Kia Archives - MomStart

Loading Up The KIA Sedona For FUN Adventures #AD

June 24, 2015 by Momstart 13 Comments

This is a sponsored post by Kia.

I only had three full days of reviewing the Kia Sedona LX and feel like I barely scratched the surface of all the fun that can be had in it. And I have to say we had a lot of fun. We set off taking it slow on Saturday and we went to the kids acting class and then to Starbucks. Then we drove to Griffith Park and I forgot to take pictures. I’m sort of out of habit of reviewing vehicles.

The next day we decided to take more of a road trip so I looked at the map and picked out a beach used the GPS and arrived safely. I picked Point Dume State Beach in Malibu. Wow, Malibu was nothing like I expected you travel through these beautiful mountains and then you suddenly are spit out onto the beach. It was breathtaking. I took away all electronics and made the kids enjoy the beauty with me. We had such a fantastic time we just forgot to bring our swimsuits.

I mean we didn’t forget I just thought it was going to be too cold to get into the water and the kids ended up getting soaking wet. So we stopped at Target got some new clothes and the kids were able to change in the back of the Sedona, one kid in each row. The windows are tented so no one can see in. Then after they were in dry clothes we drove in the opposite direction of the beach and found a Sonic Drive in. Then we stopped at home.

Because we had so much fun at the beach we decided the next day we needed to load up and go to the beach again.

This time we planned it and picked up friends on the way. We had the room so why not. The Kia Sedona seats 8 with adjustable seating in the middle. You can move the seats back and forth and from side to side. (Choice of seating available for up to eight,or available Slide-N-Stow™ second row. (translation: multiple configurations for family trips or trips to the hardware store and plenty of cargo room.) When we arrived at our friends’ place I had to pull off to the side very close to the curb, the car sensed a tree and pulled in the side mirror to keep itself from being damaged. That was really a cool feature. (side note, because of all of the cameras on this vehicle parallel parking is a breeze, even with how large it is….I NEVER thought I would park something this big before). They piled in and added their beach supplies and then off to Target we went to get even more supplies. We couldn’t fill up the trunk not at all.

Again, we arrived at the beach for a day full of fun. And driving home the kids reclined their chairs and put up their feet. Yep they were sitting in the lap of luxury. While we also listened to the Kids station on SiriusXM.

Now for features I haven’t mentioned yet. The front seats and steering wheel were heated, while the seats could also be cooled. I love having a hot back so I always use the heat. I mentioned the rear view mirrors and how easily they adjusted when needed and they were quite easy to adjust for the driver. The Kia Sedona also has next-generation, driver assist technology includes Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Blind-Spot Detection with Lane-Change Assist. (translation: conveniences that help make the driving experience enjoyable and safe.) LOVE THIS FEATURE! I ALWAYS use this feature while driving on the highway.

It can detect if the car in front of you is slowing down and will slow you down. And, every time I come close to the lane or try to change lanes without using the signal the car beeps at me to alert me that I’m getting close to the line. The sun roof was a feature the kids loved, oh yeah, there were two sun roofs, how cool is that? And opening the sliding glass doors was easy for the kids and if they left them open I had a button in the front seat that I could use to close them.

I’m sure there are plenty of features that we didn’t explore. For example we didn’t use the 3rd-Row Seats offer the versatility of a 50/50 split-fold to accommodate a variety of passenger and cargo combinations. The seats easily disappear into the cargo area when not in use. I wish I had this vehicle for the long drive back to Washington. We would be able to take almost all our stuff home in it. Oh and we never took advantage of how many different kinds of electrical plugs this car had.

There was USB/12 Volt, and 110 Volt. It’s the perfect vehicle to take on a road trip.

We Loved This Ride

Get in The Game With The Kia Trail’ster! #KiaTrailster

February 18, 2015 by Beeb 4 Comments

Kia Trailster – photo courtesy the Chicago Auto Show

Travel consideration provided.

Last week, Kia unveiled their Kia Trail’ster concept at the Chicago Auto Show. This vehicle gives us a peek at how the Kia Soul could evolve in the coming years, with a sporty, electric all-wheel-drive system to help you deal with a wide variety of terrain, from trailheads, to mud, to snow – definitely the kind of vehicle that would fit right in the Pacific Northwest! The Trail’ster is sleek and modern, packing SUV capability into a more compact vehicle. With its “Through-the-Road” hybrid system that doesn’t need a mechanical link between the engine and the motor, this is one futuristic car!

The Kia Trail’ster is all about getting in the game and being ready for any adventure. Since Chicago is home to the Chicago Bulls, a team which Kia proudly sponsors, they decided to celebrate the unveiling of the Trail’ster concept by going out to a Bulls game later that night, and taking a group of bloggers with them to help root on the team. We got on a bus headed to United Center and got ready to cheer on the Bulls!

We had amazing seats in a penthouse suite overlooking the game, complete with a chef whipping up custom pasta dishes and an amazing dessert table.

The Bulls were facing off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so we settled in for an exciting game.

While we watched the game, the Chicago LuvaBulls stopped by to say hi!

Our night culminated with the Bulls winning – yeah!!!

Between the reveal of the futuristic Trail’ster and watching Chicago’s own Bulls earn another victory in their hometown, I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing and memorable day in the Windy City!

Are you a Bulls fan? Do you think you’d drive a Trail’ster to take in a basketball game?

Driving In Luxury: The New KIA Cadenza A Premium Sedan

March 25, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Thanks to STI and Kia I was able to spend the week in the KIA Cadenza a new car to the KIA Fleet. It’s a luxury car with comfort and style. It’s my favorite car I have reviewed so far it’s fast. VERY Fast (probably my husbands favorite feature was that he could get up to 60 in what seemed like five feet.).

The Interior is roomy and comfortable. The one I drove contained the white leather seats and I found it so comfortable. It was the perfect amount of support and cushion I felt like I fit in that car like a glove. The Steering wheel was easily moved electronically and heated. The front driver seat was heated and cooled while all the other seats in the car were just heated. My kids and I prefer heated seats anyway, my husband however, he’s the opposite.

The car’s navigation and stereo system run on the usual suspect for KIA. (the UVO infotainment and telematics system with voice-recognition technology, and the back-up warning system, just to name a few.)

The LX model offers steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio, Bluetooth® wireless technology, power windows, air conditioning, and power heated outside mirrors. The optional Premium Package includes unexpected additions like heated front and rear seats, a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, a power sunroof, and a heated steering wheel.

The trunk actually has SPACE, loads of space. I think I had four suitcases in it. I had to pack a lot for a trip.

I really enjoyed driving it. Like I said before I was comfortable and had all the space I needed. In my current car when I have the seat comfortable I hit the steering wheel with my knees so it’s a little awkward. The Cadenza was a perfect fit for me. And speaking of fit, four adults would fit in this car quite nicely, so of course my children were happy to have so much leg room. And I can’t leave this post without mentioning the safety features. The car lets you know when there is a car in your blind spot, it beeps at you when you go over the speed limit and it keeps a distance as you are using the cruise control. As the car in front of you slows down so do you!

It’s a great car!

The New Kia Soul EV All Electric Debuted at The Chicago Auto Show #FuelCAS @KiA

February 6, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m really interested in the green scene at the auto show. Kia kicked off the Auto Show in style by debuting the new Kia Soul EV, yep it’s all electric and I can’t wait until I get to take it for a test drive. I want to see what power is behind it because Kia has my expectations up.

Set to the sounds of soulful electrified blues music, Kia Motors America (KMA) today hosted the global unveiling of the 2015 Soul EV at the Chicago Auto Show. Scheduled to go on sale in the third quarter of 2014, the Soul EV will be Kia’s first all-electric, zero-emissions car sold in the U.S. and expands the brand’s line of environmentally conscious vehicles. We just purchased an all electric car last year and I LOVE having it. So I’m really excited by the news that Kia now has one because there aren’t that many brands out there that have one that is affordable. The only other two I can think of is Ford and Nissan, it’s time for Kia to put pressure on the other brands to lower their prices right?

The Soul EV joined the refreshed 2014 Optima Hybrid on stage along with the Niro hybrid concept, illustrating Kia’s intent to lead the industry in providing technologically advanced vehicles that also reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources. Kia’s eco-friendly commitment was further underscored when Underwriters Laboratory (UL) honored the Soul EV with the organization’s first automotive environmental validation for its integration of more than 20 bio-friendly materials.

“The new Soul EV is at the forefront of Kia’s ‘Clean Mobility’ program and will offer an even more environmentally friendly option to our customers when it goes on sale later this year,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA. “The Soul EV retains the fun and funky style as well as the packaging efficiency and utility that have made the gasoline-powered Soul such a huge hit with consumers. And to that winning combination it adds useable real-world range and multiple charging options, making it the perfect EV for everyone.”

The Soul EV will initially be sold in California and Oregon in the West and several Eastern states including New York, New Jersey and Maryland, the regions with the largest EV markets and infrastructure. KMA will look to offer the vehicle in other markets in the near future as infrastructure and demand grow. Pricing for the Soul EV will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch.

Keep an eye out for more details on the Kia Soul EV.

The 2014 Kia Sorento From Back to Front

December 27, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I spent a week with the Kia Sorento 2014 and wished I had time to drive to the mountains. I’ve driven other Kia’s through the mountains and I loved pushing them to the edge around corners. I’ve even done doughnuts in parking lots with Kia’s. Kia’s are just fun to drive and the Kia Sorento is no exception. Now, usually when I review a car I go from front to back, but I thought this time it would be fun to go back to front. Starting with this video and picture of the trunk.

In this video we show you how easy it is to put the seats all the way down.

I forgot how nice it is to have so much space. We bought a piano for the kids for a Christmas present and we weren’t able to get it home without asking someone for help. Had we had the Kia Sorento at that time I would have been able to get it myself. The seats go all the way flat. Now, a fun thing in the windows is the sun visor. My children love having a sun visor.

Plenty of room in the back seats, and this thing has 7 seats. LOVE IT. Car seats and leg room perfect for the kids. Plus they can heat up their seats and they love that. The kids had a little trouble adjusting to being up so high, but for me it reminded me how much I LOVE the SUV type vehicle. The only draw back in this one is the gas mileage is not very good, ESP since my husband and I both now drive electric and hybrid electric cars.

They asked me where the heat was and I told them I wasn’t sure, but they found it. The button and the power plugs are located in the back of the center console. They found them before I did. The only thing they were missing was a TV.

Kia is really great about including all of the luxury options a person could want. The heated steering wheel is one of our favorite features. Our only complaint was that the Kia Sorento wasn’t heated all the way around. The top isn’t heated.

The Sorento’s furnishings have been upgraded across the board, including soft-touch materials, a redesigned instrument panel, new gauges including a digital speedo (optional), and a new center stack with an optional eight-inch touch screen with controls for the nav system, premium audio, and Kia’s second-generation UVO infotainment system with enhanced connectivity. And there is blind spot detection is I LOVE!

There are several upgrade packages—Convenience, Touring, and Premium—for each trim level. Kia plans to add a top-of-the-line SX Limited version—loaded with all the luxo goodies, plus self-leveling HID headlights; 19-inch chrome wheels; red painted calipers; nappa leather; a heated, wood-trimmed steering wheel.

Rear view mirrors retract

A few features under the hood:

New chassis, revised suspensions
Seats five or seven
Four-cylinder or new direct-inject V-6 option
Front- or all-wheel drive
Standard six-speed automatic

Transmissions:
6-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual

Available Engines:
191-hp, 2.4-liter I-4 (regular gas)
290-hp, 3.3-liter V-6 (regular gas

We had fun driving the Kia Sorento 2014.

Why Drive The Kia Forte 2014

December 11, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I spent a week inside the Kia Forte, and it was a cold cold week but I was nice and warm with the heated steering wheel and the heated seats. The seats in the front and the back are all heated. The kids loved having their own buttons to push to heat their little bodies with. I love being hot, so having a heated seat, my own personal climate control and the heated steering wheel, it was actually hard for my husband to get me out of the car or let him even have a turn driving.

So when I come to write my review I’m sitting there thinking of why you should drive the Kia Forte 2014.

Top reason: I’m a women and a creature of comfort so yes my top reason here is the heated steering wheel. The entire wheel is heated!

I was also very comfortable in my seat. It was so easy to adjust the seat to the right height and length and I was able to move the steering wheel to just the right location and it was completely different from my husband. He likes to sit high and I like to sit low. He likes to have the steering wheel low and I don’t want it touching my legs at all, so again, it’s about comfort.

Reason number two:

The amount of space in the Kia Forte 2014 is vast. (The 2014 Forte four-door sedan is arrayed on a bigger canvas. At 106.3 inches, the new Forte’s wheelbase is stretched by 2.0 inches over that of the previous sedan. Additionally, overall length has been extended to 179.5, a gain of 1.2 inches, width expands 0.2 inch to 70.1, and height has been reduced an inch to 56.5 inches. ) The kids were so happy in this car because they had so much more leg room in the Kia Forte than they do in our Ford Focus. Plus the back, I’ve forgotten how much space you can have in a trunk. Our current cars have no trunk space. Plus the seats fold down a great deal.

Reason number 3 is the gas mileage is outstanding. The 2014 car will exceed those of the outgoing model, which delivered 22-to-26 mpg in the city and 32-to-36 mpg on the highway. And it did. I felt like I drove this car further than any other car that wasn’t a hybrid and I never filled it with gas. Yes I only had it one week but I went to Redmond and back and to Seattle and back and never needed to go to the station.

Reason number 4 the rear view mirrors open and close as you come close to the car. It’s just an extra creature comfort allowing you more space to get in between the cars when you get in and out. Other features include air conditioning, a respectable audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and auxiliary input jacks, a tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel, and power windows and locks —the base LX model has little extras such as steering-wheel auxiliary controls, dual 12-volt outlets, projector-beam headlights (low-beams), a trip computer, and an outside-temperature display. The EX adds a six-speaker audio system, cruise control, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, remote keyless entry, power mirrors with turn signal repeaters, and the second generation of Kia’s UVO infotainment system.

Reason Five: It’s a great price.

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show’s Women’s Day #SMP13 2/12

January 23, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

Having the opportunity to test drive so many cars lately has my interested in cars peeked. I mean, I’ve always enjoyed car shows. There is just something fun about a shiny car and how the body of cars varies so much from car to car and year to year. I received an invitation to the The 2013 Chicago Auto Show, unfortunately I won’t be able to attend but I’m sending Kas from Southern Bells Ways to Save in my place and she’s going to be covering the event for us at the press preview day.

The Chicago Auto Show realizes that women make purchasing decisions for the family, even big shopping decisions like car purchases, so they have a Women’s Day. Historically, Women’s Day has been filled with professional female guest speakers, manicure stations, delectable desserts and more. The Chicago Auto Show will again hold its annual Women’s Day event this year on Tuesday, February 12. Admission to the show is offered at a half-price discount – at just $6 a ticket – for all female attendees. The 2013 Chicago Auto Show’s Women’s Day is set to be a spectacular event that no lady will want to miss.

“It also serves as one of the best ways to accomplish a comparison shopping expedition for their new vehicle,” says 2012 auto show
Chairman Steve Foley Jr. “Instead of spending a day in the cold of going from dealership to dealership, shoppers can take a leisurely stroll around the show floor and get excellent advice and information from every manufacturer’s display and product specialists. And don’t be surprised if the specialist from “Brand A” doesn’t know everything about “Brand B” if they’re competing in the same segment. Everyone is very well schooled in helping potential customers make informed decisions. We’ve said for years that the best customer for any product is one who is well-informed. What better place to gather information than at the show?”

I really wish I was going, my husband and I could really use a new car. Sharing one car is doable, but driving us both crazy too. There are so many different brands, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Acura, Lexus, Volvo, Jaguar, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Subaru, Honda, GMC, Buick, Audi and many more. You might want to make plans to attend on Women’s Day to save money and learn about all your options for your next car. Take advantage of the show’s website, www.ChicagoAutoShow.com, where, you can plan your adventure. You’ll find everything from getting to the show, where to park, show floor maps and listings of celebrity appearances to the show’s history section, buyers’ links and extensive photography. It’s a great place to start.

Too Cute to Pass On. Zoe’s Review of the Kia Soul on Video

January 22, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

This is Zoe’s review of the Kia Soul.

I had to share it, she was so insistent. When I was reviewing it, I kept telling her to be quiet and that made her so upset, so I gave her a chance to let her review it and then I took her for one final drive around the neighborhood.

I still have to mention that the kids loved the Kia soul just because it was Alien Green. That’s the name of the color. And while we’re thinking of children I thought I would mention some child safety features:

The rear child-safety door locks offer peace of mind by enabling parents to disengage the interior door opening mechanism ensuring children can’t open the rear doors while the vehicle is in motion.

Lower Anchors and Tethers for children (LATCH) Lower Anchors and Tethers for children is a universal child seat attachment system that allows for quick easy and secure installation and removal of LATCH equipped child seats.

The full review of the Kia Soul will be coming soon.

We Had 50MPG with the Kia Optima Hybrid Car Review

September 26, 2012 by Momstart 20 Comments

A car my husband loved so much he said if we had the money right now we would buy this car. Which car am I talking about?? The Kia Optima Hybrid, a car our whole family loves. The gas mileage we saved that week we drove the Kia Optima Hybrid was amazing. My husband got 50MPG when he was driving side streets home from work and he saves time using the side streets making this the perfect car for him as it’s a hybrid. It doesn’t always get that high of gas mileage but even it’s average is higher than our current vehicle. He also liked the sound system over Bluetooth, and USB. Connecting his phone was a piece of cake. And I liked it because I felt like I was driving a sports car.

It may be crazy but it was just this year that I learned exactly what a hybrid was, I mean yeah I knew kind of what it was but I never realized that they work with breaking power, and what’s wonderful about the Kia Optima is that there is a setting called energy flow where you can see where the power is that is running the car and when it is going back into the battery. The Fuel Economy screen illustrates how much the MPG is running at.

The car drives really well, and the shock suspension was found to be better than most vehicles, better than any we’ve ever been in. My husband told me that he went over a speed bump at work and hardly felt it at all so he took the next one at 40MPH and still didn’t feel much at all so he was really impressed. (it took me a lot to get out of him how fast he took the speed bump, he didn’t want to get me in trouble on this review)

Car seats went in so easily and it’s been a while for us since we’ve been testing out cars for us to find one that is easy to install the car seats. The Seat belts pull out because they are a little longer and that made it so much easier for us to buckle them in. The kids were even able to buckle themselves, helping me out by saving me some time.

Other Features we Loved:

cup holders for the kids

Keyless start

Keyless Entry

double moon roof

heated and cooled seats

Kia Optima Hybrid

VIEW SLIDE SHOW

DOWNLOAD ALL

If you need any tech specs or more information that I might not have included just go to Kia’s webpage for the Optima Hybrid and check it out for yourself.

We were given one week in the car to facilitate this review.

Reviewer’s Retreat Kia Sorento Test Drive

June 27, 2012 by Momstart 16 Comments

My Kia Sorento Test Drive – It Made Me a Car Person!

By: Ashley

I haven’t ever really been a car person. You know how some people really… REALLY get into the whole “new car” thing? That just hasn’t really ever been me… UNTIL… I took the Kia Sorento out for a test drive.

Let me back up a little… earlier this month, I headed out to my very first blog conference: Reviewer’s Retreat. While I was there, Kia asked if I wanted to do a “Ride and Drive” event with one of their new vehicles. Kia and MomStart have worked together in the past, so it was pretty exciting to continue that relationship. As far as car talk goes though, I just walked into it thinking that I’d get to drive a car that was nice… probably nicer than mine. Whatever… no biggie. Boy was I wrong!

After walking up and seeing the sleek, smooth exterior, the “tour” of my Kia Sorrento started with one of the guys from Kia showing me the cargo area. After you fold down the TRUE 3^rd seat (I say “true” because the 3^rd row actually has its own vent system), you have a ton of cargo space. Even with the third row in use, you would have room for a stroller and some kid gear. Not a lot… but enough to get you where you need to go. (I would definitely keep the third row folded down unless we needed it when company was in town or we had a larger group riding together somewhere. That’s because I usually have a lot of stuff to tote around… and only one kid!;))One of the neatest features of the cargo area was the first aid kit! I know it sounds silly, but it was just a neat little thing that really stood out to me.

The Kia Sorento had all of the bells and whistles that I could have asked for. There was a panoramic sunroof, a touch screen navigation system, Sirius radio, MP3 hook up (with some special perks for those with an iPod or iPhone), a back-up camera, and keyless start! The keyless start was pretty strange at first – it was the first time I had driven a car like that. It’s definitely something I could get used to though. It was also the first time I had ever used a rear view camera. To be honest, it freaked me out! It was so odd to be looking straight ahead and yet be going in reverse! My Kia representative made sure we were safe… and made sure to get me to REALLY test out the accuracy of the camera. I was SO worried I would hit the car in the parking lot, but I didn’t.

I had a blast driving the Kia Sorento. Louise had a chance to drive one earlier this year, and she loved it too. I would have loved to just pack up the Sorento and drive it on back to my house. The ride was SO quiet and SO smooth – much quieter than my current car. I had no idea that a Kia would give such a luxury level car. I might not have been a car person… but test driving a nice, new car might have just changed all of that! Thanks, Kia!

Meet Ashley (Managing Editor at MomStart): Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at Momicles and follow her @Momicles2010 .