Why Stonic? As a name for a car, it buzzes with unfortunate associations. Why not go the whole hedgehog and call the thing Sonic? Or Colonic? Car Tested: Kia Stonic ‘GT-Line S’ 1.0 T-GDi 48v DCT We borrowed the £23950 top-of-the-line GT-Line S version with 118 bhp three-cylinder one-litre 48v mild-hybrid power and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (funny to think that …
The Kia EV6 ‘Air’ RWD…can EVs get any better?
No great surprise that the brilliant Kia EV6, for many journalists, became the Car of the Year. Yes, EVs are very simple to drive: press the ready button, select D for drive, press the accelerator and you’re silently underway, very quickly too if that is your driving style. In the EV6, the paddles behind the steering wheel allow a choice …
Just Launched – All-New Kia Sportage, better than ever
Which one of the All-New Kia Sportage would you go for? At first site it does seem obviously bigger…30 millimetres, in fact…and, on first impressions, even better in many ways. The last model, sold well, these latest Hybrid versions can only bring more potential with new customers moving towards electrification. I first drove the 1.6T-GDi ‘GT-line S’ 48V DCT AWD …
The 2021 Kia Stinger GT-S, hot and cool
As a young journalist, the Kia Stinger GT-S was ‘forbidden’ until I hit the minimum age restriction, such is the way with insurance and manufacturers. Nonetheless, I was excited to get behind the wheel of Kia’s ‘Q’ car, as it were. Hidden in plain sight, the Stinger racks up well against its rivals from the likes of Mercedes and BMW …
Kia Ceed GT, a hot hatch to warm to
The Kia Ceed GT has always been somewhat of a hidden gem. Note that I say enthusiast – for 90% of people, a standard Kia Ceed will do absolutely everything you want it to do and more, with the backing of Kia’s seven-year warranty and robust Korean engineering. But, for those of a more performance-oriented nature, there was only ever …
Kia EV6 GT-Line 77.4kWh – A pleasure to drive
The Kia EV6 proves that electric cars are just getting better and better; still, a pity the UK’s charging infrastructure isn’t keeping up! So: ‘range anxiety, the other bugbear — compared with the competition, is I am glad to say, significantly eliminated in the Kia EV6 range. My 95-mile drive in a mid-range GT-line rear-wheel-drive version (£43,945) started off with …
Kia ProCeed GT-Line – style, comfort and space
This means that not only do I actually make use of the cars I review, but it also means I can experience what it would be like to live with the cars, rather than simply to take them out on short ‘test circuits’ and doing the weekly shopping run with them. This week I wanted to see how it would …
Kia Picanto GT-Line – The perfect palette cleanser
High-power supercars, mind-bending 0-60 times and big engines, every now-and-then one’s tastebuds and expectations need to be reset and the Kia Picanto GT-Line does just that. I’m talking about the sort of car that even die-hard road testers love, even if they won’t necessarily admit it. A small, agile car with a low-displacement motor and a tiny footprint. The sort …
Kia e-Niro and Kia Soul EV: The convert’s choice.
If you asked me what EV you should buy, my first answer would immediately be “a Kia” why? But, you ask, which one would I suggest? That’s easy; The e-Niro. Or the Soul EV. Frankly, it doesn’t matter which, as both top-spec models are on the same underpinnings, the same motor and give roughly the same range. That’s why these …
The extremely good All-New Kia Sorento 4 SUV
The Kia Sorento is a superb SUV in a market that often delivers nothing out of the ordinary This large seven-seat SUV launched last year and the Kia Sorento 4 tested is the top of the three available trim levels. Powered by a choice of petrol or diesel engines and self-charging battery. A plug-in hybrid powertrain also joined the range. …