Kia Soul and Cadenza Honored Via Car and Driver For Best Interiors Under $40,000

We all know that if you are willing to plunk down a large sum of cash, you can purchase a car with an interior that seems fit for a king. But, the reality of the consumer landscape dictates that most of us don't have pockets full of cash to burn, and are leaning towards the much more economical side of the purchasing scale. Car and Driver is one of our esteemed sources for everything happening in the auto world, and always is on deck to dole out the goods regarding features and performance stats. This past month they took a good, hard look at cars that many average folks can purchase, focusing on those with cabins that really impress.

Once again just as in many awards categories, we had two of our vehicles make the cut! The Cadenza fared well in this department because it is “simply great looking inside and out”. As soon as you open the door, the visual flair immediately is realized, with the available nappa leather's diamond-quilted seat bolsters evoking a very striking and high-end luster. Once you sit down in the front, this is a very sleek dashboard on hand that could easily be mistaken for Genesis-level design, and the infotainment system layout is clear, quick, and simple, without the massive cluttering effect that takes place inside many other current models. Going low on the plastic factor really helped during this design, and it's real proof that minimalism can speak high and mighty volumes.

It was also a great excitement to see the Kia Soul make this list, as it is one of the models that customers ask us about most frequently here. Who could be disappointed in the least with these very well-built insides offered at such a great price? You get to enjoy a large audio display screen, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The Soul is known for its very unique charm, and the fact that it was the back-to-back winner of 10Best awards further solidifies its value and appeal.

The main thing to keep in mind about the interior of a car is that this is where you will be spending your time. If the journey you are taking happens to be a bit longer than average, all of the comfort you can muster for the price is going to make a difference in the long run, when the location where you're spending most of your time brings you comfort. One thing that we love about our brand is the fact that you don't have to pay a largely inflated sum of money to enjoy an awesome interior, and we are thankful to the good people at Car and driver for pointing out the finer points of these two cars' inner aspects. While you are behind the wheel,  your immediate surroundings define how your entire trip will feel, and we are beyond proud that two Kia models made the cut for the most clandestine insides around!

U.S. News and World Report Hails 2018 Kia Sportage as Top Pick for Teen Drivers

When the teen drivers in the house are getting ready to don wheels, many families that come speak to us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis are a bit nervous, and righteously so. They want to be absolutely certain that they are going to acquire the best vehicle for their young one to have, and safety, as well as dependability, are very high factors. U.S. News and World Report has now awarded the 2018 Kia Sportage Best New SUV for Teens, in the upper 20 thousand dollar range. Executive Editor Jamie Page Deaton claimed that “The Sportage should be at the top of your list if you want to buy a safe and dependable SUV for your teen driver,” and many of the driver assistance features are chart-topping as far as the industry itself.

Blind Spot Detection System, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Change Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert were key contributors to the Sportage's victory. The on-board UVO technology was also a big factor, as it can be programmed to record when a teen keeps the Sportage out past a certain time deadline. You can even set geographic boundaries to assure that your teen is not straying too far, a feature once only a distant vision no more than a decade and a half ago.

The predicted reliability rating of the Sportage is 4.5 out of 5, among the highest in the very popular compact SUV class. Young and new drivers face many various challenges on the road, and the Sportage is a vehicle that has the combination of technology, safety ratings, and reliability to be rated best in class by the well-read and highly respected magazine that thousands trust for advice and information regarding auto purchases. Inexperience combined with driving habits that tend to be destructive makes young drivers much more likely to be involved in a crash.

A recent study by Liberty Mutual found that 90 percent of teen drivers will admit to talking on the phone during their drive, and an astonishing 78 percent say they have texted from behind the wheel. While this is happening, they are simply not paying attention to the road, and many times the consequences can be deadly. An inexperienced driver needs literally all the help they can get to stay safe every day, and high ratings deemed from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as the Institute for Highway Safety are qualities that characterize the best cars for teens. When you see us here this fall for a test drive, you'll be checking out what Edmunds.com calls “a small SUV that appeals to your heart and head,” and see just how much “appropriate clampdown” you'll be able to exercise on your high-school age family member behind the wheel!

MotorTrend Highlights MPG Increase, Viable Power of 2019 Kia Forte

Borrowing a few design cues from the hailed-and-hefty Kia Stinger was one of the best ideas put forward for the creation of the Kia Forte, as customers were now able to enjoy a bit of the raw-edged sportiness of a front-running favorite. AsMotorTrend pointed out last week, the redesigned-for-2019 Forte also is much more efficient, thanks to a new CVT which replaces the six-speed automatic transmission on the old model. The 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter I-4 engine carries over from last year, and now delivers an EPA-rated 31/41/35 mpg city/highway/combined in the trim with the greatest fuel efficiency.

This is absolutely cause for excitement for all of us here at Jim Butler Kia, as last  year's model sported 29/37/32 on the mpg rating. The more powerful GDI 2.0-liter I-4 in the outgoing 2018 model was rated at 25/33/28 mpg. Many of you out there are falling back in love with the idea of a manual transmission: it is now rated at 27/37/31 mpg, up some from last year's rating of 25/34/28 mpg. Just to put a little perspective on where exactly things stand, we wanted to fulfill the request from a few that wanted us to provide details about just where that ranks compared to other current competitors.

 The Hyundai Elantra is rated at 29/38/33 mpg in its base trim, and 28/37/32 in higher trims when equipped with the same 2.0-liter I-4 that the Forte derives power from. That engine is backed by a six-speed automatic, and the Elantra Eco, which is powered by a 1.4-liter turbo-four, has an almost identical rating to our Forte, with the finishing numbers at 32/40/35 mpg. The very popular Chevy Cruze has a 1.4-liter Turbo-four, which delivers 28/38/32 mpg with its six-speed automatic, and 30/38/33 mpg with a CVT.

The new Forte was billed as a very appealing upgrade by the seasoned experts  at Car and Driver, who claimed that it possessed “more chiseled lines, and cleaner detailing than before”. When the fall comes and you have the opportunity to test-drive this new car, you'll be amazed at the effectiveness of the shift-logic program, that simulates gearchanges, and prevents the engine from droning. The new interior features a horizontal dashboard layout, which sports a tablet-style 8-inch touchscreen in the center. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also both standard, and there are rumors that a Forte5 hatchback, as well as a turbocharged upgrade engine, will be coming soon as well! 

Revamped 2019 Kia Optima Debuts at New York International Auto Show

 Simmering with brand new tech options and awesome features, the 2019 Optima continues its place as a very useful and commanding alternative in the midsize sedan segment for next year. Having debuted early this summer at the New York International Auto Show, Kia's best-selling midsize sedan was unveiled with brand new design cues on the interior and exterior, expanded ADAS technology, a new UVO infotainment platform, and available European-inspired red and black two-tone sport leather-trimmed seats. There will also be the choice of new alloy wheels, ambient LED interior lighting, and a brand new exterior color called “Passion Red”.

The 2019 Optima model refresh sharpens the overall design inside and out, and a  number of ADAS technologies are now standard across the entire line, which further signifies the value Optima offers. There is also a brand-new approach to the UVO telematics sytem, that makes it easier for buyers to understand its features, and an embedded modem is now included. The brand-new two-tone sport seats are perfect for those who are looking to change up their car with European-inspired design, and all of these models are proudly assembled in the U.S. At Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. The new Optima will go on sale later this year, and will be offered in four trim variants: LX, S, EX, and SX.

 The LX now comes standard with Stinger-inspired LED daytime running lights, a nicely luminescent matte gray-finish grill, and a new 16-inch alloy wheel design. The S model is the pinnacle of what anyone looking for an affordable yet smart vehicle will be happy with: sporty and tech-savvy features include new projection beam fog lamps, LED taillights, dual exhaust, sport side sills with gloss black trim, a very cool gloss-black grill, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Standard push-button start, smart key, smart trunk, and power front windows with auto up/down functionality add a taste of convenience and accessibility that will no doubt be well-received. Completely redesigned 18-inch wheels are standard on the SX and SX Limited, available with Michelin 235/45R – 18 tires.

Exciting new LED fog lights, ambient interior lighting, sport steering wheel, and  Smart Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go functionality are standard on both the SX and SXL variants, the SX features available European-styled red and black two-tone sport leather-trimmed seats, a Harman Kardon premium audio system with UVO link and Navigation, heated steering wheel, gloss black door pillars and side moldings, as well as a sport bumper with LED fog lamps.

 The UVO infotainment system and telematics have made it easier than ever for owners to constantly interact with their vehicles, and the 2019 Optima is released with an easy-to-understand tired system. UVO play tethers the user's smartphone to the Optima's audio system through a USB cable, and voice recognition is available for sending calls, navigation, and listening to music in a fashion that allows the driver to focus more clearly on the task at hand. We invite you here to Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, to check out on top of it all what the UVO link with Navigation adds to the mix: standard with all of the features in UVO play and UVO link, UVO link with Navigation adds my POIS and Map Care, which allows for two free map updates each year!

A Healthy Round of Rival Rhetoric: 2019 Kia Sorento Vs. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee

It's no secret that SUVs absolutely represent big business. Selling in incredibly impressive numbers, the Kia Sorento and Jeep Grand Cherokee are most definitely two of the heaviest hitters you'll find on board. Autoguide.com recognized that both of these SUV's are as versatile as any out there, filling the needs of their owners in very focused manners. They ran a well-versed piece this past week showcasing just how these two stack up to each other, and highlighting some of the differences between them. The Kia Sorento has been heavily revised this year, and clearly holds weight on the fact that versatility alongside other elements like performance and style are supplied well.

The fact that the Sorento has the ability to offer multiple seating arrangements  definitely gives it a dose of positive pull in the faceoff with the Cherokee, as it has the ability to fold with a 50/50 split, while the second row features a 40/20/40 split. There are over 11 cubic feet of space to store goods in with all seats in place, or 73 cubic feet with everything folded down.

While the Cherokee does boast a very useful all-wheel drive system and outstanding off-road capability, the folks at Autoguide ranked its interior as a bit less versatile, at least in comparison our beloved Kia Sorento. There is no third row of seating in the Cherokee, and the total space available is just 68 cubic feet. The seats in the tester for the Sorento were the ones that are wrapped in Nappa Leather, which emulates the vibe and insides of the Kia Stinger. This comparison piece was appreciative of the fact that Kia had updated many of the touch points in the cabin for the new Sorento, and the steering wheel and shift knob also get a new look and feel. The gauge cluster is newly updated, sporting a bright malfunction display screen, giving the car an intuitive and modern feel.

As far as the Grand Cherokee went for the interior, the upholstery looked very nice at first glance, but the trim accents didn't feel satisfactory. Some of the harder materials in the cabin felt low-grade, regardless of the great features such as Uconnect infotainment system, and a digital gauge cluster with a better appearance than the last one. During road testing, the team also had one issue with the Uconnect Infotainment system: it went unexpectedly blank, until a call was made using a phone that was connected to the unresponsive system via Bluetooth. The Smart Shift and Drive mode that measures driving behavior is a great tool for deciding which mode to use if just cruising down the highway, and even if driving on the aggressive side is suddenly in the cards.

As the reviewers for this mash-up said, there's a mix of feelings once you get the Grand Cherokee out on the road. For better or for worse, it may feel more like a truck than the Sorento does. This can make it pretty substantial and tough, but does not bode well in terms of body roll and sway. Behind the wheel, it feels properly big but does not do well at feeling like a car, even in sports mode. The Autoguide experts were overly impressed with how accommodating the Sorento was on the road, and how smooth and natural it drives. Gear changes were snappy, there was minimal hesitation, and the steering is high on the responsive end.

We don't deny that the Jeep Cherokee is a trusty and amazing vehicle, and have the  utmost respect for our competitors here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis. But when you arrive to check out the benefits and value of the Sorento, a standout lineup of features, 630-watt ten-speaker surround system from Harmon/Kardon, and other luxurious appointments are sure to steer you on the fast track to a fitting lease or ownership!