2011 Kia Soul Plus Hatchback 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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2018 Kia Rio Quick Spin Review | A grown-up subcompact for grown-ups

The 2018 Kia Rio is doing itself few favors, if any, with its name. Maybe it's the nameplate's terrible early generations or that it sounds a bit like a tropical disease you picked up from a mosquito in Ecuador. In any event, saying "I own a Kia Rio" just seems like something you'd say under your breath and preferably not at all. Which is a damn dirty shame, because the Rio is in fact a terrific little car that anyone should be quite proud to own. There is a grown-up vibe to it that greatly outpaces whatever expectations you might have for a sub-compact car. It is handsome, well-equipped, seemingly well-made, and most surprisingly, extremely competent to drive. Let's start with the exterior styling. Although at first glance it seems a tad conservative for the segment, and perhaps not as expressive as its predecessor, it's handsome and well-proportioned. It is indeed more grown-up in appearance, especially in our test car's Urban Grey paint. It may not be flashy, but it also looks like a real car that just happens to be small, and I think you'd be much happier picking up a date in the Rio than in a Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta. That notion carries over to the interior, which itself is an impressive upgrade over what was already one of the nicest cabins in the segment. Now, not every Rio gets the benefits of our test car's Red Accent package (although it's only a $130 option and includes leather upholstery), but it's nevertheless a visually appealing place to spend time. There's an attractive minimalism to the design (note the cool HVAC controls) and a definite European vibe that, again, looks grown-up. Materials quality is good for the segment, though the test car's leather seats and steering felt a cut above the rest. Then there's the touchscreen that sprouts up from the dash like just about everything these days. Included on the EX trim level, it's 7 inches, easy to see and reach, and comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite radio. Down below, there's a handy shelf for your plugged-in smartphone above another bin for whatever else. In terms of space, the six-way manually adjustable seats provided just enough room for this 6-foot-3 editor's legs, which is far from a sure thing among subcompact cars. I'm one unhappy guy after about 10 minutes in a Honda Fit. Sure, putting the front seat all the way back pretty much cancels out back seat room, but this is a subcompact car, what are you expecting?

Kia provides first details on Soul EV arrival, specs

When Bob Dylan and his guitar-driven poetry embraced the amp in the mid-Sixties, he famously endured cries of "Judas!" from at least one dejected folkie. The Voice Of A Generation had gone electric, and apparently not all of his concert-goers were ready for the transition. We suspect the Kia Soul and its dancing hamsters will have an easier time of it.
In early October, Kia confirmed what had already long been rumored - the Soul is going electric, too, and now it's revealing some initial details and specs. The automaker's mega-popular 'box' car will be the company's first EV sold in North America - or indeed, anywhere outside of its home market (Kia has offered its tiny Ray EV to government fleets in Korea in limited numbers). For the moment, officials aren't saying exactly when the Soul EV will hit its North American dealers, but it has pinned down the "second half of 2014," for global overseas deliveries to begin, so it's fair to assume the car will carry a 2015 model year designation.
Kia is touting "class-leading range" in excess of 120 miles

Kia bringing new Picanto city car to Geneva

The Kia Rio may be one of the smallest cars available in the United States, but over in Europe, the Korean automaker offers something even smaller. It's called the Picanto, and Kia is set to reveal an updated version at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Measuring just over 140 inches long and weighing less than 2,000 pounds, the Picanto shares its underpinnings with the equally tiny Hyundai i10, with power coming from an upgraded 1.0-liter inline-three with multi-point fuel injection. The new model also benefits from redesigned bumpers front and rear, new 14-inch (that's right, 14-inch!) alloys, larger brakes and a revised interior with a new center stack, chrome accents and cloth upholstery. Buyers will also be able to choose between three- and five-door body-styles and new color packs to make it stand out from other city cars in the urban landscape, along with a new seven-inch display for the infotainment system and cruise control. Kia to reveal new Picanto at 2015 Geneva Show - Updated exterior and interior design with new customisation options - New premium features include cruise control and touchscreen infotainment - Updates to 1.0-litre gasoline engine and reduced stopping distance - On sale across Europe by the end of Q1 2015 Frankfurt, 2 February 2015 – Kia Motors Europe will unveil the enhanced Kia Picanto at the 85th Salon International de l'Automobile in Geneva on 3 March 2015. Kia's stylish A-segment city hatchback features a range of dynamic and visual improvements to maintain its competitiveness. The enhanced Kia Picanto boasts redesigned front and rear bumpers to enhance the car's bold looks, as well as updates to Kia's hallmark 'tiger-nose' grille. Buyers can now choose a new 14-inch alloy wheel design, and the inclusion of an optional sport pack makes the upgraded car stand out as one of the best-looking vehicles in the A-segment, in both three- and five-door variants. Inside, the Picanto is now fitted with new chrome accents surrounding the driver's instrument binnacle and dashboard air vents, and a new cloth upholstery pattern boosts the car's youthful appeal. At the centre of the dashboard, a more modern fascia now surrounds the Picanto's audio system. Premium features and greater customisation A range of optional premium features are being introduced to the Kia Picanto for the first time, including the latest generation of Kia's AVN (audio-video navigation) system with a large 7.0-inch display screen (available from Q3).