2024 Kia Seltos Remains Modern, Inspiring, & “Incredible Value for Inflationary Times”

The compact SUV segment is very competitive here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, as reasonable pricing, features such as all-wheel drive, and excellent cargo capacity are all important traits needed for the leader of the pack. The Kia Seltos has received many awards, accolades, and excellent reviews, and the refreshed version for 2024 boasts a few noticeable differences. The Motor Trend team spent a few hours behind the wheel of the new model and found it to be a modern, spacious, and capable rival when stacked up against the brand-new Subaru Crosstrek.

Launched in 2021, the Seltos’ most notable changes for the 2024 model are a set of visually spruced-up taillights, and the new Pluton Blue paint option. Inside the cabin is also the very latest panoramic dual driver information cluster, and the infotainment screen that Kia fans familiar with the Telluride will recognize. The base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder cranks out 146 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, with the optional 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder seeing a 20 horsepower increase up to 195.

There’s also the brand-new X-line appearance trim, replacing the outgoing Nightfall Editions. This comes loaded with unique features such as 18-inch wheels, a black roof rack, gloss-black door trim, and a very cool gunmetal-finish front grille. The Motor Trend team was very interested in how the Seltos would fare on the highway and around town first, where merging went very smoothly and the noise isolation in the cabin was impressive. The steering remained light and progressive, and the suspension had a habit that really grew on the crew of leaning more into the corners very nicely when taking them at high speed.

The addition of the new panoramic display is an excellent improvement, and it is very clear even while you’re traveling during peak sunshine hours. Kia has won so many repeat owners over by being accessible and practical, and the Seltos stands out as a “useful ride that presents itself strikingly as one of the finer things to appreciate in life.” This year’s Seltos also provides a brand-new acoustic glass windshield added to all models, and new standard safety features added to the S trim.

Storage-wise, the Seltos is one of the leaders in its class with a maximum cargo capacity of 62.8 feet. The all-wheel-drive model’s EPA estimate is 25 city/30 highway, and you’ll be fully covered with Kia’s fantastic 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage. The EX trim offers an excellent group of features for the price, coming with standard equipment such as all-wheel drive, faux leather upholstery, heated seats, and a larger touchscreen with navigation.

The SX trim tops off the Seltos line with LED headlights and fog lights, a Bose premium audio system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, sport steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping system, and a very useful cargo cover. The Kelley Blue Book auto review staff named the Seltos their “Best Subcompact Buy of 2023”, ranking it higher than its competition with its roomy, efficient, and appealing composure. The Seltos is a perfectly head-turning SUV that has found the ideal balance of rugged and premium. Also receiving a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, you’ll be confident to entrust your loved ones during drives of any distance!

Sporty + Sensational GT1 May Succeed Kia Stinger, Dishing out Thrills With Industry’s Largest Battery

The 2023 Stinger has enjoyed a rewarding and trend-setting existence here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, as its launch in 2017 proved that a competitive and very athletic sedan would win over a diverse audience. The current model fares well up against competition such as the Genesis G70 and Audi A5 Sportback, its 4-door design boasts a sense of common everyday practicality. The telltale Kia tiger nose, narrow headlights, and sloped back tailgate contribute to its vibe that is always teasing a very track-focused demeanor.

Once inside, the Stinger continues to evoke a very stealthy and sporty vibe with smartly bolstered front seats and a very solid and modern center console with the gear selector. The U.S. News auto review crew gave the Stinger very high marks for its turbocharged engine options, segment-leading cargo space, and easy-to-use infotainment system. It gained clout and a loyal fan base with its relaxing highway drive, yet uncanny ability for performance handling on tight roads. The auto community is buzzing now with a plausible rumor: the very first production model based on this new platform looks to be a Kia-branded sedan named the GT1. 

Kia and Hyundai are both planning to invest at least $18 million into EV power by the end of the decade, on a mission of sustainability and future technology development that outlines an entirely new blueprint. This proposed GT1 is expected to be slightly larger than the current Stinger, and derives power from a 113.2-kWh battery pack. This is even larger than the batteries powering the Tesla Model S and Kia EV9, which both offer up competitive maximum driving ranges of around 497 miles. 

Right now, it seems that Kia will offer both single and dual-motor models of the GT1, with the most powerful cable of cranking out 603 horsepower. All of us at Jim Butler are leaning towards the notion that this will probably become a reality, rendering it the most powerful production model in our brand’s history. We need to stress the fact that these are all rumors as of now, but a glance at the current landscape and what consumers are asking for deem many elements pointing in a progressive and exciting direction. 

The Edmunds.com review team had an abundance of praise for the current stinger model, claiming after their initial test drive that “there’s nothing else on the road quite like it.” Having a penchant for not leaving the driver bored while doling out entertaining levels of performance, this model with a low-slung and amazing stance could pacify even the choosiest of drivers in the meantime. The 2023 Stinger can easily drift around corners with segment-leading chops, while also providing the peace-of-mind all-wheel drive offers if a snowstorm rears its head during the journey. 

The Stinger hit 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds during testing, with the V-6-powered GT1 arriving rapidly there in just 5.0 seconds. Steering characteristics are very fast and precise and give the car a very agile personality even during heavy acceleration. The gadget and tech-loving crowd will be pleased with the Stinger’s wireless charging pad and a handful of USB ports, along with 12-volt outlets for charging. We are told constantly that our warranty is the best in the business here at Jim Butler, and proudly stand by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty to allow for safe, efficient, and top-quality miles of enjoyment. 

2023 KIA K5 Claims On-Campus Clout as “Best Car for Teens” by U.S. News & World Report

As selfies and weekend get-togethers for the tragically hip can understandably be a bit more appealing than cracking the books, popular automobiles today must possess a certain charm to be favored among teenagers. U.S News & World Report has officially awarded the 2023 Kia K5 with the “Best Car for Teens $25k to $35k”, recognizing the vehicle’s dependability, long-term reliability, safety features, and available technology.

This can be a difficult age group to find the ideal vehicle for here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, and details such as modern styling and affordable price are frequently on parents’ and teens’ wish lists alike. The K5 is available in five trim levels and comes equipped as standard with some of today’s best safety features. You’ll be happy to hand over the keys before homeroom knowing that Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Lane Departure Warning will assure that each trip pass it's some form of sensible boundaries.

This segment of drivers has a few tendencies that may allow you to want other forms of a watchful eye, and you'll appreciate Geofence Alert, Curfew Alert and Speed Alert, which are all available with the Kia Connect telematics system. After being put to the test against other models in the same segment, the K5 enjoyed so many of the features that render it an excellent midsize car to also boost its new driver appeal. With consistently high scores in reliability and a segment-leading powertrain warranty, this is a stellar car for those who are still fine-tuning their behind-the-wheel performance.

Exclusively available with a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive options, the K5 is always suited for battle up against the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and its running mate the Hyundai Sonata. The GT-Line is now offered with a Panoramic Roof package, and includes a heated steering wheel for extra comfort and dexterity during arctic temps. The Motor Trend team reflected after their test drive that “this is a model that makes perfect sense for those who are tired of forgettable SUV designs.” 

The K5 has a striking visual profile that is hard to miss, while competitors such as the Subaru Legacy have much less in the visually alluring department. Standard variants are powered by a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder that cranks out 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Those on the hunt for more power can look toward the K5 GT, which comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder that is good for 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. 

The more powerful engine will propel you rapidly on up to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, rendering it one of the fastest in its segment. All K5 Trims are equipped with a 10.3-inch infotainment system, in every variant also receives integrated navigation along with rear USB charge ports. The GT-Line was the front-running choice of this testing team, with the added features of LXS-LED foglights and taillights, a power driver seat, the larger 10.3-inch infotainment system, and one-touch up/down front windows. 

Always generating excitement and guaranteed to be a hit with even the moodiest of high schoolers, the Kia K5 is outright sensational, and loaded with college-bound potential!

Motor1.com’s 2024 Kia Sorento Spy Shots Signifies Prototype’s Progress

The Motor1.com team has been dutifully on the move since last September when they spied the refreshed Kia Sorento for the first time, and recently posted on their blog about another group of photos they just collected. This time the promising prototype was secretly spotted with Michigan tags and was also covered in full-body camouflage. It was noted that the front fascia bore vertical headlights more clearly than before, with what appeared to be four separate square projector lenses.

There also appeared to be a new grill design and some potential adjustments to the shape of the bumper. As we mulled over the photos online here at Jim Butler Kia of Saint Louis, we remembered just how awesome publications such as Edmunds.com rendered the 2023 model, as its mix of available performance, quality, and practicality has thoroughly impressed drivers and review professionals alike. The current model is available with four powertrains, with the first star of the show gracing the stage as the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine cranking out 191 horsepower. 

Next up is a turbocharged version of that engine producing 281 horsepower, with the two electrified versions expected to carry over into next year's model year with minimal modifications. The 1.6-liter turbo provides 227 and 261 horsepower collectively with plug-in hybrid and hybrid variants. Since the prototype was still cloaked so heavily in camouflage, this team does not expect a full official debut of the revised Sorrento until summer, and a plausible market launch before the end of 2023. 

With an impressive number of standard and optional features along with plentiful second and third-row legroom, the 2023 Kia Sorento available right now at Jim Butler is one of only a handful of small SUVs on the market that offers a third row. Situated right between the smaller 5 passenger Sportage and the larger three-row Telluride, the Sorento can quite easily squeeze in up to seven passengers if needed. This rental comes equipped with an impressive arrangement of standard features, including wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, lane-keeping assist, and multiple USB charging ports.

The optional turbocharged engine is downright impressive for a smaller-sized SUV, and the sprint up to 60 mph takes just 6.7 seconds. This is nearly three seconds faster than the competing Volkswagen Tiguan, and even a tick faster than the V6-powered Honda Passport. The brand-new HP dual-clutch automatic transmission is capable of very smooth shifts whether you are reluctantly enduring crawling traffic or full-throttle merging. The front seats offer an excellent range of adjustment, heating, and ventilation, with very firm and comfortable captain’s chairs in the second row.

During many expert drive tests, the Sorento was confident, stable, and consistently well-controlled. Passengers will enjoy more legroom in the second row than in competing dedicated two-row SUVs such as the Honda CR-V. The surround-view camera system is one of the best offerings out there to provide help navigating through very tight situations, and no one on board will be lacking device power with eight USB ports along with a wireless charger. With the third row of seating drops, the Sorento offers between 38.5 and 45 cubic feet, depending on how forward the second-row seats are situated. 

The Sorento's towing capacity is 3500 pounds, with the turbocharged engine able to tow around 2,000 lbs. The turbocharged Sorento also does not need premium gasoline and returns an EPA rating of 24 mpg combined. This enthralling yet practical driving experience has been compared to “a lighter version of the Telluride” and remains impressive and versatile in a very crowded segment. John Vincent of U.S News’ car reporting team had the greatest praise an auto reviewer can give a vehicle, as he eventually bought one for himself after thoroughly enjoying his experience!