Kia Motors America Introduces All-New Soul

Brand-Defining Addition Makes its Debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show

# Soul = Style + ValU + SafeT
# L8st head-trnr will impre$ w/ personality & gr8 options :)

LOS ANGELES, Calif., November 20, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the North American debut of the all-new and highly anticipated Soul passenger vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Designed in Southern California, the Soul is the newest product offering to join the company's ever-expanding line-up, following the introduction of the all-new Borrego midsize SUV earlier this year. Soul's bold and edgy design is indicative of the new Kia design theme, with more package and styling combinations than any previous Kia vehicle. With Soul's arrival as an early model year 2010 vehicle to the C-Segment, it allows young and young-at-heart buyers to have the freedom to truly personalize and emotionally connect with their vehicle.

"The Soul is for those who love individuality but don't like to be categorized by finding the next best thing," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "Indicative of the new design direction of KMA, Soul is an attractive and customizable vehicle for those looking for something with a little more personality than other vehicles on the market today.

Edgy and Confident Exterior

Originally debuted as a concept vehicle at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in 2006, Soul's exterior remains true to the original Soul concept design implying power and strength. With an angled window line, rounded nose, large flared back headlamps and chrome grille, the Soul is given a friendly face and exudes a youthful exuberance for coasting along the beach or cruising downtown city streets, redefining the concept of freedom.

The beltline rises from the front wheel arch to create a gentle wedge shape and continues under and around the rear side window. The rear is dominated by the vertical combination rear lamps set into the body color panel with clear outer lenses. The body and wheel arch crease line extends around the bumper for a tough, not rough, style matching the look from the front.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, the versatile five-door offers plenty of standard features. The Soul includes black door handles and side mirrors, body-colored bumpers, rear wiper/washer and 15-inch steel wheels fitted with P195/65R15 tires. Upgrading slightly to the Soul+ offers keyless remote entry, solar glass, privacy glass on the rear side and rear windows body-color handles and power side mirrors along with 16-inch alloy wheels with P205/55R16 tires. Enhancing to the Soul! adds power moonroof, fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels furnished with P225/45R18 tires, while the dynamic Soul sport features side sills, rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, unique front and rear fascias, wholly personifying the sporty, urban look Soul embodies.

Spacious, State-of-the-Art Interior

Inside the cabin is where Soul really shows its power to surprise. For those who want a personal lounge on wheels or an efficient cargo carrier with 14 storage zones, Soul has it covered. While Soul offers a relatively small footprint, it offers a surprisingly spacious interior. Passengers will find comfort in the roomy cabin. All five adult passengers will find ingress and egress simple and effortless, credited to tall doors and a high seating position, and each Soul will be able to have its own personality thanks to multiple options for interiors with different colors, fabrics and audio system packages available for selection.

The Soul's interior design is decidedly influenced by the car's highly specified audio system. An uncluttered dashboard with a three-dial instrument cluster, LCD illumination, a floating center stack design is the key visual feature and offers enticing access to the AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service . Standard auxiliary and USB input jacks also can be found in the center console with full iPod® controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls.

Additional standard interior features include a tilt steering column, power door locks, power windows with driver's side auto-down, map lamps and a rear wiper and washer. Stylishly appointed cloth seats provide comfortable seating while a 60/40 split-folding rear seat offers multiple seating and cargo arrangements depending on driver and passenger needs.

Soul+ offers additional standard features including air conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, privacy glass and tweeter speakers. Available upgrades for the Soul+ trim include an audio upgrade package power moonroof and floor mats, which become standard on the Soul!. Advancing to the Soul! adds unique beige-black interior trim and cloth seats and metal-finish trim. For the Soul! and Soul sport, an Audio Upgrade Package enhances the sound with center speaker, subwoofer and 315-watt external amplifier.

For consumers with more athletic and active lifestyles looking for even more excitement, the Soul sport offers a sport-tuned suspension, metal pedals, unique red-black interior trim with sport cloth seats and metal-finish trim.

Advanced Platform/Chassis

Soul is different, right down to its all-new platform. With its own distinctive style, Soul features front-wheel drive, a high roofline and an unusually long wheelbase. Built on a platform with a wheelbase of 100.4 inches, an overall length of 161.6 inches, an overall width of 70.3 inches and overall height of 63.4 inches the Soul offers a comfortable interior with roomy seating for up to five passengers. With more than 70 percent high-tensile-strength steel to enhance structural strength without adding a lot of weight, the all-new, Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness, benefiting handling, ride quality and refinement. Additional measures to help ensure good noise vibration and harshness (NVH) qualities are fitted throughout the Soul.

Mounted on the front sub frame that supports the engine and transmission, the Soul is fitted with a fully independent front and twist-beam rear suspension system, with front MacPherson struts and coil springs, designed to deliver responsive handling and an agile ride. In the rear, the Soul suspension is sub-frame-mounted with a transverse torsion beam axle with trailing arms for a smooth ride and minimum intrusion into the cargo space. For optimal space, the rear anti-roll stabilizer bar is mounted inside the torsion beam.

Under-the-Hood Options

Soul offers an agile, smooth and spirited ride. Its 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, which produces approximately 120 horsepower. For those looking for a little more power, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The latter engine produces approximately 140 horsepower, and is available for Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 or more miles per gallon.

Standard Kia Safety Features

Soul continues to offer the same high level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, with features such as front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). An antilock brake system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), and rear disc brakes are standard on Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models.

Industry-Leading Warranty

Like all Kia models, Soul is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan also is part of the comprehensive coverage program.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Review: 2008 Kia Rondo, the best new family car for the money

The Kia Rondo is an easy car to miss in standard comparison shopping. Its closest market class in the United States is "small station wagon," a segment few consumers seem to have an interest in and whose products are generally dissimilar to the Rondo.

In Europe, the Rondo (sold there as the Carens) has many direct competitors in the class of "compact multi-purpose vehicle." Those cars are tall but have dimensions otherwise similar to the average American-market economy car, and they feature impressive interior space efficiency.

In the US, what do you call a small station wagon that drives like a nice midsize family sedan, has the interior space of a midsize SUV, and costs about as much as a compact economy car?

Though we don't have an "MPV" class, we can certainly call the Rondo a double-take value.

The Rondo isn't a slick-looking car. Few MPVs are. They're all about utility. The slab sides and low window-line may look odd at best from the outside, but from the inside of the Rondo you have comfortable seating for five plus an available third row that offers passable comfort for two medium-size adults. That's more than many larger SUVs can boast. Plus, those jumbo windows give drivers excellent visibility and keeps the outward view within reach of small children.

The driver sits higher in the Rondo than in the average sedan, though it's not quite SUV height. The front seats themselves are high off the floor, like an SUV or minivan, but the Rondo sits lower to the ground. The high roof keeps the chair-high seats from cutting into head space.

The rear bench seat is also high enough off the floor to offer excellent leg support, and there's plenty of space. On seven-passenger Rondos the rear seat adjusts fore/aft, offering the option of whether to allocate leg room to the middle row or third row. That third row is too low to the floor to be called comfortable, but it's passable. Surprisingly few non-minivans offer even that much.

Like the rest of the car, the Rondo's interior isn't very interesting to look out, but it's well-designed and high-quality. Function was clearly chosen over form, but Kia also understands that functional doesn't need to feel junky.

Although passenger accommodations are top-notch, the Rondo's cargo volume doesn't defy its compact dimensions. A low floor and fold-flat front passenger seat help the car offer as much space as it possibly can, but that comes out to a total of 74 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, 32 behind the rear seat, and, if installed, a mere 7 cubic feet behind the third row.

That's not to say the Rondo doesn't have much cargo space. Those specifications are on par with most small SUVs, and there is enough space behind even the third-row seat for a bit of cargo. But while the Rondo's passenger space and comfort makes it a possible alternative to a midsize SUV, someone interested in a larger vehicle for its cargo utility may need more room. Don't write it off if you want a lot of space, but consider this carefully in your buying process.

On the road, the Rondo feels like a family sedan with a slightly higher driving position. It rides smoothly and it's quiet, and it handles like the pleasant-but-boring small car that it is: it's safe and maneuverable but not a driver's car.

The Rondo's standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is shared with the midsize Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata midsize sedans, and it offers more pep than many give it credit for. It won't win the modern horsepower war, but it offers comparable power to a 4-cylinder Toyota Camry, the best-selling version of the best-selling car in the country. A 2.7-liter V6 is also offered. Other reviews suggest the V6's extra power is useful in accelerating at high speeds, which may be, but the more obvious difference is that it's quieter. The extra power might be handy if you'll be carrying seven passengers, but the less-expensive and more fuel-efficient 4-cylinder should be the better buy for most.

The Rondo impresses in many areas: for its practicality, comfort, and refinement. The one major place it does not stand out is in its gas mileage. While it is more fuel-efficient than most vehicles with similar interior space, the average 4-cylinder family sedan does a bit better, and it's nothing close to an economy car. The EPA rates it at 22 miles per gallon in mixed driving. (2009 4-cylinder Rondos are rated at one mile per gallon higher than 2008s by the EPA, but 2008s have better sales incentives that more than offset those savings.)

It also bears mentioning that the Rondo is not the only European-style MPV available in the United States. The Mazda5 is a tall compact station wagon with minivan styling and three rows of seats. But its feel is very different from the Rondo's; whereas the Rondo has the solid feel and refinement of a midsize family sedan, the Mazda5 feels more like an economy car. The Rondo also has more power and seating for seven instead of six passengers.

However, for all its strengths, the Rondo does not offer all-wheel-drive to make it a perfect family SUV alternative. (It's still a perfect alternative to a two-wheel-drive family SUV, which still represents a large chunk of that market.) It also lacks a manual transmission, offered in most cars at the Rondo's size and price point (including the Mazda5), which would have improved its gas mileage and lowered its base price.

All that aside, the Rondo impresses for its all-around goodness: that practicality, comfort, and refinement that keeps coming up in this review. But that goodness would not be especially impressive if it weren't for Rondo's value. After all, there are lots of pleasant cars on the market. The Rondo stands out from all those others because of what it offers for the money.

The Rondo offers the feel of a good midsize family sedan and the practicality of a good small SUV (a combination no current small SUV or midsize family sedan can match) while costing less than a comparably-equipped Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, according to pricing site TrueDelta.com.

A five-passenger Rondo is nicely equipped with the full range of safety and basic convenience features at a sticker price of $18,795, which Edmunds.com expects you to be able to haggle down to $16,260. (Add $500 for the third row seat and related accessories.)

If you're looking for a family car of any shape or size, consider the Rondo. If you're interested in anything with a roomy interior, especially if you want to seat more than five passengers, you can't beat $16,260 for a new car with a long warranty. And even at economy car prices, the Rondo doesn't feel at all cheap. Be aware that a midsize SUV or a minivan will have more total cargo volume, but don't buy your next family car without driving the Rondo.

Vehicle tested: 2008 Kia Rondo LX 4-cylinder
Vehicle base price: $17,395
Vehicle price as tested: $18,795
Test vehicle provided by: Kia of Waldorf of Waldorf, Md.

Driving Down the Road with Carey Russ

2009 Kia Borrego Preview

My first experience with the 2009 Kia Borrego came before the official start of its recent introduction to the press, on the drive from Seattle-Tacoma Airport to the event base in Cle Elum, WA, a hundred or so miles inland in a scenic valley in the Cascade Mountains. Several Borregos were parked outside of the airport, and journalists could, if they desired, drive one to the event base.

While waiting for the full complement of passengers to show up, I looked at one of the assembled Borregos. A conservative modern sport-utility in style, I figured it to be Kia's implementation of the Hyundai Veracruz crossover platform. Pure logic there - Kia is owned by Hyundai and, although the end results usually are far away from what is on the Hyundai side, Kia works with Hyundai basics.

When everyone arrived, it was time to get in and drive. A quick glance around the cabin while settling in... hmmm, air vents in the ceiling behind the rear seat, there must be a third row back there. Pleasant design, simple controls, no need to read the probably nonexistent owner's manual, and off we go.

I90 from Seattle over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum is a scenic mountain multi-lane divided highway, with some steep grades and pavement varying from good to rough and bumpy. The V6 in the Borrego I was driving was up to the task, although the transmission did get busy on the steeper uphill sections. Manually holding fourth, or even third, gear made life a little more peaceful. I had left a new Nissan Murano, one of the benchmark crossovers, at the airport after spending a week with it, and the Borrego felt at least as good on the road - unsurprising, considering Kia's ability to tune a suspension for both comfort and handling ability.

When I got to the event base, I found a Kia representative and asked if the Borrego was indeed their version of the Veracruz. Answer: No. Not even.

The Borrego is a body-on-frame SUV.

Such vehicles are more than a little controversial today, given social changes and the high price of gasoline. Socioeconomic changes between the design of a vehicle and its debut can make life interesting. But Kia is not betting the store on the Borrego - it is merely one of many of the Korean manufacturer's offerings, which include quite a few economical sedans and small crossovers. While SUVs are not the trendy aspirational vehicles they were a few years ago, and sales are dropping, there is still an SUV market, and there are still people who need, as opposed to merely want, an SUV.

During the press briefing, Kia representatives called the Borrego a "halo vehicle", one that will attract new, upscale customers to Kia. The target customer is an affluent suburbanite with an active lifestyle and a need for a vehicle that can carry up to seven passengers and tow 5,000 pounds in V6 trim or 7,500 pounds with the V8. Towing is where a body-on-frame design beats a unibody, as by the time a unibody vehicle is reinforced enough to deal with the stresses of towing, it might as well be body-on-frame.

"V8" is also a new word mixed with "Kia". The 4.6-liter engine is that used in parent Hyundai's upcoming Genesis sedan, an aluminum alloy twincam design with 4.6 liters displacement and 337 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and 323 lb-ft of torque (at a low 3500 rpm). It's matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, with rear or available "Torque On Demand" dual-range full-time four-wheel drive, developed by Borg-Warner.

The V6 is similar in construction, minus two cylinders, for 3.8 liters displacement. It makes 276 horsepower (at 6000 rpm), with 267 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm and is fitted to a five-speed automatic. Both transmissions have manual-mode shifting. Fuel economy is a concern, and with EPA estimates ranging from 17 mpg city/ 21 mpg highway for the 2WD V6 through 15/20 for 4WD V8 (and 15/22 for the 2WD V8, thank you six-speed overdrive) the Borrego is at the thriftier end of the mid-size SUV category.

The boxed frame is based on that of the smaller Sorento, but stretched. It's hydro-formed, not pressed and welded, for strength, rigidity, and lighter weight. The rigid body structure is rubber-mounted, to reduce road noise, engine and road vibrations, and harshness. Don't look for old-school solid axles here - the suspension is fully-independent, with double wishbones in front and a multi-link setup at the rear. With 8.5 inches of clearance and standard skid plates, the Borrego should be fine on any semi-improved dirt or gravel road, and should deal with urban and suburban road hazards easily.

At introduction, which should be now, there will be two Borrego trim levels, LX and EX. Both can be had with either engine, and two- or four-wheel drive. Three-row seating is standard, even in the 2WD LX V6. Ditto power mirrors, interior courtesy lighting, a well-appointed interior with standard cloth or optional leather seating, a 60/40 split second row with each part adjustable for fore-and-aft travel and seatback angle, and the 50/50 folding third-row seat. An AM/FM/CD/Sirius satellite audio system is standard. Not only does it have a regular mini-jack for MP3 player compatibility, a USB flash drive with MP3 files can also be used. An optional Infinity system should please audiophiles.

Standard safety equipment includes a full complement of airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, and electronic stability control and traction control systems.

This Fall, expect the full-luxury V8 4WD-only Limited model, in any color you want as long as it's black and all the options available on lesser models plus more standard. Pricing? Expect a 2WD LX to start around $26,000 and a fully-equipped EX 4WD to be maybe another ten or twelve thousand.

While I drove a V6 from Sea-Tac, the vehicles on the ride and drive were all EX V8s. And, wonder of wonders, the closest thing to off-road driving on the ride and drive route was a quarter mile of good gravel road. Most of it was on good two-lane mountain roads and freeways. Just like 98.6 percent of most SUV owners' driving experience....

Yes, the V8 has more power than the V6, for better acceleration and less shifting. The six-speed automatic helps even more, with a lower first gear, for low-speed acceleration, hill-climbing, and towing, and a higher sixth, for improved highway mileage. The Kia Borrego, with either drivetrain, is at least as refined in its interior noise levels and road manners as any competitor - and Kia mentioned the Honda Pilot, Toyota 4Runner and Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Nissan Pathfinder - and beats most if not all in its towing ability. Kia is not at present thought of as a premium brand, but the company is hoping that the Borrego will help change that.

If you're wondering about the name, "Borrego" is named after Southern California's Anza-Borrego desert. Many thanks to Kia for not doing the intro there in mid-July, as 110 degrees F is not at all unusual. And, at one point, I did get into the third-row seat. Especially with the second row placed a little forward, it's not at all the purgatory that is most SUV third rows. Space utilization, not usually a trait associated with an SUV, is very good in the Borrego.

SPECIFICATIONS
2009 Kia Borrego

Base Price $ 26,000 to $36,000
Price As Tested $n/a
Engine Type dual overhead cam, 4 valve per cylinder, aluminum alloy V6 or V8
Engine Size V6: 3.8 liters / 231 cu. in., V8: 4.6 liters / 282 cu. in.
Horsepower V6: 276 @ 6000 rpm, V8: 337 @ 6000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) V6: 267 @ 4400 rpm, V8: 323 @ 3500 rpm
Transmission V6: 5-speed automatic, V8: 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 114.0 in. / 192.3 in.
Curb Weight n/a lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower n/a
Fuel Capacity 20.6 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87-octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires P245/70R17 std, P265/60R18 opt
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, ABS, EBD standard
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone / independent multilink
Ground clearance 8.5 inches
Drivetrain longitudinal front engine, rear or dual-range four-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 17/21 V6 2WD to 15/20 V8 4WD
0 to 60 mph 7-9 sec (est)

Next-Generation 2010 Kia Sorento Bound for Geneva, then Showrooms

Kia's latest crossover offering will continue moving ahead with production despite a global auto sales climate where midsize and large crossovers and SUVs aren't exactly selling like hotcakes. The next-generation Kia Sorento, redesigned for 2010, will move away from the traditional body-on-frame chassis on which the current Sorento rides in favor of unibody architecture.

Thanks to the unibody chassis, the Sorento will get better handling, ride quality, and fuel economy due to the lighter chassis. The move to a unibody chassis has been part of an industry trend with increased focus on a more responsive ride and better fuel economy. The downside to the unibody chassis includes losing towing and off-road capabilities due to a slightly less durable chassis.

A wide range of diesel and regular gas powerplants is being planned for placement into the new Sorento due to its future global availability. Final engine decisions will depend on the market. The Sorento's current gasoline engine choices include a 3.0L V-6 making 240 hp and a 3.8L V-6 with 260 hp. Still up in the air is Kia's decision on continuing to offer the European-spec gasoline 2.4L inline-four engine that is available on the current model.

Diesel choices benefit from Hyundai's newly developed "R" series turbodiesel engines, with the availability of three different diesel engines. Two four-cylinder variations will be available in either a 2.0L making 184 hp or a 2.2L making 200 hp. Both four-cylinder variations can be mated to either a six-speed automatic or a manual transmission. The third choice will be a new 3.0L V-6 CRDi making 240 hp. There have also been rumors that Kia might offer a 2WD variation on the Sorento on top of the standard 4WD layout.

Other changes to the Sorento include an expansion in size, giving it an option for seven seats. The interior is influenced by the Hyundai Forte sedan, and the exterior has been slightly modeled after Hyundai's "boxy" KND-4 concept.

The 2010 Kia Sorento will make its global debut at the 2009 Geneva motor show in March 2009. It is then expected to go on sale immediately in Korea, with releases in Europe, North America, and other international markets following in mid-to-late 2009.

By Benson Kong
Source: Carscoop

2010 Kia Soul - First Drive Review

Scion faces competition from... Kia?

The new Kia Soul begs one big question: Is this thing cool?

The Soul is a five-door hatch about a half-foot shorter than a Scion xB, one of the youth-market vehicles that likely inspired Kia to enter this little niche (the Honda Element is another, ditto the Nissan Cube; the all-new version of the latter will arrive here next spring as a 2009 model). The Soul began life as a very cool concept car in 2006, but the powerful, big-haunch look and a lot of the trick, appealing aspects have been finessed out in the obligatory production compromise.

Looks are the whole ballgame here, because beneath the radically angled window line and the buff fender bulges and the seat fabric that glows in the dark with the word "soul" is basically a good-sized but unspectacular economy box.

Two Hearts for the Soul

The five-place "urban crossover vehicle" goes on sale here in March. Two engines will be offered: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 122 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter four putting out 142 horses and 137 lb-ft. The smaller engine comes only with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the larger has an optional four-speed automatic. A four-wheel-drive option would have been cool, but no go: it's front-drive only.

The 2825-pound Soul is built on a modified Kia Rio subcompact platform. Its 100.4-inch wheelbase pays real roominess dividends in the back seat, with six-footers having enough headroom to place a fist between their scalps and the headliner. From a comfort standpoint, this little vehicle is a winner.

Kia hopes to price its li'l spunkster in the "low teens," which we interpret subjectively to be start-at-14 and quit-about-17 grand, so kids, it's not gonna look like an Audi inside. Our test car's red dashboard was hard to the touch, but the fabric seats pass muster, the cluster gauges are marvelously sharp and easy to read, and nobody started whining about the center stack before the ignition got a key poked into it.

BY STEVE SPENCE

2009 Kia Borrego Selected in Autobytel.com/MyRide.com Editors' Choice Awards

All-New Midsize SUV Chosen as "Best Kept Secret" in Sixth Annual Awards

# Rugged midsize SUV recognized for power, comfort and roominess
# Newest Kia offers luxury features and company's most powerful engine to date

IRVINE, Calif., November 10, 2008 - The recently launched 2009 Kia Borrego midsize SUV, already a recipient of a five-star crash safety rating for all seating positions in frontal and side crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been chosen as "Best Kept Secret" in the Autobytel.com/MyRide.com 2009 Editors' Choice Awards. Equipped with fuel-efficient V8 or V6 engines, Borrego was chosen for its impressive combination of capabilities, comfort and space.

"Borrego is gaining more and more recognition in the press and among consumers and the Autobytel.com/MyRide.com selection is further proof it is a solid vehicle packed with value" said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, Kia Motors America (KMA). "Borrego is a prime example of Kia Motors' new design direction and evidence of more outstanding product offerings to come."

The Autobytel.com/MyRide.com Editors' Choice Awards, based on a compilation of every new or substantially revised vehicle, assigns the vehicles to the appropriate categories based on factors including segment and price. Each editor voted for the vehicle they would most often recommend, with winners determined by a simple majority. Vehicles also must be available for sale during the 2008 calendar year.

Borrego is offered with a DOHC, all-aluminum 3.8-liter V6 as well as Kia's first-ever DOHC 4.6-liter V8 engine, also all-aluminum; both engines are more powerful than any in Kia's line to date. While the V6 produces a competitive 276 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 267 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, the all-new V8 generates a class-leading 337 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 323 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm -- more powerful than the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and GMC Acadia. Borrego runs on regular unleaded fuel compared to some other competitors, which require premium unleaded and achieves best-in-class fuel economy of 15/22 city/highway for its V8 with two-wheel drive, and a respectable 15/20 city/highway for its V8 with four-wheel drive.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- www.kia.com.

Economy Car Wrapped in a Candy Shell

Those who were disappointed with the upsized and redesigned second-generation Scion xB may have a new vehicle to consider. The 2010 Kia Soul, introduced as a concept at the 2006 Detroit auto show and teased for the last nearly three years, contains the fuel efficiency and smart interior packaging of the first xB, wrapped in a likeable, edgy body unlike anything Kia has ever sold here before.

North American buyers will have a choice of engines: a 2.0L four at launch and a 122-hp, 1.6L later on. The larger I-4 comes with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the smaller is only offered with a manual. The front-drive Soul will be available with four trim levels: Soul, Soul +, Soul ! (exclaim), and Soul sport, and though pricing hasn't been announced (expect that at the Los Angeles auto show later this month), Kia hinted the MSRP will be highly competitive. When the Soul goes on sale in North America in March 2009 as a 2010 model, we expect it to start around $15,000-$16,000 and top out at $20,000.

At first glance, the Soul looks much like the concept, except that the Peter Schreyer-designed production version is now much more car and much less crossover. Based on a reinforced, stretched version of the Rio platform, the car is cute and instantly likeable and comes in eleven colors (eight at launch) with names like Alien and Dune (Euro-spec cars have much more charming paint colors like Tomato Red and Vanilla Shake). Like the Scion, a strong emphasis is being put on the potential for customization and accessorizing this car. Several options are offered, including a red and black interior, beige and black hound's tooth seats and similar accents on the tailgate and hood, several wheel choices, different bumpers, stereos, and body mods; what we don't know yet is which of these features will be available in the United States.

We spent some time behind the wheel of a Soul + (2.0L, 142-hp four), with the five-speed manual transmission and 16-in. wheel and tire package. The engine provides plenty of power for a vehicle this size, feels significantly quicker than the first-gen xB, and will probably outrun the Fit in a straight line. But it's somewhat unrefined and noisy (which, considering the price point, isn't a serious problem). The five-speed helps eke out all of the power the Soul has to offer -- which is good, because peak hp is at 6000 rpm), but we'd expect the automatic transmission to be perfectly acceptable (more on that once we get to try it). What we don't understand is why the company didn't use a five-speed automatic instead of a four. The five would be more competitive with its rivals, would provide even better fuel economy than the estimated 31 mpg for the 2.0L, and fifth gear would almost definitely be welcome at higher speed.

The Soul is about six inches shorter overall than the new xB and about six inches longer than the first-gen Scion -- and just as long as the Fit, with a 12-in.-longer wheelbase. It isn't a performance car, but does feel sportier than basic cars in this size and price category. Suspension was tuned to provide a firmer ride, which it achieves, but some may not like the amount of bumps and road irregularities transmitted into the cabin. What didn't come through, even in our preproduction model, were any squeaks or rattles. We did notice that in turns, the Soul exhibited a bit more body roll than expected.

The interior is a lot more appealing than a traditional economy car's and less out-there than the xB's. With basic black cloth like our tester's, most of the cabin was black with red LED lighting on the stereo and red accents on the gauges. The red and black cloth interior gives the Soul a much more youthful attitude. Aux and USB jacks are standard, and options include Sirius, Bluetooth, power sunroof, redundant steering-wheel controls, and an eight-speaker system. Front and rear rows are surprisingly roomy, but long-legged passengers should try to get the front seat -- the front seats are backed by hard plastic. There's plenty of headroom, and the car is surprisingly spacious overall.

On the sensible side, the Soul comes standard with dual front, front-seat-mounted, and full-length side-curtain airbags; TPMS; and front-seat active headrests. ABS with EBD, stability control, and rear disc brakes are standard on all but the base model.

The Soul could change the perception of the company as that of a maker of boring, cheap cars, and could bring in a lot of first-time Kia buyers. Kia's hope is that it can sell 50,000 units a year in North America.

The Soul's style, attitude, and charm come with the economy and value Kia is known for, but for young buyers, this has to be the most appealing car Kia has ever made. We'll soon see if Kia can pull Gen Y away from the Scion and the Fit, as well as the upcoming Cube.

2010 KIA SOUL
Base Price $15,000-$19,000 (est)
Vehicle Layout Front engine, FWD, 5-pass, 4-door hatch
Engines 1.6L/122-hp/115-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4; 2.0L/142-hp/137-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4
Transmissions 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic
Curb Weight 3000 lb (est)
Wheelbase 100.4 in
Length x Width x Height 161.6 x 70.3 x 63.4 in
0-60 mph 8.5-9.5 sec (MT est)
EPA City/Hwy Econ 28-31/31-36 mpg (MT est)
CO2 Emissions 0.59-0.66 lb/mile
On Sale In U.S. March 2009

By Allyson Harwood
Motor Trend