Kia Carens

Kia’s ability to develop innovative new cars that look beyond the obvious is given free rein in the Carens with a hint of SUV attitude, but exhibiting all the versatility and practicality of the most modern compact MPVs, it appeals to private and fleet users alike. One of the first things that struck me with the Kia Carens is the wonderful layout of the controls. Everything is ‘presented’ to you in an easy to reach, easy to see, easy to feel way. The centre console slopes gracefully down, as opposed to dropping vertically into the proverbial void. The ergonomics are excellent. Nothing seems to be in a position where it has to be ‘reached-for’.

Two engines are on offer a 2.0-litre 142bhp petrol and a 138bhp turbodiesel. The diesel is powerful enough, and its superior fuel economy makes it a worthy buy. Both engines come with a manual gearbox (five-speed in the petrol and six in the diesel) and either can be specified with a four-speed automatic.

The Carens exhibits versatility and practicality, a foot-operated parking brake allows for more storage space around the driver and front passenger. There is a large compartment beneath the centre armrest; cup holders in the front and rear of the centre console; a sunglasses holder in the headlining; large door pockets with bottle holder storage; and a generous glove box. Standard items across the range include front and rear electric windows with an auto-down facility, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, an under floor storage box and under seat tray on the front passenger's side. The Carens is available as both a five- and seven-seater, for the added space in the seven seater the cushions of the centre-row seats tip forwards, enabling the backrests to fold down to create a flat floor, free of interruptions while the rear row folds into the base leaving a totally flat surface.

In conclusion, the new Kia Carens is an impressive seven-seater family car; it is packed with intelligent features, all of which make the driving and travelling experience a pleasure for both driver and passengers. It looks good, with elegant lines and gracefully rounded corners and is about as versatile in terms of the interior as you could ever hope for. It drives well, with a smooth and quiet air to the whole experience and did not let me down in any single respect. Kia Carens come with a five year bumper-to-bumper unlimited mileage warranty.

Kia Magentis

Kia has proved recently that it can build cars that compete on equal terms with mainstream European and Japanese cars. Kia’s designers have worked hard to bring the manufacturer into the 21st Century with a completely new design; the overhauled Magentis is longer, wider and taller than its predecessor and looks much more modern. Certainly it has a far more European appearance than its predecessor and that, together with sensible pricing, is going to impress a lot of potential buyers. The latest Magentis could well change your view of Korean cars.

The Magentis is a decent car to drive it offers good steering feel and turns in neatly and precisely, while remaining resistant to body roll when required to turn hard. The Magentis has plenty of grip and copes well with sudden changes of direction. Both four-cylinder engines (the 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel) are competitive on performance: the six-speed manual diesel will sprint from 0-62mph in just over ten seconds, while the five-speed manual petrol engine is a couple of tenths quicker. Both four-speed autos are about a second or so slower over the same benchmark. The 2.7 V6 engine comes with a five-speed auto and takes just over nine seconds to reach 62mph from rest. The diesel pulls strongly with a maximum 225lb-ft of torque available from 1800rpm to 2500rpm and shifts through the gears quite smoothly. Noise levels are low, with engine noise in the diesel model particularly well suppressed.

In keeping with Kia’s value-for-money brief, even the base GS models comes with air conditioning, an MP3-compatible radio/CD player, driver's seat height adjustment and a tilt-adjust steering column, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, powered and heated door mirrors, four electric windows and remote central locking. LS models add automatic lights, a trip computer, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, full climate control with an air quality monitoring system, eight-way powered driver’s seat and heated front seats and stability and traction control with emergency brake assist. Behind the wheel the driver’s seat-height can be adjusted and the steering wheel adjusts for height. The major controls and switches are logically arranged and easy to use There’s masses of head and knee space for all. Despite the lack of five-door versatility, the Magentis has a split-fold rear seat to extend the already-large cargo hold. With the seats in place, the boot will easily cope with a family’s holiday gear. If you’re looking for a sensible priced car then look no further

Kia Sorento

What do you do with a car that's just three years old, that's won a string of awards and that's consistently been a top-six seller in its sector? Well, if your name's Kia and the model in question is the Sorento, you give it a complete overhaul to keep it at the forefront of the SUV sector. The Sorento was Kia's first foray into the high-end SUV market. Designed with European input and with European buyers in mind, it has been a huge success. Kia's big 4x4 is big on looks, big on value and big on ability.

The revised model uses the same body panels as the original car. But new front and rear bumpers, projection-style headlamps, tail lights and body mouldings give it a more elegant and modern appearance. The engine line-up kicks off with Kia's acclaimed 2.5-litre 168bhp, four-cylinder, 16-valve common-rail engine, there’s a new 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine which has replaced the former 3.5-litre unit and has an extra 48bhp, trimming its 0-62mph time to 8.9 seconds. The diesel is available with five-speed manual or automatic gearboxes, while the V6 will be sold only as an automatic. Higher top gear ratios in both gearboxes reduce cruising noise levels, and the automatic also features Kia's Sports Mode, allowing manual override of gear changes.

On the road the Sorento is just as good as any comparable vehicle and off-road it is surprisingly capable, making it perfectly possible to climb aboard and head for anywhere between the Cairngorms and the New Forest with complete confidence. It has a user-friendly 4x4 system, which means you don't have to be an off-road expert to get the best from it. In fact, keep the system in auto and it senses when the wheels are slipping and diverts power to those that aren't. Lock it into '4x4' and power is distributed to all four wheels.

It's easy and comfortable to drive, even over longer distances. The seat is multi-adjustable and steering wheel adjusts for height (but not reach). The interior is tastefully designed and looks modern and attractive. There's a generously sized boot that's accessed via a tailgate, the seats split 60:40 and fold totally flat for a very useful load area. The rear screen is hinged, too, so you can drop bags in without opening the main tailgate. It's pretty practical inside, too, with a large centre storage box, a decent-sized glovebox and various cubbies. Legislation may be starting to target 4x4s but the public shows little sign of ending its love affair with the SUV.

Kia Magentis

Bosses at Kia are not letting the grass grow under their feet. The latest is the new generation Magentis, which is the last model in the Kia line-up to be updated. Updated, however, is probably the wrong word to use, for the car is totally new from the tyres up. In the words of managing director Paul Williams: "The only thing that's the same on this car is the name."

Diesel power, modern and dynamic styling, European-standard ride and handling, top-level safety…the latest, all-new version of Kia’s Magentis saloon is more capable than ever of meeting the expectations of both private and fleet users. The option of a turbodiesel engine for the first time makes the new Magentis able to compete in the fleet market on level terms with the top-selling Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra and Volkswagen Passat. It will also appeal to cost-conscious private buyers who enjoy the excellent driveability, superb economy and greater range between fill-ups that comes with diesels. A modified version of the 138bhp 2.0-litre common-rail unit also fitted to the Kia Sportage, gives the new Magentis a combined fuel figure of 47.1 mpg, while low carbon dioxide emissions of 162g/km put the car in the 22% band for company car taxation purposes. Two petrol engines are available in the new Magentis - the all-new 2.0-litre Theta unit developing 142bhp, and a revised version of the smooth 185bhp 2.7-litre V6 that comes with a new five-speed automatic transmission as standard. Four-cylinder engines are available with manual or automatic gearboxes. Delivering a driving experience that is both dynamic and pleasurable, the steering feels positive and turns in neatly and precisely, while remaining resistant to body roll when required to turn hard. The Magentis has plenty of grip and copes well with sudden changes of direction.

Inside the cabin is roomy and easy to get in and out of, there is plenty of leg, shoulder and head room in the smart cabin. All versions are well-equipped. GS models have air conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, an MP3-compatible radio/CD player, driver's seat height adjustment and a tilt-adjust steering column, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, powered and heated door mirrors, four electric windows and remote central locking. LS models have in addition automatic lights, a trip computer, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, full climate control with an air quality monitoring system, powered driver's seat and heated front seats and stability and traction control with emergency brake assist. The new Magentis offers very relaxed motoring for both driver and passengers alike.

From a cee’d Kia grows

Hot on the heels of the cee’d hatchback, comes the cee’d SW. It is Kia’s first ever estate car and one, which the company hopes, will build on the success of the 5-door. The Kia cee’d SW packs a big value punch. It's attractive, filled with little luxuries and comes with an unrivalled seven-year warranty as standard. More than 80 per cent of C-segment car sales are to fleet buyers but Kia believes that the cee’d SW will provide a good alternative to private customers, who are looking towards SUV’s. The engine line up is pretty good, it comes with a 120bhp 1.6 petrol engine and a 1.6 diesel (89bhp or 113bhp), and two trim levels, GS and LS. Kia tells us that a 2.0-litre diesel could be added to the line-up should there be enough demand. In the meantime, these three, 1.6 engines, come with the standard 5 speed manual gearbox but the petrol and higher output diesel units are also available with an optional, 4-speed automatic transmission.

The interior looks smart, feels modern and is user-friendly. The driver’s seat adjusts for height and the steering wheel adjusts for reach and height, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position. All-round visibility is pretty good, though the view out of the back can often be slightly restricted. cee’d SW offers a comfortable and relaxing drive. There's plenty of grip and it corners well and feels comfortable when driven quickly on B-roads and country lanes. All cars have power steering, which makes it a breeze to drive around town, carry out three-point turns and parking.

Plenty of room all round with ample room in the back for two adults or two children. Leg and headroom is good for all on board and it’s pretty quiet on the move. The interior is bright and pleasant to be in. All cars have MP3 compatibility through an Ipod and USB connection and the CD player can play MP3 CDs. The cee’d SW is significantly roomy offering 534 litres of load space, including 55-litres under the load platform. Taking full advantage of the 60:40-split, rear seats increases the load-lugging to a maximum of 1664-litre. With the tailgate hinges being further forward, the load aperture gapes larger than normal making it easy to load bulky items. The Kia cee’d SW is a good solid car for people on the move, whether it be a company car or simply for transporting family and friends. It has a certain amount of elegance along with the inherent flexibility of an estate car.

Kia Sportage

The Sportage has been an SUV favourite for some time but the latest model adds to the driving fun. With production moved from Korea to Europe, to reduce shipping times and delivery levels of CO2, the Sportage has been given a Euro ‘make-over’ to improve driving dynamics. With the new range expanded to 10 models, with the addition of two wheel drive versions, Kia expects to sell around 6,000 units a year in the UK. The introduction of the front wheel drive only versions is Kia’s answer to customers buying patterns and tastes. The front-wheel-drive model has better fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures than its comparable four-wheel-drive counterpart. A diesel automatic transmission is also being offered for the first time as standard on two-wheel-drive diesel versions of the Sportage.

Kia is not afraid to make change where it is merited. For the 2008 model year, the Sportage gains body-colour bumpers as standard, larger door mirrors to comply with new EU regulations, a revised front grille, black-bezel headlamps and new designs of 16-inch alloy wheels (XE and XS versions). In isolation they may appear to be small changes, but they add an extra veneer of class to a car that continues to appeal because of its genuine 4x4 styling. With a choice of three engines – a 2.7 litre V6, a 2 litre petrol and a 138bhp 2 litre diesel, it’s the last of these that’s likely to be the default choice. The front-wheel-drive-only diesel Sportage is only available with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Ergonomically, the Sportage pays great attention to detail. Major and minor controls are placed exactly where the driver needs them, with the digital clock, CD audio system with MP3 player and air conditioning controls stacked neatly in the centre fascia. The steering column has tilt adjustment and the driver's seat is multi-adjustable, allowing owners of different build to find a perfect driving position. Five adults can travel in reasonable comfort, and Kia also claims to have reduced noise levels with better sunroof seals and clever sculpting of the wing mirrors. The 60/40 folding rear seats are rather cunning. When they’re lowered, the seat squabs slide forward and down into the footwall so the seatbacks can fold flush with the floor. Another nice touch is the separately opening rear window, which allows you to chuck small items into the boot without having to open the tailgate. The current Sportage has regularly been one of the UK's seven best-selling SUVs. With the addition of two-wheel-drive models and the introduction of diesel automatics, Kia is confident of increasing annual sales from an average of 4400 to 6000-plus in 2008.

Kia Sedona

Kia’s latest Sedona is completely new and offers increased sophistication and comfort while giving buyers strong value for money. Already well respected in the MPV sector, Kia is pushing to broaden its market even further with this Sedona. The Sedona has been vastly improved in all areas and modernized so that it can compete with rival brands. The Sedona seats seven people comfortably. The exterior style has been improved and boasts sharper lines and has an overall more attractive exterior design. The car’s twin sliding doors have been well designed to compliment the shape of the vehicle.

The Kia Sedona offers several improved engines choices, there is a 2.9-litre 182bhp diesel engine now with second-generation common-rail injection and a variable geometry turbocharger which enhances performance while preserving the 36.2mpg combined economy of its predecessor. The 2.7-litre 186bhp V6 petrol engine has gained 40bhp over the previous 2.5-litre engine. Its combined fuel consumption is 26.4mpg compared with 25.7 previously, despite considerably improved performance. The first thing that you will notice when driving the Sedona is its high driving position which gives you a commanding view of the road ahead. The ride is very relaxed and copes well on all road surfaces; the 2.9-litre diesel engine delivers impressive acceleration and comfortable cruising. The Sedona has truly been enhanced from the inside out.

The Sedona has been designed for passenger comfort, inside the cabin it’s very spacious and provides adequate passenger space for seven. Access to the Sedona is excellent for all passengers’ front, rear, or for passengers accessing the very back seats. Front seat occupants can slide easily in through the vehicle’s front doors, while those in the second row step in through the wide opening sliding doors. Rear seat occupants must first fold the second row seat to gain access, but this is simple and not problematic. Head and legroom are very good and each seat has the ability to slide forward or back and the ability to recline maximizing individual comfort even more. The five rear seats can be folded down or removed in order to increase cargo carrying capacity. Air conditioning controls in the rear ensure good all around comfort. The Kia Sedona has a good image based on the company’s dedication to providing car buyers excellent value for money, with quality and style becoming much more apparent.

Her name is RIO

Value-hunting motorists need look no further than the stylish Kia Rio that blends an economical super-mini with pace, space and up-to-the minute design and technology. The Kia Rio is much better than its predecessors and is now worthy of some serious thought. It is an accomplished five-door hatchback capable of competing with both small and medium-sized models. Everything about this car has been redesigned. The styling, for example, should go down well, featuring as it does a bolder nose and a more dynamic profile. The enhancements are not limited to the cars outside design the inside has been redesigned as well.

The all-new 96bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine which made its debut with Rio, generating 17.5% more power than the class average, while the modern Euro IV compliant 109bhp 1.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel delivers 36% more power than most diesels in this segment. Yet despite the improved performance, fuel economy is also better. In manual-gearbox form, the 1.4-litre Rio covers 44.8 miles per gallon on the official combined cycle (39.2mpg for the automatic) and the 1.5 CRDi covers 60.1mpg which means that with a 45-litre fuel tank it has a potential range of just under a whopping 600 miles. Both engines come with a five-speed manual transmission as standard but a four-speed automatic specifically developed and tuned for the Rio is offered with the petrol engine.

The Kia Rio is among one of the largest vehicles in its class. Accessibility to the cars front and rear seats is good. The door apertures are not huge, but they are more than adequate and accessibility to the car’s cabin is straightforward. Front and rear passengers should have adequate head and legroom. The trim is neutral, though owners can opt for several different upgrades. The steering adjusts for rake but not reach. The cars fascia is logically arranged and neatly organized and the controls and dials are fairly simple and easy to use.

The Rio is not a sporty car but it delivers a smooth ride with low levels of noise and vibration, and with its excellent power steering is simple to park. Even though the Rio wasn’t built for speed it does deliver a decent ride with adequate power at an affordable price. By the end of my drive I was quite taken by this little car. The engine is superb and certainly up there with the class leading diesels in its sector. Kia now has a good range of cars that can compete on equal terms with the established players.