Thoughts on Kia.
July 11th, 2008
It’s hard to buy a truly bad car these days. If Expo’s three-star rating signifies an ‘average’ experience behind the wheel, on some level, ‘average’ is actually pretty good. That’s why, with heavy consideration, Kia’s Sedona minivan received a below-par score. In today’s saturated market, a car can’t simply meet a benchmark — it must excel to stand out. The Sedona was acceptable at times, but packaging failures such as the audio system and torturous second-row seats kicked it to the back of the pack.
The Sedona is not Kia’s last word.
Keep your eye on the fledgling Korean brand. While parent company Hyundai raises prices in line with lofty upmarket aspirations, I have seen evidence that Kia is after a much more realistic goal: in the next five years, I expect Kia to provide the product line that Scion always hoped to — minus the clever renegade marketing.
At the New York International Auto Show, Kia surprised audiences with a handsome two-door sports coupe concept. The KOUP’s 2-liter turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine revved onstage, flaunting 290 horsepower — a demonstration of engineering talent that finally puts powertrain first.
If the KOUP makes it to market, the assault won’t stop there. Hitting up the Vans Warped Tour? Check out a thinly-disguised version of the SOUL concept between bands. This car has pictures of the xB and xD pinned to its punching bag. If Kia gets the details right, the SOUL could be a smarter choice.
Fresh pics of Kia’s upcoming Sorento hit the web earlier this week. The leaked photos show a bold front clip design similar to the KOUP concept, suggesting that when first-time buyers are ready to trade up, they’ll have a reason to return to their original dealer.
Before I paint a starry picture, let’s point out the asterisks: Kia’s upcoming Borrego SUV uses a heavy body-on-frame design that will make its V8 engine even thirstier. In an era of tanking SUV resale values and skyrocketing gasoline costs, I’m convinced the Borrego is the wrong truck at the wrong time. And, as other manufacturers have learned, minivan stigma is a dealbreaker among buyers who would rather adopt smaller, smarter crossovers to haul their families and gear. The Sedona — and the mindset behind it — needs to go. Only then will Kia’s transformation be complete.
Many happy miles,
Adam
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2 Comments Add your own
1. Danny | July 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Very observative, Kia’s coming a long way, but it has so much further to go. It would be foolish to discount them, though. I have a lot of faith in them. Models like the C’eed, and Hyundai’s Genesis show the Koreans are serious!
Good article, Adam.
2. bobby | July 25th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Yeah everyone needs ot wath out for KIA. A affordable cool car will blow people away
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