Ultimate in bang for your buck.

This vehicle truly represents Kia's coming out. Finally the reputation for cheap parts and shoddy workmanship can be laid to rest.

--Appearance--

This is definitely a modern looking vehicle, on par with anything major import competitors can conjure. From its clear headlight and taillight lenses and flared fenders to its aggressive grille and sporty roof-mounted antenna, this car screams for the open road. Its small frame is maximized by its relatively tall stature, but not to a point where it looks unstable or awkward. The 15" alloy wheels complement the fender flares much better than either the 15" or 14" steel wheels. I have the SX trim myself, and the sport fabric, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob along with red accent stitching on the doors and seats truly brings life back into the subcompact class. Its look is sporty but not overdone, don't get me wrong. There's no mistaking it for a sports car. But it does give the appearance that it's not grandma's Kia.

--Ride--

The ride is a bit rough on all but the smoothest of pavement, but this is justified by its nimble handling. I've heard that the base and LX models tend to be a bit unsteady on their 155 and 165 width tires, but the 185s on the SX really help this little car corner with the best of them. Its stiff frame and suspension doesn't allow much body roll when turning tight or fast corners, making the car feel just that much more stable on its feet. Wind noise on the highway isn't as much as I expected, although it is noticeable.

--Performance--

Don't get me wrong, this car is built for economy first, but its fun aspect is a direct result. The small engine is a bit rev happy, with best acceleration above about 4500 rpm. But, for a normally aspirated 1.6L, its 110 horsepower seem well above its weight class. This is in part due to the car's lean design. With a curb weight of just 2365 lbs, the variable valve timing really squeezes the most out of Kia's little I4. That gives it 21.5 lbs/hp. Compare that to Honda Civic at 2,738 lbs, 140 HP (19.55 lbs/hp), or Mitsubishi Lancer at 2,922 lbs, 152 HP (19.22 lbs/hp). So you can take the $4000 you save and invest in some parts. Just a meager 13HP increase and you're precisely on par.