11 Hatchback Express on 2040-cars

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Kia Rio officially priced at just under $15,000

The completely redesigned Kia Rio goes on sale early next month, and Kia has finally released pricing for the whole range. Based on the current destination charge of $895, the cheapest Rio will start at $14,795. That's for a base-model LX sedan. Picking a hatchback adds $300 to price of any trim level Rio. The mid-level S starts at $16,995 for the sedan, and the EX sedan starts at $19,295. View 21 Photos This pricing closely matches that of other major small-car competitors. The LX sedan actually undercuts the base prices of the Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa Note. It's also only a bit higher than Ford Fiesta and Mitsubishi Mirage. But as we mentioned in our review of the Rio, it's probably best to skip the LX trim level, even if you're a manual transmission die-hard. It lacks key convenience features such as power windows, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel, and adjustable head rests. None of these can be optioned in, either. As a result, it's best to spring for at least S trim level, which is roughly on par with Sonic, Fit and Versa Note. We find that at this trim level or higher, the Rio is a strong option. It might be a little short on space and power, but it's handsome, has a pleasant interior, and is surprisingly adept in the handling department. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2018 Kia Rio sedan View 12 Photos Image Credit: Kia Kia Car Buying Hatchback Economy Cars Sedan pricing kia rio

2014 Kia Soul totally redesigned, now bigger and more refined

The 2014 Kia Soul has been unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show, and the all-new five-door box-on-wheels offers up nearly an extra inch of wheelbase and a track that's wider by .6 inches. The changes offer up a bit more space indoors, and since overall height has remained the same, the Soul now looks a bit less top heavy than before. A wider rear hatch opening also makes loading and unloading cargo easier. Indoors, the 2014 Soul offers a substantially revised cabin with more soft-touch materials, and leather seats are now on the option sheet. Designers borrowed inspiration from the Kia Track'ster Concept indoors, using organic lines throughout.
An available eight-inch touch screen takes care of infotainment duties on the center stack, and now features the ability to scroll through content by flicking a finger, just like a smartphone, instead of paging through multiple screens. Buyers can also fit their 2014 Soul with a larger TFT LCD color screen in the instrument cluster, which now displays turn-by-turn directions on vehicles equipped with navigation.
Engineers managed to create a chassis that's also 29-percent stiffer, with 66 percent of the shell using ultra-high-strength steel for safety and rigidity. Under the hood, base models bow with a 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, while Plus and Exclaim trims get a more potent direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That engine develops 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, and both mills can be bolted to either a six-speed manual or automatic depending on trim. Check out the full press release below for more information.

Next-generation Kia Sorento snapped undergoing testing

Kia has been busy - a refreshed Sorento just arrived in showrooms for the 2014 model year and the Korean manufacturer is already out undergoing advanced testing in the next-generation model. How, pray tell, do we know how far along testing is? Notice any cladding, or coverings, aside from the regular vinyl camo? Right.
Our predictive talents aside, there are still a lot of questions about the next Sorento. We don't have much to go on with the technical specs, although we'll be thunderstruck if there isn't some form of the Hyundai/Kia 2.0-liter turbo under hood. Our spies report that this new model is somewhat larger than the current Sorento, hinting that it might be riding atop the same platform as the long-wheelbase Hyundai Santa Fe. That could indicate an available V6 model, as well. Judging by the profile views, we'd bet our bottom dollar this is a three-row model.
The conflicting nature of a refreshed Sorento hitting dealers and an advanced prototype out testing in Europe makes it difficult to pin down a date for the third-generation CUV's debut. We doubt we'll be seeing the new Sorento before the end of the year - a 2014 debut with a 2015 on-sale date just seems more likely in light of the newness of the refreshed model.