Tag Archives: Kia Sportage
2014 Kia Sportage: A Complete Head Turner
These days, every prominent car maker makes his best effort to keep at least one small size crossover available in their showroom, so that they can meet the requirements of the small SUV market. To keep pace with the ongoing trend Kia has also introduced its 2014 Kia Sportage, but the question that remains here is that whether it is worth a look? Well, lets’ have a close look at it, so the first thing that caught our attention is its head turning looks, followed by plethora of desirable features and impeccably strong performance.
To make it a newest and freshest edition in its small SUV segment, Kia has included an updated 2.4 liter engine with direct injection feature which make it powerful than before with improved efficiency. Other prominent features that have made addition to 2014 Kia Sportage include refurbished interior styling , high performance suspension tuning is common across all trim levels, xenon headlights, touchscreen system, improved navigation system, high tech and new sound system, ventilated front seats and air vents for rear seats as well and upgraded UVO telematics services for enhanced driver experience. To make 2014 Kia Sportage more up-market, this time the car manufacturer has dropped its previous base trim level along with manual transmission from its lineup.
Sharply tuned front ends and muscular fenders makes Kia Sportage stand out from the rest of small crossovers. And surprisingly, we found out that the amazing looks OF 2014 Kia Sportage from outside and beautiful complimented from the inside when we took a sneak peek under the hood. The new base with 182 horsepower and 2.4 liter four cylinder engine is powerful enough for a crossover of this size. However, the SX trim level turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder engine has the ability to take things to a higher level. The turbocharged engine will generate 260hp and has the power to scoot from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. The biggest factor that makes Kia Sportage 2014 the best bet in the small crossover market is its prize, which company has kept very minimal keeping its top end features like navigation and ventilated seats in mind if compared to other fully loaded small SUVs’ ready to hit the market.
If we look into the downside of the 2014 Kia Sportage, there are hardly any to figure out but these few drawbacks can make a big difference for many buyers. The first negative for this small SUV is its interior space, which is quite small if compared to others and falls reasonably short on passenger and cargo space. Thus, making it a not so ideal car for those looking forward to hop around with kids and cargo. On the other hand, some might find Kia Sportage a fun to drive option, but for some it might be too firm for their liking which might be because of its engine and fuel economy.
Some of the top competitors for 2014 Kia Sportage are 2014 Honda CR-V, 2014 Subaru Forester and 2014 Toyota RAV4 as they offer much better cabin and cargo space. Those looking for sprightly driving dynamics 2014 Ford Escape and 2014 Mazda CX-5 can also be a good option.
The 2014 Kia Sportage SUV!
Kia Motors has been quite a strong competitor in the international market, and being one of the very few Korean companies that have been able to do so, the company has managed to turn many heads during its course in the market. The company has launched a number of extremely efficient SUVs in the traditional sector, and has released quite a number of concept models for the future as well. Its SUV, the Kia Sportage has however, managed to be the most famous and sought after vehicle of the company. Although already extremely efficient, the SUV has now undergone some changes under the hood for the new 2014 model, and will be available with slightly modified and even more stylish looks to the company’s customers from next year!
The major change that the company has brought about in the SUV is that the previous 2400cc inline four cylinder engines have been replaced by direct injection engine of the same displacement. Direct injection engines are well known for being extremely efficient as they are capable of delivering better fuel economy statistics as well as better power outputs as compared to traditional inline engines of the same displacement values. As was expected, the values of power output and torque has been enhanced from 176 horsepower and 168 pound – feet in the 2013 model to 182 horsepower and 178 pound – feet in the 2014 models. Also, although the company hasn’t yet released the numbers for the fuel economy of the new models, they are expected to be increased by significant amounts as well.
There are two other major changes to the trims of the 2014 Kia Sportage. The Sportage still comes in three trims, the LX, EX and SX. However, the company has equipped the base model in manners that has reduced the difference between the LX and EX trims significantly. For example, the sporty shock setup has also been added to the LX trim, making the ride better! Also, the company has chosen to drop manual transmissions of the base model, and has decided to incorporate automatic transmission to the LX model.
There are some other changes as well, the most prominent one being the new front grille, which will definitely add a new look to the conventional Sportage look. The new 2014 2014 Kia Sportage models also feature new cuts and sleek designing changes on the exteriors of the vehicles. Also, all the trims now feature a tilt and telescope adjustable steering wheel. The company’s UVO Services come standard on the EX and the SX models, while customers going for the base LX model can choose if they want it or not. Also, the EX model will feature slightly different fog lamps than other 2013 models. In the interiors, all the trims feature an amazing rear ventilation system accompanied by reclining outboard seats. These features add to the overall comfort of the Kia Sportage SUV. The EX trim also features heated front seats, giving the SUV a nice luxurious touch.
The company has definitely made amazing changes to the already awesome Sportage. It is definitely going to be interesting to see how good do these SUVs fare against other giants of the market!
Kia Cross GT Concept
Strengthening the brand-exceeding standard set by the Kia GT which was unveiled in 2011 at Frankfurt, the brand raised the curtains from the Cross GT crossover concept in Chicago. The earlier GT concept made a strong hint about the brand offering a full sized luxury car in near future. Now, the Cross GT concept is a clear indicator that Kia is making up its mind to step into the big and bold premium-crossover market.
Kia’s Design Center America takes pride in their group of California-based designers who presented the market with the 2014 Forte sedan along with the Track’ster and Soul’ster concept. The same group of designers has designed the Kia Cross GT and it looks a little bit like an Infiniti at the first sight. But that ought to be a great thing since Infiniti managed to capture sights and hearts at its revelation. As is the GT sedan’s armature, the Cross GT sports a similar 122 inch long wheelbase. 192.8 inches long and 79.1 inches wide clubbed with a 65.3 inch overall height makes Cross GT look fun and chunky. With comparatively shorter rear and front overhangs, the ride still manages to show off the brands familial resemblance especially though the C-pillar and the nose.
While the brand strictly claimed that the hybrid powertrain Cross GT concept boasts is “strictly a concept”, the probability of the crossover to actually go hybrid when it reaches production is close to one. A 3.8 liter V6 powerful engine mated to an eight speed automatic transmission will be seen working in conjunction with an evolution of Kia’s parallel hybrid system. This translates to a system providing torque-vectoring all-wheel drive that, the brand claims, will be able to produce a whopping 500 pound feet of torque and massive 400 horsepower with an all-electric range of 20 miles.
The four-passenger vehicle sports rear hinged suicide doors that allow easy access to the rear buckets. The interior materials exude harmony with nature. Selected from re-harvested stock, the American walnut stunningly compliments the instrument panel while the Almond-Terra colored leather seats are tanned with chemical free dyes. A fun element to the interiors is the saddle-inspired seats affixed to a central tunnel that almost appear to be floating within the cabin.
A touch screen and central mouse control help access the entertainment functions, climate controls and the telematics. The infotainment and the internet are not denied from the rear passengers for the head-rests of the front seat feature flat-panel screens to allow the access. The flat load floor in the cargo area efficiently hides beneath it, a large storage compartment.
Kia’s executive vice president of marketing and communications, Michael Sprague said, “Our customers are looking to the Kia brand to offer relevant vehicle in the premium segment that take value to new levels of sophistication. The Cross GT is the next logical step in that evolution. And while only a concept today, it signals one possible design direction we may explore for the future.” It is easy to read between the lines and make out what the Kia Cross GT will be if/when it sees the production lights.
2014 Kia Sorento Is The Safest SUV!
Among the vast number of compact SUVs that have been coming out in the market since crossovers gaining support over their truck based fathers, the 2014 Kia Sorento has stepped up and made a mark which might help in making the model a huge success in the SUV world. With the help of its brilliant safety features, the Sorento joined the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester in the category of five star winners from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Also, the 2014 Sorento gained a Top Safety Pick Rating from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
Orth Hedrick, the director of product planning in the US was quoted as saying, “Already a compelling entry in the compact SUV category, earning a five-Star rating from NHTSA makes the Sorento an even stronger contender within its segment while underscoring Kia’s overall commitment to delivering safety and exceptional value to our customers.” Officials at KIA stated that the vehicle showed great results in all the three categories of frontal crash, side crash as well as rollover crash.
The trend of making changes to an existing model so as to keep them on the top continues to breed within companies and the 2014 Sorento is the result of the same. Although the changes that Kia has made to the Sorento can barely be seen directly, there are still a number of structural changes which led to the five stars that the SUV now flaunts. If the company is to be believed, then the Sorento now sits on a new platform. Further, you might find a few changes in the exterior looks as well!
The new 2014 Kia Sorento features a mighty 3300cc V6 engine which is capable of providing a massive torque of 252 lb.-ft. (290HP). Paired with a highly efficient 6 speed automatic transmission system, this engine provides as much or even more thrust to the vehicle that any average user would want. The vehicle comes with an all-wheel drive drivetrain. A peculiar thing to note about the Sorento is that even though it is a compact SUV, it features a third row of seats. Yes, it is a seven seater! We like to say that the Sorento is hence, a bit larger than compact SUVs but way smaller than the large truck based ones. A nice new technology equipped in the 2014 model makes the SUV’s ride a lot more fun. We’re speaking of the FlexSteer option. The driver can choose between three modes of steering control as per his needs – Comfort Mode, Normal Mode and Sport Mode.
The conclusion that one can draw is that the 2014 Sorento is absolutely worth investing in. Being a perfect choice for families on account of the third row of seats, the Sorento just earned a factor which places it above most of the vehicles of the same category. Featuring such a good number of safety features, the SUV definitely earned the amazing ratings!