2019 Kia Sorento L 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?

Subcompact Crossover Comparo Roundtable | Autoblog Podcast #599

This week, we've got a special episode of the Autoblog Podcast, wherein you'll hear the extended version of the roundtable discussion from our Subcompact Crossover Comparison. In it, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski, Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale. After extensive testing (and filming) in Northern Michigan, our editors break down what they liked and loathed about the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Jeep Renegade and Kia Soul. Grab a cup of coffee with us, and enjoy. Autoblog Podcast #599 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:    

Next-gen Kia Optima previewed for New York Auto Show

To say the Optima is a vital product for Kia would be an understatement. In fact, the Korean automaker reports that the sedan has been its best-selling model in America for three years running. Replacing it with an all-new model, then, would be a big move for Kia, and that's exactly what it's gearing up to do. The all-new Optima is previewed here in a pair of teaser renderings, and the car is set to debut at the New York Auto Show. Though Kia has given us little in the way of information to accompany the drawings, it's clear that the design has borrowed heavily from the Sportspace concept that debuted in Geneva earlier this month – albeit in production form, and with a trunk instead of an extended roofline. The outgoing Optima was introduced five years ago and is built at plants around the world for local consumption, including in Georgia for the North American market. This will be the fourth iteration of the breed. KIA TO UNVEIL ALL-NEW OPTIMA AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW Following its 2010 debut at the New York International Auto Show, the Optima became a catalyst for Kia Motors' tremendous growth and has been the brand's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for three years running. Now, five years later, Kia will return to New York on Wednesday, April 1, for the world debut of the passionately designed and obsessively crafted all-new version of its popular midsize sedan. Related Video: