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2017 Kia Sportage First Drive

It's hard to get excited about most mainstream crossovers, but the truth is this is one of the hottest segments of the market right now. The automotive space is saturated with a glut of these profit-making, two-box, semi-practical, soft-roading vehicles, and the tide isn't likely to abate soon. At first blush, Kia's redesigned 2017 Sportage isn't the most eye-catching of new products, but it's poised to do very well in the ongoing CUV wars. Progress in this kind of battle is often measured in inches of space, and the 2017 Sportage grows both inside and out. The new Kia measures the same 73 inches wide as its predecessor, but it gains 1.2 inches on the wheelbase, and 1.6 inches in overall length. There's more room overall for passengers, and there's 18-percent greater cargo space in back. Plus, the luggage floor can be moved down into a lower position to make more vertical space when needed. The Sportage was penned by renowned designer Peter Schreyer (he of first-gen Audi TT fame), but the end result is a bulbous-looking crossover, especially when viewed from the front – it's like a chipmunk with too many acorns in its cheeks. The "tiger-nose" grille – a hallmark of Schreyer – was moved up to accommodate the "ice-cube" fog lamps, while the headlights sweep back along the sides of the car. The A and C pillars are thinner, allowing occupants better visibility from inside the car, but from the outside, the rear three-quarter view looks blocky and cut up. The rear doesn't seem to match the rest of the car, either – it's more svelte and understated. Looking past its exterior design, the new Sportage is marginally, uh, sportier, thanks to a new, lighter, stiffer body, a redesigned suspension, and new engine tuning. Kia is mostly chasing improved fuel efficiency with its latest powertrain updates, as both engines have slightly lower outputs than their predecessors but have marginal improvements in fuel economy. The entry-level 2.4-liter inline-four (same as the Optima and Sorento) puts out 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque – decreases of only 1 hp and 2 lb-ft – and can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Step up to the top-of-the-line SX Turbo and you get a 2.0-liter turbo-four that puts out 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque (that's 20 hp and 9 lb-ft less than before). Kia estimates the 2.4/FWD combination will return 23 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the 2.0T/AWD will score 20/23/21.

Kia's Detroit concept is called Telluride

Remember that Kia concept we told you about earlier this week? It's called Telluride – you know, like the ski resort town in Colorado. Kia just released this second teaser image of its big SUV concept, giving us a sneak peek of the interior. Design-wise, it looks cool, but there's more here than meets the eye. Kia is, as expected, short on details. But the automaker confirms many of the interior bits – including elements of the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel – use 3D-printed components. We'll have to wait until next week's Detroit Auto Show to see exactly what Kia's talking about, though. In its short press release, Kia once again mentions its concept's "unique in-cabin health-and-wellness technology," but doesn't offer any more details. Maybe it's something similar to the Fit Driver stuff that Audi unveiled at CES this week. Look for the Telluride to debut during Kia's press conference at 2:15 PM Eastern on Monday, January 11, and click here to see the original teaser showing the SUV's shape. DETROIT CONCEPT TEASER #2 The boldly designed Telluride, set to unveil at the 2016 North American International Auto Show next week, pushes the boundaries of technology and luxury with unique in-cabin health-and-wellness technology. The concept highlights Kia's first use of 3D-printed components, which add a distinct, modern design element to the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel.

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?