L.A.Times Auto review: K900 shows Kia can offer value with $66,000 price tag

Parkway Family Kia wants to challenge you to think out side of the box. Before you scoff at the idea of Kia's all-new $66,000 K900 full-size sedan, remember the lessons taught by Lexus.

Twenty-five years ago, it was absurd to think that a Japanese brand could build a high-end vehicle to challenge German luxury car leaders Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

Then Toyota's Lexus brand came out with the LS.

Like the Germans, the LS packed a V-8 and rear-wheel drive into a full-size sedan. But it did so for mid-size, V-6 money.

Critics and customers loved it. Two years later, Lexus was the bestselling premium brand in the U.S.
Kia Motors Corp., hoping to make similar waves in this rarefied world, began its move into the luxury market last year with the large Cadenza sedan, which topped out around $42,000.

But the South Korean automaker wanted something even fancier — a halo car that would help buyers of its cheapo Rio or Soul compact cars feel good about the brand.

Enter the K900, whose creamy smooth drivetrain, unbeatable value and legitimately luxurious construction should do all that — and maybe put a dent in sales of the Lexus LS 460.

A 5.0-liter V-8 version of the K900 went on sale in March, and it's impressive. Rated at 420 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, the direct-injected engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox perform admirably.

The engine provides ample whisper-quiet power, and the transmission shifts without effort or drama — though it's a little slow on the downshift. (Switching to "sport" mode eliminates this.)

It is a little thirsty. Though the Environmental Protection Agency rates the V-8 K900 at 15 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, a week of city gave us an average of 14 mpg.

On the road, our V-8 tester ate up the miles with a detached plushness. Kia has stressed comfort over handling, but the K900 offers better road feel than the completely numb Hyundai Equus on which it's based.

True, a comparably outfitted Mercedes-Benz, Audi, or BMW of equal size will deliver both comfort and responsiveness. But their V-8 models also cost at least $20,000 more.

Wrapped around all this is a body that's as unique as it could be without upsetting traditionally conservative buyers of full-size luxury sedans, with LED lights, a chromed, chain-mail grille and a rear end that looks a little like the BMW 7-Series.

The K900's interior is more spacious than the Lexus LS 460's — though it does lose some trunk space — and is also cushy. The rear passenger area is cavernous, with headrests so soft and plush they deserve their own section at Bed Bath & Beyond.

The K900's dashboard — which could use more panache if it's going to compete in the high-end market — features the same crisp and informative navigation screen we've come to love on other Kias.
But this one is to be seen, not touched. Users also have to fuss with a less-intuitive rotary knob on the center console. Buttons for the climate control and stereo are a bit scattered too.

Unfortunately, it also includes the clumsy sunroof control we hated in other Kias.

The V-8 K900 starts at $60,400. That price includes the navigation system, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, temperature-controlled nappa leather seats, panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a 900-watt, 17-speaker Lexicon sound system.

(Later this year, Kia will release the K900 with a 311-horsepower V-6, at around $50,000.)

Our tester also had a $6,000 VIP package that included adaptive cruise control, a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument panel, heads-up display, power reclining rear seats that are also ventilated and a bird's-eye camera system.

Does the K900 constitute a real challenge to the Equus? Yes. It's a better car in every way.

It can also compete with the Lexus. Though the LS 460 trumps the K900 in interior design and execution, and comes from a brand with a proven track record in the luxury world, a model equivalent to this Kia would cost around $13,000 more.

So, maybe it's really Toyota Motor Corp. that should be nervous, because it can be dangerous to let your guard down in the cutthroat world of luxury. Just ask the Germans.

Fiat vs. Soul

Parkway Family Kia is very proud of the response that the Soul is getting. Kia's Soul went on sale in 2009, and a year later it began dominating the segment and never looked back. With a savvy mix of street cred, value and usability, the Soul was one of the most popular models on Kia's lot in 2013, pulling in more than 118,000 sales.

For the second-generation version, Kia clearly didn't want to mess with success. The South Korean automaker gave the 2014 Soul a thorough, yet subtle, update. It's a smidge bigger in nearly every dimension, and it rides on a new front-wheel-drive chassis. The styling has been tweaked, but from a distance you'll need your glasses to tell the difference between old and new.

Fiat's 500L is the newest toaster in the kitchen. Picking up where the tiny 500 leaves off, the 500L is an all-new four-door model that Fiat hopes will expand its brand's reach. The fact that Mini started with just the Cooper and now sells seven different body styles is not lost on Fiat.


So with one newcomer to the field and one fan favorite hoping to keep its crown, we grabbed a 500L and Soul to see what's what. A comparison test seemed logical — until we actually drove these cars, and instantly realized there's no comparison.

One of these new squares is exemplary. The other one should never have been let out of the factory.

Fiat 500L

We'll get right to the point. This is one of the worst new cars we've driven in a long time. Nearly every aspect of this car — from the drivetrain, to the interior, to the design — is a mess.

This was more than a little surprising. On paper, the 500L seems to have a lot going for it. Under the 500L's short hood is the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Fiat uses in the extra-spicy 500 Abarth. In the 500L, it makes 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Our tester matched this engine with the six-speed dual-clutch transmission, a $1,350 option.


And yet this pairing sapped all of the joy out of driving. There was too much turbo lag to get any quick acceleration from a stop. Once the engine had revved enough to generate decent power, it was loud and coarse. The transmission lurched and shuddered where its contemporaries breeze through shifts with imperceptible quickness.

The 500L's interior is an ergonomic nightmare. The seats have all the comfort and support of a cast-iron skillet. The climate controls are positioned too low on the dashboard to see during the day. The shoddy construction and hard plastics felt cut-rate and anything but European.

The windshield is flanked by two poorly positioned A-pillars (the piece of metal that runs from the hood to the roof) on either side. This meant less visibility, giving the impression of driving some kind of cranky shuttle bus or London taxi. It looks like one from the outside too.

It's rare that a new car these days has so few redeeming qualities, and we had to search to find them. The navigation system is inexpensive. That was nice. Tall people have enough room in the back seat, something you can't say for Fiat's smaller 500.

The 500L is more fuel efficient than the Soul, putting up 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway against the Kia's 23/31 numbers. And the 500L does manage to throw off a slightly upmarket Euro vibe.

But for a brand looking to leverage its Italian roots while expanding into new segments, the 500L misses the mark by miles. Maybe its the car's provenance: The 500L is assembled at the same Serbian site where the Yugo was built.

The factory might as well be built on a grave site.

Kia Soul

Every thing the Fiat did wrong, this refreshed Kia did right. This is a happy car. A week of testing an obnoxiously yellow version left us willing to overlook the Soul's funky styling.

The happiness starts with the drivetrain. Most Souls (excluding the base model) come with a 2.0-liter direct-injected, four-cylinder engine that makes 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The duo was smooth and quiet, with plenty of power to move the Soul around. With help from a stiffer and lighter chassis, it handles better than the 500L, which leaned too much in turns. The seating position is comfortable and offers a great view of the road.

Though the Soul is more than 4 inches shorter than the 500L, the Kia trumps the Fiat's in interior space for both passengers and cargo. Instead of trying to be too stylish or hip, the dashboard is remarkably approachable and intuitive. Nearly any button needed was right where you expected it, and the touch-screen navigation system remains one of the easiest to use in the industry.

When compared with the 500L, our complaints with the Soul's interior are remarkably trivial. The button for the panoramic moon roof is stupid and made it impossible to close the glass but not the sunshade. And we could live without the goofy speakers that would glow a variety of colors depending on the music. At least you can turn this feature off.

Our tester came with everything on Kia's option menu: heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, the massive panoramic sunroof, touch-screen navigation system, backup camera, HID headlights, leather seats, etc.

This pushed its sticker price to $26,195. While the Fiat 500L Easy we tested rang in cheaper ($24,445), it also came with less (no leather, heated seats, heated steering wheel, or moon roof). Pile the same goodies onto the Fiat, and it actually ends up costing about $1,000 more than our Kia.

Bargain hunters should note that the cheapest Fiat 500L (with a six-speed manual transmission) starts at $19,995, while the cheapest Soul (with the 2.0-liter engine) sells for $18,995.

What started out as a comparison between two potentially worthy adversaries ended as anything but. Kia's new Soul deftly improves what made it a darling with consumers.


Fiat, meanwhile, does itself no favors by bringing the 500L to the U.S., a market that is still getting to know the brand after decades of absence. This is a rough reintroduction, and Fiat should have known better. We're not a group that likes the smell of a Yugo.

Kia Soul EV Plans to Make the US its Top Market

Parkway Family Kia is proud to support the movement that the new Soul EV is trying to achieve. South Korea -- Kia Motors Corp. aims to sell 5,000 electric units of its boxy Soul subcompact a year worldwide. Kia expects the United States to be the Soul EV's biggest market.

The Soul EV, which went on sale April 14 in South Korea, will hit U.S. showrooms in the second half of the year. Initially in the United States, it will be sold only in California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

Sim Hyun-sung, director of Hyundai Motor Group's eco-vehicle performance development group, did not offer a U.S. sales share of the 5,000 target. But he said the United States will be the car's biggest market because of the Soul EV's size and generous incentives, as well as increased exposure for electric vehicles thanks to stringent emissions standards.

Differing paths

Kia's first EV to be sold stateside marks a division of labor of sorts for Hyundai Motor Group. While Kia forges ahead with battery-powered EVs, corporate stablemate Hyundai develops hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

"The staggered approach to the technology launches allows us not to put all our eggs in one basket," Kia spokesman Michael Choo said. "It's a way of testing each technology on a global scale. We take this electric drivetrain very serious as an engine of future growth."

The Soul EV drivetrain, powered by a 27 kilowatt-hour lithium ion polymer battery, was developed at Hyundai Motor Group's sprawling r&d center outside Seoul, which works on the joint technology underpinning all Kia and Hyundai brand vehicles.

Kia brought most of the component development in-house, including the 81-kilowatt motor, battery pack assembly, control systems and cooling technology. It left battery cell development to an outside supplier, SK Innovation Co.

The Hyundai-Kia strategy of outsourcing cells allows the group to play the field without overcommitting to a single supplier and its technology, Sim said. The approach differs from that of Japanese rivals such as Nissan and Honda, which often form joint ventures with electronics companies to develop and produce their own cells.

Challenge

"We already have well-developed, very competitive suppliers," Sim said.

The biggest challenge for Sim and his team has been, and remains, maximizing battery life and containing cost.

Because of the battery, the Soul EV is 330 pounds heavier than its gasoline counterpart. Kia chose the Soul as its EV nameplate, Sim said, because its boxy proportions optimize interior space in an otherwise compact package.

Kia's lithium ion polymer battery ekes out extra range because it has 30 to 40 percent better energy density than other EV batteries on the market, he said.

Kia also developed a more efficient heating and air conditioning unit that draws less energy from the battery. It uses a heat pump system that harnesses waste heat and a scheduled ventilation system that allows the car to preheat or precool while it is still plugged in, further reducing the drain on the battery.

The Soul EV's range is rated 92 miles in the United States.

The balance between weight and power gives the Soul EV a 0 to 62 mph time of 11.2 seconds, which Sim said just beats the rival Nissan Leaf EV's 11.6 seconds.

Kia hasn't announced U.S. pricing. In South Korea, the Soul EV stickers for 42.5 million won, or about $41,300 at current exchange rates. But incentives of as much as $22,350 cut the cost by more than half. The battery accounts for 40 percent of the Soul EV's total cost.

Sim said the car's limited range and high price mean most buyers probably will opt for a Soul EV as a second car, not their primary vehicle.

New Kia Soul arrives in New Zealand

Parkway Family Kia is proud to announce that the second-generation Kia Soul has arrived in New Zealand with an expanded choice which includes a 2.0-litre flagship model, an increased specification level and more competitive pricing.

A $29,990 starting price is $500 below the previous model and includes three years or 45,000km free servicing, transferable to a subsequent owner.

Built on an all-new platform - which is shared with the latest Cerato family - the all-new Soul design has been inspired by the Kia Trackster concept vehicle.

The new Soul was created at Kia's American Design Center in California and the exterior similarities between Trackster and new Soul are easy to spot.

The large trapezoidal lower air intake is nearly a direct carryover from the concept and the location of the fog lights - down low and pushed to the leading edges - mirrors those on the Trackster. The "backpack" tailgate is another design cue lifted from the Trackster.

While none of the exterior body panels are carried over from the original Soul, the upright stance, squared shoulders, wraparound greenhouse, high-mounted tail lights and confidence-inspiring ride height are all hallmark design elements from the first-generation model.

The new Soul has slightly larger dimensions with the length up by 20mm (4140mm), width by 15mm (1800mm) while height drops 41mm (down to 1619mm), which makes it easier to get in and out.

The new dimensions and the extended wheelbase (up by 20mm to 2570mm) have improved the vehicle's practicality, with more space for people and cargo, plus the tailgate opening is now 62mm wider (1005mm), providing easier access to the cargo bay.

The Soul is much stronger than before, with 66 per cent ultra-high strength or high strength steel used in its structure, plus stronger connections along the cowl, B-pillars and between the C-pillars.

These measures result in a 29 per cent increase in torsional rigidity, benefiting the steering, handling and ride, as well as refinement.

It's also quieter, thanks to detailed changes to the suspension and increased use of sound-deadening materials and noise isolation technology.

The outgoing Soul was available with a 1.6-liter engine which continues with 95kW output while a 115kW 2.0-liter option has been added to the range, providing extra performance.

Also, there are now two levels of specification with the 1.6-liter engine offered in EX and SX grades and a top-of-the- range 2.0-liter SX variant.

The six-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models and also providing specification highlights on all models are a low tire pressure warning system, LED daytime running lights and Kia's Flex Steer system which offers three levels of steering assistance.

The Soul EX features air-conditioning, cruise control, smart key and push-button start, power windows, remote locking with alarm, premium audio with Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloy wheels with a $29,990 price-tag.

The SX gets premium upholstery, climate control air-conditioning, a chilled glove-box, eight-way power driver's seat adjustment, heated and ventilated front seats, front and rear parking sensors with camera, rear privacy glass, supervision instrument cluster and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Kia Soul SX pricing is $33,490 for the 1.6-liter engine and $35,490 for the 2.0-liter unit.

Parkway Family Kia will keep its eyes peeled to see if these revisions make their way to the U.S.

Thunder's Kevin Durant wins 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Parkway Family Kia is excited about the latest NBA announcement in the media. Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the NBA announced today. It is the first MVP award for Durant, who captured his fourth scoring title in five seasons, joining Wilt Chamberlain, George Gervin and Michael Jordan as the only players to accomplish this feat. Despite teammate Russell Westbrook appearing in only 46 games, Durant guided the Thunder to the NBA's second-best record at 59-23.

Durant totaled 1,232 points, including 119 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 voters that consisted of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada as well as an NBA.com MVP fan vote, making for 125 total ballots. For the fifth consecutive season, the NBA and Kia Motors America gave fans the opportunity to submit their votes by ranking their top five choices through a dedicated Web page on NBA.com. The fan vote counted as one vote and was compiled with the 124 media votes to determine the winner. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for each third-place vote, three for each fourth-place vote and one for each fifth-place vote received.

Rounding out the top five in voting are Miami's LeBron James (891 points, six first-place votes), the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin (434 points), the Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah (322 points), and the Houston Rockets' James Harden (85 points).

Durant averaged a career-best 32.0 points to go with 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists, also a career high. In capturing his fourth scoring title, he joined Jordan (10), Chamberlain (seven), Gervin (four), and Allen Iverson (four) as the only players in league annals to win at least four scoring titles. He shot .503 from the field, .391 from three-point range, and .873 from the free throw line, leading all players in free throws made (703) and attempted (805). Durant authored two 50-point games, topped the 40-point mark on 14 occasions, and turned in 17 games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Durant's consistency was highlighted by his streak of 41 consecutive games scoring at least 25 points, which ran from Jan. 7 through April 6, and was the longest streak since Michael Jordan did it in 40 straight games during the 1986-87 season. It's the third-longest streak (single season) in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain, who did it in all 80 games during the 1961-62 season, and Oscar Robertson, who went for 25-plus in 46 straight games during the 1963-64 season. Chamberlain did it for 106 straight games over the course of the 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons.
The winner of four Kia NBA Player of the Month honors in 2013-14 (October-November, December, January and March), Durant was also named Player of the Week six times (Dec. 2, Dec. 30, Jan. 20, Jan. 27, Feb. 10 and March 24).

The NBA MVP trophy is named in honor of the late Maurice Podoloff, the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement in 1963.

As part of its support of the Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Motors America (KMA) will donate an all-new 2015 Kia Sorento LX CUV to Moore Youth & Family Services on behalf of Durant. Kia Motors will present a Sorento to the charity of choice of each of five 2013-14 year-end award winners as part of "The Kia NBA Performance Awards." Following this season, Kia Motors will have donated a total of 31 new vehicles to charitable organizations since its support of the NBA's prestigious year-end honors began in 2008.

The 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award is part of a series of on-court performance awards called "The Kia NBA Performance Awards." The series, currently in its seventh season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between KMA and the NBA, and includes five of the league's most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, Most Improved Player Award, and Rookie of the Year. The series also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month and the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month during the regular season. Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the Kia Optima is the league's Official Vehicle. For more information on "The Kia NBA Performance Awards" visit www.NBA.com/awards.

Kia's Possible Future with the Clippers

Parkway Family Kia is excited to announce the possibility of returning to the NBA with the removal of Donald Sterling. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dispatched some swift justice yesterday on the bigoted owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling. The 80-year-old billionaire was banned for life and fined $2.5 million for making strongly racist remarks that were recorded on tape. Commissioner Silver has also vowed to try and force Sterling to sell the Clippers in a bid to sever any and all connection between him and the NBA.

Sponsors had rapidly abandoned the Clippers, with covers like the one above going up on sponsor logos during a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors earlier this week, due to the strong and vocal public condemnation of Sterling and his views. With the punishments in place, though, the door has been opened for Kia, the southern California dealer group for Mercedes-Benz and used-car retailer CarMax (among other, less auto-related organizations like State Farm, Red Bull and Sprint) to renew their sponsorship with the team.

"We stand with the Commissioner, the league, the players and the fans condemning Mr. Sterling's views. We look forward to a positive resolution and continuing our relationships within the NBA community, including our league and team sponsorships and our personal ties to [Clippers star] Blake Griffin," Kia said in a statement obtained by Automotive News.

Mercedes-Benz was simpler and more ambiguous in its statement, saying, "We applaud the decisive action taken by the NBA and we're evaluating how we will move forward."

CarMax, meanwhile, was also vague on whether it'd return. "We welcome the opportunity to discuss future sponsorship if this matter is fully resolved," the retailer said in a statement.

We at Parkway Family Kia will keep our ear to the ground and keep you posted on the news to come. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

The Kia Evolution

Parkway Family Kia is celebrating the fact that 2014 marks Kia’s twentieth year in the U.S. market. In that time, Kia Motors America has experienced unprecedented growth-18 years of consecutive sales growth-while investing more than $1.4 billion in its first U.S. assembly plant and creating more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs. Kia enters 2014 poised to continue its momentum.

Kia’s rapid rise over the past five years has been fueled by a willingness to challenge the status quo with vehicles like the Optima, Sorento, and Cadenza, dramatically raising the profile of the brand. Kia’s aggressive new vehicle launch cadence continues into 2014, including an all-new minivan and the Soul EV. The first release of the year, though, is the boldest symbol yet of just how far Kia has risen: the all-new 2015 K900 flagship luxury sedan. The K900 is the next logical progression, demonstrating Kia’s world-class design and technological sophistication, and will continue to help redefine the brand going forward.

Along with iconic design, the 2014Soul offers an improved ride and handling, as well as an impressive suite of high-tech options. If that weren’t enough, Soul is now forecast to retain its value better than any other vehicle in its class. To that end, Soul was recognized with a Residual Value Award from ALG, a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry. Each year ALG recognizes vehicles that are predicted to best retain value in their class, and Soul earned top honors in the subcompact utility segment for its premium feel and competitive pricing. ALG determines Residual Value Award winners based on a variety of factors including careful analysis of the automotive industry, the vehicle’s performance, quality and the overall price.