From Dashboard to Dunks: Kia's In-Car NBA Display Themes Elevate Playoff Excitement

The excitement of the NBA is contagious, riveting, and always engaging with fervor! A-list teams such as Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York will be making their spirited way down the courts in this year’s end-of-season spectacle. The Pelicans-Thunder nightcap was surely the game to take note of over the past weekend, and Kia EV9 owners will now be able to personalize their vehicle’s cockpit with their favorite team’s logos and colors. 

This exciting form of self-expression is offered through the Digital Services and Features platform, with the fever-pitch and precise pivoting action of the NBA in mind. The over-the-air updates for Display Themes to EV9 began on April 9, with the driver-facing 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the AVN screen as the prime real estate for personalization. In the future, other Kia vehicles equipped with the Ultramodern Connected Car Concept infotainment system with Digital Features and Services OTA capability are expected to also be able to display these themes. 

Hues such as the iconic red, black, and white of the Chicago Bulls are available with a personalized instrument cluster and infotainment screen, along with the very cool welcome and goodbye videos for select EV9 trims. As the brand we love to provide and service so much here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis has long been committed to offering exciting themes and collaborations, the EV9 has been the first model to officially offer the NBA themes before the other models enjoy this currently court-crazed feature. 

The Kia Connect Stores Digital Features and Services are accessed via the owner’s app or Kia Owner Portal and will feature each team’s emblem and colors for $39.99. Other themes will soon be available, providing owners of great Kia models the chance to display their appreciation for America’s well-performing superstars on the court. Pivoting loudly and determinedly on the court has always been aspirational and nostalgic, as the classic 1986 film “Hoosiers” depicted an Indiana high school team beating the odds and going for the midwestern glory of the state championship. 

Even though the NBA now has a distinctive flair and has undergone a few quite modern advances, many Kia drivers possess the wholehearted admiration of ball players to render these offerings a tech-lover's triumph. Car and Driver claimed that the 2024 EV9 reigns supreme as “one of the first family-friendly EV options” and is thoroughly looking and performing like a slam dunk. It enjoyed a strong showing as an especially amazing driving vehicle in this size category, and an easy choice for their 2024 10 Best Trucks and SUVs. 

The mid-range Wind trim offers a huge value, stepping things up with the all-wheel drive powertrain which cranks out 379 horsepower. There’s an available Boost Mode that pumps up the volume on the peak torque output and provides quicker acceleration. A performance-oriented GT model will be added to the 2025 lineup while offering as much as 576 horsepower. The EV9’s second-row chairs offer the added comfort of heating, ventilation, and massaging. The EV9 also offers a pair of 12.3-inch screens: one for the gauge cluster and a second for infotainment. 

The Edmunds.com auto crew claimed after their test drive that the EV9 delivers “a luxuriously quiet drive and high-quality features that elevate every commute or jaunt alike.” Spacious, with plenty of features, and boasting a quick charge capacity, the 2024 Kia EV9 has proved its ability to have a sweeping and incredibly mesmerizing presence.

Offroading With “SUV-perior confidence:” A First Drive Experience With the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro

The dreadful and boredom-inducing lockdowns are thankfully far behind us here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, and this was when many of our customers curated their appetite for thriving off-road! The 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro joins our illustrious lineup with the upgrades to tackle the trail properly. The Motor Trend group tested this model to see if its upgrades were merely cosmetic, or if they were fit for the demands of deep ruts and loose sand. 

Introduced formally for 2021, the Sorento is built for those who have use for a third row but may feel that the Telluride is just a touch too large for their taste. This year’s model offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, in addition to a 281-horsepower, 311-lb-ft turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 gas engine which resides in the Sorento X-Pro and higher. First on the list of upgrades is a larger and more upright grille, along with nicely-accented LED lights. The cabin now features reshaped air vents and a modernized HVAC control panel, which first made its appearance in the all-electric EV6. 

Most trims roar heartily off the pavement with a 12.3-inch touchscreen that runs the brand’s new ccNC user interface. This provides the very convenient option of over-the-air updates along with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sorento X-Line trim brings about more rugged-looking bumpers, faux skid plates, and 20-inch Continental CrossContact all-season tires. The all-terrain tires that the X-Pro package starts things off with have a tread pattern that is inspired by BF Goodrich’s K02 off-road offerings. 

The 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro comes aggressively swinging at inclement terrain with 8.2 inches of ground clearance, along with a notable towing capacity of 4,500 lbs. This beats out any other Sorento model by 1,000 pounds and is all made possible with upgraded cooling-system hardware. The Motor Trend team embarked on a beautiful and snowy I-70 west to the Rocky Mountains from Denver, where the Sorento fared excellently on roads heavily populated with potholes. The new Trail Terrain tires bit into soggy dirt better than all seasons could, while also providing a good deal of ride comfort while navigating “the normie route” on the pavement. 

The steering response was consistently crisp, and acceleration was peppy even when tried from leftover standing mud. The brake-pedal travel felt adequate while traversing up and down steep inclines, with a superior and consistent buildup of stopping force during your stroke. Once the 8-speed transmission is fully engaged and underway, it takes advantage of the engine’s torque to dole out acceleration that is excellent when held up to any other 3-row family SUV on the market. The driver-assistance features performed flawlessly, and there are useful USB-C ports all over the cabin. 

The interior upholstery is finished in a very nice two-tone leather upholstery, along with a very cool microsuede headliner surrounding the huge moonroof. To properly take on chilly St. Louis winters, the heated steering wheel can comfortably emit two grades of warmth. Concluding that this finished package offers more than just a “meek people mover”, the Motor Trend gang was thrilled with the Sorento’s performance geared to those needing something a bit tougher. The Edmunds.com auto review crew praised the Sorento post-test-drive for its “mix of quality, performance, and practicality, as an enticing option with above-average versatility.”

Heatwave Havoc: Kia EV9 Puts Performance to the Test at Legendary Davis Dam

So many of the world's deserts are intensely barren landscapes, but there are more thriving creatures living here than initially meets the eye. What seems like a very hot and sweltering environment can still see many thriving entities taking up residence, but it is still a habitat that can be quite punishing for any EV. California’s legendary Death Valley can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing chefs of all skill levels to fry eggs on the hoods of their favorite car models! 

Before a vehicle can effectively make it to market, it undergoes extreme testing to make sure that any of a slew of technical malfunctions won't take place. Solid powertrain performance and consistent battery power are two of the most important functions to keep an eye on when you notice a few strange mirages around you in the mix! For customers here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis who love every square inch of their exterior appeal, it also means making sure that the paint job will stand up to the inevitable test of time. 

The Newsweek.com auto review team agreed that guaranteeing on-point handling dynamics and adjusting the ride softness are two important boxes to check while making a vehicle appealing for North American drivers. Managing the way a vehicle performs during heavy load towing is also crucial to a vehicle’s hard-earned credibility badge for extreme temperatures and environments. The group effectively “doubled down” from the city of slots and sleight-of-hand, where the desolate desert sands meet the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas Strip. 

The Kia EV9 was then towed to Bullhead City, Arizona, where the quite notable Davis Dam presides in the sun as one of the world’s most effective trailering test sites. As the review team cooled off, they let the EV9 soak in heat that was much more than 100 degrees! This ensured that all the electronics, high-tech driving aids, and suspension needed to perform under conditions gnarly enough to make people think twice about their model’s durability. It was now time to simulate a common yet very telling scenario in the very dry and consistent heat. 

As the battery had to crank out the juice in the type of climate that is fit for coyotes, desert sidewinders, and desert cottontails, it was now time to assess whether the climate control could effectively keep occupants comfortable. The Edmunds.com review team praised the 2024 Kia EV9 for being, “An excellent choice for families who are ready to transition into the electric realm, without having to compromise on anything.” Fast charging stations will get the battery from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes, which means you can spend much more time driving and less time waiting on long family trips. 

The GT-Line blasted up to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, an incredible stat for an EV this large. For the small children along for the ride, the EV9 has LATCH anchors and a rear tether top for each seat. Build quality, amenities, and quality of materials render the EV9 a commendable value when stacked up against other vehicles in its segment. Any new vehicle owner will also enjoy free fast charging to the tune of up to 1,000 kilowatt-hours on the Electrify America network. One verified reviewer who had just driven her new EV9 from San Diego to the mountains for a snow weekend claimed it was, “Amazing on every level, with an interior quality that made for an ideal and comfortable experience.”

Decoding Sleek-Spec Distinction: 2025 Kia K4 vs. K5 – Which Sedan Steals the Show?

In 2021, here at Jim Butler Kia of St. Louis, the Kia Optima was replaced by the very sleek and stylish K5! The Motor Trend group was trilled with the K5's 2025 refresh and went straight to work on the blog with an informative and long-form comparison between it and the K4. The new Kia K4 is arriving on deck to smartly replace the Forte, which will be available in both hatchback and sedan variants. 

Price point, performance, interior quality, and tech features were all considered during this detailed look at the pair. For size consideration and spec-driven starters, the K4 is smaller than the K5. The K4’s compact persona somewhat resembles the Honda Civic, while the K5 is in the same size category as competitors such as the Honda Accord. The K4 measures 185.4 inches overall in length, with the K5 coming in formidably at 193.1 inches long. The K4 appeals to many based on its best-in-class second-row headroom and legroom, while the two models vary slightly on truck space as well. 

The Kia K4 is working with 14.6 cubic feet of trunk space, with the K5 arriving and ready to go with 15.6 cubic feet of space. Since the K4 will be offered as a five-door hatchback, this option would present more cargo capacity than either of the pair. The K4 has more legroom than the outgoing Forte, but slightly less trunk space and headroom. While some drivers see performance as a predominant concern, some are understandably after every extra inch they can acquire for the journey. 

The K4’s powertrains are essentially identical to those in the Forte, equipped with a 2.0-liter inline-four that cranks out 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. This juice is sent to the front wheels by a CVT automatic, with AWD not currently available as an option. Fuel economy is expected to reside at 23-26/33-37 mpg, which will ultimately depend on configuration type. Both the K5 and K4 offer the option of a turbocharged upgrade, with the K4 GT-Line’s number being the 1.6-liter inline-four that cranks out 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. 

This is the same powertrain used in the Forte GT, existing with just slightly lowered stats from its previous 201 horsepower. The K5 GT is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbo inline 4 which cranks out 290 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque using an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. During the Motor Trend team’s official testing, the K5 blasted from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. In higher-end trim levels, both models are appealing to the currently very screen-crazed public with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster.

The brand-new ccNC user interface made its debut in the EV9 and is much more responsive and user-friendly than the outgoing system. Entry-level versions of both models will get 4.2-inch digital displays, and all versions will feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the premium-level tech features on the K4 and K5 will set the driver up nicely with a 360-degree camera, premium speakers, and phone-as-key capability.

The final thoughts for anyone interested in either of these two conclude that the K4 may cost a bit less and boast a bit more legroom while offering the convenience of a hatchback’s stance. The Kia K5 exists as more of a competent-and-clean midsize sedan, with more cargo space and undoubtedly more powerful engines. We hope you stop by to visit us this spring here at Jim Butler Kia, where this progressive and polished pair will soon be available for spirited test drives! Our experienced sales and service professionals are standing by to introduce you to the thrill and benefits of Kia ownership.