KIA STUNS THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD

Kia Soul

South Korean vehicle maker Kia has taken the automotive world by surprise in a big way. Kia has become the first non-premium brand to top the JD Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) in 27 years. Beating 32 other makes sold in the USA to do so. Now in its 30th year, the annual JD Power IQS analyses responses from new vehicle owners in 26 segments. IQS is determined by vehicle owners evaluating the driving experience, engine and transmission performance, and a range of quality-related problems within the first 90 days… Read more

KIA CARNIVAL AND GRAND CARNIVAL 1999 – 2015

2006 Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival is a South Korean seven- or eight-seat people mover that’s been on sale in Australia since September 1999. Well priced and strongly built it has been a big seller in its class for many years. The older models are getting on in years so we suggest buying one from the new series from January 2006 as it’s significantly better than the model it superseded. Despite the low price, even the entry-level Kia Carnival models usually have features like dual climate-control air conditioning, central locking, a decent audio system,… Read more

2016 KIA CERATO REVIEW

Keen to further increase sales Kia has given its Cerato bolder styling, new technology and added Australian influence in its suspension department. At the same time is has revised the engine range. All of this with no real changes in prices, which begin at $19,990. Kia’s seven-year unlimited distance warranty and seven-year roadside assistance obviously continue as they have proven to be a major selling point. As before the Kia Cerato comes as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. The model grades are Kia S, S Premium, Si and SLi…. Read more

KIA PICANTO: CAPABLE AND AFFORDABLE

Kia has entered the Australian micro car market with a small five-door hatch called Picanto that combines cute looks, automatic transmission as standard, capable performance, and an appealing driveaway price of $14,990. Small city (aka micro) cars have historically been poor sellers in Australia with its sprawling suburbs and cheap fuel. However increasing environmental awareness has seen a surge in popularity of the segment which is populated by cars such as the market-leading Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Celerio and Holden Spark. As with the other cars in the segment… Read more

KIA OPTIMA 2011 – 2015

2011 Kia Optima

Kia Optima is a medium large four-door sedan from South Korea. Importation had been on and off in the Australian market for several years from its first introduction in 2001. Then an all-new model arrived in January 2011 sparked sales and things finally started to take off in the sales race. Firstly, the new shape was a work of automotive art from the company’s design studio headed up by German Peter Schreyer. Optima suddenly started to grab a lot of visual attention. The domed upper surface and high waistline are… Read more

2016 KIA SORENTO PLATINUM REVIEW

Almost a third of vehicles sold in Australia in 2015 were crossovers or SUVs and Kia is keen to get a big share of the action. As part of this plan the Korean company’s big all-new Sorento has gone ultra stylish, something that will do it no end of good in the rapidly changing sales market in Australia. All-new Kia Sorento is offered in Si, SLi and Platinum grades. Prices begin at a reasonable $40,990 for a petrol two-wheel-drive Si and run up to $55,990 if you chose a Platinum… Read more

BOLD LOOK FOR NEW KIA SPORTAGE

An all-new Kia Sportage has arrived in Australia, the fourth generation of the midsize SUV that has been a sales success here since launched 20 years ago. It comes as no surprise that the latest Sportage features a bold new style, something we have come to expect from the two big Korean car makers. However, it was penned in Kia’s European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, not in South Korea, though there was also input from the company’s Korean and Californian design studios. Sportage has Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille gives… Read more

KIA SORENTO 2002 – 2015

2009 Kia Sorento

Kia Sorento (yes, just one ‘s’ to confuse spelling checkers) is a medium-large South Korean SUV that’s almost true 4WD in its makeup. Though as it the case in most vehicles in this market segment it has been softened slightly over the years as makers realise owners want station wagons rather than off-road 4WDs. The second generation Sorento arrived in Australia in November 2009 and used a beefed up car-like monocoque rather than a body-on-chassis setup that was a genuine bush basher from the old school. The first generation even… Read more

KIA SEDAN SEEKS OUT OPTIMUM ADVANTAGE

The next generation Kia Optima mid-size family sedan has landed in Australia and was recently given the once-over by motoring media. The result was an unequivocal thumbs-up. All-new Kia Optima comes Down Under in two variants: the Si with the proven 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder 138 kW, 241 Nm engine and the GT powered by a new all-aluminium T-GDI 2.0-litre turbocharged motor. Boasting 180 kW and 350 Nm, the latter features a twin-scroll turbocharger and dual continuously variable valve timing technology. Both engines drive the front wheels through Kia’s own… Read more

KIA RIO 2000 – 2015

2011 Kia Rio three-door hatch

Kia Rio was a relatively slow seller in its class after its July 2000 launch. Sales picked up significantly with the launch of a stylish new shape in September 2011. Quite a few of these later models are on the used-car market now and can be picked up at pretty good prices. South Korean made, build quality was so-so on the first generation Rios, but improved significantly in the gen-two cars from August 2005. Rio is up with the best in its class from the 2011 third-generation car onwards. The… Read more