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!

Autoblog Praises Kia Niro PHEV For “Striking Just the Right Balance” In the Hybrid Realm

This past week, the well-informed and high-mile gleaned staff of Autoblog penned down some material about the eco-friendly and feature-filled PHEV, which is a vehicle that is oh-so-easy to be affectionate about. Many out there are searching for a vehicle that in all ways screams “normal”, and we can definitely relate to the fact that many who have been bitten by the Prius bug may be perpetually bored by their choice. Autoblog celebrated the way in which there is not a lagging throttle response, that will immediately hamper drive ability, and heartily contributes to the plausible 49 mpg rating.

One thing the gang from Autoblog lamented is that the Sport mode is “perfect for  the moments when you want a little zest from your plug-in hybrid”, and that at the end of the day, this is one incredibly efficient vehicle. Not “looking like a slug” as other hybrids do makes it automatically more viable than others, and all of us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis are adamant about its value and usefulness. Cargo capacity was ranked standout by the publication as well, and the 19.4 feet of available space behind the back seat is more functional since its boxier. Anyone looking to see exactly what type of passenger space is available, may be pleasantly surprised to see that a pair of 6-footers should be able to fit both front and back.

Many customers need the SUV body style to get what they want, and as the reviewers note here, it meets the “errand-getting, fuel-sipping urban runabout M.O. Of a plug-in hybrid without being weird, annoying, or depressing”. One important draw for buyers is what the analysts at Car and Driver deemed “Pounds without a Penalty”: due to the extra off-the-line surge provided by the more powerful electric motor, the added extra 177 pounds allow the Niro to greatly improve upon its dynamic character. Feeling more stable and planted on rough roads is the name of the game, and the six-speed dual-clutch automatic does the job at hand well.

The interior features the very clean and ergonomic dashboard with easy-to-use  infotainment controls, and buttons as well as knobs that are arranged logically. Come to visit us soon, and see how the EX Premium model is one of the best-equipped hybrids in the business: an 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, heated and cooled front seats as well as a heated steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control make for a great package as far as features are concerned. There's a lot to love here: as an excited new owner of a Niro, you are not only lessening your footprint on the planet, but showing others that you lead by example with your daily driving choice. Priced right for anyone who is looking to add the best in a conscious car to their regimen, the Niro is a step forward for times when doing so matters the most!

2019 Soul Spotted Traversing Through The Rocky Mountain Region

 Here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, any up-close look available of upcoming vehicles gets a large amount of our attention, and pretty quickly at that! It was back in February when the ice scrapers were making their daily rounds about the lot here, when we got our first sneak peak at the upcoming Kia Soul. Cloaked in heavy camo and testing in the snow, that first encounter gave us quite a few photos, but we have not seen the nimble and very eco-conscious crossover much since then. TFLnow on YouTube came upon a prototype enjoying a pleasant blast of warmer weather in Colorado. Since there was no snow in the footage, it seems the sighting was quite recent.

The footage looks to be gleaned from Silverthorne, a town that looks like the setting   of a picturesque model railroad. Since the camo wrap was gone from the fenders, the sculptured body lines on both the door and fender are revealed more clearly, as well as a very close look at the new front clip beneath the covers. There is a new stacked headlight design that is shown more clearly through this as well, on top of LED tail lights that wrap around onto the hatch in a well-woven dramatic stackup.

 From these photos, it's a bit tricky to tell what kind of powertrain exists beneath the outer skin will finally be offered as an option with front-wheel drive serving as the base platform. There may be a turbocharged option on deck for all-wheel drive, and all of us here have appreciated just how far under wraps we were able to keep details of the new model. A full reveal will possibly take place in November at the L.A. Auto Show, or perhaps early next year in Detroit. This is a vehicle that has truly given drivers an excellent gift that “came in a box”, and the form and factor lives on, even after its original release 5 years ago.

It's the staunch new model that the Car and Driver staff lovably deemed  “funkadelic”  and popular after test driving this year's model, and the practical tall hatch/small crossover will lure many buyers in markets just like ours where customers frequently require all-wheel-drive. It has also truly been one of the true ambassadors of our brand, and one that we admit is sometimes even a more solid example of what we can produce and lay our namesake to than our beloved Stinger sport tourer. If recent news events regarding Eco-conscious issues have swayed you as they should, there are also rumors that a hybrid or plug-in hybrid variant may be added to the range. There are a lot of choices out there right now for those that want a truly dependable, durable, and budget-friendly SUV: come down for a test drive of the Soul soon, and see how the precise engineering of tomorrow will benefit you today.

J.D. Power Awards Highest Ranking to Kia Sorento for Powertrain Quality, Overall Design

This year's Kia Sorento has been widely praised for its engine offerings, handling, and design for months now. Every time a customer asks us here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis about what types of recognition various models have been receiving out there in the world of reviews and media, we always are delighted to “get our bragging rights on” as far as that goes. The engine offerings on this year's Sorento include a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, that makes 240 horsepower, and resides just between the 4 and 6 cylinder engines in the lineup, offering up stellar power without a huge ding in the fuel economy department.

The base option 4-cylinder is a 2.4-liter unit that creates 185 horsepower, while the more powerful V6 is capable of cranking out 3.3 liters, and makes a full 290 horsepower. All three engines offer the option of a 6-speed transmission, and all-wheel drive is an option across the entire lineup, minus the entry-level L models. One of the best attributes about the V6 Sorento is its fuel rating: at 18 mph in the city it is the true definition of an Eco-friendly keeper, and 4-cylinder models without all-wheel drive can achieve up to 29 mpg on the highway.

Coming out triumphantly as “Among the Best” in the midsize SUV rating category, design, powertrain quality, as well as body and interior quality, you can be confident that coming down to check out the sporty SX trim yields you even bigger 19-inch wheels, as well as a blind-spot detection system with rear cross traffic alert, a ThinFilm Technology instrument cluster, and sunshades in the rear seat to protect passengers from the ever-present glare on I-70, and beyond. There is nothing quite as luxurious as the feel of a Napa leather seating surface, as well as a ventilated seat, and these are just two of the amenities offered with the top-of-the-line SX Limited Trim.

Car and Driver deemed the Sorento this year as “a solid three-row player with impressive flexibility”, and was very impressed with the Cool and Connected Package. Here you are allotted dual-zone climate control, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As the dog days of summer continue with their massive amounts of heat and sunshine, ask us how you can cruise around in cool contentment with the best in tunes: the Infinity premium 10-speaker audio system will leave you in flat-out beats connoisseur's awe. Safety technology can add impressive automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning with the Advanced Technology package. The all-wheel-drive system that ups towing capacity to 5000 pounds is ideal for anyone with a hefty haul coming up, and helps the Sorento claim its turf right alongside the wildly active Lake-and-campfire crew!

Automobile Mag Takes 2019 Optima SX and Sorento SKL on Respective Spins

The experienced team at the Automobile blog took the journey to visit the plant that the Optima and Sorento are manufactured in this past week, about an hour's drive south of the Atlanta metro area. Looking to gain some insight on handling, performance, and elements of consumer appeal, they were eager to get their hands on both of these cars for a thorough testing. When you are first coming into a city after a flight and exiting the baggage claim, it doesn't matter how many brand-new models you have driven as an auto review specialist: that initial post-flight jaunt is all-telling. Suspension, steering attributes, and safety features are all going to be scrutinized heavily by any seasoned veteran weaving their way out from a busy transportation hub. 

The fully-loaded 2019 Kia Sorento SX-Limited V-6 was the car of choice for the drive, with 19-inch alloys, rain-sensing windshield wipers, stainless steel pedals, and premium Nappa leather seat trim with ventilated front seats, second-row heated outboard seat cushions, heated steering wheel and LED headlights, as well as daytime running lights. An 8-speed automatic is brand new on V-6 powered '19 Sorentos, with a revised six-speed on the 4-cylinder versions. The team at Automobile appreciated the revised instrument cluster and two-way lumbar support right off the bat, as well as being quick on acceleration for the typical cluster and lane-changing needs on the highway.

 The Kia plant in Georgia can build up to 360,000 cars per year in any type of mix, and it is not at all difficult for them to switch between sedan and SUV production. The Automobile staff definitely thought the line workers were friendlier here than many other plants they had visited, and had a sense of amiable and approachable demeanor that was authentic. From the skyscrapers of the Detroit area to other production hubs such as Ohio, there have been ripples of all types of emotion over the last decade, and the workers here in Georgia have a happiness and sense of contentment that is reassuring in a still-somewhat-unstable climate.

The 2019 Kia Optima SX 2.0T was driven by the team in twisty, hilly country roads in western Georgia, and they thought that it was a solid and fun-to-drive mid-size sedan. The 18-inch alloys provided a compliant and smooth ride, and the predictable sense of linear steering was ranked as above satisfactory. Launching out of tight corners with the 245-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four was a cinch, and the amount of existing lag was deemed perfect. Stinger-inspired front-and rear-fascias are also a nice visual plus, and UVO link with navigation can easily come to the rescue. We hope that you visit us at Jim Butler to check out just how awesome both of these rides are: a growing family, young entrepreneur, or anyone moving into a new phase of life will be well-versed and ready for four-lane victory with either of these current models.

Kia Nabs Fourth Consecutive Year of Highest Ranked Mass Market Brand From J.D. Power

When a customer is reviewing reasons to purchase a vehicle that will be perfect for them and their family in the long run, many people don't realize that the “short run” within the first 90 days of ownership is also so very important! During the first three months that a car is driven, this is when the true initial attachment to the vehicle is made, and longstanding opinions regarding recommending the purchase to others are solidified. Just last week, it was made evident once again that Kia owners reported fewer issues within the first 90 days of ownership than all other non-luxury car and truck brands in the United States.

After ranking the highest in the entire industry in 2016 and 2017, Kia's reported problem levels are still unchanged, deeming us once again as situated in the top mass-market automaker spot. The Sorento SUV and Rio subcompact models were both at the top of their respective segments, and the Optima, Sportage, and Sedona placed second in their respective segments. Every single car that Kia builds is a symbol of world-class quality and craftsmanship, and every employee here at Jim Butler Kia is proud of the progression and focus on performance the brand has displayed as of late.

The report came to its conclusion by analyzing responses from 75,712 respondents,  using 240 different vehicle models across 26 segments. Qualities evaluated were driving experience, the performance of transmission and engine, and a large range of various quality issues as they were reported by knowledgeable vehicle owners. There is nothing quite as frustrating as signing a lease or outright purchase, getting used to the daily drive in a new vehicle, and all of a sudden encountering car trouble. Knowing this full well, our brand takes great pride in being the top contender for the quality study, a measure of how much true satisfaction can stem from Kia ownership.

We invite you to heat things up this summer with a visit to us to check out great vehicles such as the Rio: testers from Car and Driver were greatly pleased with its performance on the brick-paved streets of Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood, and very quiet performance during highway travel. Customer after customer has been won over by the budget-minded output of Kia in general: we are known to be a brand that takes into consideration the economics of the time, and offering the absolute best in auto quality for a sensible price. 

Cars.com heaped on the praise for our beloved Kia Sportage, claiming heaps of love for its performance with turbocharged engine, accurate steering, and incredibly comfortable backseat. Ergonomics, safety, and reliability are great reasons to fall in love with a car, and Kia is happy to once again roll off the lot with killer qualities highlighted in each and every single model!

2018 Kia Niro Boasts Top Safety Pick+ Award From Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Many of our satisfied customers here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis have told us constantly that high safety rankings are one of the top reasons they pick our brand. Every time you pull out of the driveway on a new journey, the knowledge that you are behind the wheel of a car that ranks among the best in the world can bring about an amazing sense of peace, no matter how demanding your itinerary. The 2018 Kia Niro recently snagged the honors for the highest award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Introduced for the 2017 model year, the Niro has earned stellar marks across the board, with the latest success being the passenger-side small overlap front test.

The Niro Plug-in Hybrid is also included in these new crashworthiness ratings, and the entire system avoided collisions in 12 mph and 25 mph IIHS track tests. The included forward collision warning component meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria, further solidifying it as a great choice for any growing family or professional with a four-laned and frantic daily jaunt. In order to qualify successfully as a Top Safety Pick+ award-winner, a vehicle needs to have “good” ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests, on top of an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test.

The current Niro is known as a model that is a family-friendly 4-door hatchback, with the bragging rights to outstanding fuel economy. One of the absolute most efficient in its class, it has a combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 50 mpg, and can drive for 26 miles total on electricity alone. Kia has really listened closely to the needs of hybrid shoppers as of late, who will love the hatchback versatility, and attention to detail taken while crafting a very modern and eye-catching design. This year, the Kia added the Plug-in Hybrid model to the Niro lineup, and Lane Keep Assist was included on board to replace Kia's Lane Departure Warning system.

Come down and spend time with us for a test drive at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, and check out the top-of-the-line Niro Touring trim level: the Advanced Tech Package is now included with all of these models. EX models receive a new Electromatic rearview mirror, that keeps glare down for you when you need a quick look at what's going on in lanes behind you. As the reviewers at Kelley Blue Book stated, the Niro is “Athletic and feels light on its feet, with a welcome agility”. Don't forget to check out Sport Mode: this is where you get to enjoy much better throttle response, tightened steering, and the 6-speed automatic transmission offers up quicker action. With a techie yet slightly more rugged appearance than the Prius, the Niro is slated to win over St Louis drivers with outstanding efficiency, and its ability to nail down 43 miles per gallon!