Kim test-drives Kias – briefly driving five models from the current range, and likes what he found... It is no surprise to me that Kia is doing well in the U.K. market; to start with the firm offers a very wide range of models that currently encompass petrol power, hybrid propulsion and fully electric vehicles. Added to this wide range of buyer choice there is Kia’s market-leading seven year … [Read more...]
Kia EV9 GT-Line S – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales) assesses Kia's EV9 in GT-Line S form... Kia is riding the crest of a new wave with its range-topping luxury EV9 SUV this spring. The Kia EV9 achieved a remarkable dual victory at the 2024 World Car Awards at the New York International Auto Show in March, being voted World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle., taking Kia to five titles in the … [Read more...]
KIA EV9 Air RWD – First Impressions
KIA has turned the corner into a new market segment with its EV9 pure electric model, says Robin Roberts (and WheelsWithinWales). The EV9 seven-seater launches in three trim levels and an additional range-topping six-seat option from £65,025 to £78,775 in rear wheel drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on trim with 200 bhp single or 378 bhp twin motors. That puts it squarely into … [Read more...]
Kia goes from strength to strength with a wide variety of models
Kia goes from strength to strength with a wide variety of models Kim meets Kias… Kim Henson samples four Kia models from the current range – and is impressed. There are many good reasons why Kia is enjoying sales success in the U.K. These include the firm’s famous, market-leading seven year warranty, the very wide range of models and propulsion types – including, of course, hybrid and fully … [Read more...]
Kia Soul EV ‘Explore’ – Road Test
The new Kia Soul EV ‘Explore’ – all-electric longer range version tried and tested by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Kia Soul EV was the first modern zero emission model from the Korean manufacturer, one of the earliest compact electric cars and that experience has been put to good use. Originally, the Soul Maxx zero emissions model of 2019 was affected by the pandemics but … [Read more...]
Latest Kia XCeed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line S – Road Test
The 2023 model year KIA XCeed 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line S SUV put through its New Year paces by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). KIA has risen to become one of Britain’s most popular ranges of models and the family-friendly Ceed family has a lot to do with that, last year helping them pass 100,000 UK registrations annually over three decades. After the Sportage and Niro SUVs the Ceed … [Read more...]
Kia Niro self-charging mild hybrid – Road Test
The latest KIA Niro 1.6 GDI HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) Grade 4 reviewed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). After being initially launched in Britain in 2016, the Kia Niro Crossover SUV has risen to become the marque’s second best seller in the UK and the third most popular in Europe, consistently increasing sales each year. Constant improvement has seen the core of the range … [Read more...]
Kias galore – briefly test driven in one day
Kim Henson samples the latest model range from the go-ahead firm of Kia… (All words and photographs copyright Kim Henson). Kia’s progress in the U.K. in recent years has been nothing short of sensational, with an ever-broadening line-up of cars offering ‘something for everyone’, from the compact Picanto to the sophisticated Sportage (mid-size) and Sorento (large) SUVs to the gloriously sporty … [Read more...]
Latest Kia Sportage, in PHEV form – First Impressions, also Kia News
The new Kia Sportage PHEV plug-in hybrid first drive. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Kia has sharpened its attack on the business sector and introduced a Plug-in Hybrid Electrified addition to its Sportage family-friendly SUV range launched just a few months ago. Some models will qualify for a very low 8% for the current Benefit in Kind company car tax rate and lower than … [Read more...]
Kia EV6 – Road Test
The award winning Kia EV6 GT Line S 77.4kWh AWD... ...Extended drive by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). It’s official, Kia’s new generation pure-electric EV6 is the top-performing Car of the Year 2022. Earlier this month it beat 60 other new cars, electric and with internal combustion engines, to the coveted CoTY award judged by 59 motoring journalists from 22 European … [Read more...]
Kia Ceed 1.0T-GDi – Road Test
The latest Kia Ceed 1.0T-GDi 6-speed manual hatchback on test... ...By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The Ceed has over many years sown success for the Kia brand in Britain. The new Ceed range launched at the end of 2021 is the third generation five-door hatchback to be built in Slovakia, the first was in 2007. As before it gives nothing away to rivals and beats most with its … [Read more...]
Kia’s latest Sportage – First Impressions
THE ALL-NEW FIFTH GENERATION SPORTAGE - NEWS AND VIEWS By David Miles and Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Overview Motoring writers had a static view sneaky peek of the all-new Kia Sportage last November at a Kia UK media test driving event for other models in the range, but this week we got behind the wheel of this important mid-sized … [Read more...]
Kia goes from strength to strength…
Kia's Generation Game Changer – by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). For a generation of motorists it’s difficult to think that Kia Motors UK never existed and for others it’s hard to believe how far they have come in 30 years. Entering UK showrooms in 1991 with the rebadged Mazda 121 selling as the Kia Pride, the Korean brand registered 1,800 sales, but that was just a ripple of … [Read more...]
Latest Kia line-up – Brief road tests
Kim Henson gives his assessment of some of the company’s current models… (All words and photographs copyright Kim). Until the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted ‘everything’ in our lives, for each of the previous few years I had been fortunate to be able to attend a ‘model range’ driving day event kindly arranged by Kia for the Western Group of Motoring Writers (of which I am a long-standing and … [Read more...]
Latest Kia Sportage launched in the U.K. – and EV9 SUV Concept unveiled in the U.S.A.
KIA WHEELS OUT ALL-NEW FIFTH GENERATION SPORTAGE SUV THIS WEEK. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (All Sportage photographs copyright David Miles; EV9 photographs from Kia). Kia UK hosted the Western Group of Motoring Writers this week in The Cotswolds to test drive their latest range of new and updated models ranging from the small Picanto up to the new EV6 all electric flagship … [Read more...]
Kia Driving Day – Brief Impressions
Kim Henson briefly test drives a selection of current Kia models… (All words and photographs by Kim). At the moment it is the exception rather then the rule for a motor manufacturer to be doing well in terms of vehicle sales in the UK. However, bucking the general trend, Kia is doing very well indeed, increasing sales while for most of the firms all around them the figures are in reverse… At … [Read more...]
Kia Cee’d Road Test
A Healthy Sprinkling of Improvements Should Grow the Kia Cee’d’s Popularity By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) A sprinkling of updates inside, outside and under the bonnet of the Kia Cee’d family sized five door Hatchbacks, Sportwagon estates and Pro-Cee’d three door hatchbacks has given the models a mid-life refresh. Also introduced are more fuel efficient engines and a GT-Line sportier … [Read more...]
Kia’s new Sportage First Impressions – an alternative view
Has Kia succeeded in house-training the SUV? Dave Randle gives his own individualistic and inimitable view of SUVs in general and Kia’s new Sportage in particular… Time was, and not too long ago, that four-by-fours and so-called Sports Utility Vehicles were rather uncouth affairs. They mainly found favour with those who believed other motorists were out to get them, so, as well as being built … [Read more...]
New Kia Sportage First Impressions
First drive of Kia's new Sportage, by Keith Ward THE Sportage sold in record numbers here of around 23,000 in 2015. That has not stopped Kia kicking off 2016 with an all-new fourth generation version of what is easily its best-selling model, and declaring a target for it of 25,000 UK sales in the next 12 months. An 18-strong range is priced between £17,995 and £31,495, so starting £495 dearer … [Read more...]
Kias Galore – Model Round-up – First Impressions
Kim Henson drives a selection of Kias, and is enthusiastic about the cars, also the company’s dynamic approach as it looks ahead. Justifiably, Kia’s reputation has been growing, with increasing respect being gained among potential purchasers for the firm’s model line-up, the boldness of its adventurous designs, and the leading edge technology incorporated into its vehicles. Within just the … [Read more...]