We'd like to thank the author of this review for providing us with this wonderful feedback!

"The biggest thing that really turned me onto this dealership was the reviews and they really don't lie! Excellent dealership and wonderful car buying experience from the first time we set foot on the lot to the time we drove our new car away! This was my first time buying a car, so my parents came with me to help out and it was a great experience all around. Travis Maples, our salesman, was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and worked with us to get the best deal possible, both in person and through email correspondence. The finance manager was very quick and efficient and took maybe 5-10 minutes to get all of our paperwork printed and signed. All of the staff was very accommodating and helpful the entire time we were there and I really cannot recommend this dealership (and our salesman Travis) enough! If you're in the market for a new car, definitely check them out!"-T.Leggy

Is this the First Official Sketch of the New 2012 Kia Pro_Cee’d Three-Door Hatch?

The next generation of Kia's five-door Cee'd and its estate sibling were only just introduced last week at the ongoing 82nd Geneva International Motor Show, but we already have what is claimed to be the first official rendering of the sportier looking Pro_Cee'd, courtesy of Kia-World.

The Pro_Cee'd is the three-door hatchback version of Kia's C-segment model and it's scheduled to launch in the European market within the next year, possibly making its debut at the Paris Motor Show this fall, though we wouldn't be surprised if Kia reveals the car at next year's Geneva event.

 

Courtesy of Motor Look

Kia Optima Dunks Over Blake Griffin

An expert dunkologist tests the theory that if Blake Griffin can dunk over a Kia, a Kia can dunk over Blake Griffin.

Kia Motors' "Kia Rio Windows Down" Playlist on Spotify Gains Momentum as Facebook Users Submit Their Favorite Songs

In an automotive first, Kia Motors America (KMA) and music-loving Facebook users are creating a one-of-a-kind online playlist, titled "Kia Rio Windows Down," through Spotify, the award-winning digital music service that embraces sharing music and hearing tracks instantly by hitting play on any music post or posting tracks on Facebook and Twitter.  Since the submission period began on the Kia Rio Facebook page in February, more than 1,100 songs have been submitted for inclusion on the playlist on Spotify, with song selections totaling 15 hours of music and an average of 24 minutes of time spent per user listening to the playlist, which provides an environment for users to listen, discover, and share the unique playlist with their friends.  To create the perfect playlist for a joyride in the all-new Kia Rio subcompact, songs from Spotify's library of more than 15 million tracks can be submitted for the playlist until April 15, and will remain on the Spotify platform indefinitely.

"From our 'Share Some Soul' ad featuring LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' to Motley Crue belting out 'Kickstart My Heart' in last month's Super Bowl commercial, music plays an important role in Kia's marketing efforts and being the first in the auto industry to partner with Spotify continues that trend," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  "Spotify is an innovative music service, and aligning with a new platform that embraces the sharing of music was a natural fit for Kia to extend our Rio launch.  Being the first to create a car-centric playlist on Spotify in the U.S. increases Kia's interaction with our target audiences that are passionate about music and social media."

About the Kia Rio 5-Door and Rio Sedan

Available in a sedan or hatchback configuration, the eco-friendly Rio and Rio 5-door offer three trims – LX, EX and SX – and are equipped with a 1.6-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission (LX only) or efficient six-speed automatic. One of only two vehicles in the segment to offer a GDI engine, the 2012 Rio provides an inviting combination of power and fuel efficiency, achieving standard class-leading 138 horsepower[1] while maintaining a standard class-leading fuel economy rating of 30/40 mpg (city/highway)[2].

Kia's Unprecedented Growth

Kia Motors is the one of the world's fastest moving global automotive brands; from 2009-2011 Kia launched more new vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker, and under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer earned a reputation as an industry leader in automotive styling.  Kia Motors America's full line of fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive cars and CUVs has earned critical acclaim and dramatically increased consumer awareness, perception and consideration for the brand.  In 2011, KMA recorded its 17th consecutive year of market share growth, thanks in part to the largest increase of any major brand in perceived quality[3] and the industry's highest brand loyalty ranking[4].  Kia's U.S.-based manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia – KMMG – is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and builds the company's two best-selling vehicles in the U.S. – the Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan[5].  Kia's value and technology-laden 2012 model year lineup also includes the Sportage compact CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Optima Hybrid, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.

SOURCE Kia Motors America

Order Parts From Huffines Kia McKinney

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New 2012 Kia Rio on sale at Huffines Kia McKinney

Have you checked out the new 2012 Kia Rio? Take a look at this gas saver by clicking here http://bit.ly/zoKstK or come in to see first hand everything that this vehicle has to offer!

Sorento drives Kia’s sales growth

Canadian sales of Hyundai vehicles rose 6.5 per cent in February, compared with the previous year, and its Elantra model was named Canadian Car of The Year by the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada. Kia reported better figures: after 38 straight months of sales growth, it saw its best February ever, with sales up 20 per cent over the previous year. Kia can thank its volume leader, the Sorento compact utility vehicle, for a large part of its growth. Of 4,644 new vehicles sold in February, 970 were Sorentos.

What’s so special about a Sorento? Firstly, the price. You can get the base LX model for only $26,595. And it’s value-packed, even at that price.

It comes with heated front seats, fog lights, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, keyless entry, and steering wheel mounted cruise and audio controls.

Powering the base model is a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. You can add the security of all-wheel-drive for a little more money – $28,495. There are several other trims and options available to spruce up your ride even more.

My tester is a mid-level EX Luxury model with a bigger, more powerful engine – a 3.5-litre V-6 with 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque – and other goodies such as a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, a rear-view camera, a push-button ignition, all-wheel-drive, a heated steering wheel, automatic folding side-view mirrors, a heated and cooled driver’s seat, and an Infinity premium audio system with 10 speakers including a subwoofer. It costs $38,495.

If you need more space for extra kids or their friends, you can opt for three rows of seats that would seat seven, which would raise my tester’s price to $39,695.

But if you don’t need the extra seats, skip them – the third row is tight, even for kids. And it eats up significant space in the cabin and cargo area. If you stick with two rows of seats, you’ll have a large amount of space for five passengers and a huge cargo area with 1,047 litres of room. If you add the third row, cargo space shrinks to 258 litres.

The leather front seats are nicely bolstered and supportive, as are the rear seats. Three people can sit comfortably in the second row; even three adults won’t will lack leg, shoulder or headroom.

There are some hard plastics in the cabin, but it doesn’t make this CUV feel or look cheap. The dash is well laid out with easy-to-find large dials for the HVAC system, all within the driver’s reach.

I also like the little details. For instance, the rear wiper and washer is a button, positioned on the dash, left of the steering wheel. It’s easy to access and engage or disengage, even in the dark. I get frustrated when it’s on a turn-signal stalk because it’s hard to see and to turn on or off in bad weather.

The touch screen is easy to use and well-positioned at eye level. The navigation system is also one of the easiest and quickest I’ve used. It’s intuitive and usually takes only three steps to input your destination and start the route guidance.

Another cool feature is Kia’s all-new UVO infotainment system. Co-developed with Microsoft and based on Windows-embedded automotive software, it’s a hands-free voice-activated way to control the radio, audio, and phone. Once you figure it out, it works, but I still prefer the old-fashioned buttons.

The power from the 3.5-litre V-6 is pleasing. Mated to the engine is a six-speed automatic that is smooth and accurate. Off the line, the Sorento accelerates effortlessly.

The ride is firm, but comfortable. Despite its size, the Sorento handles like a car, but there is some body lean in corners. It is big so parking in crowded shopping malls or at the gym lot can be tricky. It takes a bit more time and patience to manoeuvre into a tight spot. A rear-back up camera helps.

Fuel economy is also respectable for a vehicle of this size. It averages 11.5 litres/100 km in the city and 8.2 on the highway. My numbers were actually on par with those figures; I got 11.1 litres/100 km during my test period, which isn’t too bad for an all-wheel-drive vehicle with a curb weight of 1,837 kg.

Also worth noting is Kia’s warranty program: it’s one of the best in the business. Kia offers a five-year/100,000-km powertrain warranty, a five-year/100,000-km comprehensive warranty and an impressive five-year/100,000-km roadside assistance.

So when it comes to CUVs, don’t forget about the South Koreans; the Kia Sorento is well worth a test drive.

Tech specs

2012 Kia Sorento EX Luxury

Type: Five-passenger (or seven-passenger available) compact utility vehicle

Base Price: $38,495; as tested, $40,445

Engine: 3.5-litre, DOHC, V-6

Horsepower/torque: 276 hp/248 lb-ft

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Drive: All-wheel

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 11.5 city/8.2 highway; regular gas

Courtesy of The Globe and Mail