2021 KIA SORENTO FIRST LOOK BY CAR CRITIC STEVE HAMMES. A 3-row family vehicle, the Sorento is offered with optional 2nd row captain’s chairs for either 6- or 7-passenger seating. Kia says the redesigned model provides more interior flexibility with improved legroom and cargo room. The platform it’s built upon is lighter and stronger, affording improved driving dynamics, including acceleration and ride and handling. An available full digital gauge cluster, Connected Routing for real-time navigation that can predict upcoming traffic, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration, and enhanced voice controls highlight the tech improvements. A new feature called Last Mile Navigation even provides walking directions to the driver’s final destination if the vehicle is parked within a 1.2 mile radius and the Find My Car feature uses the Sorento’s cameras to capture pictures of the car and its surroundings which are then accessible via the UVO app. All very cool stuff. And the depth of new driver assistance features is off the charts…if you get into an accident with this Sorento you’ll have no one to blame but the man in the mirror.
About the powertrain options; it starts with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired to a traditional 8-speed automatic making 191 horsepower, then a turbocharged version of that motor hooked up to a 8-speed dual clutch transmission producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Moving up, there’s a front-wheel drive only, gas-electric hybrid rated at 37mpg in mixed driving and finally an all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid with an estimated 30 mile all-electric range. Kia’s optional all-wheel drive system uses torque-vectoring and a center-locking differential to give added power to the rear wheels when needed.
The X-Line SX-Prestige gets the off-road look with exclusive bumpers, unique 20” wheels and bridge-type roof rack to complement its 1” increase in ride height, standard all-wheel drive and hill decent control. Pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date near the end of 2020.

2021 Kia Seltos SX Complete Video Review By TestDriveNow Auto Critic Steve Hammes. Does Kia need another utility vehicle? You bet they do and here it is: the 2021 Kia Seltos – a small SUV slotted between the Soul and Sportage.
Kia refers to it as an “adventure-ready crossover” and with over 7” of ground clearance, available all-wheel drive with lock mode, off-road friendly approach angles and skid plates it has the resume. Kia has another hit on their hands.  If marketed correctly the Seltos should be able to build off of the Telluride’s momentum, keeping smaller SUV shoppers coming into Kia showrooms.
MSRP as-tested: 29,580

The all-new 2020 Kia Telluride made its official on-road and off-road debut, beginning a new adventure for Kia with its biggest and boldest SUV ever. Not far from the town that bears its name, the midsize Telluride SUV tackled mountain passes, rugged off-road trails and nearly every other kind of road under Colorado’s wide western sky. Imagined in America, designed at Kia’s design studio in California, and assembled in Georgia, the Telluride is the largest Kia ever. It provides comfortable seating for up to eight, a powerful 291-hp 3.8-liter V6, available active on-demand all-wheel drive, and an inspiring view of the world. The Telluride offers potential for exploration and adventure every time it’s on the road.

2017 KIA SPORTAGE VIDEO REVIEW BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES Small sport utes are super-hot right now and with so many worthy choices you’ve got to understand the subtle nuances of the offerings before you can decide which one is…

TestDriveNow QUICK TAKES: 2016 KIA OPTIMA SX TURBO OVERVIEW Five years ago Kia Motors America (KMA) debuted the re-designed Optima at the New York International Auto Show and introduced a game-changing midsize sedan that catalyzed the brand’s design-led transformation.  History…