Edmunds Daily
Kia
November 6, 2009
Thus far, the Kia Sorento hasn't made much of a name for itself in the overcrowded world of SUVs. Saddled with an outdated body-on-frame design and excessive girth throughout its first generation (2003-09), the Sorento aimed for both off-roaders and suburbanites -- and ended up impressing neither.
But as Hyundai/Kia products are wont to do, the Sorento is stepping up its game in a big way for generation two, which goes on sale as a 2011 model in January. The new Sorento shares its unibody platform with the Hyundai Santa Fe, and it should start just under $20,000. Three more reasons why you should care are a single click away.
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- Josh Sadlier November 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Kia, Weekly Top 3
October 1, 2009
A recent vacation in Seattle had me behind the wheel of a Kia Soul decked out in the Exclaim (!) trim. Having penned the test drive on the Kia Soul Sport, I'm already a mild fan, as it's one of the few runabouts in the burgeoning cubic-class that puts a priority on passenger space and comfort. After a few days in the Exclaim trim, I think I've found the best Soul.
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- Paul Seredynski October 1, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Kia
August 13, 2009
The 2010 Honda Insight after its IIHS front crash test. The car is totaled, but the "driver" is OK.
Today the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that three small cars, the 2010 Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, and Kia Soul, have earned their "Top Safety Pick" award after extensive crash tests. Including the three new winners, only 10 small cars earn the Institute's highest rating. In order to qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of "good" in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.
Cool crash test video after the jump.
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- Joanne Helperin August 13, 2009, 3:38 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Safety, Honda, Kia, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Crash Tests, Honda Insight, IIHS Top Safety Pick, Kia Soul, Toyota Prius
July 10, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Inside Line News: Kia Forte Koup Koming in August
The 2010 Kia Forte Koup, the company's first coupe, will be available for sale in the U.S. later this summer, a bit earlier than expected. A competitor to the Honda Civic and Scion tC, the Koup will come in base EX and sportier SX trims; the SX is expected to come in at just under $20,000.
Green Car Advisor: The Climate Bill and the Cars We'll Drive
The climate bill, which will have a big impact on the cars of the future, has passed the House of Representatives and will go to the Senate this fall. The bill covers incentives, EV charging, flex fuel and emissions. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has set a December deadline for the bill to go in front of President Obama, but it's unsure whether the bill can get the votes it needs to pass in the Senate.
Karl on Cars: A New York State of Mind
Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer asks, how much of a car town is New York City? Not much at all, he says. "And you know what? That's why I love it!"
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- Joanne Helperin July 10, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Edmunds Roundup, Fuel Economy, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Kia, Life with Cars, Vehicle Incentives and Rebates
- Technorati Tags:
- Climate Bill, Kia Forte Koup
June 26, 2009
Karl on Cars: Mini E -- First Impressions
We've added a Mini E to our long-term fleet. Editor in Chief Karl Brauer regales us with his initial impressions.
AutoObserver: Obama Signs Cash for Clunkers Legislation
It's official -- President Obama has signed long-gestating Cash for Clunkers legislation. Our Cash for Clunkers FAQ Page offers salient details regarding this bill, and we've published a list of eligible vehicles. You'll also want to take a look at how manufacturers like Honda and Ford have reacted to the passage of this important new legislation.
Inside Line: Launched -- 2010 Kia Denim Soul
In honor of the late, lovely Farrah Fawcett -- who wore denim better than anyone on the planet -- we're noting the launch of a new, special-edition Kia: the Denim Soul.
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- Warren Clarke June 26, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Edmunds Roundup, Ford, Honda, Kia
- Technorati Tags:
- Cash For Clunkers, Ford, Honda, Kia Soul
June 12, 2009
"What's a Kia Forte?"
I knew you'd ask. And ye shall receive.
The Forte is Kia's new entry in the compact sedan segment (Corolla, Civic, Mazda 3, etc.). It shares a platform with the Hyundai Elantra, and it replaces the not-so-dearly departed Kia Spectra, which was known for bargain-basement pricing and little else. The Forte aims to maintain Kia's customary affordability while adding appealing style and competitive feature content and performance.
Having attended a Forte press event in Seattle earlier this week, I've got three things to say about that.
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- Josh Sadlier June 12, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Kia, Weekly Top 3
June 10, 2009
Over 36,000 Kia Optimas residing in states (such as Massachusetts and Michigan) where the roads are salted during the winter are being recalled for a potential problem with the front subframe. Seems that the road salt can cause internal corrosion of the Kia's front subframe where it meets the suspension's lower control arm. At minimum, this could result in wheel misalignment that can cause accelerated tire wear and problems with steering. The worst-case scenario would be a separation of the control arm from the subframe, which could result in a crash.
Vehicle: 2001-2004 Kia Optima
NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V183000
Go to safercar.gov for more details
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- John DiPietro June 10, 2009, 9:20 AM
- Categories:
- Car Safety, Kia, Used Cars
- Technorati Tags:
- Kia Optima, Recall
April 7, 2009
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Straightline
Inside Line Technology Review: 2010 Kia Soul Sport
In an effort to lure in younger buyers, boxy econo cars are packing a great deal of technology for less than $20,000. Edmunds.com's Technology Editor Doug Newcomb recently tested a 2010 Kia Soul equipped with a Bluetooth hands-free system, iPod integration, an eight-speaker stereo system, and a USB port for playing music files on a flash drive. Is that technology any good? Follow the link for the full story.
Read the complete technology review.
Edmunds Inside Line: 2009 New York Auto Show Coverage
2010 Subaru Legacy
Subaru believes that the lack of interior room was the reason why the previous generation Legacy didn't sell, so they went back and took a "bigger is better" approach to the new model. The automaker will be unveiling the upsized 2010 Subaru Legacy at the New York Auto Show this week. Inside Line got the early details on the midsize-sedan that will be 3.2 inches longer, 3.6 inches wider and 3.2 inches taller than the outgoing model. But while the new sedan makes its entrance, the Legacy wagon bows out.
More details from Inside Line here.
2009 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid
If the standard Yukon Hybrid is too pedestrian for your tastes and the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is out of your price range, General Motors has the answer for you. The 2009 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid gets 21 mpg in city driving while riding on 22-inch chrome wheels and offering a host of luxury features.
More details from Inside Line here.
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- Ron Montoya April 7, 2009, 1:00 PM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Automotive Consumer News, BMW, Edmunds Roundup, GMC, Kia
- Technorati Tags:
- Automotive News, BMW, Edmunds Roundup, General Motors, Hybrid Cars, kia soul, subaru
March 25, 2009
This new feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio. His column will appear weekly on Wednesday afternoon.
Dear Tom,
I own a 2004 KIA Amanti with 15,000 miles. At the last inspection, the mechanic said the vehicle would need brakes all around in a couple of months. He quoted me a price of $772, and he said that I should have ceramic brake pads installed. Is it necessary to go with ceramic pads and is this a reasonable price? What type brakes do you suggest?
-- Cindy from Rochester, NY
Cindy,
Ceramic pads will hold up better to high-speed stops compared to metallic brake pads. In addition, ceramic pads are quieter, they do not produce "brake dust," and they wear less on brake rotors. Overall, I prefer ceramic brake pads. The price you were quoted seems high. Call for a couple more quotes and make sure you tell them the specifics of what the first shop quoted you. That way you will be comparing apples to apples. In my area (Western New York) the going price for pads and rotor replacement is usually about $150-$200 per axle set.
-- Tom
Ed: See Top 10 Ways to Make Your Brakes Last Longer, and for the do-it-yourselfer, How To Change Your Brake Pads.
Dear Tom,
I own a 2004 Chrysler Town & Country minivan (small V-6 engine) with 78,000 miles. I hear a single clicking sound in front under the floor when I shift from drive to reverse or vice versa. The car seems to shift fine (no gap in gears). However, the sound worries me. I don't notice this problem when shifting from low gears to drive or from park to drive or reverse. Could the noise be an indication of a future transmission problem?
-- Ed from Jamestown, NY
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- Joanne Helperin March 25, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Buick, Car Advice Articles, Car Maintenance, Chrysler, GMC, Kia, Used Cars
- Technorati Tags:
- America's Car Show, Brake Pads, Ceramic Brakes, Tom Torbjornsen
March 4, 2009
Each Wednesday in the Idle Chat Lounge (read: a musty sectional in Karl Brauer's garage), Brent Romans and Bryn MacKinnon, two editors at Edmunds.com, pontificate on a topic that's kinda about cars.
Today's Idle Chat Topic: The 2010 Kia Soul's + and ! Trim Level Names -- Silly or Cute?
Mr. Romans: You may not have noticed, so I'll fill you in -- Kia's new compact hatchback, the 2010 Soul, comes in four trim levels: Soul, Soul +, Soul ! and Soul Sport. Yes, really. We've test-driven the Sport and pronounced it good, but why the trim-level contrivance? (And why just plain "Sport" after the quirky symbols? It'd be like naming your first two kids Rotherhithe and Tzeitel and then naming your third Ed.) I can only wonder what's next -- "The 2011 Soul, now in +, !, !!! and :-P trim levels!" Put me down for silly.
Ms. MacKinnon: Agreed, Brent. And I wanna know what conversations on the Kia lots sound like. "Yeah, I wanted to see one of those ! Souls." "Well, ma'am, we're fresh outta !, but we've got plenty of + that you'll love." Huh? I once met a girl whose name was pronounced "star" but was spelled Starr* with the asterisk. Just because they say so, doesn't mean it's right. But as long as we're playing, might I suggest a super-stripped base version called - (pronounced "minus") and a ; (pronounced "wink") that features a headlight setting which turns the Soul into an on-purpose padiddle?
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- Brent Romans March 4, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Idle Chat, Kia, Test Cars and Car Reviews
- Technorati Tags:
- kia soul
February 26, 2009
It's got soul but its not a soldier. At least that's how The Killers would describe this funky hatchback, but in a way, the 2010 Kia Soul is a colorful little soldier tasked with the mission of changing the Korean automaker's image. Gray and boring will no longer do; vibrant and sporty is the new creed. Who knows how people will warm to it, but the Soul certainly meets those two criteria.
But behind its styling lies a practicaly four-door hatchback that provides copious passenger space in a well-equipped package that emphasizes value. Frisky and with low-effort controls, the Soul joins a growing cadre of compacts that combine impressive function and frugality in an affordable set of wheels. It's got soul and sensibility.
Read the full 2010 Kia Soul Sport Edmunds Test Drive
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- James Riswick February 26, 2009, 12:00 PM
- Categories:
- Kia, Test Cars and Car Reviews
