Forbes Describes 2019 Kia K900 As “Luxury-end Confident, Leaving Little Left to Want”

Kia has long been a brand that has been known for cars packed with value, and features that have a more clever and funky flavor than the competition. Christopher Teague of the very prominent and front-running Forbes Magazine recently spent a week with it, and immediately claimed that there is very “little to differentiate this car from many of its European counterparts”. Beginning by stating that it is an amazingly solid entry into the executive sedan segment, but buyers will also be laughing all of the ways to the bank with the money they save.

Christopher admitted that the overall design doesn't necessarily take heavy risks, but the function-over-form shape conveys the brand's confidence in their full-size sedan. The trademark “Clenched teeth” grille was dialed back a bit for this car, and he is right in stating that the buttoned-up profile works quite well. Once inside, the steering wheel is covered in leather and wood, and feels prominently high-dollar. It is also fairly noted that there are many times a big difference between a car's specs on paper, and how it actually feels when you put your foot down, and the verdict here was firmly attested that the K900 does not disappoint from either standpoint.

Sporting a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, you wonder just how the K900 will behave when you really bury your foot into it. Chris definitely reflected that “it's a very short leap into varying levels of irresponsible speed, and the car maintains its composure the whole time”. Even though breakneck speed is not ultimately the core value of the K900, it's nice to know the power is there when you want it. The treacherous potholes of the already cracked roads in New England couldn't come close to foiling the K900's AWD, electronically-controlled suspension, and torque vectoring.

Kia's UVO infotainment system is widely-known throughout the auto industry as being one of the absolute best, and the apps in use are segmented in a way that makes it easy to see elements such as music and navigation collectively in one place. Chris also makes the claim that if someone blindfolded you and sat you down in the K900, it would be hard to not believe you were sitting in a classic German luxury sedan. Very deep front seats that are well-padded and 20-way power adjustable seat on the driver's side make even the longer of journeys conquered with ease, and truly evoke the sense of stepping out for a formal celebration. With brands such as Ford and GM easing up on their luxury sedan production, Kia strives to fill a gap that some who are going crazy over crossover SUV's have simply stopped giving the appropriate attention.

2019 Kia Sorento Billed By Cars.com as “Versatile as it Gets”

It can be said without a doubt that SUV's definitely have to be well-rounded to keep their stately perch after they earn one in today's market. Some may mistakenly think that since the genre is so popular, that any thrown-together and beta-tested finished product can fare well in the marketplace. But we agree as the review staff from Cars.com said in a recent article, “myriad strengths” need to let a model stand out from the competition. Safety features, comfort, and technology were the areas that the Sorento really won them over with.

One of the biggest changes for 2019 is a third row that is now standard on all trim levels, along with some styling update on the exterior, small tweaks to the interior, and a new eight-speed automatic transmission paired with the optional V-6. Trims to select from are L, LX, EX, SX, and SX Limited. The class that it is designed to do battle in included the Honda Pilot, Chevy Traverse, and the Cars.com Best of 2018 award winner, the Volkswagen Atlas. If you ask all of us here on staff at Jim Butler what some of our favorite features on the Sorento are, we will tell you the grille: it's always prominent and very characteristic when one is rolling up!

The testing team got to make use of an SX Limited, by way of the larger of the two available engines. This is the 3.3-liter V6 that cranks out 290 horsepower, and 252 lb-ft of torque. It is the standard engine on the EX and SX trims, and optional on the LX. The lower engine option is a 2.4- Liter inline four that generates 185 horsepower, and is still going to get you through the daily drive with plenty of spunk and vigor. The dedicated drive squad also said that the V-6 definitely “pours on power easily,” avoids the over-assisted feeling you get from other electric power steering setups. It gels well with the suspension, and gives the Sorento a ride that is comfortable as well as a very-well planted driving experience.

After you experience a test drive for yourself, you will notice how surprisingly quiet the cabin is: wind, tire, and road noise simply are not an issue during the drive. Fuel economy ratings have gone up for this year, as the new 8-speed transmission helps to add 2 mpg combined over last year's V-6. It is now EPA-rated at 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD, and 19/24/21 mpg with AWD in action. The Sorento boasts a multimedia system that has standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the menus and controls have a very straightforward feel and presentation. Ask us how value is one really amazing trait that shines through after closely examining the features of the Sorento: all competing vehicles in this category are undercut by nearly $4,000, and this vehicle rides with a luxurious enough stance that it stacks up easily against the top trims of its opponents!

2016 Sorentos at St. Louis KIA Dealer Receive NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating

Durable, top safety-rated KIA CUVs available at Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley

The 2016 Sorento now has the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-star rating to go along with its IIHS Top Safety Pick from earlier this year.

The CUV and small SUV market is booming, and families across the country are taking a flier on this popular segment. With its top safety awards, St. Louis families looking for a new CUV should head to Jim Butler KIA in Chesterfield Valley and check out our 2016 KIA Sorento selection.

The 5-star rating from the NHTSA is the top tier a vehicle can earn its way into. For 2016, the Sorento has an improved platform. The unit-body consists of 53-percent Advanced High Strength Steel, a 115 percent increase over the previous model. This extra steel makes the Sorento more durable and stiffer than ever.

“Meant for customers with active lifestyles, Sorento is the perfect getaway vehicle for adventurers and families on the go, and they can feel confident knowing their vehicle scored a 5-star NHTSA rating,” Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning at KMA, said.

However, it’s not just the body of the Sorento that’s seen an improvement in the past year. The 2016 Sorento combines a strong base with additional design improvements to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and provide a comfortable and quiet interior environment.

Jim Butler Kia in Chesterfield Valley has a wide selection of 2016 Sorentos to choose from including some with all-wheel drive. The 2016 Sorento is bred for adventure and has three engines (2.4-liter inline-4, turbocharged 2.0-L inline-4 and 3.3-L V6) across eight trims with a long list of features that make for an outstanding family vehicle or the “perfect getaway” vehicle for a camping weekend.

To learn more about the 2016 Sorento, call us today at 888-392-6606. As your St. Louis Kia dealer, we invite you to check out the Sorento in person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler Kia, you can make your Sorento purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, MO, and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights Kia dealer.

Search Jim Butler KIA's 2016 Sorentos!

Kia Unveils Trail’ster Electric All-wheel Drive CUV Concept

Off-road enthusiasts in St. Louis will soon have a new best friend as Kia Motors America (KMA) debuted its newest concept at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show — an electric, all-wheel drive CUV dubbed the Trial’ster. Those who live in urban areas but also want a vehicle that can handle their off-road fun now have an eco-friendly vehicle to fit their needs.

As it is based on the Kia Soul design, the Trail’ster’s look may not exactly scream rugged like other traditional off-road vehicles, but its rear axle-mounted electric all-wheel-drive system provides surefootedness in the wild. Also, it is two-and-a-half inches higher than the standard Soul. Along with all of that, the Trail’ster has aluminum skidplates around the entire vehicle to protect the undercarriage from jagged rocks.

The exterior is highlighted by a stylish full-length fully retractable, weatherproof rollback canvas roof to create an open-sky environment. Integrated roof rack fittings with aluminum cross rails allow owners to take easily their mountain bikes, snowboards or whatever they need for their outdoor fun.

The interior was inspired by the outdoor and cold weather gear that those who purchase one of these vehicles in the future wear. The focal point of this interior is a tactile and sturdy center console with its AWD controls and a bright red ignition button. The floor mats feature aluminum inlays for all-weather traction. As the Trail’ster is based on the Soul, there is plenty of space for passengers and cargo to boot.

Under the hood, the compact CUV is primarily powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine outputting 185 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. This is matched to an electric all-wheel-drive system on the rear axle. The electric propulsion system draws energy from a 1.2 kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery powering a 27 kW, 270 volt AC synchronous permanent magnet electric motor to bring the total power to 220 HP and 285 lb.-ft. of torque.

Stay tuned to Jim Butler Kia in Chesterfield Valley’s blog for more details and information on the Trail’ster.

While those in St. Louis wait eagerly for this concept to become a reality, Jim Butler Kia in St. Louis has a selection of 2015 Kia Souls in our inventory. To learn more about the award-winning Kia Soul, call us today at 888-392-6606. As your St. Louis Kia dealer, we invite you to check out the Soul in person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler Kia, you can make your Soul purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, Mo., and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights Kia dealer.

Check out our 2015 Soul inventory!