Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc

Our Company

On March 13, 2006, KIA Motors America (KMA), KIA's sales and marketing company in U.S.A , and the State of Georgia executed the Site Acquisition and Development Agreement, which announced plans to construct a $1 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant on 2,259 acres of land in West Point, Ga., the first plant for Kia in North America.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) was officially incorporated on Oct. 10, 2006 and 10 days later the groundbreaking for the facility was held on Oct. 20.

"We take pride in how far we've come, creating a foothold in the American market, including our first U.S. manufacturing plant -- Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia -- currently under construction in West Point, Georgia," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of Kia Motors America and KMMG. "The state-of-the-art plant will begin producing new Kia vehicles in fall 2009, and at full capacity it will have the capability to manufacture 300,000 vehicles annually. This project is the largest in history for the State of Georgia and is already having a positive impact on the economy. When the plant goes online KMMG will have created 2,500 jobs for which we have already received more than 43,000 applications; additionally, as many as another 6,000 jobs will be created by various plant suppliers."

The 43,000+ applications were received in just 30 days, a number that set new automotive benchmarks for both the quantity of applicants during the allotted timeframe and because they were all received online.

"The numbers are truly remarkable," says Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration for KMMG. "These applicants are educated and experienced, truly demonstrating the quality of Georgia's workforce. Georgia and its neighboring states have a prepared, educated and experienced workforce ready to build the future."

Currently, KMMG is in the process of hiring salaried and operating team members who will be building Kia's next generation Sorento. Kia is searching for team members who will help reinforce its commitment to sell innovative, high-quality vehicles at affordable prices when production begins in November of 2009.

Construction at the plant is expected to be finished early in 2009. Test vehicles are scheduled to begin production in March of that same year. During the testing phase, vehicles will be examined for quality prior to mass production later in the year.

Kia enters full-size SUV segment with all-new 2009 Borrego

The 2009 Borrego is offered in LX, EX and Limited trims. Two- and four-wheel drive systems are available, and both can be had with either V6 or V8 power. Prices range from $26,995 for the LX V6, 4x2, to $33,745 for the EX V8 4x4.

Borrego has a function-first, no-nonsense look about it, befitting a big SUV. The upright lines are beveled at the corners and capped with a wide, chrome grille. Size-wise, Borrego stretches 192.3 inches long. It is both longer and wider than class contemporaries like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevy TrailBlazer or Toyota 4Runner.

One disadvantage that Kia faces in coming to market now is that they run into a different set of expectations. Years ago, SUVs were more truck-like on the inside. But, in the boom years for big SUVs, buyers became conditioned to expect more, and the interiors on some higher-end SUVs started to rival luxury cars in terms of content and refinement.

The bar that Borrego has to vault has therefore been raised by the competition. Kia's response is a strong one. All trim levels have standard three-row seating. Up front, the driver takes in a clean, legible layout of gauges, framed by a meaty, four-spoke steering wheel. Controls in the main aren't hard to figure out or operate.

Interiors are predominantly plastic, so the trick for the designer becomes breaking things up with different colors and textures and Borrego does pretty well with this.

Visibility is generally good in all directions. Inboard storage includes molded door pockets; glove box; a main, covered, center console bin; and small trays and cubbyholes. Big items go in the way-back, where Borrego offers an either/or choice for storage typical of three-seat SUVs.

When all rows are full of passengers, there's not much room left over for gear (12.4 cubic feet). However, both the second and third row seats fold nearly flat forward when not required for passengers, and so stowed, they expand cargo capacity to as much as 97.6 cubic feet.

The back row is comfortable for kids and can even hold an adult or two for the short run. Row two is suitable for any size, and the available rear seat entertainment package ($1,500 on EX level) will keep the troops occupied on trips.

Both engine choices offer more power than any previous Kia product. The 3.8-liter V6 produces a class-competitive 276 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The V8 packs 337 horsepower and 323 pound-feet under hood. The V6 is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V8 gets a six-speed auto.

EPA rates the six at 17 miles per gallon city, 21 highway (4x2), 16/21 mpg (4x4). With the V8, you can expect 15/22 mpg (4x2) and 15/20 mpg (4x4). Towing capability reaches 5,000 pounds with the V6, while V8 models are rated at 7,500 pounds. The available 4WD system is a full-time, on-demand setup.

Integrated onboard electronics (ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control) work in concert to help the driver maintain control. While not aimed at rock climbers, Borrego is certainly capable of light off-roading. Undercarriage skid plates are standard equipment. So are Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control. The former prevents rollback when starting up a steep incline, while the latter helps maintain a controlled, steady pace on steep downhill grades.

Borrego is a solid SUV, worthy of careful consideration. Its biggest challenge isn't matching up with its competition as much as it is dealing with demands of selling in a rough, big truck market.

© Motor Matters, 2008
Dan Lyons

Tribune Review: 2008 Kia Amanti

What it is: The Amanti is Kia's flagship sedan which is aimed at the buyer who wants a luxury ride without the luxury price tag. An all-new model was released in 2007, and the 2008 model is identical. Kia has tried their hardest to gain credibility in the minds of America, and they are backing it with a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty on all of their vehicles. With styling cues borrowed heavily from Mercedez Benz, from the front it could easily be mistaken for an E-class. My model was equipped with several additional features including Electronic Stability Package ($500 and should be standard), Leather Package ($2,500), Premium package ($1,600) and power sunroof ($900). The options provide moderate value and I feel that they could all be priced 10-20 percent lower for what you are getting.

Upsides: The 3.8L V6 provides 264hp which provides plenty of spirited acceleration. The car is extremely quiet and provides a wonderfully smooth drive on the freeway. Interior room is plentiful and the Amanti provides tons of storage in the trunk.

Downsides: No navigation available, and the upgraded Infinity sounds system (only packaged with the Leather-seating group) is nothing special. They sacrificed handling for a comfier ride quality, and they may have gone a little over the line. If you like a sporty ride, then this probably isn't the car for you. The 264 horses come at a price as the car is rated at 17mpg city and 24mpg highway. There is no in port even with the upgraded stereo. It befuddles me when car manufacturers continue to leave this feature out.

Cost: Base price is $25,495. As tested (fully loaded) is $30,995.

Final word: The Amanti shines the most when you are in the passenger seat. You get to enjoy the smooth ride without having to pay for the gas or have your friends raise their eyebrows at you purchasing a $30,000 Kia. Kia has come a long way, and the Amanti is proof they have made great strides in the car segment. Versus a Honda or Toyota this car really shines but when comparing to a Mercedes or BMW it can't yet compete.

Wilson Calvert
© 2008 Ourtribune.com

Kia Goes Tow to Tow

The new leader in towing capacity in the mid-size SUV segment surprisingly doesn't wear a badge from Detroit or Japan. With a whopping 7,500 pound tow rating, the new Kia Borrego is a shot across the bows of other vehicles in this segment, once defined by the Ford Explorer. And although Kia is entering this segment at a time of reduced demand, the Borrego offers best-in-class fuel economy, on top of significant towing ability, reason enough for us to take a look.

In a first for the South Korean automaker, the Borrego is offered with a V8 engine, which puts out a class-leading 337 horsepower, about 45 more than a Ford Explorer. Mating this power plant to a six-speed automatic yields EPA-estimated fuel economy of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the 2WD version and 15/20 for the 4WD.

On our test drive through the plains and mountains of Colorado, our V8, 4WD version of the Borrego ran 283 miles on just over 13 gallons of gasoline, averaging better than 21 mpg. The six-speed transmission shifts seamlessly while accelerating, and while cruising the flat and wide open highways near Denver, the Borrego hummed along at 75 mpg at just 2,00 rpm, thanks to that sixth gear. However, it does take a firm push on the gas to get the Borrego to downshift when climbing those big hills to the west, which probably also helps keep the fuel economy high.

The ride is firm, as you would expect from a body-on-frame constructed vehicle. Kia took pains to build a lighter, stiffer vehicle using a hydraulic forming process to build the frame. It has paid off on the fuel economy side of the equation.

Inside the Borrego offers seating for seven passengers with a fold-down, third row of seats in the far back. Our test model held four adults comfortably. As with the third-row seating options in many SUVs and crossovers, the distance from the seat to the floor boards is limited to the thickness of the seat itself--these are best reserved for kids or people with lots of cartilage left in their knees.

With the third row up, the cargo volume is 12.4 cubic feet, but with both the third and second row folded down, it expands to 97.6 cubic feet.

Kia offers the full range of electronics and luxury items buyers have come to expect in their SUVs, including in-dash navigation system with integrated controls for everything from the satellite radio to your iPod. The touch-screen navigation system became easy to use with just a little practice. Entering specific addresses or searching for points of interest is best done before you set off unless you have a passenger.

We did find some quirks in the navigation system. For example, while it easily found our tiny little motel complex on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park through the points of interest search, we couldn't find the listing for Denver International Airport in the same fashion. Only after navigating to the airport by selecting it as a waypoint visually using the map screen did we discover that the airport had been listed in the GPS's database, but under its official name, Jeppesen Terminal.

In addition to the touch screen system, the Borrego features a backup safety sensor that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects behind you that you can't see. A warning beep tells you when you get too close. The side mirrors also tilt down automatically when you shift into reverse, giving you a better view of the ground to the rear of the vehicle so you won't back into curbs.

The Borrego includes a litany of standard safety equipment such as front, side, three-row curtain and driver's knee airbags (V8 only) and an extensive alphabet soup list of traction, braking, stability and other control systems. While we thankfully did not need the stability system or ABS, we did play with the Downhill Brake Control (DBC) coming down the mountains on I-70 West. Keeping a steady speed rolling down those steep grades was simple with the Borrego's automatic transmission in manual mode. Simply selecting second or third gear kept the speed in check. On really steep grades in second gear, the DBC would kick in for additional braking power.

Overall, we found the Borrego a worthwhile addition to the short list of vehicles capable of pulling 7,500 pounds while carrying seven people.

Michael Vatalaro
Boat U.S. Magazine

Kia Motors America and AutoTrader.com Partner tp Showcase New Vehicle Classifieds

New Vehicle Dealer Inventory Available on Largest Online Classified Automotive Web Site

# Partnership expected to assist in increased vehicle and dealer inquiries by consumers
# Information on all new Kia vehicles will be easily accessible

IRVINE, Calif., October 22, 2008 - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced it is teaming up with AutoTrader.com, the nation's leading online classified automotive Web site, to add Kia dealers' new vehicle inventory to the classified listings on the site. Among the first manufacturers to provide this new car feed, the nearly 15 million unique visitors on AutoTrader.com will have access to all new vehicle inventories of Kia dealers nationwide.

"As one of the first manufacturers to provide this kind of information online, this new partnership with AutoTrader.com demonstrates the already-strong online marketing presence Kia Motors maintains and is another step toward providing consumers with access to the most current Kia vehicles on the market today," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "With an extensive and ever-expanding line-up we are able to provide a wide array of Kia vehicles to ensure buyers have a broad selection when seeking a new vehicle."

Each listing, automatically uploaded, will include one stock photo, a thumbnail of that photo, a contact link and phone number and links to the new cars listing page for that dealer. Adding these classified listings has shown to increase dealer inquiries through a higher number of consumer e-mails, map and phone inquiries and quotes.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the sales, marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 640 dealers throughout the United States. For 2007, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of record U.S. sales. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline "The Power to Surprise."

Kia Motors America is the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA." Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its Web site -- www.kia.com.

Reasonably priced sedan is upscale, powerful

It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to enjoy a luxurious, powerful sedan. Take a test-drive in a Kia Amanti to feel quality and performance.

Back in 2005 this midsize sedan earned the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Award. Since then, Kia has kept making improvements. The 2009 model now offers SIRIUS Satellite Radio and MP3 playback capability, plus a whole new audio system.

Although Kia hasn't as yet disclosed an exact price for the 2009 Amanti, it is expected to be about $26,500, which is a bargain considering what this sedan has to offer: spacious interior, luxurious appointments and a very exciting engine.

What was surprising to me about the Amanti was the V-6 produces a good 264 horsepower and this front-wheel drive sedan accelerates quickly. The engine is linked to a five-speed electronically controlled Sportmatic transmission with overdrive. The Kia Amanti is rated to achieve 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway - using regular gasoline.

My tester featured the colors of dark red wine/black -- one of eight choices -- giving it a quality exterior appearance as it sate on 17-inch sparkling alloy wheels.

Amanti provides luxury accommodations at a bargain price.

The Amanti has a massive grille with front projection fog lights and clear-lens halogen headlamps. It also has tinted windows and at the rear end it has a dual-exhaust system, plus a very large trunk. It also had the optional leather package, which included upscale appointments, such as two-position memory settings for both the driver's seat and outside mirrors.

As standard equipment the Amanti comes with an 8-way power driver's seat, (4-way power passenger's seat) and both seats can be heated. It also has an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, leather-covered steering wheel with cruise control and a keyless entry and alarm system. Even the three rear seats are spacious and comfortable.

If you are looking to be swaddled in comfort this is the place.

Another elegant touch: one-touch up/down front windows. The 2009 model now has a 5.5-inch display screen, replacing the 4-inch monitor.

On the road the Amanti responded in the same manner as sedans costing nearly twice as much. I was able to take every bend in up- and down hill curved back roads and accelerate through them with precision.

Kia engineers say the Amanti is built with a precise power rack-and-pinion steering system that will adapt to sudden driving changes. It also has a fully independent suspension, featuring gas pressurized shocks, a double wishbone suspension and rear multilink setup, plus other attributes that are commonly associated with pricier luxury cars.

Regarding safety equipment the Kia Amanti has more standard airbags than any other vehicle in its segment. The Amanti has side-impact airbags for the second row passengers. Most vehicles are offered with front row side-impact airbags only. The Amanti has dual front airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. The list of standard safety features also includes anti-lock brakes; active front headrests; anti-pinch windows; front and rear three-point seatbelts; and front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters.

The Amanti also has electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, which are part of the optional Electronic Stability Control Package.

From the rear the Kia Amanti presents styling very similar to some high dollar British cars.

Kia comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, plus a 24-hour roadside assistance plan.

Put all this together and compare the price to just about any other midsize car and it becomes quite evident that luxury, quality and performance doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

Tom Keane MOTOR MATTERS

Larger SUV is Kia's newest model

MADISON, Wis. -- The Kia Borrego has strong engines, roomy, comfortable seats, top crash test ratings, plentiful features and a surprisingly quiet interior.

It's just too bad that the Borrego, new for 2009, is a sizable sport utility vehicle that comes to the United States this year as consumers are turning away from truckish SUVs toward more fuel-efficient vehicles.

At 16 feet long and with three rows of seats standard, the seven-passenger Borrego is the largest SUV from South Korean automaker Kia, topping the Sorento, which remains at showrooms. The Borrego also is the first Kia -- car or SUV -- to offer a V-8 in the States.

And it's the Kia with the highest starting manufacturer's suggested retail price: $26,995 for a base LX with two-wheel drive and 276-horsepower V-6.

The previous highest-priced Kia was the Amanti sedan at $26,220.

With four-wheel drive, the Borrego starts at $29,045, and with 337-horsepower V-8, the starting retail price goes over $30,000.

Both SUV engines produce more power than those in many competitors. For example, the Borrego's 3.8-liter, double overhead cam V-6 has 26 more horses and 14 more foot-pounds of torque, to 267 foot-pounds at 4,400 rpm, than the 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that's in the 2009 Honda Pilot.

Yet the base retail price for a two-wheel drive Pilot is some $1,200 more: $28,265, including destination charge.

Similar in size to the Pilot and the 2009 Ford Explorer, the Borrego looks bigger than it handles and is one of the few new SUVs that's built the way traditional SUVs were built -- as a body-on-frame model.

This contrasts with the more trendy car-based crossover SUVs that have been flooding the market and allows the Borrego to offer greater capability for off-roading and strong towing. Indeed, the Borrego with V-8 is rated to tow 7,500 pounds compared with the 4,500-pound maximum in a Pilot with V-6. The Pilot is not offered with a V-8.

Kia has never offered a truck-based SUV before, and the platform for the Borrego is new. The SUV has a front wishbone suspension configuration and an independent multilink rear suspension.

The ride in the tester with optional, uplevel 18-inch wheels and tires was hardly refined compared with that of the crossover SUVs.

Even though passengers remained above the bumps, they readily noticed a lot of jiggling as the Borrego went over sizable road bumps.

There was a sense of body lean and mass shifting, too, as the SUV went around curves. Unsprung weight -- a heavy bouncing of wheels and heavy components at the vehicle's four corners -- was a reminder that this isn't a car-like ride.

But the Borrego's hefty 4,200-plus-pound weight doesn't hold back the engine power.

The test two-wheel drive Borrego had the V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission, and I never lacked for good power. The SUV moved swiftly from stoplights and kept a brisk pace easily, and the transmission shifted smoothly.

If a buyer isn't going to do heavy towing, the V-6 -- with the best fuel economy rating of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway -- could be a good choice. In comparison, with the 4.6-liter V-8, the Borrego is rated at 15/22 mpg with two-wheel drive.

Both federal government mileage ratings are lower than that of many other three-row crossover SUVs, such as the Pilot and Saturn Outlook.

But in the test Borrego, I got pretty close to the 17 mpg rating for city driving, and that was without trying.

The Borrego is pleasantly styled, in a mainstream way. It looks like many other SUVs, and never turned a head during the test drive. I enjoyed the good views out the front and sides that the tall-riding Borrego afforded. But the dominating feature I saw from the driver's seat was the large, tall hood over the engine.

Thank goodness the test vehicle had optional running boards at the doors, because I would have had to hoist myself quite a bit to get inside.

I could hard believe that the turning circle on the four-wheel drive was so tidy: 36.5 feet. This is better than some sedans.

Headroom and legroom are generous, though passengers in the two rearmost seats rest on seat cushions that are near the floor, so knees sit up a bit. But thanks to second-row seats that slide forward and aft, the legroom among the rows can be adjusted and apportioned as needed.

The fit and finish on the test Borrego were excellent, and controls were within easy reach. The display screen for the optional navigation system is smaller than that of Toyotas and Hondas, and the automatic transmission includes a shift-it-yourself mechanism that isn't found in a lot of other SUVs.

The Borrego, like all Kias, comes with a lengthy powertrain warranty that's good for 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Most competitors offer three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Kia installed a long list of standard safety equipment, including frontal and curtain air bags, electronic stability control, antilock brakes and front-seat, anti-whiplash head restraints. A backup warning system is standard, too, but a rearview camera is optional.

Kia officials have modest sales goals of 12,000 this year for the Borrego.

Five That Put the "Mini" Back in Minivan

Can mini-minivans bring the cool better than their oh-so-uncool full-size brethren?

When minivans were introduced as a genre a quarter-century ago--VW's Microbus/Vanagon notwithstanding--their whole shtick was that they were mini. Today's "minivans," however, have grown nearly as big, heavy, and cumbersome as the Ford Econolines and Dodge Ram vans of the 1980s. If this is what the world meant by "mini," miniskirts would extend all the way to the floor and the Mini Cooper would be the size of a Suburban.

Well, as they say, everything old is new again. And in this economy, everything new is getting small again. Not surprisingly, sales of the two mini-minivans currently for sale in the U.S., the Mazda 5 and the Kia Rondo, have jumped dramatically in recent months, in spite of a new-car market that is undergoing a bit of miniaturization itself.

And more are coming. Next summer, Ford will bring over from Europe its right-sized urban cargo-box, the Ford Transit Connect, and there are more Euro vehicles that would be well matched for U.S. buyers if they were allowed through the Golden Door. All five vehicles on this list--U.S. market or no--possess carlike handling, true versatility, and excellent fuel economy, traits that can't help but put this tres-uncool segment on track to get pretty darn hot. Again.

Kia Rondo

If there is any car company that speaks to the no-nonsense, family-first sensibilities that minivans were meant to serve, it is Kia. Thus, that the dowdy but well-packaged Rondo fits that bill so well surprises few members of our staff.

Of the two mini-minivans available in the U.S. at this time, the Rondo is the cheapest, quietest, and the only one available with seven seats and a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 power (don't expect mind-blowing acceleration from either). And although it looks more like a duck than a supercar, at least it doesn't have the Mazda 5's stigmatized sliding doors.

The Kia Rondo drives well, carries a great warranty, and is easy on the budget (if not on the eyes). And if the 25-percent increase in year-to-date sales is any indication, it's something we'll be seeing a lot more of in the future.

BY STEVE SILER
Car and Driver

Way-back machine: Compact Kia Rondo has three rows of seats

The Kia Rondo is a small car that seats seven people. It competes with the Mazda5. They are the only "microvans" on the U.S. market. It's fuel-efficient, has decent crash-test scores and can be purchased for less than $20,000.

So suppose you have a family with lots of kids - or a couple of kids who bring their friends along. You need a car with seats, lots of them.

But suppose that, in these troubled times, you can't afford a full-grown minivan, which can sticker for $35,000 or more. In fact, things are so tight for you right now that under $20K sounds a lot more like it. Plus, you park in tiny city spaces, where the term "minivan" is a misnomer - those things are behemoths. As for a big SUV with a third row, you don't want an occasional need for seats to constantly cost you at the pump.

You want a nimble, frugal small car - with big-car people-hauling ability. Sounds like you want the impossible.

Actually, not the impossible, just the uncommon. Of all the models sold in the U.S., exactly two little vehicles fit those criteria. These are "microvans" - little wagons with a "way-back" third row of seats. One is the Mazda5. You may never have noticed the other one: the Kia Rondo.

The Mazda gets lots of positive buzz, including a Consumer Reports recommendation and rave reviews in these pages. But the Rondo is worth a look. It's competitive in many ways.

It's small - the same length as a Toyota Corolla. Yet it seats seven people in a 2-3-2 configuration (the Mazda seats six as 2-2-2).

Think clown car.

The Rondo's 162-horsepower four-cylinder pulls down EPA ratings of 20 mpg city, 27 highway, 22 overall with a four-speed automatic. (The Mazda's numbers with an auto are 21/27/23.)

And Kia offers an optional 182-horse V-6 (the Mazda has only the four) that rates 18 mpg city, 26 highway, 21 overall. That engine gets a five-speed automatic with gated shifter. The V-6 equipped test car got 20.3 mpg in strictly stop-and-go city driving.

The Rondo's exterior is anonymous and trapezoidal - it appears to have been popped out of a loaf pan. But the Mazda5 is slightly odd looking as well, particularly in its hindquarters, and these cars' squareness is how they can pack so much useable space within such a small exterior.

Inside the Kia, the materials are suprisingly nice for such a cheap ride. (Starting MSRP, stripped, is 17,395. A heavily optioned V-6 test vehicle stickered at $23,495 with heated leather seats, a sunroof and excellent sound system.)

Storage cubbies are provided throughout the cabin, even in the way-back. Driving visibility is great, and handling is competent. The front seating is upright, with cramped legroom. and it doesn't adjust much. A lot of drivers will struggle to find a comfortable driving position, and though a competent city car, it would surely be uncomfortable on long trips.

In the second row, legroom is copious. That row slides on a track, which allows space to be shared with the third row, where any adult passengers who ventured back there would face hardships that seem more North Korean than South. The way-back is for kids.

The second- and third-row seatbacks are split, offering a variety of passenger and cargo configurations.

The Rondo's advantages over the Mazda5:

* It's extremely quiet inside for a wagon body style. The Mazda has road noise.

* It can seat that extra passenger.

* You can spring for the V-6.

* Its optional Infinity 315-watt sound system is killer.

* It has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, twice that of the Mazda5.

* When comparably equipped, it's less expensive.

The Mazda's advantages over the Rondo:

* Its interior is stylish and comfortable.

* You can get a navigation system.

* It has sliding doors for easier entry.

* And though it seats one fewer passenger in the second row, a little aisle between the second-row buckets provides easier access to the third row (and a little poke-through legroom for those in back).

* The Mazda's final advantage: It's not a Kia.

Let's talk about that for a moment. It's true that Kias don't have the resale value of many other makes (though if you don't plan on reselling, no problem.) And it's true that in their early years Korean cars were the butts of jokes. (Here's one from '91: How do we know the LAPD lied about Rodney King? Answer: They said he led them on a high-speed chase - in a Hyundai!) But these cars have rapidly improved in recent years. A telling detail is the Kia Rondo's crash-test scores: It earned five stars (the highest rating) in government frontal crash tests, five stars in driver side impact, and four stars for passenger side impact and rollover risk - respectable scores all around. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn't yet rated the Rondo, but other Kia models have recently done well in the IIHS' stringent offset frontal crash test.

However, FYI that Kia as a brand still ranks weakly in the J.D. Power and Associates reliability ratings. Though at least it has that long warranty.

The only sign of a quality quirk in the test-driven Rondo was the control for the windshield wiper. The intermittent setting was wired backwards, with the fast marking yielding a slow wiper speed and vice versa. Otherwise, the car seemed typical of its price point.

If you want to put a lot of butts in a lot of seats, for not a lot of bucks, your list of possibilities is short. So test-drive both the Mazda5 and the Rondo and see what you think. Kia's well-chosen slogan, after all, is "The Power to Surprise."

By Greg Rasa
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

Big and bulky, it's the Kia Borrego

When you need to move seven people 50 miles, it's unfortunate that public transit isn't always the answer. The problem is mathematical: seven times $25 (the cost of a train ticket) is $175. The alternative is to drive, and in this case that costs only about $20, plus another $13 for parking.

Ah, you say, but you have to have a vehicle capable of carrying seven. And miraculously, I did: A Kia Borrego. Don't worry if you've never heard of it, because it's new. And really big. This is the kind of gigantic body-on-frame SUV that could leave a trail of crushed crossover vehicles in its wake.

This is a dinosaur of a car in 2008, knowing what we know about our energy future. I heard a presentation this week by the author Richard Heinberg (Peak Everything) and he said it was "a very real possibility" that the airline industry will be barely functioning in three years. Why? Because fossil fuels have peaked, and we don't have a real substitute for them.

But we're still fiddling while Rome burns, aren't we? And I'm part of the problem, choosing to drive that huge gas-guzzling Kia on my family trip just because it saves me money. It has a 4.6-liter, 375-horsepower V-8 engine under the hood, sourced from the Hyundai Genesis. To be fair to Kia, the Borrego project was launched all of four years ago (that's how long new product cycles take). Nobody gave a thought to gas prices then ($2 a gallon, remember?), and it looked like the SUV phenomenon was going to last forever.

You don't necessarily have to go with that V-8; a 242-horsepower, 3.3-liter six is available, but even with that one you can expect only 18 mpg combined (the V-8 gets 17).

The Borrego is a dinosaur, and we know what happened to them. They no longer walk the earth, right? And in that same pipeline now is a whole new class of car. Plug-in hybrid cars, with the ability to travel 30 to 40 miles on battery power alone, then switch to gas power, are the adaptable mammals of our time. The $700 billion bailout legislation contained a lot of pork, but one good provision was $1 billion in tax credits for plug-ins.

Plug-ins are something both Obama and McCain (and Bush too) can champion. These 100-mpg vehicles will be cruising American roads long after the Sequoias and Borregos, like the dinosaurs, are reduced to fossilized remains.

By Jim Motavalli

Kia Borrego enters full-size SUV arena

If you've ever tried to time the Stock Market, you know it's not easy. The challenge is much the same when it comes to developing a new vehicle.

I'm sure that when Kia started working on its new full-size SUV a few years ago, they didn't figure on $4.00/gallon gasoline and the ensuing migration of buyers into smaller vehicles. But that's the reality as the 2009 Borrego hits the streets.

Fortunately, the midsize and large sport utility segment, while smaller than it used to be, is still substantial. These days, the only people in that market are those who really need/want what only a big SUV can do -- haul and tow. And those people should like what they see from the newest Kia.

The 2009 Borrego is offered in LX, EX and Limited trims. Two- and four-wheel drive systems are available, and both can be had with either V-6 or V-8 power. Prices range from $26,995 for the LX V-6, 4x2, to $33,745, for the EX V-8 4x4.

Borrego has a function first, no-nonsense look about it, befitting a big SUV. The upright lines are beveled at the corners and capped with a wide, chrome grille. Size-wise, Borrego stretches 192.3 inches long. It is both longer and wider than class contemporaries like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevy TrailBlazer or Toyota 4Runner.

One disadvantage that Kia faces in coming to market now is that they run into a different set of expectations. Years ago, SUVs were more truck-like on the inside. But, in the boom years for big SUVs, buyers became conditioned to expect more, and the interiors on some higher end SUVs started to rival luxury cars in terms of content and refinement.

The bar that Borrego has to vault has therefore been raised by the competition. Kia's response is a strong one. All trim levels have standard three-row seating. Up front, the driver takes in a clean, legible layout of gauges, framed by a meaty, four-spoke steering wheel. Controls in the main aren't hard to figure out or operate, although the location of the parking brake could use a re-think. Its current spot makes it easy to bruise a shin as you reach your left foot for the dead pedal.

Interiors are predominantly plastic, so the trick for the designer becomes breaking things up with different colors and textures. Borrego does pretty well with this, at least in the EX model I test-drove.

Visibility is generally good in all directions. Inboard storage includes molded door pockets; glove box; a main, covered, center console bin; small trays and cubbyholes. Big items go in the way-back, where Borrego offers an either/or choice for storage that's typical of three seat SUVs.

When all rows are full of passengers, there's not much room left over for gear (12.4 cubic feet). However, both the second and third row seats fold nearly flat forward when not required for passengers, and so stowed, they expand cargo capacity to as much as 97.6 cubic feet.

The back row is comfortable for kids and can even hold an adult or two for the short run. Row two is suitable for any size, and the available rear seat entertainment package ($1,500 on EX level) will keep the troops occupied on trips.

Both engine choices offer more power than any previous Kia product. The 3.8-liter V-6 produces a class-competitive 276 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. The V-8 packs 337 hp and 323 lb.-ft. under hood. The V-6 is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the V-8 gets a six-speed auto.

EPA rates the six at 17 miles per gallon city, 21 highway (4x2), 16/21 mpg (4x4). With the V-8, you can expect 15/22 mpg (4x2) and 15/20 mpg (4x4). Towing capability reaches 5,000 pounds with the V-6, while V-8 models are rated at 7,500 pounds. The available 4WD system is a full-time, on-demand setup.

Integrated onboard electronics (ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control) work in concert to help the driver maintain control. While not aimed at rock climbers, Borrego is certainly capable of light off-roading. Undercarriage skid plates are standard equipment. So are Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control.

The civilized Borrego is equally at home on paved surfaces.

The former prevents rollback when starting up a steep incline, while the latter helps maintain a controlled, steady pace on steep downhill grades.

Either the V-6 or V-8 in the Kia Borrego is capable of handling sport utility vehicle requirements.

Borrego is a solid SUV, worthy of careful consideration. Its biggest challenge isn't matching up with its competition as much as it is dealing with demands of selling in a rough, big truck market.

Dan Lyons MOTOR MATTERS

Kia Rondo, 2008: The Weekly Driver

One of the tangible but often unwritten tests of a new vehicle is its initial comfort. In short, does a car suit a driver without a lengthy technological learning curve? Maybe that makes me a simpleton, but there's something to be said for an efficient, straightforward, no-nonsense car that doesn't require intense reading to operate. And that's an appropriate description of the 2008 Kia Rondo.

It's nothing new that a good share of drivers still scoff at car manufacturers from Korea. But all of misgivings should now be considered history. Kia offers affordable, safe vehicles with the car industry’s best warranty.

I recently drove the Kia Rondo for a week while visiting Missouri, logging more than 1,000 miles. There's nothing too severe about driving in Missouri. With the exception of a few days of steady rain, the Rondo, Kia's full-sized wagon, didn't face anything extreme.

But during my week with the vehicle it served its purpose and provided good, steady transportation across wide open highways, back country roads and in around-town situations

The Rondo is one of most reasonably priced wagons on the market and it's a solid alternative to a minivan or small sport utility vehicle. It's a wagon, for sure, but the second-year vehicle drives more like a car.

The Rondo's direct competitor is the Mazda5 wagon, but it's not too different than other car-based crossovers like the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. But the Rondo has car doors and it's not a disparaging comment to describe it is a modern-day, streamlined station wagon with an option feature to seat seven.

The Los Angeles Times is often critical in its car reviews and it's hard to argue with the criticisms. But it described the Rondo ideally:

"It's about satisfying the automotive nesting instinct people feel when they've got kids -- their own and their friends' who need to get around with a minimum of fuss and maximum of thrift. Secure, well-constructed, nimble and versatile as a blue blazer, the Rondo does all that and leaves money left over for piano lessons."

The Rondo comes in two trims, the LX and EX, both available with the standard inline four-cylinder engine or an optional V6. I drove the six-cylinder, with an automatic transportation for my week in Missouri.

The Rondo will never be mistaken for a speedster, but I never felt restricted when needing to accelerate. I spent several hours a day in the car and as a 6-foot, 185-pound driver, there was plenty of head and legroom.

One of the criticisms of the Rondo is its exterior design. In short, it's non-descript -- no keen lines or particular innovation. There's nothing that makes the Rondo stand out in a crowd. And that's necessarily a bad thing. Some drivers need flash in their cars, others don't.

What the Kia Rondo provides is solid, safe transportation as a full-size wagon with an option to seat seven and at an attractive price point. That's plenty, it seems, to attract attention for reasons other than cosmetics.

Safety Features -- Dual front, front seat side air bags and side curtain air bags.

Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles; Limited powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/100,000 miles; Roadside assistance, 5 years/60,000 miles.

Gas Mileage Estimates -- 19 mpg (city), 26 mpg (hwy).

Price Range -- $16,395-$20,195.

Kia's Sedona racks up awards

One of the best minivans on the market is a best-kept secret. It's the Kia Sedona.

The styling of the Sedona from the rear resembles that of a compact crossover sport utility vehicle.

What makes this minivan such a "best" is all the awards it's been stacking up for safety and quality. It's also well priced and well powered.

The Sedona gets high ratings on crash-test safety from the U.S. government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It's also reliable in quality with a top showing in the Strategic Vision Total Quality Index survey of owners.

There are no safety options on the Sedona. It's standard equipped with nearly every safety technology on the market. This minivan comes with six airbags, electronic stability control, active head restraints, traction control, brake assist, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution.

The 2008 Sedona is a front-wheel drive, three-row minivan that seats up to seven passengers. A convenient fold-flat to the floor split-fold third row allows for ample cargo carrying capability.

The Sedona is offered in short wheelbase and long wheelbase models in LX and uplevel EX trims. The SWB Sedona has a wheelbase of 114 inches and overall length of 189 inches, while the LWB model is 202 inches in length and has a longer wheelbase of about 119 inches.

Base prices for the 2008 Sedona start at $20,695. The EX test vehicle was luxury oriented with a starting price of $26,195 and premium options that brought the price to $32,220, including the $725 destination charge.

Kia goes head-to-head with the better-known minivan products -- such as the Chrysler Town & Country and the Toyota Sienna -- with upscale options that put the Sedona in a notable high-end class for comfort and convenience.

For example, the EX test vehicle was equipped with a $2,400 Luxury Package of heated front leather seats, power adjustable pedals, triple-zone climate controls, power sunroof, backup warning system and steering wheel-mounted sound system controls.

A $200 Power Package added convenience for the driver with a power liftgate and power sliding dual doors. A $1,700 Premium Entertainment Package featured an 8-inch screen and DVD player and Infinity Surround Sound System. I did not enjoy this optional audio quality. It was difficult to find a pleasing sound. Most of the time the music sounded like it was coming from a tin box, even though I played with the bass, treble, fade and middle adjustments.

The 2008 Kia Sedona is standard equipped with nearly every safety technology on the market

Stepping on the accelerator of the Sedona was a pleasure. This minivan didn't lumber along under its 4,387-pound girth. It's got some punch under the hood.

The 24-valve V-6 engine with a 3.8-liter displacement generates a horsepower rating of 250 at 6,000 rpm and good torque of 253 pounds-feet at 3,500 rpm. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission the V-6 Sedona is EPA-rated at 16 miles per gallon city and 23 mpg highway, which is equivalent to that of a full-size sedan.

The styling of the Sedona from the rear resembles that of a compact crossover sport utility vehicle, but up front the Sedona is very class typical of the minivan segment with smooth lines and a large glass area.

The suspension is a four-wheel independent system with MacPherson struts up front and multi-link with coil springs and stabilizer bar in the rear set-up. Sixteen-inch wheels are standard on the Sedona; the uplevel long wheelbase EX trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels.

Kia backs up the Sedona with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Shoppers would do well to add the Sedona to the top three vehicles to cross-shop when looking for a minivan.

Connie Keane MOTOR MATTERS

For The Money, You Can't Beat The Kia Optima

The Optima has many appealing virtues for a very low price.

In the wake of higher fuel prices, family sedans are now in greater demand than has been the case in years. It is fuel economy that is driving their resurgence, but at the same time people are rediscovering their ride, handling and comfort.

For buyers who have been out of the sedan market for a while, there are many new players to consider. Manufacturers that might not have demanded attention a few years ago now do.

Among them is Kia, maker of the Optima sedan.

A week spent with a four-cylinder EX model, loaned to us by Kia, proved that the Optima has many appealing virtues.

For its price it is surprisingly roomy, rides nicely, handles quite competently, is nicely assembled and, in our tests, managed to score fuel economy results in the mid-20 mpg range when equipped with the four-cylinder engine.

Two models, two engines and two transmissions are offered. Base Optima buyers end up with the nicely equipped LX model, whose standard features include air conditioning, heated power mirrors, power windows and power locks. Standard safety equipment includes dual front, front side and side curtain air bags, along with active head restraints.

The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder motor with the driver's choice of a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Buying the LX with the automatic also adds a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and remote keyless entry to the list of standard features.

The LX is also offered with a 2.7-liter V-6. This engine comes only with the automatic transmission.

EX buyers also choose between the inline four-cylinder engine and the V-6.

However, EX buyers have no choice when it comes to transmissions. The automatic is the only unit offered. The EX model also has standard leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver's seat, fog lights, alloy wheels and automatic climate control. All Optimas are front-wheel-drive vehicles.

"Most people buy the LX," reports Dan Leonard, general manager of Crowley Kia in Bristol. "We sell a mix of fours and V-6s, but right now, the car is in short supply."

The EX, which we drove, has two options packages.

One included power-adjustable pedals, a power passenger's seat and heated front seats. The other consisted of electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes and brake assist. This final feature recognizes when the driver is stopping for an emergency and applies full braking pressure, right up to the engagement of the anti-lock feature.

"Buyers who want the EX often go for all the options," Leonard said. "They want the leather, the sunroof. LX buyers are happy with the standard features - the power windows and mirrors. They sometimes fuss over the color, though."

As appealing as the long list of standard features on the Optima may be, it is the solid performance in daily driving that makes the Optima one of the best buys in its class. The car accelerates with competence, rides nicely over most surfaces and handles quite well.

Acceleration is an interesting aspect of the Optima's performance. Having had the chance to review a V-6 version and now a four-cylinder model, the performance numbers have turned out to be surprisingly similar.

That, despite a 23 horsepower spread in the ratings. Our zero-to-60 time with the four was 8.7 seconds. With the V-6 it was 8.3. Most drivers would feel little difference based on acceleration and power. Rather, the V-6 comes across as the more refined engine of the two.

Regardless, the transmission does a generally fine job of shifting, though some downshifts can be just a little late in coming.

The ride is smooth and handling is good. The Optima is no sports sedan, nor does it pretend to be one. Still, it is competent and, with the optional stability control, quite secure in simulated emergency maneuvers.

The leather upholstery helps make the Optima EX feel a bit more luxurious than its price suggests it should be. Front-seat room and comfort are good. The back seat accommodates two adults and the trunk is reasonably roomy. The back seat is split and folds, with release levers in the trunk for added security.

One aspect of the Optima, and all Kias for that matter, that generates buyer enthusiasm is the warranty. In addition to a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, the drivetrain is covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Price, performance and warranty protection make up a package that many buyers find appealing.

"Most buyers are people who have also looked at the Accord and Camry, and come to the Kia because it costs $7,000 less," Leonard said. "The buyers love it. You can't beat the car for the money. They love the ride and handling and the safety with six air bags."

PAULA SAYS...

Even a brief drive in the Kia Optima should serve as a reality check. This midsize family sedan turns in a perfectly acceptable performance for a price that undercuts many compact cars. The Optima is comfortable, drives nicely, has all the pep anyone needs with the four-cylinder engine - and has the safety and convenience features people want.

Granted, the review car was the top-of-the-line EX with options that pushed the sticker price to just over $21,400. But the important extra - the electronic stability package with its anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control and brake assist - is also offered on the base model for the same $600 it costs on the EX.

The price for an LX model with the automatic transmission and this package of safety equipment would be less than $19,000.

As for other aspects of the Optima, the power seat, another EX exclusive, manages to lift a shorter driver up to the point that visibility ahead is quite good.

With the seat moved to its highest position, the view to the left at intersections is only partially blocked by the outside rearview mirror. The power-adjustable pedals and tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel also help fit the car to the driver.

By JIM MACPHERSON

First Look: Kia's new Borrego SUV may find market

Despite what you've heard, timing isn't everything.

Take Kia's all new 2009 Borrego midsize SUV. The company has been taking a lot of flak for introducing this model when SUV sales are tanking in response to high gasoline prices.

But this product was designed before the gas crisis hit, and the company is counting on the families who still need the passenger capacity, traction and other features that SUVs have.

Timing aside, Kia's got one thing going for it: Borrego is good.

The Borrego, by the way, is a true SUV in the sense that it has body on frame construction. It's not a crossover, which is built on a car platform, which makes for a smoother ride, better economy and more style.

But the Borrego, which carries prices that start just under $27,000, rides as well as many of those crossovers. And it's one of the quietest vehicles out there whether you're talking about crossovers or SUVS. It's nice-looking, but in a conventional, rugged looking way. This is not what you'd call a style leader.

But no matter. It's got plenty of assets. It's got a low door sill for easy entry and exit, and you feel as though you're sitting in a nicely equipped entry level luxury car.

Moreover, Borrego is fun to drive. It feels comparatively light on its feet, not at all cumbersome, and is so well-built that it feels "all of a piece"-- not creaky, squeaky or trucky.

Inside, it's well-appointed and well equipped, too.

The dashboard and console are utter simplicity itself, while still managing to look classy. The knobs and controls are logically placed and the navigation screen is large, well-organized and easy to operate.

As usual, it's the little things that count.

All of your hookups for iPods and other MP3 devices are right there on the console, and glory be, they light up at night -- no groping around.

Why can't all carmakers follow Kia's lead on this? I've tried to attach iPods in the most awkward of places in cars I've driven: under seats, under instrument panels, in glove boxes, in consoles and heaven knows where else.

Standard equipment is generous. There are three rows of seats for seven adults, hill assist control, downhill brake control and the usual full complement of safety equipment offered as standard equipment. There also are such available options as rear camera display, parking assist and the voice activated navigation system.

Borrego offers two-wheel and four-wheel versions, and you can get a 3.8-liter, 276-horsepower V-6 as well as Kia's first-ever 4.6-liter V-8 engine. And best of all, these engines run on regular unleaded gasoline.

Gas mileage is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway for the V-8 with two-wheel drive, and 15/20 for the four-wheel-drive model.

The V-6 gets 17/21 with two-wheel drive and 16/21 with the four-wheel-drive model.

Borrego features a full-time Torque-on-Demand system from BorgWarner for its four-wheel-drive models.

The system uses electronic sensors to monitor road conditions and distribute power to the appropriate wheels.

Any problems or issues? Nary a one.

Some writers have complained that the ride feels bouncy, but I never noticed that, and I went over some pretty awful Pittsburgh surfaces.

Other standard features include air conditioning; power door locks, windows and mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control; an AM/FM/CD/MP3, six-speaker audio system, and full-length side curtain air bags for all three rows.

Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette