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Kia Motors again tops J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

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Kia reveals sketches of its millennial-bait compact crossover

Kia has made the splash we had expected back during the New York Auto Show, just now releasing sketches of its coming compact crossover. This will be the production offering based on the SP Signature concept shown at the 2018 Auto Expo in India. It has been specifically "created for the millennial generation" with a "wide range of features and technologies suited to younger buyers," and is somehow promised to offer "the space and capabilities of a traditional SUV in a compact package." The sketches look like artistic versions of the actual concept, given the usual inflations of broad beam and giant wheels. Design traits left untouched from the SP concept include narrow, LED headlights that slide into a reworked "tiger nose" grille. An LED DRL runs almost the entire width of the front fascia, interrupted only by the pinch in the center of the grille. Three-lamp fog lights replace the vertical lights on the concept. In back, LED taillights grasp a chrome accent bar with caliper-like extensions. They further accentuate the already-exaggerated width of the sketch. We have a feeling the production car's plan view will be more in line with the concept, but there will be a touch of sleekness in the raked rear glass. The carmaker also says some of the design cues will show up on other products like the Sorento and Sportage. The compact crossover will launch in South Korea and supposedly India later this year, with other markets to follow. It's won't go on sale in Europe, but a U.S.-market launch should happen with the global rollout, perhaps early next year.

2018 Kia Stinger GT Long-Term Update | Shake, rattle and roll

I look forward to the Detroit Auto Show almost every year. I moved out west, so traveling back for the show offers me a chance to visit the place I grew up, to see what some automakers are bringing to the roads in the upcoming year and to drive some of the long-termers that call our Birmingham office home. This year, that meant our sporty fastback, the Kia Stinger GT. As a senior video producer, I don't pack lightly. There's tons of photo and video equipment to haul around in addition to my luggage. Although the Stinger's hatchback cargo area has plenty of space, I still needed the back seat, which isn't as spacious as I expected for such a large car. Confirming that, when I offered to drive my family around, they took one look at the back seat and instead chose to sit in the third row of their Buick. Our Stinger is also shockingly red. The exterior is a gorgeous shade named HiChroma Red, but the interior's Nappa leather is red, too. This is a bit much for me and apparently I'm not alone since this combo is no longer available for 2019. After getting over the color, though, I found the interior to be quite comfortable. Both the front seats and steering wheel are heated, which is a blessing in frigid January Michigan weather. My only gripe is that, even on freshly paved Michigan roads, the rear window tends to rattle. Speaking of unwanted noises, after only 10,000 miles, the Stinger has a creak in the front passenger side door that can only be described as painful. I had been warned ahead of time by Associate Editor Reese Counts, but I was still taken aback by how bad it is. Expect an update on a potential remedy to that soon. The roads in western Michigan look nothing like those on the state's east side, with twisty, modestly hilly roads in favor of the flat, grid-like structures typical of Metro Detroit and other eastern cities. This made driving the Stinger a real treat. Its 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque is refreshing, and the eight-speed automatic disappears into the background, almost unnoticeable, which is the way I prefer automatic transmissions to perform. The Stinger's 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 sounds quite good, too. Starting it up every morning put a smile on my face. A price of $46,620 may seem like a lot to pay for a Kia, but the Stinger feels worth it. That said, the MSRP isn't the only high cost associated with this car.