2014 Kia Optima on 2040-cars

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Why Kia doesn't need a premium brand

Hyundai's creation of the Genesis luxury brand means it and fellow Korean brand Kia have finally hit the mainstream in the U.S. – as far as products are concerned – after nearly three decades of trying. Which is about as long as it took Toyota and Nissan to roll out Lexus and Infiniti, respectively. It's history repeating itself. Genesis is supposed to be the way Hyundai's premium models get the respect they deserve, without carrying the baggage of a name associated with frugality. Hyundai has, in fact, built up a reputation over the last decade or so for cars that compete head-on with class leaders, rather than aim to be 90 percent as good for 75 percent of the price. And because Kia shares a number of components with Hyundai, its vehicles have also steadily become not only better mainstream vehicles, but have continued to aim higher than their price points. Does Kia need to follow now in its parent's steps with a prestige brand to market its most expensive models? I'm aware of the Kia K900, the company's deepest foray into luxury territory notably occupied by Lexus. Kia, however, has consistently been pushing this $60,000 full-size luxury sedan along with $0 down, low monthly payment lease deals. Turns out there really aren't many people looking for a full-size Kia luxury sedan. Or maybe they're just waiting to get it for $20,000 in a couple of years. Consider the K900 and Genesis when I convince you Kia already makes upscale cars to rival those with premium badges. They just don't happen to be its most expensive model. Shortly after Hyundai's announcement it would spin its luxury models off into the Genesis brand, I spent a few days with a 2016 Kia Sorento SXL. And I'm willing to call it a more convincing attempt to get people out of luxury cars than the K900. Driving the Sorento is not an emotional experience. You feel parental driving it, thinking you might've forgotten to pick your kids up until you remember you don't actually have kids. But after settling into the nicely stitched and perforated leather seats, you respect its comfort, quiet and amenities. The headliner is soft, the stitching on the dash top is convincingly real and everyone is impressed by the sharp graphics on the touchscreen and the slick powered shade that reveals an expansive glass roof. A Kia Sorento costing more than $46,000 sounds absurd until you wonder how much better an Acura MDX or Lexus RX350 is when those cost as much as $10,000 more.

With more power and better mpg, the 2017 Kia Soul Exclaim is one to get.

We got our first look of the turbocharged Kia Soul just over a month ago at the Paris Motor Show in the form of the Soul SX. Because it was the Euro-spec model, we couldn't be sure just how much of it would change for the American market. But now it's abundantly clear that the US-spec Soul Exclaim is the very same car. The understated body modifications, the 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, and the upgraded interior all make the trip to the States. We do learn a few more details now that the American model has been unveiled. One of the most surprising ones is the gas mileage. Although the Soul Exclaim is by far the most powerful trim in the range, it also yields the best fuel economy. The combined city and highway rating is 28 mpg, which tops the second-highest rated Soul Plus by 1 mpg overall. For reference, the Soul Plus is only offered with a 2.0-liter, 161-horsepower, naturally aspirated four-cylinder and a 6-speed automatic. The 130-horsepower naturally aspirated entry-level Soul only gets 26 mpg, regardless of whether it's equipped with a manual or automatic. This does bring us to a disappointing tidbit about the Kia Soul Exclaim. It's only available with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. A spokesperson from Kia told us that the reason for this was to improve fuel economy and get the most performance out of the car. He also mentioned that the take rate for manual transmissions is very low. While we understand the reasoning, we still hoped it would be offered with a clutch pedal, especially since the engine is shared with the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and the Elantra Sport, both of which are available with 6-speed manuals. However, if you don't have to row your own gears, the Soul Exclaim is by far the model to get. It goes the fastest, is the most efficient, looks the best, and has the nicest interior, complete with a 315-watt stereo with subwoofer. Kia hasn't revealed pricing yet, but it's safe to say it will be the most expensive Soul, too. But if you want a Soul and have the means, this is the obvious choice. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Kia previews its Super Bowl baby commercial, far cry from Adriana Lima

We're going to go ahead and give Kia the benefit of the doubt - the automaker brought us a bathing-suit-clad Adriana Lima in its Super Bowl spot from last year. That kind of thing doesn't go unappreciated.
But, if we're really honest, and judging solely on the "teaser" video below, the space suit-wearing, baby-star from Kia's commercial this year is really creeping us out.
In any event, the Kia ad (sorry, "mini-movie") called Space Babies will be set on the distant planet of "Babylandia," and will attempt to present some kind of lie about where babies come from in the ultimate service of selling the 2014 Kia Sorento. Don't let the panda, dog, pig, giraffe, rhino and unholy baby stare make you take your eye off the ball, folks - there's a car on sale here.