Tests and Features

First Drives2014 Kia Forte Koup: Sporty and Very Well Equipped4.0/5
Competition among compact cars is fierce. It’s not just because this segment is extremely popular in Canada, but especially because there are just so many different quality compact models available. Sedans still garner the highest number of sales, followed by wagons, and then coupes. In fact, few manufacturers decide to …
Comparative TestsThe Top Seven Compact Cars
Not only are compact cars increasingly popular in our market, but this segment is constantly evolving. To prove the point, we decided to assess—and compare—the seven most popular compacts. This time, we took a simpler approach than usual and tried to simulate a real vehicle purchase. Form and function The …
Test Drives2014 Kia Cadenza: The Future's Past4.0/5
Somewhere, out there, there’s a group of drivers lamenting Buick’s transition from the purveyor of pillow-soft suspension tuning into a legitimate modern luxury brand. It would seem that the market researchers at Kia have identified these unique individuals as a target demographic, with the result being the 2014 Kia Cadenza …
First Drives2014 Kia Rondo: Less Powerful, But More Fully-Loaded3.5/5
Only the name remains from generations of the Kia Rondo past. Arriving at dealerships as we speak, it’s nothing like the Rondo we’ve come to know, except for its compact, family-oriented nature and the fact that it can seat up to seven passengers. Oh, and true to the Korean tradition, …
First Drives2014 Kia Sorento: Korean-style luxury4.0/5
When Kia launched the new-generation Forte, the Korean automaker also introduced the "new” Sorento. Since this model was completely overhauled in 2011, this year Kia kept the esthetic changes to a minimum (or so it would seem at first glance). Much like the Forte, the exterior changes are nothing out …
First Drives2014 Kia Forte: It has what it takes4.0/5
The Kia Forte was unveiled in 2009 as a 2010 model to replace the lifeless Spectra, but it never achieved the success that Kia was hoping for. In 2012, for example, it was outdone by its cousin/rival, the Hyundai Elantra. Indeed, the Elantra sold 50,950 units in Canada while the …
Test Drives2013 Kia Sorento - Value For Careful Buyers3.5/5
The 2013 Kia Sorento offers us a glimpse at the future of the crossover segment. Now that buyers are largely over the novelty of a vehicle that looks like an SUV but drivers more like a car, and automakers no longer have to lure curious customers in with unusual features …
Test Drives2012 Kia Rio:: Attractive price, fully loaded!4.0/5
Not so long ago, while you could get a compact car for an attractive price, it often lacked style, conveniences, luxury and gadgets. Things have been different for several years now and certain manufacturers – like Kia, for example – have forced the market to adjust. The new Rio proves …
First Drives2012 Kia Soul: New, but not too new4.0/5
When Kia unveiled its Soul in 2009, it was a breath of fresh air in the automobile industry. For once, a unique vehicle didn’t go too far. The Nissan Cube (and, later, the Juke) or the Scion xB pushed the envelope a little too far – and they continue to …
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