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<keyword id="19906967" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tata-Motors" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tata Motors" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tata Motors">Tata Motors</keyword> is looking to consolidate its position in the <keyword id="20027167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SUV" source="keywords">SUV</keyword> segment as it marks its entry into the highly competitive mid-size space which is currently dominated by South Korean and Japanese carmakers. The Mumbai-based auto major on Monday launched a midsize SUV coupe <keyword id="20400827" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Curvv" source="keywords">Curvv</keyword> with petrol and diesel powertrains with a price starting at Rs 9.99 lakh. <br /><br /> The company has already unveiled the electric version of the model in August. The model would be competing with the likes of <keyword id="2883300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai-Creta" source="Orion">Hyundai Creta</keyword>, <keyword id="7720018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kia-Seltos" source="Orion">Kia Seltos</keyword>, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and Honda Elevate, among others. <br /><br /> "Curvv is being positioned in the fast-growing, mid-size SUV segment, which is roughly 16% of the whole industry (passenger vehicle) size. If translated into numbers, it would be like 7 lakh units a year," Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle MD Shailesh Chandra told PTI in an interaction. <br /><br /> The segment is very competitive with various brands having a product already in the market, he noted. Therefore, if one enters this segment so late, then it will have to think of coming up with a slightly differentiated approach, Chandra said. <br /><br /> "And that was the thinking behind Curvv, which comes with an SUV coupe body style. We saw that this was gaining popularity globally, especially in the premium or luxury segment," he added. <br /><br /> Further, he said: "So we thought, why don't we bring this into the crowded segment as a fresh, refreshing kind of a body style." When asked about sales expectations from the model, Chandra said: "We have come with this model, with the best in class features. It's a differentiated product in this and therefore we think it is going to perform well." <br /><br /> He noted that Tata Motors currently has a market share of around 19% in the SUV segment and expects the new model to help it grow further. "We'll gain from where we are. The market leader in SUVs would be, say, 21-22 %, so it's a crowded segment. It's not that one player is holding the roost here. <br /><br /> "All the top 3-4 players in SUVs are around the same market share figure," Chandra said. He noted that the company is also looking to enhance its dealer network by around 10-15 % in the next one year. <br /><br /> "We have a very aggressive plan of expanding dealerships. We will need to have an enhanced network. We will have to make them bigger, also in size. And therefore, for EVs, we have started separation of the outlets. So there will be expansion in touchpoints, not only on the sales side, but big time on the service side as well," Chandra said. <br /><br /> <keyword id="20400828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tata-curvv" source="keywords">Tata Curvv</keyword> comes with two petrol and a diesel engine option. "The introduction of the Curvv further enhances our SUV portfolio as a comprehensive mid-SUV product with multiple powertrains, several first-in-segment features, a brand new capable architecture - ATLAS and Level 2 ADAS," Chandra said. <br /><br /> Besides Curvv, Tata Motors sells models like Punch, Nexon, Harrier and Safari in the domestic market.

Tata Motors eyes gains in SUV space as it drives in its Curvv

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Automakers and their suppliers have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in EVs.</li><li>Demand for EVs has slowed over the past year while consumer interest in hybrids has soared.</li></ul><p>In recent years, global automakers and their suppliers have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chevrolet-new-electric-models-equinox-silverado-ev-not-enough-2024-6">developing new electric vehicles</a> and the infrastructure to build and support them.</p><p>However, even as the automotive industry marches toward the inevitable point of full electrification,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicle-misconceptions-about-the-ev-transition-market-sales-2024-5"> demand for EVs has slowed </a>over the past year while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-challenges-amid-hybrid-craze-ford-gm-gas-profits-2024-4">interest in hybrids has soared.</a></p><p>Hybrids, with their excellent efficiency and lower cost, offer consumers a range-anxiety-free alternative to help bridge the gap between internal combustion and EVs, Steve Kosowski, the manager for Long Range Planning and Strategy at Kia Motors America, told Business Insider in a recent interview.</p><p>While EV sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q1-2024-ev-sales/#:~:text=In%20the%20first%20quarter%20of,growth%20rate%20has%20slowed%20notably.">fell in the first quarter</a> of 2024 by more than 15% compared to the previous three months — their first drop since 2020 — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/de/en/industries/automotive/electric-vehicle-sales-review-2024-q1.html">hybrid sales are booming. </a></p><p>Traditional hybrids, with lower price points and limited all-electric range, saw a 45.7% sales uptick from January to March, while plug-ins, which are pricier but can go upwards of 60 miles on batteries, grew a whopping 69.7%, according to figures from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/de/en/industries/automotive/electric-vehicle-sales-review-2024-q1.html">PWC</a>.</p><div type="image" title="A Kia EV3 GT-Line compact electric SUV is parked in front of a building." height="3227" width="5736" msid="110920053" hostid="261" sizebytes="1753006"></div><p>As a result, some automakers have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-ev-2030-electric-car-market-trends-2024-2">postponed their plans</a> to abandon internal combustion engines completely.</p><p>This development would seemingly threaten Kia, which has launched about half a dozen new BEVs in recent years, including the stylish <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-ev3-details-range-photos-interior-2024-5">EV3 SUV this May</a>.</p><p>But Kia sees hybrids as an opportunity to get potential BEV buyers in the door.</p><p>"If you look at resistance in the market to buying an EV, number one is price and then it's<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicle-range-ev-charging-station-infrastructure-issues-2024-5"> range and (charging) infrastructure</a>, " Kosowski said. "But if you look at hybrids and PHEVs, the resistance because of price is much much lower."</p><p>"The last time I looked, transaction prices for EVs and plug-in hybrids were in the same area, which signals to me that consumers want to electrify and are willing to pay for it," he added."</p><p>With range anxiety a non-issue, hybrids, especially those of the plug-in variety, allow people who are hesitant to fully electrify a way to ease into it.</p><div type="image" title="A blue 2024 Kia Niro PHEV drives down the road" height="4128" width="6192" msid="110920055" hostid="261" sizebytes="498922"></div><p>Hybrids accounted for about 8.4% of the total market during the first quarter of 2024.</p><p>But if you look at the largest and arguably most important segment these days, compact SUVs, hybrids account for nearly one-fifth of sales, Kosowski said.</p><p>This places added importance on the need to have hybrid options available for sale.</p><p>Fortunately for Kia, the company hedged its strategy and has no fewer than half a dozen hybrids and PHEVs currently on sale in the US, including the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-niro-hybrid-is-a-great-car-to-buy-2017-11">Niro Hybrid</a> and Sportage PHEV compact SUVs.</p><p>"As an automaker, you take a step back from this, and you go, it makes so much more sense to proliferate hybrids within your lineup," he said.</p><p>For Kia, building hybrids instead of EVs affects its bottom line beyond the revenue it generates. EVs cost substantially more to build than ICE and hybrid vehicles.</p><div type="image" title="A gray 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid minivan parked in front of lake." height="3645" width="5467" msid="110920054" hostid="261" sizebytes="2124722"></div><p>According to Kosowski, who has spent the past two decades with Kia, the material cost of a typical ICE car is half of the sticker price. The cost of materials to build an EV is 50% more than that.</p><p>"This is the 800-pound gorilla in the room for the industry," he added. "The thing about EVs is their material cost is so high that the margin for everybody gets squeezed until it becomes negative."</p><p>The popularity is a surprising turn of events from hybrids. Until recentlythey were maligned by consumers for being substantially more expensive and complex than a fully ICE vehicle and by environmentalists for not being as eco-friendly as a full BEV.</p><p>However, hybrids' day in the sun is likely to be temporary due to increasingly<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-energy-bidens-secret-weapon-3-big-clean-tech-deals-2020-11"> stringent environmental regulations.</a></p><p>"EV sales can only go up. These cars are coming because every automaker has to sell in order to meet <a target="_blank" href="https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/4249">zero-emissions vehicle production (ZEV) regulations</a>, and greenhouse has rules," Kosowski said.</p>

Kia says hybrids aren't a threat to EVs but are the perfect gateway to electrification 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="12905671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-carnival" source="Orion">Kia Carnival</keyword> is the replacement for the old Sedona <keyword id="12905674" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="minivan" source="Orion">minivan</keyword>. It starts at $32,100.</li><li>We drove the most expensive version of the Carnival, the SX Prestige, for a week. It costs $47,770.</li></ul><p>In life, at least two things are true: style is cyclical and empires fall. The same goes for cars. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/history-rise-fall-of-the-minivan-led-by-dodge-caravan-2020-4">Minivans</a>, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/07/the-last-great-gasp-of-the-american-station-wagon/373776/">station wagons</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/suv-sales-best-sellers.html">sedans</a>: All once had their heydays in the US and then fell from popularity, deemed out of style by the masses as other vehicles replaced them. <keyword id="12905673" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="minivans" source="Orion">Minivans</keyword> boomed between the 1980s and 2000s before becoming uncool, as most things eventually do, while crossovers and SUVs rose to popularity in their place. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2534" width="4414" msid="88763102" hostid="261"></div><p>But the 2022 <keyword id="6372046" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia" source="Orion">Kia</keyword> Carnival minivan is a reminder that style is subjective, and if your silly "soccer parent" stereotypes cause you to overlook it, you may miss out on the best vehicle you'll ever own.</p><h2><strong>The 2022 Carnival: A modern chariot </strong></h2><p>There are only four new minivans still sold in America: the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, and the Carnival. </p><div type="image" title="The Kia Carnival's brown and black interior." height="4128" width="6192" msid="88763104" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival arrived for the 2022 model year as <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-kia-carnival-minivan-name-change-sedona/">Kia's replacement for the Sedona</a>, complete with new looks and offerings. Kia gave it a boxy, SUV-style appearance and decided to call it a "multipurpose vehicle" instead of a minivan, but included the staple sliding minivan doors and optional captain's chairs in the middle row.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="5122" width="3415" msid="88763106" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival starts at $32,100, and every model features a 290-horsepower V6 engine, front-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and seating for either seven or eight passengers. Its five trims run as such:</p><ul><li><strong>Kia Carnival LX ($32,100):</strong> comes with manual-folding side mirrors, LED headlights, power-sliding rear doors, daytime-running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, a six-speaker audio system, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, a four-way adjustable passenger seat, and driver-assistance technology</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival LX Seat Package ($34,100):</strong> adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather wrapped shift knob</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival EX ($37,600):</strong> adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, an eight-speaker audio system, and more driver-assistance features</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival SX ($41,100):</strong> adds power-folding side mirrors, roof rails, a rear-seat entertainment system, additional USB outlets in the second row, ventilated front seats, and a surround-view camera to show all 360 degrees around the vehicle</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival SX Prestige ($46,100):</strong> adds full LED headlights, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, genuine leather seat trim, a heated steering wheel, a blind-view monitor, and second-row "VIP" captain's chairs</li></ul><p>There was only one option added to my SX Prestige Carnival: Astra Blue paint for $495. With that and standard purchasing fees, the final price came to $47,770.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2397" width="4290" msid="88763107" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick rating — one spot below the highest title, Top Safety Pick Plus — with top crash ratings in every category. But only the $46,100 SX Prestige trim got the organization's best headlight-safety rating; every other trim got its worst headlight rating <a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/kia/carnival-minivan/2022#headlights">due to inadequate visibility</a>. </p><h2><strong>What stands out: affordable luxury</strong></h2><p>My husband and I spent an evening in the Carnival's VIP second-row seats, where we leaned them all the way flat as he watched YouTube videos on the van's video screens and I attempted to see how good its child-safety precautions were by closing my limbs in the windows and doors. (They were good. I only hurt myself a little.) </p><p>When we got out, we looked at each other.</p><p>"Is this the greatest <keyword id="11897278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="car" source="Orion">car</keyword> ever made?" I asked.</p><p>"This might be the greatest car ever made," he said.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2246" width="4210" msid="88763108" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kia Carnival makes you want to spend all day in it. It makes you want to sleep in it. It makes you wonder how a family could ever dream of having a road-trip fight in it. </p><p>It might be a family van, but it makes you wonder why luxury chauffeur cars even exist. They're flashy and expensive, sure, but the value proposition? As you sit in the Carnival's second-row seats — laid out, phone charging in the USB port next to you, gazing out of its two sunroofs with an air vent on your face, and adjusting your personal climate controls — you realize that you don't need more than this $50,000 family van. You'd be silly to think you did.</p><p><em>This, </em>you think, <em>This is where I want to be.</em></p><p><em></em></p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="3333" width="5137" msid="88763111" hostid="261"></div><p>There are cup holders everywhere, including four in the center console for the driver and front passenger. The black-and-caramel interior scheme on our loaner — including two-tone leather, two-tone interior door panels, and a shiny black-and-silver dashboard — looks upscale. The exterior looks just as sleek. The speaker sound is good for everyone, from the front row to the third. </p><p>The van is so big that, if only for a moment, you think you could live out of it. It might even be fun.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="4670" width="3456" msid="88763113" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia also made sure the Carnival's top-trim interior is cohesive, even if it switches from supple accent leathers and door materials in the front seats to harder, more durable ones to handle kids riding in the back. You don't notice the change unless you're looking for it, and the van's owners still get to reap all of the benefits.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="4670" width="3456" msid="88763113" hostid="261"></div><p>Outside of a $360,000 McLaren 720S, the Carnival is perhaps the most popular review loaner I've ever had. Friends and family saw the photos of the VIP seats online and would rush out to see the car when I was driving it, each hopping in the second row, reclining the chairs for themselves, and letting the air vents blow the summer heat off of their faces. </p><p>They checked out the 360-degree parking camera and the one that monitors rear passenger activity. They marveled at how, if the Carnival didn't have sliding doors, you'd think it was an SUV. They sat and soaked it up, just as we had before them. </p><p>If that's any indication of how others feel, the Carnival is exactly the slam dunk Kia intended it to be.</p><h2><strong>What falls short: susceptible to stains and grime</strong></h2><p>The Carnival has few flaws.</p><p><em></em></p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="3168" width="5160" msid="88763115" hostid="261"></div><p>The van's light-gray headliner — a feature that often appears on cheaper cars in place of color-matched material, which felt especially odd in a vehicle as nice as the Carnival — distracts from the beauty of its caramel and black interior. If the headliner were black instead, it would accomplish two goals: making the interior even prettier and avoiding stains.</p><p><em>Stains?</em> you think. <em>Gravity exists. No one's going to stain the roof of their car.</em></p><p>I've seen roof stains, dear reader. You're not immune, and roof stains aren't cute. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2253" width="4313" msid="88763116" hostid="261"></div><p>The van also suffers from something many other new cars do: piano-black accents and a shiny, grime-magnet of a touchscreen. Piano black is a loathsome material that modern automakers love to use, despite the fact that it looks good for 12 seconds before it needs to be fully wiped down (or ripped out and replaced). </p><p>There's a ton of piano black surrounding the Carnival's front seats, and it will attract all of your dust particles and finger grease. I'm sorry in advance. </p><p>The Carnival's steering is dull, it's slow to accelerate, and its front-wheel-drive system struggles to put the van's power down if you need to floor it. Your front wheels will wiggle back and forth just slightly, but other than making you feel a little silly, it's not an issue. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2876" width="4348" msid="88763117" hostid="261"></div><p>There's dull road noise on rough surfaces and slight wind noise on highways, but that can be washed out by a low radio volume (or the existential peace that comes from being reclined all the way back in those second-row seats).</p><p>But the most glaring issue isn't about comfort or road noise. It's that the Carnival doesn't have a hybrid option like other minivans on the market, meaning buyers are doomed to get 22 mpg combined unless one comes around. Whether that's worth it is up to you.</p><h2><strong>Our impressions: perfection in minivan form</strong></h2><p>Kia might want you to think of the Carnival as a "multipurpose vehicle" instead of a minivan, since minivans ceased to be "cool" a couple of decades ago. But the Carnival is a minivan, and it's a damn good one. </p><p>It's also a three-row chariot that sells for less than $50,000 in its highest trim, which is incredible in a car market where the average new vehicle <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/used-new-car-prices-surging-chip-shortage-2021-10">costs $45,000</a>. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2833" width="5112" msid="88763119" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival doesn't just challenge your long-held stereotypes about the things people drive — it asks you why you'd care to spend thousands more on a lesser car for the sake of what others think. If someone who didn't bother to figure that out sees you driving one and makes a worn-out joke about soccer practice, go ahead and laugh.</p><p>Just know you're laughing at them, not with them.</p>

Review: The Kia Carnival proves that if you don't love minivans, you just haven't come to your senses yet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2021 <keyword id="13181456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-sorento" source="Orion">Kia Sorento</keyword> <keyword id="11964156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="suv" source="Orion">SUV</keyword> debuted with all-new looks, switching from a rounded body to a boxy one.</li><li>The new Sorento starts at $29,590 and lets buyers option it into the $40,000 range.</li></ul><p>A couple of hours after a new <keyword id="6372046" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia" source="Orion">Kia</keyword> Sorento X-Line arrived at my house, I was still squinting at it. Either my eyes were the problem or my brain was, but I couldn't tell which. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2940" width="5184" msid="89598767" hostid="261"></div><p>My neighbor walked outside and yelled hello.</p><p>"Hi!" I said back. With both hands on my hips like a suburban dad checking out the landscaping, I removed one to point at the SUV. "Is this thing gray or green?"</p><p>"Green?" they said. "I think it's green."</p><p>"Hmph," I nodded. "I guess so."</p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="1595" width="2853" msid="89598770" hostid="261"></div><p>Gray will forever rank among white, silver, and black as one of the safest <keyword id="11897278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="car" source="Orion">car</keyword> colors on the market, and one of the most chosen. But green? Green paint made me look at this Sorento in a new light, even if it was so understated that I could barely tell it was green at all. It's a safe choice, but with the beauty of a more distinct one.</p><p>That's a good metaphor for the Sorento: a safe way to stand out in a sea of <keyword id="11964155" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="suvs" source="Orion">SUVs</keyword>. </p><h2><strong>The Sorento: new, boxy looks and a lot of options</strong></h2><p>The Sorento debuted for the 2021 model year with a completely new design: boxy and tough, as opposed to its rounder predecessor. The SUV starts at $29,590 and has eight trims. The bottom three trims — the LX, S, and X-Line S — have a 191-horsepower engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. </p><div type="image" title="The Kia Sorento X-Line's black and caramel interior." height="698" width="2080" msid="89598773" hostid="261"></div><p>The top five trims feature a 281-horsepower engine and an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You can read about the transmission differences <a href="https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/03/should-you-buy-a-car-with-a-dual-clutch-transmission-.html">here</a>. </p><p>The trims and prices for 2022 are as follows. My loaner came from the top trim: the X-Line SX Prestige AWD.</p><ul><li><strong>Sorento LX ($29,590):</strong> front-wheel drive, body-color rear-view mirrors and door handles, high-beam assist, 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, cloth seat trim, manually adjustable front seats, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and driver-attention warning</li><li><strong>Sorento S ($32,390):</strong> adds gloss-black rear-view mirrors and handles, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, navigation, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shifter, and additional safety features like blind-spot collision-avoidance assist</li><li><strong>Sorento X-Line S AWD ($34,390):</strong> swaps in <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/features/awd-vs-fwd-vs-rwd-which-wheel-drive-is-best/">all-wheel drive</a> and appearance tweaks</li><li><strong>Sorento EX ($35,490):</strong> front-wheel drive; adds LED fog lights, a wireless phone charger, and highway-driving assistance technology</li><li><strong>Sorento X-Line EX AWD ($39,190):</strong> swaps in all-wheel drive and appearance tweaks, such as 20-inch alloy wheels</li><li><strong>Sorento SX ($38,290):</strong> front-wheel drive; adds full-LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and appearance tweaks</li><li><strong>Sorento SX Prestige ($41,190): </strong>front-wheel drive; adds power-folding outside mirrors, genuine leather seat trim, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, additional driver-assistance features, and a surround-view camera that shows 360-degree view around the car</li><li><strong>Sorento X-Line SX Prestige AWD ($43,190): </strong>swaps in all-wheel drive and appearance tweaks</li></ul><p>The 2022 Kia Sorento got top crash ratings in every category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The full-LED headlights on trims with "SX" and "SX Prestige" in their names received the IIHS' highest safety ratings, but the headlights on every other trim received its lowest. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2619" width="4751" msid="89598775" hostid="261"></div><p>The IIHS said visibility was inadequate all around on the trims with poor headlights. </p><h2><strong>What stands out: </strong>S<strong>tyling and comfort</strong></h2><p>Much like its flaky, metallic green exterior paint, the Sorento's brown-and-black interior combination is beautiful. It gives off fireplace-in-a-winter-cabin vibes, and its mocha-colored seats and door panels perfectly mesh with its black accent pieces and warm wood trim. </p><p>The black trim pieces are soft but sturdy, the wood trim has a nice grain, and the stitching patterns in the leather — diamond on the seats and parallel stitch patterns on the doors — make the interior feel upscale. Look up and you'll find a panoramic sunroof, which only adds to the vibe. Look down and you can choose to heat or cool your front-row seat. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2602" width="3863" msid="89598777" hostid="261"></div><p>The Sorento is whisper-quiet on the highway and has almost no road noise on rough surfaces. At 70 mph, wind noise is just a tiny swish. It's nice.</p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Kia Sorento with a black interior." height="2792" width="5311" msid="89598780" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia also has its digital dashboard figured out, with the driver's digital instrument cluster flowing perfectly into the center-mounted touchscreen infotainment system. The controls on the screens are intuitive, and the pockets in the center console below them are useful for a variety of things you might have in the car with you: keys, glasses, and other pocket-sized items.  </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2905" width="5125" msid="89598782" hostid="261"></div><p>The Sorento's second row, complete with theater seating that allows rear passengers to sit higher than those up front, is open and spacious. Its armrests can be put all the way down or set to the height you want, and the theater seating not only lets rear passengers feel more in control — they can see the road without leaning around the people in front, after all — but also more relaxed.</p><p>There's something about being able to see the world around you that makes you feel more at peace. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="3455" width="2640" msid="89598785" hostid="261"></div><p>Even the two-seat third row doesn't feel like an afterthought, with USB ports and cupholders complemented by good sound quality and room to stretch out. The raised floor to create theater seating in the second row does mean your feet will sit way higher than normal in the third, though, so stay out of there if you have bad knees. </p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Kia Sorento with a tan interior." height="5267" width="7900" msid="89598788" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>What falls short: </strong>A <strong>forgettable driving experience</strong></h2><p>The flaws in the Sorento are minor, but they add up. </p><p>The car is fine to drive, but it isn't exactly fun. The steering is loose and light, and the gas pedal feels like a toy. It has barely any travel and falls lifelessly to the floor under a heavy foot, and if you leave it pressed all the way to the floor for a few seconds, there's barely any response before<em> whooooosh</em> — the car's turbocharger finally kicks in. It feels like a lifetime of waiting.</p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2785" width="4912" msid="89598790" hostid="261"></div><p>While the car's brown tones blend beautifully together, they're marred by three things: piano-black accents, which are a magnet for dust and grime; a touchscreen that got so nasty and greasy, I became self-conscious of my own existence; and a light-gray headliner. Swap the piano black for something less disgusting — and the gray headliner for something that isn't so jarring, like brown or black — and the Sorento's interior becomes far more upscale than its price tag. </p><p>Unfortunately, Kia didn't do that. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2499" width="4262" msid="89598793" hostid="261"></div><p>The Sorento only had 7,300 miles on it, yet I could already see little creases and stress marks in its diamond stitching on the second-row seats. I kept mistaking the drive-mode selector for a volume knob. The thick rear pillars made it hard to look over my shoulders and actually see anything. The second and third row needed more air vents.</p><p>And for a time, I thought the car was haunting me. </p><p>Let me explain. Remember when one day in <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1071481/remember-when-apple-forced-a-u2-album-on-us-all">2014</a>, a U2 album randomly showed up on everyone's iPhones? Well, I haven't known how to work iTunes since about 2011, so I never deleted it. Also, I didn't really care enough. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="4318" width="3071" msid="89598795" hostid="261"></div><p>About 90 seconds after I would get in the Sorento, that album would start playing if I had my phone selected as the media source. The Sorento wouldn't just let me take a bit of extra time to load Pandora or sit in silence with my own thoughts — no, no. My phone media was selected, and you bet it was going to automatically play the media on my phone, which consisted entirely of that free U2 album.</p><p>I would immediately fumble to a different music source every time. Sorry, Kia and U2.</p><h2><strong>Our impressions: An SUV that looks good and gets the job done</strong></h2><p>The more I looked at my green Sorento loaner, the more I admired it. It didn't scream for your attention, but it did keep it once you managed to notice. Its forest-green paint and brown interior are a beautiful combination, and its flaws aren't overwhelming. It's a good SUV. </p><div type="image" title="A slate green Kia Sorento X-Line." height="2446" width="4346" msid="89598799" hostid="261"></div><p>I'm sure my neighbor wasn't expecting to inspect the SUV in the driveway next door to decide whether it was green or gray. I wasn't, either. But once we decided, we couldn't help but appreciate the subtle joys of standing out from the crowd. </p><p>That's exactly what the Sorento was made for.</p>

Review: The $43,000 Kia Sorento 3-row SUV is a subtle way to stand out from the crowd

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I tested the 2023 Kia Niro EV, a $39,550 electric SUV. </li><li>The Niro EV brings bold, futuristic looks, 253 miles of range, and some cool features. </li></ul><p>Lots of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-ix-vs-rivian-r1s-electric-car-suv-compared-2023-3">new electric cars</a> are hailed as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-x-lamborghini-aventador-ferrari-sf90-drag-race-2023-3">impossibly quick</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/evs-electric-cars-coming-in-2023-suv-truck-chevy-tesla-hyundai-2022-12">cutting edge "Tesla-killers"</a> that will revolutionize the way you drive. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-charging-non-tesla-at-supercharger-kia-2023-3">2023 Kia Niro EV</a> is none of those things. And that's perfectly fine. </p><p>The new Niro, which just got a big redesign for its second generation, isn't flashy, fast, or all that fun. It isn't packed with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rivian-r1s-vs-mercedes-benz-eqs-suv-tesla-electric-suvs-2023-3">acres of touchscreens or gimmicky features</a>. But it gets the job done and is a solid choice for anyone who wants a regular SUV that just so happens to run on electricity. </p><div type="image" title="The front of the Kia Niro EV electric SUV against an overcast sky and Dunkin' Donuts in the background." height="2301" width="2500" msid="99099208" hostid="261" sizebytes="690692"></div><p>Before we dive into the details, know that the Niro EV Wave that Kia lent me came out to $46,495 before fees and included features like a power sunroof, head-up display, and ventilated seats. The base Wind model costs $39,550 and offers the same range and performance as its pricier twin.</p><h2><strong>What stands out: Executes all the basics nicely </strong></h2><p>Kia and its Hyundai sister brand have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-y-kia-ev6-hyundai-ioniq-5-best-evs-2023-1">crushing it design-wise lately</a>, and the new Niro is no exception. It's bold, unique, and features a contrasting boomerang-shaped body panel that adds a little extra flair. It's stylish inside, too. It gets a quirky, two-spoke steering wheel and dual 10.3-inch screens on a single swoopy panel. </p><p>The Niro EV also delivers all the smoothness and quietude you'd expect from a car that swaps a rumbly gas engine and transmission for silent electric motors. And it offers a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longest-range-electric-cars-2023-3">solid EPA range of 253 miles</a>. </p><div type="image" title="The interior of the Kia Niro EV electric SUV taken facing the windshield, featuring gray steering wheel and seats, darker accents," height="1741" width="2500" msid="99099209" hostid="261" sizebytes="350448"></div><p>Its regenerative braking system predictably slows the vehicle down when you let off the throttle, creating energy that's fed back to its battery pack. (That's something some much <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-eqs-580-electric-tesla-rival-review-interior-price-2022-10">higher-end manufacturers</a> haven't perfected.) It comes with a generous array of standard safety tech, including blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping. </p><p>Plus, Kia has spiced the Niro up with a few more exciting touches. A touchscreen strip below the main display houses both the climate and media controls, and you toggle between them by tapping a little icon that looks like the Uno reverse card. The leftmost knob, for example, can adjust the volume or temperature. </p><div type="image" title="A touchscreen strip in the Kia Niro EV electric SUV showing buttons for the volume and climate settings." height="1691" width="2500" msid="99099210" hostid="261" sizebytes="265688"></div><p>A head-up display on my tester projected important driving info onto the windshield. And when I activated the optional Highway Driving Assist 2 feature (which conveniently follows lane lines and adjusts speed to keep up with traffic), the head-up display showed cool graphics of nearby vehicles on the road that the Kia was sensing and reacting to. The new Niro EV can act like a mobile generator thanks to some included household outlets, but that's not a standard feature.</p><h2>What falls short: Missing some of the excitement of other EVs</h2><p>Still, the Niro EV — particularly in entry-level form — is more of an appliance for getting from A to B than a state-of-the-art piece of tech to show off to friends. </p><div type="image" title="A light-colored steering wheel in the Kia Niro EV electric SUV." height="1875" width="2500" msid="99099211" hostid="261" sizebytes="278852"></div><p>It lacks the sort of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-best-reasons-to-buy-speed-technology-cargo-space-2023-1">instant, perky acceleration most electric cars offer</a>. And it can't charge all that quickly either, taking 43 minutes to go from 10% to 80% on a fast charger. Kia says its more advanced <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-ev6-gt-electric-suv-review-tesla-rival-2023-2">EV6</a> can do the same in just 18 minutes. </p><p>Since it shares a platform with hybrid siblings, it doesn't have the same clever packaging and spacious feel as a Tesla or EV6. When you build an electric car from scratch (rather than repurposing the basic structure of a gas model) you can take full advantage of the more compact components and greatly expand interior space. </p><div type="image" title="A white Kia Niro EV electric SUV seen from the rear in a parking lot against a blue sky." height="1710" width="2500" msid="99099212" hostid="261" sizebytes="629306"></div><p>Unlike in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/polestar-2-electric-car-review-tesla-single-motor-ggpi-2022-2">Polestar 2</a> or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-electric-car-ford-mustang-mach-e-road-trip-charging-2021-8">Ford Mustang Mach-E</a>, you won't find a spacious front trunk or a large iPad-like touchscreen. For some buyers, that might all be perfectly OK. </p><p>Still, it's worth noting that more exciting vehicles — like the Polestar 2, Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model 3, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 — retail for only slightly more. And some similarly capable models can be had for much less. The Chevrolet Bolt EUV, another compact electric SUV, offers 247 miles of range and starts at just $27,800. Since the Niro EV isn't made in North America, buying one <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-state-electric-car-vehicle-tax-credits-rebates-qualify-2023-1">won't get you a federal tax credit</a>. </p><div type="image" title="The driver-facing screen in the Kia Niro EV electric SUV, showing a speedometer and other gauges." height="1661" width="2500" msid="99099213" hostid="261" sizebytes="232820"></div><h2><strong>Our impressions</strong></h2><p>The Niro EV is a good all-around electric SUV, but some rivals are more competitive on price and pizzazz. </p>

I drove the $40,000 Kia Niro EV and found it's a solid electric SUV for people who want something more traditional than a Tesla

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2022 Stinger has been updated with minor exterior styling changes.</li><li>Most notably, there's a new base model that's more powerful and cheaper than the <keyword id="892827" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="BMW-3-series">BMW 3 Series</keyword>.</li><li>The <keyword id="10946103" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2022-kia-stinger">2022 Kia Stinger</keyword> starts at $36,090.</li></ul><p>In 2017, <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword> came out swinging. Not with an SUV but with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-stinger-review-business-insider-car-of-the-year-2018-11">the Stinger</a> - a sleek sports sedan with a hatchback-style trunk. It was awesome.</p><p>Don't worry, though. I'm not here today to tell you that the Stinger is going away. I'm here to tell you about some updates.</p><p>On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/17205/2022-stinger-overview">the automaker unveiled</a> the much-updated 2022 Stinger. The car will wear <a href="https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/kia-logo-badge-rebrand/">Kia's new logo</a> and have a new daytime-running-light design and new LED taillights as standard. Other redesigned features include new 18- and 19-inch wheels and more aggressive exhaust tips.</p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._6" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552512" hostid="261"></div>Inside, buyers will get ambient cabin lighting with a choice of colors and black and chrome detailing on the instrument panel. Some of the optional Nappa leather surfaces with a new "chain link" design meant to resemble wristbands on high-end watches.<p>The 2022 Stinger will be available in three trim levels: the GT-Line, GT1, and GT2. The GT-Line will have a 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Though it is the base-model Stinger, it'll have a claimed 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque sent to the rear wheels. All-wheel drive is an optional extra.</p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._2" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552513" hostid="261"></div>The 3.3-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 in the GT1 and GT2 trims produces a claimed 368 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. The higher two trims also come in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.<p>An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on all Stinger models, as is a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.</p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._4" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552514" hostid="261"></div>A special-edition Stinger, the Scorpion, will be launched later on. All we know for now is that it'll come in three colors - Snow White, Aurora Black, and Ceramic Silver - have a rear spoiler, unique black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim pieces, and an interior carbon-fiber pattern trim.<p>As a quick comparison, <a href="https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3-series/sedan/pricing-features.html">the base BMW 3 Series</a> - the go-to "fancy" sedan in our society - starts at $41,250 and produces a claimed 255 horsepower. And it doesn't have a hatchback trunk.</p><p>The 2022 <keyword id="6589546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-stinger">Kia Stinger</keyword> <a href="https://www.kia.com/us/en/stinger">starts at</a> $36,090 before its destination and handling fee. With the exception of the Stinger Scorpion, you can expect the 2022 models to arrive at showrooms in the spring.</p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._7" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552516" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._10" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552517" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._11" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552519" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._1" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552521" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._8" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552522" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Stinger._3" height="1667" width="2500" msid="81552523" hostid="261"></div>

Kia just updated its flashiest sedan with more power and features to challenge BMW - see the $36,090 Stinger

<ul class="summary-list"><li>From a list of 16 finalists, we selected three 2020 Car of the Year runners-up: the <keyword id="10337877" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="porsche-taycan-4s">Porsche Taycan 4S</keyword>, the <keyword id="10509822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chevy-corvette">Chevy Corvette</keyword> Stingray, and the <keyword id="7213277" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-telluride">Kia Telluride</keyword>.</li><li><keyword id="45673" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Porsche">Porsche</keyword>'s all-electric high-performance super-sedan, the much-anticipated mid-engine <keyword id="240486" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Corvette">Corvette</keyword>, and <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword>'s incredible combination of value and features in a near-luxury SUV made this trio stand out.</li><li>Come back for our 2020 Insider Car of the Year winner on December 30.</li></ul><p>We're getting close to awarding the big trophy for our Insider 2020 Car of the Year! From 16 finalists, our team has now chosen three runners-up: the Porsche Taycan, the <keyword id="143502" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chevy">Chevy</keyword> Corvette Stingray, and the Kia Telluride.</p><p>This is the seventh year we've undertaken our annual award program, and while we once again checked out more than 50 cars, trucks, and SUVs, for 2020 we decided to slim down to three runners-up from our traditional five, and reveal them all at once.</p><p>As a reminder, our methodology for selecting Car of the Year finalists is based on a handful of simple questions.</p><ul><li>Is there a strong business case for the vehicle? We are a business site, after all.</li><li>Did our reviewers agree that the vehicle should be included? We <em>have</em> to come to a consensus, even though we might disagree on some particulars.</li><li>Was the vehicle objectively excellent? There has to be a <em>wow </em>factor of some sort.</li><li>Did the vehicle stand out from the sea of competition, particularly when it comes to technology? A Car of the Year finalist has to be special, and we're also a technology site.</li><li>Can we strongly recommend buying or leasing the car? We need to know whether we'd buy the vehicle ourselves if we had the resources.</li></ul><p>To be eligible, all models must be new or have been substantially updated within the past year.</p><p>And to qualify as a runner-up, a vehicle must distinguish itself as being extra notable. In 2020, the three that made the cut were all driven by both senior reporter Kristen Lee and senior correspondent Matt DeBord.</p><p>We'll reveal our 2020 Car of the Year winner on December 30, but for now, here they are: The 2020 Insider Car of the Year runners-up.</p><h2>The Porsche Taycan: a magnificent electric car that's every bit a Porsche</h2><div type="image" title="2020 Porsche Taycan 4S_KL_20" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012925" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-taycan-4s-review-0-60-price-range-ev-electric-2020-11">In her review of a $144,000 Taycan 4S</a>, Kristen enjoyed the Porsche-fication of the whole electric-car concept. Oh, how far we've come from pokey Nissan Leafs and the early 2010s!</p><p>"I liked the Taycan quite a bit," she wrote. "It's not built on an <a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2020-mini-cooper-se-electric-vehicle-review-photos-price-range-performance-specs/">internal-combustion engine platform that's been repurposed for an EV</a>, so there aren't any glaringly obvious passenger or cargo room compromises. Sitting in the back does not give you the distinct feeling that you're astride a battery pack."</p><div type="image" title="2020 Porsche Taycan 4S_KL_40" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012926" hostid="261"></div>She added: "The Taycan weighs more than two tons, but it conducts itself like a very planted sports car. The optional rear-axle steering helped with maneuverability in tight spaces. It cruised quietly and smoothly on the highway when it wasn't gluing my passengers to their seat backs."<div type="image" title="2020 Porsche Taycan 4S_KL_15" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012930" hostid="261"></div><p>Matt didn't convey any passengers into the future, but he did sling the Taycan around a New Jersey highway-interchange configuration adjacent to MetLife Stadium, and he was filled with joy by the experience.</p><p>We all knew that when Porsche made its big move into the all-electric action, directly confronting Tesla, it would have to vastly exceed expectations.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Porsche Taycan 4S_KL_56" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012937" hostid="261"></div><p>And the Germans did just that with the Taycan, immediately delivering the best-driving EV on the planet with a combination of speed, handling, and minimalist luxury that showed Tesla what was possible when an obsessive engineering culture turned its attention to fully electrified thrills.</p><p>"It's a damn fine first crack," Kristen concluded.</p><h2>The Chevy Corvette Stingray: The mid-engine supercar Corvette fans have been waiting for</h2><div type="image" title="2020 Chevrolet Corvette_KL_43" height="1666" width="2222" msid="80012942" hostid="261"></div><p>Both Kristen and Matt achieved brief celebrity status while they were savoring Chevy Corvette Stingray - the eighth, or "C8," generation of the all-American sports car. The C8, though, is the first ever to feature a mid-engine design, something that Vette fans have been begging for.</p><p>"The person walking their dog pumped a fist triumphantly into the air upon seeing my Rapid Blue 2020 Corvette loaner drive by," Kristen wrote in her <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chevrolet-corvette-mid-engine-review-c8-horsepower-price-specs-chevy-2020-10">review</a> of an $80,000 version of the car, which can be had for a base price of just $58,900.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Chevrolet Corvette_KL_34" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012943" hostid="261"></div><p>"So did a driver in <em>their</em> brand-new Corvette, going the opposite way on I-80," she added. "Another driver in an oncoming red Ferrari 488 flashed their lights in greeting.</p><p>"Wherever you go in the new Corvette, that'll be the standard reaction - for a while, at least, until everyone calms down about the car a bit."</p><div type="image" title="2020 Chevrolet Corvette_KL_8" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012944" hostid="261"></div><p>For Matt, it was more of the same. The owner of a brand-new red C8 pulled up while Matt was shooting some photos and proceeded to chat all things Vette for a socially distanced half an hour.</p><p>"With a starting price of under $60,000, it's tough to find a better bargain out there than the C8 Corvette," Kristen concluded. "You get a 500-horsepower, mid-engined supercar for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-bmw-m3-m4-first-look-price-info-pics-stats-2020-9">less than the price of the new BMW M3</a>, and none of the pretentiousness of a Porsche or Ferrari.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Chevrolet Corvette_KL_48" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012947" hostid="261"></div><p>"This is America's Sports Car, after all. The car with home-team advantage. If you don't like it, you're a dirty Commie"</p><h2>The Kia Telluride: The best new SUV to hit the market in years</h2><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_29" height="1441" width="1922" msid="80012953" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-telluride-suv-review-tech-features-verdict-photos-2019-12">Matt sampled the wildly popular Kia Telluride in late 2019</a>, and even then, he knew the South Korean automaker had a winner.</p><p>"We have a year to go before we name the 2020 Car of the Year, but I'm pretty sure the Telluride will be near the top of my list," he wrote. "For now, I'll simply say that this is the best three-row SUV that not a lot of money can buy."</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_58" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80012956" hostid="261"></div><p>Kristen <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-telluride-roof-tent-roofnest-falcon-car-camping-suv-price-2020-9">took a specially-equipped $47,000 Telluride camping</a>, thanks to a roof-mounted collapsible tent ($3,400), so it's fair to say that we put this SUV through <em>all</em> of its paces.</p><p>"Kia is clearly doing something right here," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-kia-telluride-review-price-specs-suv-horsepower-three-row-2020-9">she wrote in her review</a>.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_34" height="1388" width="1851" msid="80013081" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's given people a midsize SUV option that's handsome, has a great interior and is aggressively priced," Kristen added. "To those of you feeling hesitant merely because the Telluride wears a Kia badge, put that aside. Go sit in a Telluride. Nothing in there would indicate it's the Kia you once turned up your nose at - whether fairly or not.</p><p>"Kia is carving out a permanent space for itself in the market. And it brought a giant, Telluride-sized shovel for the job."</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_12" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80013084" hostid="261"></div><p>The proof of Telluride's impact on the SUV market - which, alongside pickup trucks, defines sales in the US - has come over the course of 2020. When Matt checked out the vehicle, it was still new to the stage. But through the next year, Kia encountered so much demand for its sweetly priced ute that it hasn't been able to build enough vehicles.</p><p>That's a good problem to have if you're trying to cut into one of the most competitive segments in the auto industry. We have no difficulty understanding why everybody, it seems, wants a Telluride.</p><p><em>Stay tuned for Insider's Car of the Year winner, which we'll announce on December 30.</em></p>

The Porsche Taycan, Chevy Corvette Stingray, and Kia Telluride are Insider's 2020 Car of the Year runners-up

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Telluride is <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword>’s three-row SUV that competes with the Hyundai Palisade, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Traverse.</li><li>It’s enormously popular, no doubt thanks to the fact that its starting price is lower than a lot of the competition.</li><li>With the Telluride, you get a comfortable ride and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-kia-telluride-interior-features-review-three-row-suv-tech-2020-9">an interior</a> that feels like it belongs in a far more expensive vehicle.</li><li>My top-trim loaner started at $43,490 — but after options, it came out to a $47,310 MSRP.</li></ul><p>If you're in the market for a big, cushy, three-row SUV, you have a lot to choose from. You've got options from Ford, Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Chevrolet — and Kia. Hell yeah, <em>Kia! </em></p><p>"Kia?" you might think, and rightfully so. The company <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/report-kia-borrego-dead-in-us-for-2010-7076/#:~:text=UPDATE%3A%20We%20have%20confirmed%20with,a%20later%20point%20in%20time.">hasn't had the brightest history</a> with three-row family haulers in the US, but it's here to set that reputation straight — and everyone else better watch out.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_21" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127073" hostid="261"></div><p>It wasn't that long ago that the South Korean company was the underdog, its reputation roughly in the same hole that <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/adventure/red-line/the-rise-of-japan-how-the-car-industry-was-won/article27100187/">Japanese automakers were forced to live in during the 1950s and 1960s</a>: its products distrusted and dismissed as shoddy junk. </p><p>But now it's 2020 and the Telluride is so popular that <a href="https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1128765_kia-has-a-problem-it-can-t-build-the-telluride-fast-enough?fbclid=IwAR0hJ0EQ8p7HKtB4GSnhXan_-pc-X32-Z89-4IXE93DcbSyyRnBiVakyzbo">Kia can't build them fast enough to meet demand</a>. In my testing of the SUV, there was a clear reason for that: The Telluride is not only comfortable enough for the whole family, but it's also punching way above its weight in terms of value.</p><p>No wonder people love these things. </p><h2><strong>The <keyword id="9943547" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2020-kia-telluride">2020 Kia Telluride</keyword>: It doesn't look like any other SUV on the road </strong></h2><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_25" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127076" hostid="261"></div><p>The Telluride is Kia's new midsize SUV that debuted last year as a 2020 model. With a third row that can fit three passengers, the car can be configured to seat either seven or eight in total. Aside from the Sedona minivan, it is the biggest car Kia currently offers. </p><p>Visually, the Telluride is perhaps the most striking Kia this side of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2021-kia-k5-specs-features-photos-release-date">the new K5 sedan</a>. With vertically focused design language and square, orange daytime running lights, the Telluride has a face that doesn't just blur into the rest of the crowd. It gets your attention. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_10" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127084" hostid="261"></div><p>The styling gets a little busy around back, but the Telluride still doesn't look like any other SUV on the road. And it certainly doesn't look bargain-bin.</p><h2><strong>Details and safety ratings: Only one powertrain to choose from </strong></h2><p>The Telluride, mechanically, is a twin to the Hyundai Palisade. The two <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/cars/kia/telluride/2020/2020-hyundai-palisade-vs-2020-kia-telluride-comparison-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">share a platform, engine, and transmission</a>. The big difference comes in the exterior looks — and the fact that the Palisade's <a href="https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/palisade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">starting price is slightly higher</a> at $32,525.</p><p>Only one powertrain is offered on the Telluride: a 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated V6 that produces a <a href="https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/models/telluride/2021/specifications">claimed</a> 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That's hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Telluride comes with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_15" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127087" hostid="261"></div><p>You can get the SUV in either front- or all-wheel drive, and curb weights range from about 4,100 pounds to about 4,500 pounds. </p><p>Behind the third row, the trunk has a cargo capacity of 21 cubic feet, which is more than the <a href="https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-6c8f365baeb2f83cfe863e5284001b4f-2021-honda-pilot-specifications-features">Honda Pilot's 18.5 cubic feet</a>. With the third row folded down, the Telluride's cargo capacity behind the second row grows to 46 cubic feet, whereas the Pilot's is a slightly bigger 55.9 cubic feet.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_36" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127095" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_37" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127101" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_38" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127105" hostid="261"></div>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Telluride <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/KIA/TELLURIDE/SUV/AWD">an overall five-star safety rating</a>.<p>The car earned four stars for the overall front crash rating, five stars for the overall side crash rating, and four stars for the rollover safety rating. The agency noted that the Telluride has a 14.3% rollover risk. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_3" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127112" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>What stands out: Upmarket interior </strong></h2><p>The last time I was in a Kia, it was early 2018 and it was the <a href="https://jalopnik.com/the-2018-kia-stinger-gt-is-the-real-deal-1822643041">Stinger GT</a>. The car looked great from the outside, but the inside still had a little bit of that economy, plasticky-feel. </p><p>The Telluride does not. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_43" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127115" hostid="261"></div><p>Obviously, Kia gave me the most optioned out Telluride it could muster (the top-of-the-line SX AWD version with Nappa leather seat trim), but the things that the automaker couldn't option up were quite nice to the touch. </p><p>There's some nice wood — or wood-like — trim throughout the cabin, all the metals have the appearance of brushed aluminum, and the buttons and switches all feel nice and solid to the touch.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_42" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127119" hostid="261"></div><p>Because, yes! There are buttons and switches. And dials. Obviously, there's a screen for the infotainment, but there are buttons for the climate so you can rely on your muscle memory to change it. This is great and I hope it never goes away, because putting every control onto a touchscreen isn't for everyone. </p><p>There's also plenty of room to stretch out, even in the third row. The Kia doesn't suffer from the same streamlined (see also: pinched) design ailment that plagues cars such as the <a href="https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-bmw-x7-is-huge-but-so-great-at-high-speed-crui-1837447918">BMW X7 SUV</a>, which despite its massive girth, only seats two in its third row. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_39" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127126" hostid="261"></div><p>The second-row captain's chairs offer ample legroom and device-charging capabilities: USB ports can be found conveniently within reach on the backs of the front seats. The floors for the second and third row are flat and make it easy to move around the cabin, and the second row folds down quickly to ease access to the third row.</p><p>It's an airy and upscale interior, without a doubt. So it was no surprise to me when I learned that the Telluride landed itself on <a href="https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/16332/kia-telluride-named-to-2020-wards-10-best-interiors-list">WardsAuto's "10 Best Interiors List" of 2020</a>.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_40" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127129" hostid="261"></div><p>Despite being similar in size to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-lincoln-aviator-review-hybrid-specs-three-row-suv-luxury-2020-7">Lincoln Aviator</a>, the Telluride handles more solidly during driving. There's less bounce in the suspension, less lean when you're in the corners, and the steering overall is heavier, which gives you a bit more confidence as to where the car's nose is pointing. Visibility out of the big windows is great.</p><p>Highway cruising is smooth and quiet. The engine is adequate for what is required of it, which is occasional bursts of speed for passing and merging. Otherwise, it settles into a quiet murmur while the eight-speed transmission keeps the revs low during cruising.</p><p>This is not an engine that'll blow your hair back with its awesome acceleration; but then again, is that what you'd look for in a Telluride?</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_24" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127132" hostid="261"></div><p>This is a car you could drive across the country effortlessly with — well, if the estimated gas mileage was better.</p><h2><strong>What falls short: The estimated gas mileage is meh </strong></h2><p>The Telluride's estimated gas mileage returns aren't stellar. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&amp;id=41229&amp;id=41232id=41232">Environmental Protection Agency</a> estimates the front-drive Telluride to return 20 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 23 combined. The all-wheel drive Telluride is estimated to return 19 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway, and 21 combined. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_26" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127136" hostid="261"></div><p>Compared to the non-hybrid Toyota Highlander models, these estimates are pretty evenly matched, but the Highlander also comes as a hybrid. The Telluride does not. This was one of the times where I wished there were a turbocharged four-cylinder or a hybrid option in addition to the naturally aspirated V6. </p><p>But! Estimates are estimates for a reason. In the days I had the car, the trip counter reported that I was getting an average of 27.4 mpg.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_34" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127141" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia thoughtfully provided lane-changing assists in the form of rear-facing cameras that peer down the length of the car. They are activated by flipping on the turn signal. </p><p>It's a useful feature, but slightly distracting because the image is brought up on the driver's instrument cluster. You're not supposed to be looking so far down when you're about to make a turn or change lanes, you're supposed to be looking up out the windows. Having the image down that low encourages you to take your eyes off the road. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_50" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127143" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_49" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127145" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>How the Telluride compares to its competitors: The best bang-for-your-buck option </strong></h2><p>With a starting price of $31,990, the Telluride gives you a lot of car for the money. A lot. And it's cheaper than most of its competition. </p><p>Close competitors include the Ford Explorer (starting price of $32,765), Subaru Ascent (starting price of $32,295), Toyota Highlander (starting price of $34,600), Honda Pilot (starting price of $32,250), and Chevrolet Traverse (starting price of $29,800).</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_47" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127150" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kia is so popular, in fact, <a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2020-kia-telluride-sales-selluride/">Automobile Magazine</a> reported that the SUV had been internally nicknamed it the Kia "Sell-u-ride." The story noted that in March 2019 — the first full month of Telluride sales — Kia sold 5,080 of the things. In January 2020, Kia sold 4,919 Tellurides. </p><p>After also reporting that Toyota sold 17,009 Highlanders in January 2020, Automobile reminds us that Kia is still a relatively small automaker. But it also said that Kia has increased annual Telluride production to 100,000 units in order to meet demand.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_16" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127152" hostid="261"></div><p>While I docked the Telluride for not offering a hybrid, it seems like a lot of folks aren't doing the same. </p><h2><strong>Our impressions: Luxury automakers have another thing coming</strong></h2><p>In terms of getting the best bang for your buck, I can't really see how you can go wrong with the Telluride. It's got an interior that not only blows the unfair Kia reputation out of the water, but also one that feels far more upmarket than it is. It's spacious, roomy, and quiet.</p><p>Aside from my wishing that it came as a hybrid and getting better gas mileage, I really couldn't find anything glaringly at fault.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_30" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127156" hostid="261"></div><p>My loaner had a starting price of $43,490, but after its Prestige Package, some interior lighting, and carpeted floor mats, the total price came to $47,310 MSRP. That's basically a fully loaded, AWD, three-row SUV for under $50,000. That should make the luxury automakers <em>very</em> nervous. </p><p>During a conversation on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-car-during-covid-19-pandemic-tips-advice-2020-7">how to buy a car during the COVID-19 pandemic</a> with car-buying expert Tom McParland, who owns a company called <a href="https://automatchconsulting.com/">Automatch Consulting</a> that helps folks buy cars, he said the Telluride is "Kia's hottest seller right now. Availability is low and deals are minimal."</p><p>If you're thinking about buying a Telluride right now, the search for one might not be the easiest thing.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_33" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127161" hostid="261"></div><p>Inventory stresses aside, Kia is clearly doing something right here. It's given people a midsize SUV option that's handsome, has a great interior, and is aggressively priced. </p><p>To those of you feeling hesitant merely because the Telluride wears a Kia badge, put that aside. Go sit in a Telluride. Nothing in there would indicate it's the Kia you once turned up your nose at — whether fairly or not. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_9" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127164" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia is carving out a permanent space for itself in the market. And it brought a giant, Telluride-sized shovel for the job.</p>

REVIEW: The $47,000 Kia Telluride is perfect for buyers craving a luxurious 3-row SUV without the luxury price tag

Greater Noida, Feb 5 () South Korean auto maker Kia Motors on Wednesday launched its premium multi purpose vehicle Carnival, and showcased a new concept for a global SUV Sonet at the Auto Expo here.<p> Carnival is being launched in India in three different specifications at a starting price of Rs 24.95 lakh for its Premium variant (ex-showroom), Rs 28.95 lakh for its Prestige variant (ex-showroom), and Rs 33.95 lakh for its Limousine variant (ex-showroom).</p><p> Kia Sonet concept will be developed further ahead of a launch in the Indian market in the second half of 2020.</p><p> Kia Motors India said it had received more than 1,400 bookings for the new car on the first day of orders and has a total of more than 3,500 bookings received till date.</p><p> Kia had entered the Indian market with its SUV Seltos, which was displayed as SP Concept in the previous edition of the Auto Expo in 2018.</p><p> Commenting on the India journey, Kia Motors India MD and CEO Kookhyun Shim said: "We have sought to understand Indian customers' aspirations, and match them with best-in-class products and services."</p><p> He further said, "Our latest vehicle, Kia Carnival, is a clear example of this approach. Though it represents a leap up from the Seltos, into a premium, aspirational segment, it has been devised with the same passion."</p><p> Shim further said, "As the Indian market evolves, we will continue to offer customers here the best and most innovative products and services."</p><p> Kia Sonet concept is a compact SUV which will take on the likes of Maruti Suzuki's Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Ford Ecosport.</p><p> Kia Motors said the vehicle will be launched in India in the second half of 2020.</p><p> Carnival, on the other hand, looks to enter a segment dominated by Toyota's Innova Crystal. It is powered by a 2.2-liter VGT BS6 diesel engine, paired with an eight-speed "Sportsmatic" transmission.</p> Kia is also showcasing its Seltos X-Line Concept, a bolder reinterpretation of the Seltos SUV along with Soul EV, Niro EV, compact SUV XCeed and compact utility vehicle Stonic.  RKL  ANSANS

Kia Motors launches premium MPV Carnival at Auto Expo

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I tested a 2021 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/chevy">Chevy</a> Trailblazer, with all-wheel-drive in the well-optioned Activ trim.</li><li>The as-tested price was $32,350, but the vehicle can be had for $19,000, base.</li><li>The Trailblazer borrows some snazzy design cues from the larger <keyword id="143502" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chevy">Chevy</keyword> Blazer. These set it apart from the competition, which includes compact crossovers from Kia, Mazda, and Honda.</li><li>The Trailblazer has two engine and transmission options. My tester had a 155-horsepower, turbocharged, three-cylinder powerplant that offered nice punch at lower speeds, but that was slow to 60 mph and not as easy on gas as I thought it would be.</li><li>What sets the Trailblazer apart from the competition is a suite of technology features, ranging from infotainment to wifi connectivity to driver-assist, that are enviable in a budget package.</li></ul><p>I really wasn't sure about the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer going into a week-long test of the small crossover SUV. This is not your father's Trailblazer, and in this case, I'm the father who remembers the nameplate from a larger, truck-based SUV that was discontinued in the mid-2000s. I was expecting a basic, entry-level crossover, easy on gas but nothing too impressive otherwise. </p><p>Instead, I enjoyed a nifty little SUV with compelling exterior styling, fully loaded with industry-leading infotainment and connectivity systems.</p><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1500" width="2000" msid="78092540" hostid="261"></div><p>The best way to think about the Trailblazer is not as a blazer of trails, but as an ambler of suburban roads that borrows its design inspiration from the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chevy-blazer-2019-suv-review-features-photos-2019-3">new Chevy Blazer</a> — which is also questionable as a blazer of trails, but is an excellent SUV interpretation of the Camaro.</p><p>That makes the Trailblazer is a subcompact muscle-car SUV, except that it lacks anything even vaguely resembling muscle. The upshot? Chevy wants you to have something slightly jazzier than the Trax to start you out on the <keyword id="6372405" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="gm">GM</keyword> brand ladder. </p><h2>Bring on the three-cylinder power!</h2><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1500" width="2000" msid="78092541" hostid="261"></div><p>My nicely optioned test vehicle cost $32,350, but the price before goodies was $26,900, and I sampled the Activ trim level with all-wheel-drive. The base front-wheel-drive version goes for $19,000. I got a white floating roof and a paint job dubbed "Zeus Bronze Metallic," which suggests a lot of chromatic firepower for a ride this modest. The interior was "Jet Black," boring but not cheap-looking.</p><p>Under the hood, the Trailblazer has a 1.3-liter, three-cylinder (yes, three) turbocharged engine that makes 155 horsepower with 174 pound-feet of torque. This is a step up from the 137-hp base motor, and the larger powerplant is mated to a nine-speed automatic rather than a continuously variable transmission. That's a lotta gears for not a lot of power, and I anticipated fuel economy that was better than the rated 26 mpg city/30 highway/28 combined.</p><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1500" width="2000" msid="78092545" hostid="261"></div><p>A snappy o-60 mph time is barely worth thinking about with a vehicle such as this; I clocked something like 10 seconds. However, the Trailblazer can muster sufficient torque to pass semis on the highway, and the motor's punch is more appealing in zippy, around-town driving. You have normal, sport, all-wheel-drive, and sport modes to play with. Sport firms up the steering, but the steering was adequately frisky and assured in other modes.</p><p>Cargo capacity is 25 cubic feet under the (powered!) liftgate, rising to 54 if you drop the rear seats, which are bench design, provided limited legroom for adults. The fronts split the difference between firm and compliant. </p><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1304" width="1739" msid="78092547" hostid="261"></div><p>Ride quality doesn't come off as jittery, but the Trailblazer doesn't always feel fully planted to the pavement, and as I noted earlier, I'd steer clear of trying to blaze any trails in this thing. One can tow up to 1,000 pounds, good enough for a small trailer or micro-camper, if you're taking an outdoorsy excursion or working on the house.</p><p>The best part of the Trailblazer is undoubtedly the infotainment system, running on an eight-inch central touchscreen, combined with OnStar's 4G LTE WiFi and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to go along with wireless charging (there are also USB ports for device connectivity, and Bluetooth pairing is a breeze). This is one of the best systems on the market, better than what you'd find in many luxury brands. An optional seven-speaker Bose audio system brings superb sound to the cabin.</p><h2>Industry-leading tech and my soft spot for the bowtie brand's <keyword id="60427" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="SUVs">SUVs</keyword></h2><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1182" width="1576" msid="78092548" hostid="261"></div><p>Throw in a passel of driver-assist features and crisp, high-definition rear-facing camera and you start to think that while the Trailblazer is pricier than some other compact SUVs in this segment, at least as mine was well-configured, it's money well spent. That $32,000 sticker is not excessive when you consider that infotainment and audio outdo a significant slice of the premium market, and the flashy styling tended to put a smile on my face.</p><p>The market for the Trailblazer is first-time car buyers, as well as vehicle-deprived urbanites striking out of the 'burbs. But I could also see this package appealing to retirees who have a moderately active lifestyle, as well as frugal singles who aren't chasing status. It's certainly worth a test drive, if you're eyeballing the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-seltos-review-2021-specs-price-suv-hyundai-car-buying-2020-6">Kia Seltos</a>, the Mazda CX-3, or the Honda HR-V — and even if you're considering slightly larger crossovers with bigger engines.</p><div type="image" title="2021 Chevy Trailblazer" height="1503" width="2000" msid="78092549" hostid="261"></div><p>For me, well, I have a soft spot for Chevy SUVs, from the Trax (which performed admirably when I tested it in a blizzard several years ago) to the Suburban, a commendable beast whose latest iteration I enjoyed just a few weeks ago.</p><p>Much of my affection can be chalked up to the genre of small crossovers being fairly same-old-same-old, regardless of manufacturer. This makes styling and technology matter, along with propulsion. In the last category, the Trailblazer is rewarding as a suburban runabout, and it's fun to take to a denser setting like Manhattan, to zoom around with the yellow taxis.</p><p>But in the end, it's the tech that sets Chevy apart from the competition. And it's the chief reason that you should consider buying or leasing a Trailblazer.</p>

REVIEW: The Chevy Trailblazer completely surprised me with its combination of technology and a small yet punchy engine

<p class="source"><span>Kia</span></p><p class="caption">The Kia Soul GT looks cool.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I tested a 2020 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/kia">Kia</a> Soul GT-Line hatchback crossover.</li><li>My test vehicle was priced at $29,055 and enjoyed some performance upgrades, including a theoretically punchy 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.</li><li>The Soul GT-Line gives up too much speed to fuel economy, but it did wind up being fun to drive around corners and into twists and turns.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>I wanted to like the Kia Soul GT-Line. I was wildly impressed with the Kia Stinger, the South Korean carmaker's sport sedan that claimed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-stinger-review-business-insider-car-of-the-year-2018-11">Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year award</a>. More recently, I richly enjoyed the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-telluride-suv-review-tech-features-verdict-photos-2019-12">Telluride</a>, an appealing new SUV from the brand.</p><p>The Soul has been with us since 2009. It was initially aimed at the entry-level market, with the idea that versatility, youthful styling, and a relatively cheap price tag could make the compact crossover a winner.</p><p>And a winner it has been. Since 2011, Soul sales have amounted to over 100,000 units annually, dipping below that figure in 2019 as the outgoing Soul made way for an all-new version.</p><p>My test vehicle was a 2020 Soul GT-Line, the high-performance(ish) trim level. The Soul starts at a scooch under $17,500, but that's for the bare-bones hatchback. My tester began at $27,490 and nabbed a few options - a $345 "Snow White Peal" paint job that in combination with some red trim put me in Tylenol frame of mind - on the way to a $29,055 as-sampled sticker. </p><p>What we have here is slightly-better-than-basic transportation with some go-fast goodies in the equation. </p><p class="source"><span>Kia</span></p><p class="caption">The 1.6-liter turbo four disappointed.</p><p>And therein resides the problem. While the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 201 horsepower and pipes the thrust though a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and while the Soul GT-Line's 0-60 mph time is achieved in under seven seconds, I struggled to savor speed in this thing. </p><p>It all starts with the engine. Which is terrible. And the transmission. Which makes the terrible more terrible.</p><p>In concept, the fun should be on tap. The turbo four should be punchy, and the gears should wind a bit wildly, as the motor revs like a baby monster. But no. The power lags, even in Sport mode (and in that case, there's torque steer to contend with at the front wheels), and the automatic seven-speed's favorite gear is ... seventh. </p><p>Yes, this yields decent fuel economy: 27 mpg city/32 highway/29 combined. But I'd have been happy to abandon some MPGs for more performance presence. </p><p class="source"><span>Kia</span></p><p class="caption">The interior, however, is outstanding.</p><p>That was my first few days with the Soul GT-Line. My hatred mounted. I started to think this was among the worst cars currently on sale. But then I started to steer the car around some corners, and I found virtues. The Soul GT-Line is not un-engaging to pilot, despite the difficulty of holding it in a gear that retains any power. It gets about a third of the go-quick idea right. </p><p>That is of course not enough. So, sadly, I still disliked the Soul GT-Line, although my snap hatred receded. </p><p>A shame, because much of the rest of the Soul is pretty great. The interior is sporty and mostly comfortable, although not plush. The ergonomic layout of instruments and infotainment controls is superb - Kia is one of the top brands in the business for user-friendliness. I particularly liked that one can easily fire up both front seat heaters and the steering-wheel heater by punching three eminently findable buttons in quick succession.</p><p>The Harman-Kardon upscale audio system in my tester was superb, and the infotainment setup accomplished all duties with aplomb, from navigation to Bluetooth device-pairing. My tester had a fighter-pilot style head-up display that was useful.</p><p>In the end, however, although I like the Soul's now famous shape and size, and I found some thrills throwing it around. it couldn't steal my heart from the Mazda CX-3, my favorite joy-to-drive ride in this segment.</p>             <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-rolls-royce-cullinan-luxury-suv-review-2020-1">What it's like inside Rolls-Royce's $410,000 luxury SUV</a></h3>

I drove a $29,000 Kia Soul GT-Line - and although I warmed up to the crossover SUV, it was ultimately disappointing

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Kia Motors</span></p></div><p></p></div>The first review of Kia's all-new luxury car is in, and the news is not great for the Korean automaker.</p>
<p>Consumer Reports has published a <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/12/2015-kia-k900-first-drive-review/index.htm" target="_blank">brief review of the K900</a>, and starts off likening the sedan to the "old-style American cruisers like those once made by Cadillac, Lincoln, Buick, and Oldsmobile." </p>
<p>That's not a compliment: Oldsmobile is dead, and the three other brands are working hard to make 21st century customers forget the huge, boat-like cars they built for decades. </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Consumer Reports has mostly nice things to say about the luxurious interior and "effortless acceleration delivered quietly and competently." </span></p>
<p>But when it comes to handling, things get rough: </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Isolated it might be but steady it is not. There's enough of the floaty buoyancy familiar from grandpa's Florida car and undulating corners have the K900 wallowing like a waterbed.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Clearly, handling isn't the K900's forte. The light-effort, slow-responding steering is devoid of feedback, and early onset of body lean also harks back to the Nixon era. It doesn't take much wheel-winding to get the tires squealing and the body tilting.</p>
<p>That's a far cry from the "flagship performance" and "spirited driving" Kia promises. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<p>The review closes by questioning who wants a premium sedan from Kia, the brand that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kia-made-its-dancing-hamsters-lose-weight-and-get-hipster-haircuts-2013-8" target="_blank">advertises the $15,000 Soul with dancing hamsters</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">But it's an open question how many luxury-sedan customers will be willing to be seen behind the Kia emblem, a name more readily associated with K-Mart than Cartier.</p>
<p>Based on its large size and ample power (there's an optional 5.0-liter V8 engine), the K900 will compete with well-established cars like the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8, but for a much lower price (likely around $50,000 base).</p>
<p>No one - not even Kia - is expecting the K900 to do very well at first. That's why this rough review, and the others that are likely to follow, <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">won't si</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">nk the company's move into the luxury market. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Kia has kept development costs down on the K900, and doesn't need to sell more than a few thousand K900s to deem the effort a moderate success. It's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kia-k900-luxury-premium-car-sedan-price-2013-12" target="_blank">a careful first step into the segment</a>, and as Consumer Reports notes, a refreshed K900 is likely to hit the market in the next few years. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Until then, it's unlikely many people will buy the K900, but that's not as terrible for Kia as it sounds.</span></p>

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