news 7-24 (7)

Evan is an East Coast based automotive journalist and a Certified Engineering Technologist. He is an avid autocrosser, hack mechanic, and a member of AJAC. If you don't find him driving or writing about cars, you'll probably find him in the garage breaking one.

New Sante Fe looks nothing like the old one

Hyundai revealed the latest generation of the Santa Fe three-row crossover and the model is getting a serious style upgrade. The blocky new look with H-shape LED lights front and rear looks like it will absolutely stand out in the crowded crossover market. The new Santa Fe will be larger than the model it replaces for more interior space. On the inside, expect it to be more conventional, though. Sharing a 12.3-inch cluster and integrated centre screen design with models like the latest Tucson. The cabin will add some sustainable materials, including a headliner and seat backs made from recycled plastics. While we don't have powertrain details yet, expect Hyundai to reveal those sometime in August.

Mach-E Rally

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177023" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-6.jpg" alt="Mustang Mach-E Rally" width="2500" height="1667" />

Ford showed off a rally-ready version of the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/review-2021-ford-mustang-mach-e-gt">Mustang Mach-E</a> last week. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is a version of the electric crossover designed for going fast on rougher roads. Ford was short on details, other than to confirm it would be going on sale here, but this is what we know: The Mach-E Rally will have a taller suspension, beefier wheels, and tires suited to going fast on gravel. The Mach-E Rally will be based on the quicker GT model and it will get some styling changes including a rear wing and fog lights mounted inside the flat grille.

Mazda CX-50 pricing

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177022" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-5.jpg" alt="Mazda CX-50" width="2500" height="1666" />

Mazda has priced the 2024 CX-50. The rough-road-oriented crossover will start from $39,300, about $1,000 more than last year. There are some small changes, recalibrated steering and new dampers, part of the brand's continual improvement drive. The base <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-mazda-cx-50-gt-turbo">CX-50</a> GS-L gets a 187 hp 2.5L four and has standard all-wheel drive. Mazda will also continue to offer the 227 hp 2.5T on the CX-50 GT Turbo ($46,750) and Turbo Meridian Edition. That engine upgrade comes with a 3,500 lb towing capacity.

Muscly new Mercedes-Benz GLC

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177021" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-4.jpg" alt="New Mercedes GLC 63 S" width="2500" height="1668" />

Mercedes-Benz is showing off the new Mercedes-AMG GLC SUVs, with both the GLC 43 and GLC 63 S E Performance getting 2.0L turbo-fours. The 2024 GLC 43's version of the engine makes 416 hp plus a small boost from the belt-driven starter-generator. The 2025 GLC 63 S tweaks that 2.0 up to an astonishing 469 hp. On top of that, an AMG electric motor developed using F1 tech adds 201 hp for a total of 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. Both get adaptive damping and the GLC 63 S has active roll control. Active rear steering is standard, and both get big brake upgrades. That's four-pot calipers for 43 and six-pots for the 63. The interiors will feature AMG sports seats and AMG trim and instrument cluster displays as well as a flat-bottom performance wheel. Both go on sale next year.

All-new Chevy Traverse

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177020" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-3.jpg" alt="2024 Chevrolet Traverse Z71" width="2500" height="1668" />

Chevrolet debuted the 2024 Traverse. The new big three-row gets styling that is meant to make it look more SUV rugged than crossover friendly. The <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2022-chevrolet-traverse-rs-review">Traverse</a> will also ditch its 3.6L V6 for a 2.5L turbo-four making 315 hp and 317 lb-ft. A new cabin includes an 11-inch digital dash and a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and while overall space drops a few litres to 2,763, it should still be best-in-class for cargo. GM's Super Cruise hands-off driving assistant will be added to the options list and the list of standard driver assists has grown significantly. Also new for 2024 is a Z71 off-road model that features a new twin-clutch AWD system, a high-clearance front fascia, all-terrain tires, and a one-inch lift kit. The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse is expected at dealers early next year.

Kia EV9 reservations opening soon

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177018" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-1.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2500" height="1667" />

Kia will start taking reservations for the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/first-look-2024-kia-ev9">EV9 three-row</a> EV on the last day of July. The EV is set to hit dealers later this year (with pricing to follow), but we do have some more information about the model. The EV9, slightly longer than Telluride, will offer a 99.8 kWh battery. It will have a single-motor configuration targeting 480 km of range or a 379 hp dual-motor with no range estimate given.

Toyota bringing Mirai FCEV to YEG

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177019" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/news-7-24-2.jpg" alt="Toyota Mirai YEG" width="2500" height="1667" />

Toyota is partnering with Edmonton International Airport to bring 100 Mirai fuel-cell vehicles to the city's roads. Some of the vehicles will be used on-site to replace existing airport vehicles, but others will be used by airport partners including rental fleets and taxi companies. "YEG's fleet of Toyota Mirai FCEVs will help accelerate the use of hydrogen in Alberta and having on-site hydrogen fueling infrastructure will make them a true hub, spurring the growth of Alberta's hydrogen economy," said Toyota Canada VP Stephen Beatty.

News Roundup: Mustang Mach-E Rally, New Traverse, Mercedes has a 671 hp Four, More

2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-02

Ever since his dad started bringing home a weekly Matchbox or Hot Wheels toy as a toddler, Matthew has had a slightly unhealthy obsession with everything motorized. When an opportunity was presented in 2006 to start writing about his experiences, he jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back. And while he still relishes every chance he gets behind the wheel of something with a performance bent (and preferably three pedals), his happy place is being somewhere, anywhere on a motorcycle.

Prince Edward County, ON – In just three short years, Kia’s Seltos has become the brand’s best-selling vehicle. Last year, that translated to 25% of all Kia vehicles sold in Canada being one of the diminutive SUVs named after the son of Hercules. And while that may not surprise anyone – given its price point, size and the fact that it resides in one of the fastest-growing automotive segments in Canada – what’s most impressive is that the Seltos is the market’s leader.

To fend off competitors and stay atop the lists of Canadian shoppers, Kia has given the Seltos a fairly extensive refresh for the 2024 model year. The aesthetics have been tweaked both inside and out to be sure, but safety features and improved tech have been added, too. Spring rates, compression and damping have been re-tuned to deliver a better ride, the 1.6L Turbo-GDI found in top trims has been given a 20 horsepower bump and it transmits power through an 8-speed automatic transmission (instead of the 7-speed DCT).

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176238" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-21.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="1500" height="1000" />

With keys to a Neptune Blue ($250) SX in hand and plenty of empty, too-early-for-tourist-season PEC roads ahead, I forged out from the hipsterrific Drake Devonshire Hotel to explore the region and play around with the 2024 Seltos SX.

Pretty on the Outside

The Seltos has always had an attractive design, at least in my eyes. Short overhangs, taut lines and a pseudo-Hofmeister kink can go a long way. For 2024, very little has changed to its overall silhouette but I think the touches it has received work in its favour.

Up front, there is a lot less going on. Many of the unnecessary horizontal lines from the original have been binned. The bisected grill is gone and the gaping maw of black that remains delivers a simpler, less busy appearance. The front splitter gets a similar, simpler design and the foglights are no longer connected by black trim.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176254" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-06.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="1500" height="1000" />

A similar approach was taken in the rear with a general “tidying up” of some overwrought elements.

All in all, it's a less is more approach that works to both modernize and mature the Seltos enough that I think it will age better than the original when the next refresh cycle hits.

An Interior that Works

The Seltos’ interior is well laid out and attractively presented. In SX guise (also standard on EX Premium models) the new, expansive dual 10.25” infotainment and gauge cluster is well integrated into the dash and offers crisp visuals. The touchscreen was a bit laggy in its response time, but fairly easy to negotiate. I was surprised to learn that both CarPlay and AndroidAuto are a wired affair in the upper trims, while the base EX gets wireless connectivity.

I am happy to note that beneath the central touchscreen display there are proper HVAC buttons and radio control knobs that muscle memory can easily log for less distracted drives.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176249" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-10.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="1500" height="1000" />

The powered, heated, and cooled seats are well-bolstered and comfortable and the reach to the flat-bottomed steering wheel is easily tailored. Depending on your preferred setup, you may have to look over and around bits of the steering wheel for a full view of the gauges, but there is a head-up display for the essentials.

Rear seats can fit an adult frame and will also fold flat for an extra 1,000-litres of storage (1,778 down, 752 up).

I’m less impressed by the decision to push the all-black hue across nearly the entire fleet. There is a “gentle brown” interior option that does a lot of heavy lifting to lighten the mood inside, but it isn’t available on Neptune Blue models – in fact it can only be picked if you go with some boring shade of grey, white or black – which is both a shame and a crime against fashion. Black shoes with a blue suit? Trying to dress up like a bruise, are we?

Regardless, the insides are functional, comfortable and attractive. And, provided you’re willing to accept hard plastics over a steeper MSRP, it should serve drivers and passengers well.

Speaking of Drivers

Plant your right foot and the 1.6L Turbo GDI propels the Seltos with enough gusto to impress. The engine develops 195 horsepower (up from 175), matching its Hyundai Kona platform-mate. An equal measure of torque hits nice and low on the tachometer (1,600 rpm) and carries steadily until the ponies take over (4,500 rpm).

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176243" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-16.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="1500" height="1000" />

Pop the Seltos SX into Sport Mode and the eight-speed automatic transmission will cling to each gear just a little bit longer. The engine mapping feels a little sharper here too and, despite the few pennies it would likely cost at the pumps, is likely where I’d leave my Seltos for daily driving. It’s not that there's anything wrong with “Normal” mode, but the shifts did feel a bit muddled at points and if you can make something feel a little more alive with the touch of a button, why wouldn’t you?

The retuned suspension is on the firmer side for a small SUV. Bumps and imperfections are still absorbed without alarm or crash but if you prefer plushness over performance, this may not be your ideal ride. Personally, I found the handling to be better and more engaging than I had expected – as if some of Hyundai’s N-tech found its way into the Kia mix – which is no bad thing.

The steering is well weighted and there is some communication from the tires, but the system errs toward the numb side of things. The perforated leather-wrapped tiller packs just enough chunk to feel appropriately sporty and I’m a sucker for a flat-bottomed wheel. Essential controls for the radio and baked-in safety tech can be found at your thumbs.

The Seltos SX comes fully loaded with collision avoidance, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, blind spot assist (which are standard on all models) and adds cross traffic avoidance assist, smart cruise control and collision avoidance with junction turning as well.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176257" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2024_Kia_Seltos_SX-01.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="1500" height="1000" />

Final Thoughts

Clearly, Kia had the recipe for success with its Seltos right from the start and Canadian consumers were quick to spot it. This mid-cycle refresh has enhanced what was already good (the looks, ride and handling), fixed what was most nagging (a lack of power and herky-jerky DCT) and tackled that with only a slight increase in MSRP (~$1,500) and a minor decrease in mileage. The only misstep I could spot with this Seltos was the lack of towing capability, especially in the “ruggedized” X-Line trim. But if the toys you bring with you are mostly stuffies for the kids or dog in the back seats, that probably won’t matter much at all.
<h3>2024 Kia Seltos SX</h3>
Body Style: 4-door, 5-passenger, compact SUV

Price as tested: $35,795

Engine: 1.6 Litre, Turbo, inline-4 cylinder

Transmission / Drive: 8-speed automatic / All Wheel Drive

Power: 195 HP / 195 lb-ft of torque
Fuel Economy (Premium Gasoline in L/100 km): N/A
Cargo Capacity: 752 litres (1,778 litres total)

Website: <a href="https://www.kia.ca/en/vehicles/2024/seltos">Kia Canada</a>

2024 Kia Seltos First Drive Review

2023 Kia Niro ev main header

For over half a decade, Dan Heyman has written professionally about cars and car culture, specializing in luxury/performance vehicles, 4 x 4s and pickup trucks, with a micro city car or two thrown in for good measure. If he's not striking a spacebar, he's likely out photographing cars on the twists and turns of the Coast Mountain roads outside his hometown of Vancouver, BC, or cutting a line on a racetrack.

The Kia Niro has always had a bit of a strange spot in the line-up, hasn’t it? After all, here’s a vehicle with definite small or compact-crossover vibes, but with a body shape that was somehow reminiscent of the Kia Rondo people mover. Styling-wise, it had its moments but there wasn’t a huge variety of eye-catching details to really write home about. Sure; there was the tiger nose grille and some headlights that bore an obvious resemblance to the items on the Sportage crossover but you probably wouldn’t select the old Niro in a “which car defines our look?” query over at Kia. It has to be said that its main claim to fame was the variety of powertrain types, a list that included a fully-electrified (BEV) model. That’s great, but then the Niro’s <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/2024-hyundai-kona-and-kona-electric-debut-in-new-york">Hyundai Kona</a> cousin came along, eventually got a BEV variant of its own AND had a very unique look, helping it gain a massive following.

Well, Kia has set out to change that in a big way with the all-new 2023 model and by the looks of things, they are no longer content to let their cousins from ‘round the way steal all the spotlight in the BEV crossover game.

As it often is in the world of passenger cars, the new Niro’s massive headlights and vertical taillights are the defining factors that have it looking like nothing else, not even other Kias.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175801" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7470.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Niro EV" width="2000" height="1333" />

Oh, except one thing, and it actually has nothing to do with any other Kias, but something from a different automaker entirely. Those contrast-colour side blades you see aft of the rear doors? You can’t look at those and tell me you don’t see a Smart ForTwo – or if you really want, the ForTwo’s not-for-North-America ForFour sibling. I actually don’t mind the look, but it seems Kia is a little self-conscious of it because you can only get the two-tone look on one trim – the Limited seen here -- and only with a single base colour choice: Snow White Pearl. Personally, I’d like to see how a pair of darker carbon-coloured side blades set against a red or blue base colour would look.

Speaking of looks: the feature is actually about more than just that, as it serves as a pass-through for rushing air, providing better aerodynamics and better range, the latter of which is a claimed 407 km; I started with my battery at 97 per cent charge and 378 km of range. After driving 100 km, my computer told me I had 227 km remaining at 60 per cent charge; that’s off the pace a little bit, but range anxiety was never really an issue for me during my time with the Kia Niro EV. When hooked up to a DC fast charger, meanwhile, the Niro will go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in about 45 minutes at speeds of up to 85 kW.

For me, though, more than just how fast the Niro can charge, it was about the manner in which it does so and by that I mean how it physically hooks up to a charger. There’s no need to painstakingly dodge bollards at a Petro-Canada fast charger in order to get a side-mounted charge port aligned with the (annoyingly stiff) charge cable; just drive in nose first, and you’re good because that’s where the charge port is located, and where it should be on any EV. So thank you, Kia, for doing it right.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-175790 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7427.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Niro EV" width="2000" height="1333" />

While the exterior, with its flashy headlight lenses and side blades and two-tone 17-inch wheels is a head-turner, the interior can’t quite match it. For a long time, Kia’s buttoned-down interiors with their dark tuxedo-like ambience worked; now, however, times have changed and things are going brighter and a little more, well, fun. Look no further than the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/first-drive-2022-hyundai-ioniq-5">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> to see just what I’m on about. Sure; Kia has tried to brighten things up a little by adding a splash of colour ahead of the front passenger and having twin digital displays for your gauge cluster and infotainment, but that’s about it. I’m also not fully sold on the dual climate control/navigation control button bank at the base of the centre stack -- you can change what it controls with the press of a button. It’s here, of course, to help reduce clutter and while other efforts in that vein such as the transmission control dial do work well, this is a little finicky.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175789" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7420.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Niro EV" width="2000" height="1333" />

It is a comfortable place to sit, though; that roof is high so headroom isn’t a problem either front or rear and they’ve managed to jam the wheels into the corners and stretch the cabin for some pretty good legroom, too. Add handy features like a front trunk – it’s shallow, but I’m glad it’s here – and low rear cargo floor and you have a very practical and accessible small hatch…crossover…thing.

Power is rated at 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, fine figures for a small car but down in the torque department to the old model. That’s too bad, but the new car isn’t slow, racing to the 100 km/h mark in about 6.5 seconds and always seeming to have the juice required to not leave you hanging during highway manoeuvres, especially in more responsive sport mode.

As responsive as the powertrain is, the handling is the highlight here. With its 64.8 kWh battery stuffed neatly into the floor, the centre of gravity is low and body roll is kept to a minimum. The steering could have a little more feel – it’s a little squishy as is – but the front end is responsive so the Niro EV is a pleasure to thread through town in, as it should be.

Far as I’m concerned, the handling, the power and even the interior accoutrements have me thinking compact hatchback as opposed to compact crossover. Many – probably including Kia themselves – will argue against that but to me, it has come to 2023 with a properly fleshed-out identity and with a base MSRP of $47,844 before incentives, it is about as attainable as you get in the current EV market. That’s a lot of win, right there.
<h3>2023 Kia Niro EV</h3>
BODY STYLE: Five-door compact hatchback

DRIVE METHOD: front-wheel drive
ENGINE: front permanent magnet synchronous EV motor, 201 hp, 188 lb-ft

ESTIMATED RANGE: 407 km
TRANSMISSION: single-speed automatic

CARGO CAPACITY: 645-1,804 L

TOWING CAPACITY: N/A

Base MSRP: $47,844

WEBSITE:  <a href="https://www.kia.ca/en/vehicles/2023/niro/ev">Kia Niro EV</a>

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2023 Kia Niro EV Review

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Whether it’s a first-drive feature from the sun-soaked California coast, a quick news story about an off-road pickup that may (or may not) be coming to your local dealership or a review of a hot new sports sedan, somewhere Lee Bailie is writing about cars and car culture, something he’s been doing for almost a decade. A car guy to the core, he went on his first automotive plant tour at age seven.

NEW YORK – Kia took a big step forward on its electrification path when it unveiled the 2024 EV9 at the New York International Auto Show last week, marking the vehicle’s North American debut.

Arriving in Canada near the end of the year, the three-row, fully electric EV9 SUV ushers in a host of technologies and breaks new ground for the company on several fronts including design, interfacing, material usage, and safety.

On the design front, the EV9 is the first Kia to express the company’s “Opposites United” design language, which, “masters the creative tension generated by the divergent values of nature and modernity to create a harmonious whole,” according to a statement.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175643" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_E3845-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2560" height="1440" />

Key highlights include the reimagined Tiger Nose which, on the EV9, is referred to as the Tiger Face, and incorporates slim LED headlights and available smaller Star Map LEDs that form an animated Digital Pattern Lighting Grille that can be customized. For more on the EV9 design go <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/first-look-2024-kia-ev9">here</a>.

The EV9 sports a boxy and triangular shape with a large greenhouse, and a long, flat roof that highlights the car’s blocky visuals. In terms of size, it is the biggest Kia SUV, with a footprint that is slightly longer than that of the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-kia-telluride-x-line-review-2">Telluride</a>. The EV9 is 5,010 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, 1,755 mm tall, and rides on a 3,100 mm wheelbase.

On the utility front, the EV9 has 521 litres of cargo volume behind the third row and 2,320 litres with second and third-row seats folded down. Maximum towing is rated at 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), with 7.8 inches (198 mm) of ground clearance.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175647" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_E3865-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2560" height="1440" />

As for the powertrain, the EV9 is built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (electric global modular platform) architecture and will utilize fourth-generation battery tech. Canadian models will be powered by a 99.8 kWh battery, with either single or dual electric motors.

Projected range for the single motor has been pegged at 480 km, but Kia has yet to reveal a number for the dual motor. Power output for the latter is rated at 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. Single motor output figures are pending. Dual motor models will also feature torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.

In terms of charging, the EV9 uses an 800-volt charging infrastructure and can support a maximum speed of 230 kW on a DC fast charger. Kia projects a 10 – 80 percent state of charge will take less than 25 minutes with a fast charger capable of that output. An 11 kW onboard charger aids with level 2 charging.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175648" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_E3867-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2560" height="1440" />

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175645" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_E3857-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2560" height="1440" />

For the passenger experience, Kia is creating a “modern sanctuary” in the EV9 cabin, with new approaches for the Human Machine Interface (HMI), which refers to the way passengers interact with a car’s systems, such as multimedia, and CMF (colour, materials, and finish), which covers trim materials and their sourcing.

For HMI, the EV9 uses haptic switches located in the dash panel for some multimedia functions that remain hidden until lit and are only visible when the car is turned on. Some physical buttons remain for climate controls, which are neatly located below air vents in the centre dash.

With respect to CMF, the EV9 uses sustainable materials such as non-leather (polyurethane) seating surfaces, some BTX-free (benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers) trim panels and some carpeting that is made from partially recycled materials such as plastic bottles.

The EV9 also pushes the ball forward on the tech front, with items like dual-display digital cockpit screens, multiple cameras for a 360-degree view, Digital Key, and, in a first for Kia, vehicle system updates that will be pushed out over-the-air, similar to smartphones. Kia mentioned the latter as a “strategic move towards software-defined vehicles,” in a statement, so the feature appears to be a sign of things to come for the brand.

Another noteworthy interior feature involves seating where every EV9 seat is considered “executive class”. First and second-row seats have an available Relaxation Mode, which includes power-operated leg rests. Second row seats are also 8-way power adjustable, heated and cooled, and can be rotated to face the third row. Six and seven-passenger configurations will be available at launch.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175652" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_E3895-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="2560" height="1440" />

Kia is also raising the bar on the safety front with the EV9. In addition to a long list of active and passive safety gear found on many new cars, the EV9 will be the first Kia in North America to receive Advanced Highway Driving Assist (AHDA) and Lane Following Assist 2 (LFA-2). AHDA uses lidar-based technology, while LFA-2 helps keep the vehicle centred in its lane.

Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA-2) comes standard, and it helps to maintain a set distance from the car in front, along with keeping it within lane markers on highways and assist with lane changes when specific conditions are met.

Kia Canada didn’t release pricing or specific trim details in New York, but expect those to be rolled out closer to launch.

Kia EV9 makes North American debut in New York

EV9 Global Reveal

After a bit of a build-up, Kia’s three-row EV SUV flagship, the Kia EV9, made its official debut at company headquarters in Seoul earlier this week.

The Kia EV9, which is the first vehicle to carry the company’s new design language, Opposites United, along with a host of new technology and features, will arrive in Canada in the second half of this year as a 2024 model. Pricing and model lineup for Canada will be announced closer to launch.

Of note, the EV9 will make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show next week, where I will be in attendance to collect some in-person impressions, snap a few photos and talk to various Kia reps about the car. That story will cover the EV9 in its totality, whereas this one is focused primarily on its striking design.

And there’s a lot to dig into on that front. So much so, in fact, that Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center, was selected to lead the reveal event.

Habib walked the audience, which included more than 100 global auto journalists who were watching the presentation on Zoom, through the meaning of Opposites United, Kia’s new design philosophy that is meant to harness the creative tension, “generated by the divergent values of nature and modernity to deliver a harmonious whole,” according to a company statement.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-175382 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20112_EV9_Global_Reveal.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="1350" height="759" />

During the presentation, Habib, a Canadian of Lebanese descent who has spent a quarter century in automotive design for BMW, Infiniti and Kia, explained the EV9’s aesthetic.

“Every Kia has a different interpretation, or a different version, of the Tiger Nose,” he began.

“In this case, we’ve reinterpreted into what we now call the Tiger Mask. [We call it the] Tiger Mask because we’ve integrated all the different elements of the front (of the vehicle) into this new face, this new mask.

“First, I’d like to point to the Digital Pattern Lighting. So, this is an innovative new technology that we have where you see the light shining through the body colour. These are different patterns that you can customize and choose to your own taste.

“Now, this combined with the headlamps, and the upper tab and lower tab which is the way we call in design the relationship between the upper part and lower part of the Tiger Nose. All of this together creates the new Tiger Mask,” Habib said.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175380" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20114_EV9_Global_Reveal.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="1350" height="759" />

Habib went on to explain the EV9’s long and boxy, yet upright proportions were the result of the design team’s intent to create a generous amount of interior space, both for occupants and cargo. He noted the EV9’s long straight roof that flows into the rear spoiler, along with a large greenhouse, where all side windows are roughly the same size, as examples of the EV9’s big SUV proportionality.

And the EV9 is big: 5,010 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, 1,755 mm tall, and with a 3,100 mm wheelbase. Prominent wheels, ranging in size from 19 to 21 inches, are also on the menu.

Thanks in part to a flat floor, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) architecture, the EV9 offers a range of six and seven-seater options. Among these are relaxation seats in the first row, second row seats that can be a three-seat bench, relaxation-style, or swivel-type two-seaters that can be turned to face the third row. Interesting factoid, among many, is the second-row relaxation seats recline together while the EV9 is charging.

There’s a lot more to get into, but I’ll save that for my EV9 deep dive story dropping next week. But I’ll close with some basic information.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175378" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20116_EV9_Global_Reveal.jpg" alt="Kia EV9" width="1350" height="750" />

The EV9 features an 800-volt charging infrastructure with a range of about 541 km based on European WLTP testing. These figures tend to shrink when testing is conducted by the EPA and NRCan, so that’s something to watch for. Kia notes, however, that the EV9 can charge up to 239 km range in about 15 minutes with the use of a fast charger.

As for the drivetrain, the EV9 feature’s Kia’s fourth gen battery tech, which in this case is a 76.1 kWh unit for Standard RWD models, and a 99.8 kWh pack for RWD Long Range and AWD variants. RWD Long Range models use a 150 kW electric motor, while the Standard RWD receives a 160 kW unit. The AWD model has two motors, which produce a combined 238 kW (319 hp) and 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft.) of torque.

The model range for Canada has not been confirmed, but more information will be announced in the coming months.

As for a high-performance GT-type variant, Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed at the reveal that one is currently in development and should arrive in 2025, which means it will likely debut next year.

First Look: 2024 Kia EV9

Kia Niro front

Living in rural Nova Scotia, Matthew Guy has immersed himself in car culture for over 30 years and relishes the thought of a good road trip. A certified gearhead, he enjoys professionally writing about cars and is very pleased to contribute for wheels.ca.

His work has also appeared on Car Throttle, The Truth About Cars, and in CAA Magazine. Find him on Twitter @matthewkguy

Setting aside conversations about the impact of electric cars and the state of public charging infrastructure in many parts of this country (those are rows we can save for another day) there’s no arguing there are more choices in the market than ever before. Kia has taken an interesting tack by offering multiple options in similar segments, one of which is the  Kia Niro EV.

Occupying a unique space in terms of size – larger than a <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2022-hyundai-kona-n-review">Hyundai Kona</a>, smaller than a Toyota RAV4 – the Niro is available as either a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric. It’s the latter we’ll focus on today. Starting at $44,995 for an entry level Premium trim, it has an advertised range of 407 kilometres when its 64.8 kWh battery is full of juice. Its electric motor is capable of making just over 200 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft of torque, all of which is available the instant its driver flexes their big toe. Kia says the Niro can hoover enough electrons from a Level 3 100kW fast charger to replenish its battery in 45 minutes (bank on 9hr overnight charge if using a Level 2 you’ve installed at home; figure about 2.5 days when plugged into a standard 120V household outlet).

Only the midnight-hued Aurora Black is offered as a $0 colour on the Niro Premium, with Snow White Pearl and Steel Grey costing an extra 250 bones. The absence of roof rails is a dead giveaway to this trim’s base status but features like heated sideview mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels are present. And if anyone mistakes those towering LED tail lamps for something out of a Cadillac catalogue, Kia won’t argue.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174921" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Kia-Niro-int.png" alt="Kia Niro EV" width="1800" height="986" />

Inside, customers will find heated seats up front (important in an EV since they help occupants warm up quickly but don’t use much juice), automatic climate control, and a steering wheel that adjusts for reach and rake. That wheel is peppered with buttons, some of which control the brand’s intelligent cruise control system which can act as a useful anti-fatigue device on long journeys. Infotainment is taken care of by a 10.25-inch multimedia interface which features built in nav and the ability to haul in satellite radio stations. It also works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Another 10.25-inch screen sits ahead of the driver as a gauge cluster and may be configured umpteen different ways.

What We'd Choose

It’s a $3,000 walk to the Premium+ trim, a level which sounds like a soup cracker but actually adds a few key features – some of them important to the EV ownership experience. Atop this list is a heat pump, a piece of kit which warms the cabin more efficiently than a resistive heater and should be considered a must-have in order to stretch the driving range of any EV. It’s tempting to recommend the Premium+ for this feature alone.

But there are a few extra goodies included for yer extra 3 large, such as a power liftgate at the rear and wireless device charging in the cabin. Seats are upgraded to a cloth/synthetic (read: fake) leather mix, the steering wheel gains heat, and urchins in the peanut gallery are #blessed with an armrest in the centre of their bench.

Toss in the newfound ability to select tasty colours like Runway Red or Mineral Blue (for $250, natch), and the Premium+ trim becomes an easy recommendation.

Every week, wheels.ca selects a new vehicle and takes a good look at its entry-level trim. If we find it worthy of your consideration, we'll let you know. If not, we'll recommend one - or the required options - which earns a passing grade.

Base Camp: 2023 Kia Niro EV

telluride (3 of 19)

There's nothing like the holiday roadtrip to put a big family hauler to the test. Loading up with luggage, people, and dogs, then heading out for more than a thousand kilometres of winter-dreary roadway in conditions ranging from snow-covered to rain to ice-covered. This year's saw me behind the wheel of Kia's largest model, the refreshed for 2023 Telluride three-row SUV.

Kia didn't make many changes to the Telluride with the 2023 refresh, but the copy I'm testing had nearly all of them. To start, it was the new X-Line trim which brings 10 mm of extra ground clearance and raised roof rails. While those changes make it a tiny bit more capable off-road and better able to take cargo boxes, skis, and kayaks along with you, neither one of them is likely to make the vehicle more highway friendly.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174801" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/telluride-17-of-19-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia Telluride X-Line" width="2560" height="1707" />

It also has Kia's new dual 12.3-inch panoramic display screens. The two big displays - one for the digital dash and one for infotainment - share a bezel-free panel. It's clean and bright, and even without a cover was easy to see in all of the horrendous lighting conditions that winter has to offer. Only the EX-spec Telluride gets an analogue dash this year, all of the rest get this big new double display.

Kia has changed up the styling, too, giving it new headlights and taillamps. If you can tell the difference without looking at the two back to back, you probably work for Kia. Still, despite the subtle changes, the Telluride wasn't exactly broken to begin with. It's a rugged and handsome-looking large crossover that manages to avoid blending in with so many similar vehicles on the market.

The rugged exterior carries over into the cabin, especially when equipped with teracotta brown leather like this example. The saddle-leather look with quilted stitching adds to the go-anywhere appearance and gives me more confidence in the vehicle's abilities. Then there are the big and beefy hand-holds on the centre console. You know, so you can pull yourself into this lifted crossover and hold yourself in place when you're crawling over rocks.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174799" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/telluride-14-of-19-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia Telluride X-Line" width="2560" height="1707" />

Ok, fine, nobody is crawling over rocks in their Telluride, and this isn't even the X-Pro that gets all-terrain tires on more dirt-friendly 18-inch wheels. It doesn't matter because it looks like it can do all of those things, and that makes you feel like it can and you will. With six passengers and a week of camping gear, of course. That look and that feeling is massively popular right now and, frankly, it's fun.

Why? Because as I spend the morning loading up with luggage and finding a way for my Dalmatian to sit in the middle row despite the standard captain's chairs (only SX and EX get eight seats) ahead of a seven-hour drive, it's nice to think I'm going on a fun adventure and not a day-long slog. But once I'm six hours into said drive, I absolutely do not want the road noise, sway, and general discomfort that comes with an actual rock crawler.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174796" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/telluride-11-of-19-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia Telluride X-Line" width="2560" height="1707" />

So how is this big crossover on the highway? Kia tunes its vehicles for a sportier-feeling ride than most of the competition, with sporty being marketing speak for stiff. The Telluride is no different. The stiffer springs and shocks mean that the Telluride isn't bouncy or wallowy over highway dips and bumps, which is a pleasant surprise in this segment. However, the sharp impacts that this leads to over pot holes and expansion joints might wake up the kids who were quietly sleeping in the back. At least you can use the in-cabin public address system to give them your best pilot impression and let them know it was just a bit of light turbulence.

Kia's Highway Driving Assist feature does its best to make day-long highway drives like mine less stressful. The system combines adaptive cruise control and lane centreing to let it do most of the steering for you. Plenty of these systems are more of a hindrance than a help (just days later I would turn off Subaru's similar system on a very similar drive), but this one is good. No bouncing from side to side in-lane, and the steering doesn't fight you.

HDA also has assisted lane changes. Tap the signal and wait for a moment and the Telluride will change lanes if it detects that it is safe to do so. The system will flash your signal for more than the usual three blinks, too, going until the change is done. If you're not happy with how long the assisted change is taking, it won't interfere with you if you give the wheel a bit of a tug to speed things up.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174797" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/telluride-12-of-19-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia Telluride X-Line" width="2560" height="1707" />

With all the seats occupied, the Telluride offers 601 L of cargo space. That's about in the middle of the class and in-line with the family sedans that it replaced. At least if you're not planning on loading right to the ceiling and risking cargo falling into the back seat (though if you do load that high, the digital rear view mirror lets you see "through" it.).

Fold the back seats and you've got 1,304L, again about average, and with everything flat there is 2,455L of total cargo volume. Passenger space is similarly capacious. There is ample head and legroom in the first row and the second-row has class-leading knee space. The second row slides fore and aft, too, so you can trade some second row space for either more cargo or taller passengers in the third row.

Telluride comes loaded up with road-trip friendly features including heated seats and a heated steering wheel on all trims. This X-Line model has ventilated front seats and even heated and ventilated middle-row chairs. My dog has never been so spoiled! Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard and top trims have Harman Kardon audio. There is a large wireless charging pad in the centre console, and Kia's neat seatback USB charge ports are both USB-C.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174795" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/telluride-9-of-19-scaled.jpg" alt="Kia Telluride X-Line" width="2560" height="1707" />

There is only one engine offered in the 2023 Telluride, a 3.8L gas V6 making 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It's not enough shove to make the Telluride feel quick, but it is enough to get the job done when passing or merging on the highway. The eight-speed automatic is quick to change gears and keep revs down. While the engine is mostly quiet from in the cabin, the exhaust at idle does sound delightfully meaty for the amount of power it actually offers.

Fuel economy is rated at 12.8 L/100 km city and 9.8 highway. I averaged in the low 10s which is impressive given the low temperatures, winter tires, and snowy conditions.

The Kia Telluride already offered an appealing package, and the changes for 2023 improve the package. Most of the figures are average for the class, except for the price. What's included is tough to find for the money anywhere else, especially in base EX-spec. The looks are what really put the Telluride over the top, though, at least if you like the more capable and outdoorsy vibes that it gives off. A quick look at sales across the industry shows buyers do.
<h3>2023 Kia Telluride X-Line</h3>
BODY STYLE: four-door midsize SUV

CONFIGURATION: Front-engine/all-wheel drive

ENGINE: 3.8L V6; Power: 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm; Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm

TRANSMISSION: eight-speed Automatic

CARGO CAPACITY: 601 litres behind rear seat, 1,304 behind second row, 2,455L with all seats folded

FUEL ECONOMY: (Regular Gasoline in L/100 km) 12.8 city; 9.8 highway

OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: (L/100km) 10.3 combined

PRICE: $50,195 (base EX); $61,195 (X-Line as-tested)

2023 Kia Telluride X-Line Review

IMG_E0743

The refreshed 2024 Kia Seltos made its Canadian debut at the Canadian International Auto Show with an updated interior and exterior design, a more powerful turbocharged engine, and new X-Line trim.

A new arrival in 2020, the Seltos, which slots between the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-kia-soul-gt-line-review">Soul</a> and <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-kia-sportage-phev-review">Sportage</a> in Kia’s crossover lineup, quickly became Kia’s bestseller in Canada with a combined 30,601 units sold in 2021 and 2022. Available in front and all-wheel drive across six trims, the Seltos combines sizable cargo capacity with a broad array of tech and safety features and sharp styling at a competitive price.

Not wanting to mess too much with a successful formula, the changes Kia is rolling into the Seltos for 2024 may appear light on the surface but are more significant upon closer inspection and when viewed in their totality.

One of the biggest changes is a 20-horsepower bump the 1.6-litre turbo-GDI engine receives versus that of the outgoing model. Output is now rated at 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft., with the latter remaining unchanged. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that replaces the outgoing seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174759" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_E0750-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="2560" height="1440" />

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174762" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_E0747-scaled.jpg" alt="2024 Kia Seltos" width="2560" height="1440" />

The 1.6 is standard on upper-level SX and X-Line trims, with the latter being the new top grade for 2024. X-Line carries model-specific design cues including a gunmetal coloured grille, front and rear skid plating, glossy black side molding, and 18-inch black wheels. Black roof rails are also standard.

Design changes for the Seltos range include new headlights and rear combination taillights, along with Kia’s "star map" look that is shared with its Sportage and Telluride siblings. Redesigned front and rear bumpers are also on tap, as are new vertical fog lights and trunk lid garnish. Two new exterior colours are also being added to the palette: Valais Green and Pluton Blue.

Inside, the Seltos sports two new digital displays: a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster and an available 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen. Other design changes include a new centre console, redesigned air vents, and an optional Sofino Gentle Brown Leather interior.

As for new features, the ’24 Seltos receives a power tailgate, digital key, and a two-position driver memory seat. These features add to an impressive roster of existing features which include Bose premium audio, head up display, and wireless charging.

On the safety front, the 2024 Seltos will come standard with a wide array of features including Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Avoidance Assist, and more.

The 2024 Kia Seltos arrives this spring. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

First Look: 2024 Kia Seltos

DSC04121

Having worked in the automotive industry in many roles for over 15 years and currently the Content Strategist for Wheels.ca - Kunal's obsession with cars goes back to his early childhood. Even now his insatiable thirst to be in the know of anything with wheels and a motor continues, and will likely never fade. His idea of bliss is the open road,  good tunes and a manual gearbox. Kunal is a member of AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)

The Kia Sportage has always been an underdog in the compact crossover class even when compared to its corporate cousin, the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/first-drive-2022-hyundai-tucson-ultimate-hybrid">Hyundai Tucson</a>, which sells at nearly double the rate of the Kia. And that’s not even mentioning the sales juggernauts that are the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/head-to-head-toyota-rav4-prime-vs-ford-escape-phev">Toyota RAV4</a> and the Honda CR-V which use up most of the oxygen in what is likely the most popular segment in Canada.

So when it came to the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-kia-sportage-first-drive">redesign</a> Kia didn’t play it safe. And in order to get people to notice it a bit more they give it one of the most distinctive faces of any crossover you can buy today. Stretching from end to end, Kia’s “tiger nose” grille is framed by unique boomerang DRLs with the headlights situated at bumper level. It’s about as alien as it gets.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174214" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC04126.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Sportage PHEV" width="2048" height="1365" />

Kia has also added two hybrid models to the Sportage lineup for the first time and the timing couldn’t be better as the Honda CR-V, one of the segment leaders, just <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/first-drive-2023-honda-cr-v-touring-hybrid-awd">brought its own hybrid</a> to Canada this year. The Kia Sportage hybrid has a few big advantages over the CR-V hybrid, though. It’s significantly cheaper and you can get it in a plug-in version. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) also has the distinction of being the most powerful version of the Sportage.

We spent a week with new Sportage PHEV and it didn’t take us long to become fans. It starts with the drivetrain. A 1.6-L turbocharged 4-cylinder is augmented by a 66.9 kW electric motor. Combined power is rated at 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard and a 6-speed automatic handles gear changes. A 13.8 kWh battery pack under the floor provides juice for the e-motor and up to 51 km of electric range. When the battery is depleted the Sportage PHEV operates like a standard hybrid. Charging takes about 2 hours using a Level 2 public plug or home charger.

These are all fairly standard numbers but the Kia’s electric range falls on the lower end of the plug-in hybrids in this group, which includes the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/head-to-head-toyota-rav4-prime-vs-ford-escape-phev">Ford Escape PHEV</a> (60 km) and the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/review-2021-toyota-rav4-prime">Toyota RAV4 Prime</a> (70km). The RAV4 Prime has the most muscle here with just over 300 hp and it certainly feels the quickest but at a starting price of $53,234 it’s also the most expensive by a long shot.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174205" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC04144.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Sportage PHEV" width="2048" height="1365" />

The Sportage earns top marks for the refinement of its drivetrain, and the remarkable efficiency you can get even when you don’t plug it in. Thanks to a severe lack of reliable charging infrastructure in Ontario even within the dense city core of Toronto, it’s common to show up to a charger that’s either occupied or not working.

Thankfully it was fully charged when I picked it up, and I was able to charge it once more during my time with it. With a fully charged battery you have the choice of running the Sportage PHEV in hybrid or electric-only mode but it always defaults to hybrid on start-up. There’s also a smart mode but I didn’t spend much time using it.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174212" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC04130.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Sportage PHEV" width="2048" height="1365" />

With temps around 3 degrees Celsius, the Sportage PHEV travelled 40 km before it lit the engine. Not too bad considering the cold weather. When the engine did fire up it did so smoothly and without the coarse ruckus usually associated with PHEVs. The 6-speed automatic shifted through its gears smoothly and the transition from gasoline to electric propulsion and back was nearly imperceptible. Toyota’s hybrids are similarly good but they’ve been producing them for a much longer time, so kudos to Kia for getting this right.

Even better, the brakes were not grabby or touchy, but had a normal linear pedal feel that wasn’t squishy on initial application. Kia uses something they call an Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) that combines hydraulic and regenerative braking functions and it works really well. I recently drove a <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-jeep-grand-cherokee-4xe-review">Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe</a>, a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV nearly double the Kia’s price, and its hybrid system and brakes were nowhere near as refined.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174207" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC04140.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Sportage PHEV" width="2048" height="1365" />

There are other good things about the Sportage PHEV. With the electric motor and gasoline engine combined, it feels zippy in town and there’s more than enough passing power on the highway, a big improvement over the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-kia-sportage-first-drive">base models</a> and even the regular hybrid. It rides really well on rough roads, it’s quiet and smooth and it’s roomy for up to 5 passengers with a large cargo area that’s only slightly compromised by the underfloor battery. It also has the best tech in its class with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system integrated under one large piece of curved glass giving it a high-end feel without the high-end price tag. One downside is that using Apple Car Play or Android Auto still requires you to tether your phone to the car. A small price to pay for all the tech you’re getting.

With an empty battery, I was still doing under 7L/100 km and I wasn’t driving in a particularly efficient manner. The Sportage PHEV is also priced well, with my EX Premium tester coming in at $45,595, not including the $5000 federal rebate.

There’s little to complain about here. It’s not particularly sporty or fun to drive but a family crossover doesn’t need to be. And while it doesn’t have the highest electric range it’s still enough to cover the average commute and also deliver remarkable efficiency if you can plug it in every day. If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient crossover with plug-in capability the Kia Sportage PHEV is one of the best buys currently on the market and we highly recommend it.
<h3>2023 Kia Sportage PHEV EX Premium</h3>
BODY STYLE: 5 door, 5-passenger compact crossover

CONFIGURATION: Front-engine, all-wheel drive

ENGINES: 1.6-L turbocharged 4-cylinder + 66.9 kW electric motor and 13.8kWh battery: Combined power: 261 hp; Torque: 258 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

CARGO CAPACITY: 977-1855 litres

FUEL ECONOMY: 2.8 Le/100 km combined; gas-only: 6.7L/100 km

PRICE:  $44,595 + taxes and fees

WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.kia.ca/en">Kia Canada</a>

2023 Kia Sportage PHEV Review

2023 kia soul

12 years down the road from its North American debut, the Kia Soul soldiers on as a pleasing (and boxy-cool) alternative to both the compact hatchbacks and crossovers of this world. It’s a pleasing mix of the practical and fun, if not the most well-equipped to appeal to both camps. A few nips and tucks have been done for 2023, but the boxy shape so many know and love remains, and that’s right on.

It comes well-equipped, too, especially in top-spec GT-Line trim seen here. That includes leather seating with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, D-shaped steering wheel, junction assist (this prevents you from preceding through an intersection if it’s deemed unsafe to do so) and highway drive assist HDA), which will keep you centered in your lane while cruising and away from the car ahead.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174102" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5289.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Soul" width="2000" height="1333" />

Infotainment-wise, look for a 10.25” infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both wired) and on my GT-Line tester, premium Harman/Kardon audio. That’s the only way to get it; as is Kia’s way they don’t tend to offer many option packages so if you want certain things, you have to up the trim. In general, I don’t mind this approach as it makes the buying process simpler but there are those out there that like to pick and choose their features a little more than what’s possible here.

It's not perfect, of course; the seats are a little flat so you really feel like you’re sitting atop the vehicle as opposed to inside it; some of the materials used inside are a little on the cheap side and the rear cargo floor is short, an issue helped by the adjustable cargo floor. At the end of the day, the pros definitely outweigh the cons and that’s what counts.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174105" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5300.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Soul" width="2000" height="1333" />

It does look funky, indeed. Even after all these years – the Kia Soul debuted in North America in 2010 – it still looks like it belongs firmly in the present. The shape has remained relatively the same, but smart stylistic moves like a gradual evolution of the vertical taillamps that have a wraparound effect for 2023 and stylish wheel designs are good, modern takes. 2023 also sees the addition of a new front fascia with LED headlights, new foglights, and new two-tone colour choices. My tester didn’t have the latter, but the Surf Blue paintjob it wears is a great fit. There is still nothing out there quite like it and even though many have abandoned the formula – think <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/news/the-ugly-truth-about-the-nissan-cube">Nissan Cube</a> or Scion xB – the Soul has managed to soldier on through all of it.

Even the interior gets some out-there touches such as the oval-shaped gauge hood and matching infotainment display surround, bright orange inserts on the door panels, red contrast stitching that’s specific to the GT-Line and HVAC/speaker assemblies at each corner of the dash that look unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Simply put: after looking at the Soul’s exterior styling, nobody should be surprised the interior looks quite like this.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174094" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5262.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Soul" width="2000" height="1333" />

As much as I love what they’ve done with the styling for this latest iteration, I am somewhat dismayed they killed the optional turbo powertrain in 2020. It provided a firecracker of a ride to go with the looks, but as Kia simplifies and electrifies, it seems there just wasn’t any more room for it. So, what we’re left with is either the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/review-2021-kia-soul-ev">full-EV model</a> or a single gas motor: a 2.0 L four good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque that makes its way to the front wheels via an “intelligent” continuously variable automatic.

By “intelligent”, Kia is saying that the transmission adjusts its attitude depending on how the driver is driving, for smoother operation and better power delivery. Not sure if I felt that during my drive per se, but what I can say is that this is a CVT that feels just a little more athletic than what’s typical of these types of transmissions. It doesn’t get in the way of the forward progress as much as so many have in the past and while I do bemoan the lack of paddle shifters (many CVT-equipped vehicles have these), it’s not a deal breaker in this case.

Even without the turbo, the Soul has its peppiness and while you can tell the engine is working a little harder to get you there than the turbo did, the Soul will dance if you want it to. That’s especially the case when it comes to the steering, which is very responsive and even has a little bit of weight to it. Activating Sport mode, meanwhile, kicks things up a bit powertrain-wise and I spent quite a bit of my time in this setting.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174092" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5233.jpg" alt="2023 Kia Soul" width="2000" height="1333" />

Unfortunately being such a tall vehicle with such a short wheelbase means the ride is affected. Typically you’d think that meant lots of body roll through turns et cetera, but I’d describe it more as a skittish feeling, with the Soul undergoing these micro-bounces on some surfaces like a stone on water. It’s I feeling I’ve had every time I’ve tested one of these.

The overriding feeling I’ve had whenever I’ve tested one of these, however, is that whether you’re a retiree, a first-time buyer or in need of a second small car, the Soul should be considered. It does so many small car things well and it looks great while doing it. You’d be doing your search a disservice if you didn’t check it out.
<h3>2023 Kia Soul GT-Line</h3>
BODY STYLE: five-door compact crossover

DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel drive
ENGINE: 2.0-litre inline-4, 147 hp, 132 lb-ft of torque

FUEL ECONOMY CITY/HIGHWAY/COMBINED: 8.5/7.0/7.9 L/100 KM
TRANSMISSION: CVT

CARGO CAPACITY: 685-1,758 L

TOWING CAPACITY: 550 kg (1,200 lbs.)

Base MSRP: $22,595

WEBSITE:  <a href="https://www.kia.ca/en/vehicles/2023/soul">Kia Soul </a>

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