Kia Archives - Travelgirl

Kia’s Carnival SX Prestige brings prestige and value

travelgirlinc — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:27:46 +0000

In a world where it is easy to get jaded, it’s nice once in a while to have a shock to your system — a pleasant shock, that is. And, that’s exactly what happened when we stepped into the driver’s seat of the 2022 Kia Carnival SX Prestige.
Why a surprise? Well, for starters, we don’t like to think of ourselves as SUV drivers. Even in our soccer mom phase, we didn’t drive an SUV. Plus, they look big and bulky and usually the ride is a slow, uneven one that doesn’t handle well on the highway nor maneuvers around pot holes easily.
   Wrong! Carnival SX Prestige is divine! First off, the styling is a knockout. In fact, at first glance it looked more like an SUV than a minivan with a stylized new front and trim body. This vehicle as an edge that borders on being cool.
   The inside was a dream — all three rows. The front seats were large, comfortable and even opulent with bucket seats in the front and back with beautiful leather interior and cool chrome trim with diamond designs worthy of a New York City loft.
The SX Prestige feels and looks upscale. The seats are large and the 12.3-inch screen gives you all the information you need — and more. We were thrilled with the second row that featured powered captain’s chairs with arm rests and two large televisions. For sleepy kids, the relaxation mode puts the seats in full recline mode and the power foot rests raise up to make the nap even more comfortable.
The family drama of long car rides is made easier and more reassuring to parents by two cool features. The passenger view with night vision allows parent to check on passengers in the two and third rows with ease, even in the night, and the two-way intercom systems allows the front row to communicate with passengers in the other two rows clearly and without distraction, amplifying voices through the speaker system.
The Slide-Flex seating for eight passengers can be refigured in multiple ways, including a sliding second row center seat that, when in the forward most position, lets the front passenger easy access to those in the back. It also turns into a table, perfect for eating. The third row seats fold into the floor, allowing for lots of cargo room. In some models (not the SX Prestige) the second row seats fold down as well.
   The 3.5 liter gas direct injection V6 Engine with 8-speed automatic transmission handled the road like a pro. We felt at home the second we started the engine and thoroughly enjoyed every ride. It maneuver easily around curves, had quick highway acceleration and we didn’t worry once backing out of parking spaces.
The SX Prestige gets 22 miles per gallon combined. The MSP was $46,100 and the one we drove was an additional $495, bring it up to $47,770. Honestly, this SUV is loaded with standard equipment found in the most luxurious cars and it’s worth every cent — and more. kia.com

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Kia Carnival: A Star is Introduced

travelgirlinc — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:48:34 +0000

Kia’s Sedona wasn’t exactly an exciting vehicle, and definitely needed a make-over. And, boy did it get one! The differences are so dramatic that it required a new name — meet the Kia Carnival — and it is full of excitement, energy, technology upgrades and style.
   Yes, the Carnival SX brings a lot to the table with an 8-speed automatic transmission, 290 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, more standard safety features, plenty of upgrades — everything is just better. Really better! This rather bland duck turned into a powerful, beautiful, competitive, stylish swan!
   This beauty can no longer be pegged as a bland minivan. This multi-purpose vehicle (MPF) can go anywhere and be anything! A few of its charms include hands-free Smart Power Liftgate with auto-close, Passenger Talk cabin intercom system (so you can talk to passengers with ease) and dual rear screen entertainment monitors. Another example of its flexibility is that the Carnival’s seating (dubbed “Slide Flex”) allows for multiple configurations, including a sliding second row center, making it easier for those with young children. No kids? Well, the seat can turn into a table for those who need to work from a laptop in the back seat (or do homework).
   A three-row seven- or eight-passenger MPV brings it in terms of refinement, state-of-the art technology and flexibility. It also goes to the head of the class for passenger room space (168,2 cubic feet) and cargo room (145.1 cubic feet behind the first row).
   This beauty can’t be defined or judged against its competitors. It’s in a class by itself.
The Carnival comes in four trim levels, ranging from the LX ($32,100) to the SX-Prestige ($46,100). We drove the SX, which featured surround view monitor, navigation system with 12.3-inch display (with hi res graphics)and Auto Emergency Braking with Junction Turning and Cyclist Detection.
   The ride again is a win. It offers a quiet ride that glided over the highway the way a model does the runway. It knew it was in charge and marvelous. In terms of mileage, it comes around 22 MPG, combined or 19 in the city’ 26 on the highway.
   For those looking for a new vehicle that does it all — and better than most — the Carnival is a must. Props to Kia for doing a total redesign that scores on all points.
www.kia.com

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Sporty Kia GT handles the rugged outdoors as well as intown

travelgirlinc — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:17:38 +0000

Conventional wisdom says when vacationing in the mountains, a mighty four-wheel drive is the ideal vehicle for climbing hills, driving through unpaved back roads and going around curvy roads. Yes, that would be the smart course of action. Or, you could could just bring a sporty car — but it has to be the right one.
   Luckily, we did. The Kia K5 GT performed magnificently. We even had a wayward GPS direct us deep into the North Georgia Mountains on rough terrain and it was great. It rode over the rocks and handled the potholes easily and gave us the confidence to know that we would eventually get back to civilization. We were worried but the car pulled through and saved the day.
   If the Kia K5 GT performed so admirably under the worst conditions, it is simply superb on real roads. The 1.6-L turbo 4-cylinder engine with 8-speed transmission provides ample power for the highway and city street — 290 horsepower, in fact. Going up Amicalola Mountain in north Georgia was a breeze; the engine didn’t falter and was steadfast in its duty. We saw a few other cars struggling —not us!
   This family sedan is hipper, sportier and, dare we say, sexier, than most of its competition. The sedan, formerly known as the Optima, has lots of safety features and infotainment tech, complete with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, (standard is 8-inch) to please everyone. Unlike most sporty sedans, these seats are set higher and quite a few times my head brushed the ceiling. There is 38.4 inches of headroom in the front (which may be a bit of a challenge for someone over six feet) and 37.4 in the rear. Still, the ride is comfortable with red leather sport seats, with both heated and vented front seats. The panoramic sunroof with LED interior lighting brought the outside in and added to our mountain experience.
The 360-degree camera system, power-folding exterior mirrors and front parking sensors were put to good use on our trip, especially the rear cameras with dynamic guidelines, which were clear and showed us exactly how far we had before we fell off the mountain when turning around.
   The car has plenty of room, both for people and gear. The 10.6 cubic inches in the trunk was enough for luggage and supplies.
   The sedan gets 27 miles per gallon combined and starts at $30.490. Ours had a few extras and came in at $35,705. A great deal for a sporty sedan that will please every member of the family — and keep you safe on mountainous country roads as well as on city roads and the highways.

www.kia.com

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Kia Sorento Hybrid EX

Mary Welch — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:35:56 +0000

Every year families search for the perfect family car, and the Kia Sorento Hybrid EX should definitely go on the short list for those searching for a mid-size crossover SUV with power, style and practicality.
This three-row crossover has been redesigned to give more power (227 horsepower) thanks to a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It also has a 44-kilowatt electric motor and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour battery. Together it delivers 39 miles per gallon in the city/35 on the highway and 37 combined; it gets 2.7 gallons per 100 miles. It should be noted that this beats rival hybrid SUVs like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Toyota Venza.
The redesigned crossover also upgraded the multimedia system, put in more standard safety features and made the cabin more comfortable and stylish. Typical safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention warning system, lane keep assist and automatic lane-centering. Among the features on the EV trim are: adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go; panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, wireless charging pad, parking distance warning-forward and front LED fog lamps.
The Sorento is one of Kias best sellers, and it should be. There is a lot of value, especially for its size. You can’t beat the fuel economy, and the ride is smooth and enjoyable. The interior features bright satin finishes and quirky features such as vertical center air vents that shake up the look in just the right way. There are two captain’s chairs in the front and plenty of room for the second row. The third row is a little cramped (especially for adults) but it is a third row, which gives it extra points. Still, there is plenty of storage compartments in each row and putting the second and third seats down, gives you an impressive 38.5 and 45 cubic feet of cargo space.
There are many benefits to the Kia Sorento Hybrid EX — the fuel economy for starters. It is a family-perfect mid-size that offers style, safety and design features and a ride that everyone enjoys. Oh yes, the best part? It starts at $36,500!
www.kia.com

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Kia K5 GT-LINE AWD is a game changer

travelgirlinc — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:40:54 +0000

We don’t know what it is exactly, but every time we drive a Kia, we have the same initial reaction — it’s like driving on air. And, that was certainly the case with the Kia K5 GT-Line AWD, but there is so much more to this amazing mid-size sedan. First off, we are big fans of sedans — period — but this offering is a game changer!
   The K5 was redesigned to make it thinner with a wider front grille. It sort of looks like a grinning cat with its sleek design with dual-chrome exhaust tips. The look is a stunner and gives hints of its power, athleticism and coolness.
   Before we even venture inside, let’s talk about the ride, which as we said was sublime. The all-wheel drive system is front wheel based, the first in any Kia sedan. It has an electro-hydraulic system that brings about a faster response and more precise control. Again, this car is liking driving a flying carpet that would make any genie jealous.
   The comfort level inside was much more akin to a luxury vehicle instead of one that retails for about $30,000. The car features heated front seats with optional 10-way power-adjustable driver seats. The red leatherette seating and satin chrome metallic finishes brought a wanted element of cool. There was plenty of head room for both front seat and rear seats, which boasts 35.2 inches of legroom. We drove this car for several hours at a time and exited it refreshed with our knees not complaining — something that doesn’t always happen, even in larger vehicles.
   This beauty runs on a 180-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5 GT can go from 0.28 seconds faster than the BMW 330i, thanks to its best-in-class 195 lb.-ft-torque. We didn’t clock it ourselves but it did have an amazing acceleration when entering the interstate and passing trucks. It gets 29 miles per gallon combined.
   We especially like the All-Weather Drive, which is available on the all-wheel drive cars, such as this one, the provides all-weather capabilities and enhanced driving performance. For those dealing with icy weather, the “snow” drive mode enhances driver security and all-weather confidence.
   There really is so much to like about this car. It has a seamless infotainment display layout and voice command system so you’re not distracted when driving. The 8-inch touch screen offers high-resolution color that was clear, and we enjoyed the Bose Premium sound system that delivered a rich sound experience.
   Would we purchase this car? You bet! You get a lot — great looks, ample technology and comfort — for an amazing price. The value is incredible and you’re driving a car that looks like a million bucks.
www.kia.com

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