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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Reward your college grad with a new Kia Forte
Graduation is just around the corner for many Angeleno collegians. Many of these young men will be in the need of a new set of wheels. If so, a 2012 Kia Forte sedan or hatchback is worth checking out; it might just turn out to be the perfect graduation gift. On May 18, Kia Motors Americas announced that the two vehicles had been listed among Total Car Score’s “Top Cars for College Grads.” The Web-based automotive rater noted that in addition to styling, spaciousness, technology, and interior materials, the 2012 Forte was the most affordable vehicle among the vehicles selected. While a “previously owned” vehicle can be had for less than the $15,200 suggested base price for the Forte, it may also have been “previously abused.” Some risk is involved in a used car purchase; however, a new Kia will not surprise your grad with a maintenance issue down the road. It comes with an outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. In addition, your local Kia dealer is currently offering attractive lease and financing options.
Total Car Score compares vehicles in all automotive segments. Its comprehensive rating system allows prospective buyers to make detailed comparisons between vehicles. The “Total Car Score” represents an overall assessment that combines quantitative car reviews from various major automotive authorities, including the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Total Car Score CEO Karl Brauer described the Kia Forte as one of the best compact car values on the market today. He explained, “With standard features like Bluetooth®1 hands-free phone operation, a USB port for iPod2 connectivity, and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty3, the Forte offers the technology and long-term quality today's college graduates seek in a new-car purchase."
Two engine options are available: a 2 liter DOHC 4-cylinder rated at 156 HP or a 2.4 liter rated at173 HP if you opt for the SX model. The 2.0 liter with an automatic transmission is rated at 26 city 36 highway MPG. It drops to 25/34 with the manual transmission. For those interested in a little better fuel economy, the EX (fuel economy) model achieves 27 city and 37 highway MPG. For those that prefer performance with a slight fuel economy hit, the SX is rated at 23 city and 32 highway MPG.
Courtesy of Kia Media
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Check out this review of the 2013 Kia Optima
The Kia Optima is entering its third model year since a transformation that catapulted it far above its bland past and made it, surprisingly, one of the most sophisticated, best-looking, and best-equipped (for the money) mid-size sedans on the market. And even a couple of years later, it seems like the competition hasn't fully caught up.
That might change this year, when a number of the Optima's rivals--like the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion--are due for full redesigns. While we'll be filling in more details on those alternatives in the coming months, the Optima isn't at all looking dated or unprepared for some new market battle. Its crisp, distinct styling direction is nearly the opposite of the more exuberant, sculptural look that's all over the Hyundai lineup and the Sonata sedan, which is closely related. With sporty, European detailing, a low roofline, stretched headlamps, and a nifty upkick in back, it's focused and exciting, with an athletic stance and some flashy wheel designs. Inside, the Optima doesn't make waves in the same way, but it's a classy, minimalist cockpit look, reminding us of Audi's interiors of a few years ago, with a wide rectangular bank of controls canted toward the driver.
There are three different performance flavors for the Optima--all including a four-cylinder engine under the hood--and each of them caters to a different type of driver. Base cars have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with direct injection, 200 horsepower and just a touch of unremarkable noise and vibration when it's wound out. A manual six-speed is offered; we've tested the six-speed automatic, which teams expertly with the four. On top of the complexity curve is the Hybrid, which teams up the basic four-cylinder with electric motors and batteries that, in our opinion, could use more work on smoothing and integrating the juddering that sometimes comes at midrange speeds, when the hybrid drivetrain drops gas power to operate on electric charge alone. With all powertrains, highway gas mileage hits a minimum of 33 mpg in turbos, with four-cylinders hitting a stellar 35 mpg and hybrids reaching to a rated 40 mpg. We've had difficulty hitting the hybrid's high-water marks, but the basic Optima offers repeatable, real-world gas mileage that's tops in its class, and equal to some economy cars.
No matter which engine you pick, the Optima rides and handles well with its independent suspension, giving the Optima a quick, nimble feel. Key to that is electric power steering that's somehow tuned in a more agreeable way than that of the Sonata; it feels precise yet requires fewer small adjustments on the highway. Ride quality is on the firm side, but comfortable enough, and quiet over coarse surfaces.
The Optima's interior offers good back seat space--enough for three across--although the roofline can make getting in and out a little harder. Front seats in the Optima also have flat, short cushions, which can cut into the kind of long-distance comfort that the Accord delivers mile after mile. But with heated and cooled front seats available--heated back seats, too--the Optima and the back seats can be heated, too.
With top safety ratings from the IIHS and the federal government likely to carry over, the 2013 Kia Optima is one of the most secure family-car picks. A Bluetooth interface is standard, a rearview camera system is available. And of course features remain a strength throughout the Kia lineup. It's a lot of value for the money, with standard power features, cruise control, a USB port and satellite radio. Even mid-level EX trims get things like dual-zone climate control and a smart-key system, with options for leather trim, a panoramic sunroof and Infinity audio. Infotainment is the only weakness of the Optima's feature list. UVO, Kia's flavor of the Microsoft-written software also sold as Ford's SYNC, has fewer voice commands than the Ford system, but the issue is that if you want this system, you can't get the navigation system. And if you get nav, you instead get the same simpler Bluetooth system that base Optimas have.
Courtesy of the Car Connection
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
2012 Kia Sportage recognized by USAA as "best value" for second consecutive year
IRVINE, Calif., May, 8 2012 - United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a leading financial services provider to the U.S. military and their families, honored Kia Motors America (KMA) by naming the 2012 Kia Sportage to its second annual "Best Value" vehicles list, which identifies the top 2012 automobiles in 16 categories that give consumers the most bang for their buck. The Sportage rose to the top in the Small SUV category, recognized for offering a competitive price and low insurance costs as well as being one of the Small SUV Top Safety Picks for 2012 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
"The Kia Sportage being named to USAA's 'Best Value' list for the second year in a row is not only indicative of this utility's affordability factor, but also validates it as one of the most well-rounded offerings in its segment," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "The Sportage is the ideal vehicle for anyone who seeks a lively crossover that's comfortable and offers an abundance of safety features and amenities."
"Best Value" automobiles offer the best financial value of all vehicles USAA evaluates as part of a broader rating system called USAA Preferred, which uses quantitative data to evaluate vehicles' cost, safety and reliability, among other key factors. There are nearly 80 cars, trucks and minivans that are currently designated as USAA Preferred vehicles, and the "Best Value" list represents the vehicles that rose to the top of each category.
"The goal of the list is to help members identify vehicles that typically offer better safety ratings, lower insurance premium costs, higher fuel economy, better overall reliability and lower MSRP compared to other vehicles in the same category," said Steve Thompson, an assistant vice president at USAA. "The Kia Sportage rose to the top as a vehicle that offers these key elements, making it a great buy for the value-minded consumer."
Courtesy of Kia Media
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
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