favorably received at auto shows and clearly could have a place in the USA market - but Kia needs a NAFTA source to avoid the 25% "chicken tax" on imported pickup trucks. Once the smoke clears from the scandal surrounding Chairman Chung the go code will likely be given again.

Pressure on Big Three Continues Unabated

It does not matter if the pressure is coming from Japan-based competitors or Korea-based competitors, the challenges to the American auto makes continues to increase. Saddled with older facilities, aging workforces, UAW contracts and work rules, the American manufacturers continue to be battered by the new, non-union plants from Asian manufacturers on their home soil. There are also vibrations from Europe that possibly a Peugeot, Audi or Volkswagen plant could be in the offing.

STAY TUNED

Posted by George Peterson at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Updates Just in Time
At the 2006 New York auto show, Kia used its commercial spokesman to help introduce an updated version of the Sorento and remind us all of our SUV rights; AutoPacific and VehicleVoice correspondents were on hand to see the show. Though the exterior changes are subtle, the Sorento due in showrooms in late summer 2006 gets the power and interior updates it will need to remain competitive against a crop of new entries.

Sorento Trying to Maintain or Improve Position in Viciously Competitive SUV Segment
Sorento competes in the Standard Mid-Size SUV segment wnere its most direct competitors are the Nissan Xterra and the new-for-2007MY Dodge Nitro. Xterra and Nitro offer truck-based platforms and are standard in rear-wheel-drive form rather than front-wheel drive. The Sorento, Xterra, and Nitro are cross-shopped against car-based entries as well, including the recently launched Toyota RAV4 and new-for-2007MY Suzuki XL7 and Ford Edge. (The XL7 was introduced at the New York show, too; click here to see our comments on that model.) Hyundai's Santa Fe is also all new for 2007, though it doesn't use the same platform or engines.

All in all, this is a model year with lots of either new or relatively fresh product in the Standard Mid-Size SUV segment (as defined by AutoPacific), making it an exciting time to choose among them. More horsepower is available, much of it without sacrificing fuel economy as dramatically as before, and many entries are larger.

AutoPacific has said since its launch that the Sorento is a nicely done package offered at a nice price, a view also supported by real-world responses to the company's annual survey of new owners. Customers liked Sorento much that it won AutoPacific's coveted Vehicle Satisfaction Award in its first year. But with the 2007 model year, many Standard Mid-Size SUV entries include standard or optional V6 powerplants delivering 250HP or more. Sorento's previous 192HP 3.5L V6 would have left Kia at a power disadvantage, for which price may not have been able to compensate.

While exterior changes are just enough to let you know there is something different about this year, the Sorento's interior updates bring nicer wood and metal interior trim materials, the revised center stack and instrument panel gauges give the Sorento a more refined, less clumsy look and atmosphere.

Continue reading "2007 Kia Sorento Holds its Own" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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New Kia Optima

Kia Motors America has inroduced the "next generation" Kia Optima. The new Optima is much like the old one - just bigger and better in every way. It's still a mid-sized, mid-price 4-door sedan made in South Korea. It is based on a new platform, unique from that of the Alabama-assembled Hyundai Sonata.

The new Optima has a wheelbase of 107.1" (up 0.8" from prior) and an overall length of 186.4" (up 0.6"). It is also significantly taller than the prior model - a useful 2.8" higher. Think of the Optima as a little smaller than an Altima, Accord or Camry, more of a Mazda6.

Two trim levels are available, the LX and the more luxurious EX, and each is available with an attractive appearance package (upgraded wheels, tires, interior features, etc.). A leather interior and sun roof are also available.

The standard engine is an all-new 2.4L I4 aluminum block, aluminum head, 16 valve, engine with 161 HP. An optional 2.7L V6 aluminum block, aluminum head, 24 valve engine with 185 HP is also available. A larger displacement V6 might be desirable, but at today's fuel prices, 2.7L might just be an advantage, rather than a liability. A somewhat rough five-speed manual transaxle is available with the LX trim I4 engine; all other versions are fitted with a fine 5-speed automatic transaxle.

The Optima is attractively styled, and fully competitive in class with respect to ride and handling, with a rather Mazda6-like character. While an electronic navigation system is not available (a pretty expensive option in a car in this segment), satellite radio will be available shortly after launch.

Continue reading "Kia Optima Coming of Age" »

Posted by Jim Hossack at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Editor's NOTE: The Multi-S was launched as the Kia Rondo late in 2006.

Small Minivan Explores Reaction at Best-Attended U.S. Auto Show
As the Chicago Auto Show has a reputation for having the highest attendance figures of all U.S. auto shows, what better place to test a possible new people mover? While this concept was first shown last September on Kia's stand at the 2005 Frankfurt auto show, Chicago marked its first North American appearance. AutoPacific and VehicleVoice contributors were on hand at both showings, and can promise that there were no real changes between Frankfurt and Chicago, aside from Kia showing a gasoline engine in the States and a diesel in Frankfurt.

In Korea and Europe, where North American minivans are too large and the exception rather than the rule for family transportation, Kia sells a minivan smaller than the Sedona. The second-generation of this vehicle is being developed under the codename UN, and it is expected to join the U.S. lineup before the end of 2006. While the final verdict on the Kia's U.S. nomenclature is not in, Multi-S is reportedly in the running.

The UN will be a more modern and fully featured than the example currently sold in international markets, making it more competitive in Europe as well as giving it a chance in the States. The concept dimensions indicate a vehicle slightly bigger than the Mazda5 and that the U.S. version is likely to get a four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.

Kia Motors America Vice President of Marketing Ian Beavis characterized Multi-S competition as "drawing from station wagons, vehicles like the Mazda5 and even small SUVs. The Multi-S did pretty well against the new Toyota RAV4 in research."

Continue reading "Kia Multi-S to Join U.S. Lineup as Kia Rondo" »

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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