2012 Kia Forte
The Forte is Kia's latest line of compact cars. The FWD Forte is larger than the top-selling Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla and includes three body styles: a sedan, a five-door hatchback, and a coupe. A 2.0L four cylinder powers most models. The SX performance models swaps the 2.0L four cylinder for a 2.4L engine increasing horsepower by 17-bhp. The SX also upgrades the tires and transmission. With a base price of around $16,000, the Forte undercuts most competitors in the premium segment.
2012 Kia Forte 5d
The Forte is Kia's latest line of compact cars. The FWD Forte is larger than the top-selling Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla and includes three body styles: a sedan, a five-door hatchback, and a coupe. A 2.0L four cylinder powers most models. The SX performance models swaps the 2.0L four cylinder for a 2.4L engine increasing horsepower by 17-bhp. The SX also upgrades the tires and transmission. The 5-door model replaces the trunk of the sedan and coupe with a vertical hatch providing access to over 19 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats up.
2012 Kia Forte Koup
The Kia Forte Koup is an aggressively styled small coupe. The Koup has two doors, seating for five and a traditional trunk rather than a hatchback. In size, the Kia is very close to the Honda Civic coupe. Koup is available in two trim levels: EX and SX. The EX is powered by a 2.0l four cylinder engine rated at 156-bhp. The EX model includes alloy wheels and disc brakes. The SX model equips a more powerful 2.4l four cylinder engine rated at 173-bhp and more aggressive wheels and tires. Leather seating is optional on SX models. The competition for the Forte Koup is the Scion TC and Honda Civic coupe. The Kia enjoys a price advantage over both models. The Forte Koup is a viable alternative in the small car segment.
2012 Kia Optima
The Kia Optima is a five passenger mid-to-large size sedan that competes with cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and its sibling the Hyundai Sonata. A long-running nameplate for Kia, the Optima has steadily improved with each design. The latest Optima, introduced as a 2011 model wears such striking styling that buyers are sure to take notice. Like the Sonata, the Optima foregoes V6 power offering only fuel-efficient, four-cylinder engines in its lineup. A 200-bhp 2.4l four powers most models, but a 274-bhp 2.0l turbo is available in upper trim levels. A six-speed automatic is standard on most models. The Optima comes in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX. Most buyers will probably opt for the well-equipped EX trim level which includes alloy wheels, power equipment, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery and a power driver's seat. The SX is the sport model and includes the more powerful engine, larger tires and unique upholstery. The Optima range also includes a gasoline/electric hybrid model, but it is not available in all parts of the country.
2012 Kia Rio
The Rio is a small front-wheel-drive car that serves as Kia's entry-level model in the United States. Available in a four-door sedan and a 5-door hatch, the Rio uses its smaller proportions and advanced powertrain technologies to achieve fuel economy ratings of up to 30/40. Similar in size to the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic, the Rio is over 6 inches shorter than Kia's next largest sedan, the Forte. Like other models in the segment, the Rio advertises a low starting price, but omits common conveniences. The Rio does however include 4-wheel disc brakes on all models, which are commonly omitted in this segment to save cost. The Rio EX with the optional Convenience package includes all power equipment, the UVO infotainment system, alloy wheels, and a backup camera for about $18,000. The handsomely styled Rio may be one of the best values on the market.
2012 Kia Rio 5-door
The Rio is a small front-wheel-drive car that serves as Kia's entry-level model in the United States. Available in a four-door sedan and a 5-door hatch, the Rio uses its smaller proportions and advanced powertrain technologies to achieve fuel economy ratings of up to 30/40. Similar in size to the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic, the Rio 5-door is over 10 inches shorter than Kia's next model, the Forte. Like other models in the segment, the Rio advertises a low starting price, but omits common conveniences. The Rio does however include 4-wheel disc brakes on all models, which are commonly omitted in this segment to save cost. The Rio EX with the optional Convenience package includes all power equipment, the UVO infotainment system, alloy wheels, and a backup camera for about $18,000. The handsomely styled Rio may be one of the best values on the market.
2012 Kia Sedona
The Kia Sedona minivan became a contender in the segment by offering value and safety. The second-generation Sedona raises the bar by increasing its size, power and usability features to match those of the class-leading Sienna and Odyssey. Under the hood is a 3.5L V6 mated to a standard 6-speed automatic. A chassis with a fully-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes ensure the Sedona will be more sure-footed. The Sedona offers many minivan extras like power-operated side doors and tailgate, fold-flat 3rd row seating, power side windows, and an optional DVD-based entertainment package. A starting price of around $25,000 for an LX is competitive but option packages on the EX model can push the price past $30,000 for a fully-loaded model. At that price, the Sedona is still thousands less than the Sienna and Odyssey.
2013 Kia Sorento
In 2011, the Kia Sorento switched to a unibody chassis and a front-wheel-drive biased driveline allowing Kia to market the Sorento as a crossover. The Sorento which offers both 5-passenger and 7-passenger seating options is on the smaller end of the segment for 7-passenger vehicles. For example, the Sorento is about 4 inches shorter than a Toyota Highlander and over a foot shorter than a Ford Explorer. This places the Sorento at a disadvantage for three-row legroom and cargo volume. The base engine in the Sorento is a 2.4l four-cylinder. A more powerful V6 engine is available on all trim levels. Like other Kia models, the Sorento represents a good value including desirable features for a lower price than many competitive vehicles. An all-wheel-drive Sorento V6 with leather seating lists for under $34,000.
2012 Kia Soul
The Soul is Kia's take on the boxy mini-wagon popularized by Scion. Like its Japanese competitors, the Scion xB, and Nissan Cube, the Soul offers ample interior room and fuel efficiency at an attractive price. Kia sells the Soul in three trim levels ranging in price from around $14,000. The base model is powered by a 1.6L inline-4. All other models receive a larger 2.0L engine. Intending the Soul to be a style leader, each version of the Soul features distinctive trim and color schemes including brightly colored and patterned interiors. The Soul offers an ECO package with the start/stop feature for improved fuel economy.
2012 Kia Sportage
The Sportage is Kia's entry-level compact SUV vehicle. Where the original Sportage was a body-on-frame truck-based SUV, the modern Sportage is stylish crossover vehicle that compares favorably to a wide range of vehicles from the Honda CR-V to the Chevrolet Equinox. Available in FWD and AWD configurations, Sportage LX and EX models are powered by a 2.4l 4-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Sportage SX models equip 2.0l turbocharged four-cylinder for a serious bump in power to 256-bhp. The Sportage is unmatched in style with a distinctive look that is unmistakable for other vehicles. Vehicles in this segment offer a fair amount of utility for the money. The rear seats fold flat creating a long load floor. Priced from $19,000, the Sportage is also a good value.
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