It’s been just over a decade since we got our first look at the first-gen KIA Forte, an offshoot of the very same Hyundai Elantra that had pretty much failed to captivate our hearts. Fueled by our general lack of enthusiasm for the brand as a whole, it was unlikely that the Forte (in any […]
Category: Kia
Exploring KIA’s Hits (& Misses)
When someone tells me they’ve spent (or planned to spend) any time at a KIA dealership, I find it all too easy to ‘go cynical’. As someone who came of driving age in the mid-90’s, I was a fresh driver/car-buyer during those early years, when KIA’s presence started to gain a greater visibility in […]
It’s Your Weekly Auto News, Featuring ‘Space Orange”!
Annnnd we’re back… AutoInfluence with all of your automotive news headlines for this week of May 17th. Starting with… Ford Much to the chagrin of stateside enthusiasts, Ford unveiled the wagon-styled variant of the Focus ST, an offering that isn’t available in the U.S. Offering a welcome 58 cubic feet of passenger / cargo space, […]
Tesla Killers & Name Games…it’s This Week’s Automotive News Headlines!
Annnnd we’re back, AutoInfluence on Mothers Day Weekend with all your automotive news headlines since…well, since seven days ago. Why? Because we want to be just as dependable as your mom is, except you can damn well bet that we’re not gonna clean up after you. Ford / Lincoln While an official unveiling of the […]
They Want to do WHAT to the Camaro?! (& Other News)
Annnnd we’re back…AutoInfluence kicking down the door to the month of May with all your automotive news. But don’t worry. We promise we’ll rehang the door once we’re done here (it’s the least we could do, since we forget to say hi to your mom in last week’s episode…) Ford / Lincoln This […]
What Can a Kia Dealership Do for You?
Over the years, car dealerships have gotten a bad reputation—often a well-deserved one—due to the way some salespeople and dealers have acted. Things like using high-pressure sales tactics, advertising bait-and-switch models, and pushing someone into financing they really can’t afford have all contributed to this. At this point, one of the last things you […]
It’s ‘HEMI DAY’! (and there’s a Hellephant in the Room…)
Annnnd we’re back, AutoInfluence on Friday, April 26th with all the automotive news headlines you could ask for, while celebrating a holiday that (we think) deserves to be made into a three-day weekend. But we’ll get back to that in a few minutes…let’s get down to the news! Ford As we’ve reported time and […]
Exploring the 2019 KIA Sorento
In a world growing evermore saturated with competitive crossovers and SUVs of various sizes, it goes without saying that it has gotten progressively more difficult for any offering to stand out. But the 2019 KIA Sorento almost seems to make it look easy and, after almost two decades and three generations, the Sorento only seems […]
Everything We (Were Surprised to) Like About the 2019 KIA Optima
Since so many automakers seem content in allowing traditional midsize sedans to be erased from existence, it’s refreshing to shift our attention over to one that’s enjoying some praise right now. And while nearly twenty years and nearly four full generations have come and gone since its original introduction, the 2019 KIA Optima feels […]
The 2019 Kia Optima: Building Upon a Solid Foundation
Currently in its fourth generation, the Optima has been one of Kia Motors’ most successful offerings for years now, and it doesn’t look to be going anywhere soon. Also available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid variant, the 2019 Kia Optima includes updates which set it apart from the competition. Built in Georgia, the […]
Start Spreading the News…We’re Talking About the New York & Shanghai Auto Shows!
Annnnnnd we’re back, AutoInfluence with another round of automotive news headlines – this time for the third week of April. Of course this means highlights from both the refined presentations of the tech-centric Shanghai Auto Show as well as the New York International Auto show, and it’s American-sized portions of everything covered with a […]
Auto Shanghai? NYIAS? Sure. But First, the Automotive News Headlines for April 8th
Annnnnd we’re back! AutoInfluence here on Friday, April 12th making our way through automotive news headlines for the second week of April – leading up to the highly anticipated one-two punch of Auto Shanghai and the New York International Auto Show. That said, grab a drink and a snack, get comfortable, go to the bathroom […]
From Ford To Tesla (And Everything In-Between) Here’s the Latest in Automotive News for 4/5
Annnnnd we’re back. AutoInfluence here with the latest automotive news headlines from the first week of April 2019. So let’s drop the hammer and get down to it. FORD Despite a 1.6% decrease in overall sales for the first quarter of 2019, Ford continues to increase the scope of their near-unchallenged leadership of […]
KIA: Putting Safety First in 2019
Of all the engineering and technology-centric advances made in automotive technology, none might be more universally appreciable than the evolution of safety features. Cliched sentiment aside, our vehicles really do carry our the most precious of cargo, be it our loved ones, or our very own lives. But it’s not the automakers that […]
A Little Bit of Kia
Nearly everyone has their own opinion on a foreign import. Love them or hate them, brands like Toyota and Honda have their fierce critics and supporters alike. Some people won’t even consider anything that doesn’t have a Ford or Chevy logo somewhere on the body. Regardless of the actual build quality and reliability of the […]
He Who Considered a Kia
Check your phone, or watch. Grab your pen. Mark your calendar. Why? Because I’m about to say something I never thought I’d say, and may never say again. “I’m excited about a KIA.” There. I have to say it…summoning up the willpower to utter those four words (especially in a public forum) rank right up […]
What Changes Are Coming to the 2017 Kia Sportage?
We certainly get bored with the same old thing. I find myself dreading the same turkey sandwich every day, and I’m getting sick of working out on the same bike path. When I switch up one of these routines, I find that it can change my entire demeanor. We embrace changes, however scary they may […]
Blessing in Disguise: How One Owner Lucked Into the Kia Optima
Sometimes a calamity can prove to be beneficial. When Tony Breen, a senior QA Engineer from Billerica, Massachusetts, totaled his new car, he was predictably devastated. It was the first time he had purchased a current-year model, and there was a no way he’d be able to re-purchase a similar vehicle. “I had totaled my […]
Why the Kia Optima is One of the Safest Vehicles on the Market
The 2016 Kia Optima now has another accolade to add to its long list of accomplishments. After establishing itself as the brand’s best-selling model, the nameplate was recently awarded the highest possible safety designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. By being named a Top Safety Pick plus (TSP+), the vehicle has proven itself […]
Six Reasons We Can’t Wait for the 2017 Kia Sportage
The 2017 Kia Sportage will soon be hitting your local lots, and needless to say, we’re all pretty amped about the release of the revamped compact SUV. Next year’s model will be considerably longer and wider than the current version, and the exterior has also been redesigned to present a more sculpted, athletic look. As we […]