Kia Problems

Raised in the digital age, they expect to have 24/7 accessibility to their friends and family as well as the must-have iPods and internet savvy smart phones.  Their needs also extend to their cars. They want the latest in-car gadgets but in many cases are not prepared to pay for it, according to a JD Power survey published in the US last year. The survey of more than 19,000 car buyers also found that today's buyer expects standard features but may not necessarily use them.  About half of car owners surveyed us an auxiliary input jack for their portable digital music player in their vehicle, while about 20 per cent use a wireless FM transmitter. Almost two-thirds want the ability to listen to a portable digital music player through their vehicle's speakers, while 27 per cent say they want ‘smart’ phone music capabilities mated to the car stereo. Other findings show that 68 per cent of owners use their vehicle's in-car Bluetooth, compared with 47 per cent who have this feature but do not use it. Entertainment and connectivity related devices are among the most desired technologies for buyers, leading to companies like Ford introducing Bluetooth and voice activation controls as standard in its Fiesta LX and Zetec. To test the JD Power theory, Carsguide gave four Gen Y buyers an opportunity to try out several cars specifically aimed at them.  After spending a few days checking them out, they came back with some surprising findings. What Gen Y wants in a car Steering wheel mounted audio controls Powerful amplifier Sub-woofer Mood-lighting Metallic finish dashboard Privacy glass Personalised seat trim Airbags iPod connectivity USB/CD/MP3 connectivity Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio Katherine Firkin This car looks so cute I easily got as much enjoyment out of seeing it parked in my driveway as I did actually driving it.  With its chic exterior and sleak styling, the VW Beetle Cabrio looks more like a fashion accessory then a practical mode of transport. Getting behind the wheel for the first time is a bit daunting, unless you're used to driving in a bubble.  The curved dashboard seems to stretch out endlessly, making it difficult to perceive the distance between yourself and the car in front of you. And like every good fashion accessory, what it adds in looks and style, it lacks in practicality.  The biggest shortfall is the size of the boot. The compartment is so small you'd be struggling to ever pack more then a plane's hand-luggage allowance, and trying to wiggle your bags in and out of the compartment is a nightmare. The visibility is also poor.  While you do eventually get used to guessing how much space is left in front of you, don't even try to reverse the car when the top is down. With the top lowered, rearward vision is almost totally blocked - which possibly explains why the car has such an outrageously loud horn.  Even with the roof up, over-the-shoulder visibility is still poor. Lowering the roof is also not as easy as you'd expect. It was disappointing to discover you have to muscle the roof on and off with a twist-and-rotate action - not the easy click-of-a-button motion I was expecting. But for all the difficulties getting the roof lowered, the drive well and truly makes up for it.  The Cabrio is relatively smooth and easy to drive.  Cruising along an open road with the top down is magic, and you can't help but notice admiring glances from other drivers. The stereo has good sound quality, and I was relieved to find an AUX port for my iPod and other bits and pieces.  The car also feels sturdy and safe, and seems to be fairly fuel efficient.The driver's seat is comfortable, although the same can't be said for your passengers - who'll either be squashed against the glove box in the front, or have their legs cramped in the back.  It's certainly not the most practical car, but it sure is fun.  And if you value looks and personality over practicality - and who doesn't? - you'll be hard-pressed not to fall in love. Likes The overall look and feel The sound system The easy manoeuvrability Dislikes The tacky plastic flowers that come as standard The poor visibility, especially when the top is down The slight groaning noise the car often makes when you take your foot off the break Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio Price: From $37,700 Engine: 2.0-litre Economy: 8.8 litres/100km Features: Dual front and side head airbags, anti-skid brakes, air conditioning, electronic stability control, vase with flower, 10-speaker CD stereo, iPod adaptor, electric windows If you like this try this: Peugeot 207CC Nissan Micra Nathan Mawby ‘THAT'S so cute’ are not words most guys want to hear about their car.  If the veiled snickering from the men I showed it to and universal adoration from the women are anything to go by, the Nissan Micra is definitely marketed at young female drivers. Having said that, guys, if you're prepared to embrace your inner-woman (just borrow a Dirty Dancing soundtrack before you hit the road and you'll be right) this is a car that will grow on you.  A ‘make-up’ mirror in the driver's side sunvisor left my hair looking the best it has in years and a surprisingly gutsy 1.4-litre, four cylinder engine (hello, fuel economy!) was versatile enough to zip around the city and hit the freeway. The first thing to note is that the Micra is tiny, microscopic even.  Perfect if you're going to be driving around the city, or inner suburbs - not so good if you're the designated driver and need leg room to stop back-seat fights. Meanwhile responsive steering helps with maneuverability in traffic, narrow lanes, the fast food drive-through and parking.  I even found myself seeking out the dreaded reverse parallel park in heavy traffic just for funsies! Thanks to clever design you can see everything going on outside the car - unfortunately that also means everything inside is on display.  Nissan balance this with clever hidey holes: a sliding tray under the passenger seat and the boot is completely concealed from the outside world. But if like many Gen-Y's you run your life from your iPhone, hiding the AUX port in the back of the glove box could present a problem when you have to sift through it to find your phone.  But no matter what you listen to, a robust sound system means you can listen to it loud - a necessity for Australia's iPod affected youth. There are few basic issues, sacrificing your masculinity aside, that give you pause, however.  No tachometer, having to hit a button to see the time (how many Gen-Y's actually wear a watch?) and no obvious temperature gauge probably won't bother the targeted drivers. The absence of side and curtain airbags as a standard feature should (they are available as part of the City Collection Option, though).  Sure there are "blokier" options out there - but if you picked one of them you'd probably have to give back that Dirty Dancing soundtrack... Likes Manoeuvrability Sound system Visibility Dislikes No tachometer Non-standard side and curtain airbags Gender bias Nissan Micra Price: From $15,990 Engine: 1.4-litre Economy: 6.8 litres/100km Features: Four-speed automatic, Dual front airbags, anti-skid brakes, air conditioning, MP3 player input, CD stereo, front seat storage draw If you like this try this: Holden Barina Kia Soul Travis Kennedy Taking a brand new Kia Soul for a spin was easy to accept - especially given the fact my regular drive is an old Honda Legend with 300,000km on the clock and the squeaks and creaks that goes with the longevity. I'm very much an A-to-B type of driver.  I rarely venture into long drives, unless I have to.  The Soul is not the type of car that would normally appeal to me -- a bloke in his early-twenties, who would probably call it "a bit of a girl's car".  It's just not the type of car most hot-blooded young men would choose if part of the buying criteria was to turn the collective heads of the opposite sex. It won't: But I swallowed my pride and hit the road. Without overstating the obvious, the car is a bit of a box.  It's almost as if it has an identity crisis -- on one hand it looks like a 4WD and, on the other, it has small car aesthetics. It makes a bold impression on the road with its unique look and, interestingly, I noticed many drivers paying it quite a lot of attention.  The Soul is the perfect commuter, giving great flexibility moving in and out of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Parking is a cinch, but beware blind spots caused by chunky rear end of the car. They can be dangerous, especially when reversing.  The 1.6-litre diesel engine makes a noticeably loud chugging sound, but all is forgiven by its excellent fuel economy. The Soul handles well on the open road. It does lack a little instantaneous grunt, especially when on the freeway, but it's still zippy for most regular traffic situations.  The lack of cruise control is a little annoying. Inside, there is a surprising amount of room for the driver, but back seat passengers may struggle for leg room. The boot is small, but the rear seats fold flat to open up reasonable amount of space for most items.  Tech-savvy buyers will love the interior features - the inbuilt USB port for iPod connectivity and the rather punchy sound system are impressive. I like listening to my music loud and this system more than met my expectations.  The speakers also have red lights that pulse to the beat of the music or can be toned down to a softer-mood setting -- a little bit tacky, but it makes night driving more interesting. The Soul won't appeal to everyone and, being a young man, I feel it's more suited to the female market or middle-aged singles looking for a nippy, economical car.  It's a bit of a grower, though -- the more I drove it, the more it won me over. Likes Handles very well Easy to park Economical diesel Dislikes Rear blind spots No cruise control Rear passenger leg room is less than generous. Kia Soul  Price: From $20,990 Engine: 1.6-litre petrol or diesel Economy: 5.2 litres/100km Features: Dual front, side and curtain airbags, anti-skid brakes, air conditioning, central locking, MP3 CD stereo with six-speakers, Aux/iPod input If you like this try this: Fiat 500 Honda Jazz Antonia Magee Being at the upper end of Generation Y, I knew the Jazz VT-i was not for me as soon as I pulled onto Swan St, Richmond in pouring rain on a Friday night only to see several saturated people stop and stare as I drove past in the blazing yellow vehicle. I know that is just the colour, but I am part of an apparently fickle generation and the way the car looked was important to me.  On first glance inside though, the Jazz had everything a Gen Y driver would be looking for. The extra windows, huge windscreen and big dashboard made me feel as though I was in a much bigger car, the back seat was roomy and the boot was much larger than it looked.  The technology was on the pulse, with a MP3 plug for one's iPod and a quality stereo and CD player. And as one would expect from any car in the new generation of excessive paraphernalia, the storage space was excellent.  There are several pockets and holders for coffees, phones, CDs, iPods and sunglasses. It was also extremely nifty driving around the streets of the CBD and parking in a tight spot was a dream.  But the real test for me was when it was pushed to its upper limits. Four months after selling my own car I was, finally, able to hit the open road without relying on someone else to pick me up and drop me home.  After the impressive feel while driving around the city, the car was a tad unimpressive on the freeways of Melbourne. The problem was once I hit 100km/h. That is the speed limit, I hear you say, but the VT-i just didn't feel completely comfortable going even that fast.  The 1.5-litre four felt a little buzzy and in need of a sixth gear to cope. It made me feel like I was straining the car. There is no doubt it is fuel efficient around town - Honda says the 1.5-litre manual VT-i will sip 6.4 litres for every 100km - but the little hatch ran out of legs while out on the open road.  This could be a problem for a young person doing a long daily commute, but for a student or worker not having to travel too far, you would be hard pressed to go past the Jazz for a zippy, modern city car. It felt just a tinge tinny, but to be fair it ticks all the boxes for a $18,000-plus car. All in all, this would be a great inner-city run around vehicle. Likes Extremely spacious for a small car Great for parking iPod access Dislikes Grunt- just didnt have any Fuel efficiency Lack of legroom when driver seat pushed back Honda Jazz Price: From $16,990 Engine: 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre Economy: 5.8 litres/100km (VTi/VTi-S 6.4 litres/100km) Features: Dual front airbags, anti-skid brakes, CD stereo with MP3, auxiliary jack, air conditioning, 10 cupholders If you like this try this: Suzuki Swift

High school leavers are now facing one of the most important, daunting, yet exciting decisions of their life in buying their first car. There are so many factors to think about: price, safety, economy, running costs, vehicle age, insurance; all on limited funds and with limited knowledge about cars, and finance. To most young people, the most important thing is probably looks. After all, you don't want to be spotted by all your mates in a white Camry in the drive-through at Maccas. And who can blame you? That's why so many young people buy old grey-import Sylvias instead of Camrys. It's because they are red, they look fast and they were featured in one of the Fast and Furious movies. However, often the car ends up spending most of its time being repaired, waiting on a part to come from Japan or simply getting it to start, steer and stop. But is used the way to go? There are many small new cars on the market from as low as $13,990 which have the latest modern safety features, plus advantages of new car warranties. The best three tips we can give you are: research, research and more research. Young buyers can start by looking at classified ads on the internet and in newspapers. Comparisons will give the buyer a good feel for the true price of a car. You should work out what you need in a car even before you start looking for one. There are choices people can make when buying a new vehicle that may significantly reduce their risk of injury and theft and can even result in savings when it comes to car insurance. What you can expect for your money Young buyers are usually on a fairly limited budget. That will reduce the number of cars available. RACQ technical officer Russell Manning advises what you can expect for your money on used cars. $3000 to $5000 Few dealers operate in this segment, so look to private sales, and all the potential problems that come with them. There are no stand-outs in this segment. Buy the best you can find for the money. Steer clear of unusual, unpopular and modified vehicles, as they're more likely to cost more to keep on the road. Expect to be mainly looking at vehicles from the mid '80s. $5000 to $7500 Many dealers specialise in this bracket. Look for cars that are popular and have a good reputation, for example early 1990s Corolla, Pulsar, Lancer for small cars, and Commodore, Falcon, Camry for large cars. Anything in this bracket is likely to have travelled big distances, so look carefully. Bigger, less fuel-efficient cars are less popular these days and, depending on your circumstances, may be a good buy. Larger cars are often more durable. $7500 to $10,000 There'll be no shortage of cars in this bracket. Expect to see cars from the mid to late '90s. Again, large cars should be attractively priced due to fuel prices, but you'll also find a range of quality Japanese small vehicles and plenty from Korean makers. Take your time selecting and pick the best your money will buy. $10,000 to $12,000 There should be no difficulty finding a quality used car in this range. There will be plenty of Commodores, Falcons, Camrys and Magnas, as well as the full range of mid and small-sized cars from the late '90s. Consider putting in a few thousand dollars more and moving into an attractively priced new small car. New cars to $15,000 All these are in the light car category. And it can pay to see if you can pick up a dealer demonstration model with very low kilometres to save a little money. Hyundai's Getz is a great little car from $12,990, and the Getz Protectz pack costs an extra $1290 but includes electronic stability program, traction control system and front seat side thorax airbags, for $1290. Suzuki Alto 1.0-litre starts at $14,990 – although we’ve seen it advertised lower than that. Holden Barina 1.6-litre three-door hatch costs from around $13,690. Kia’s Rio 1.4-litre five-door hatch often costs less than $14,000. Tips 1. Buy the type, make and model of car that best suits your needs and your pocket. 2. Always have a used vehicle inspected by a qualified person. 3. Don’t rush to buy your car as you may regret it. 4. Ignore any promise, warranty or guarantee that isn’t in writing or that is conditional in any way. 5. Don’t forget the REVS certificate. 6. Never sign any contract or document until it is complete and you understand it. 7. Always get a copy of any contract you sign and a copy of the safety certificate. 8. Obtain reliable finance before you purchase your car. 9. Insure the car with a reputable company.  

Most of the time it was the front wheels doing all the driving, it was only when wheel slip was detected at the front that drive was directed to the rear, up to a maximum of 50 per cent.  At its peaks the double overhead camshaft V6 engine was putting out 129 kW at 6000 revs and 241 Nm at 4000 revs. The suspension was independent at both ends, the brakes were disc all round and supported by ABS, and the steering was power-assisted rack- and-pinion. The Sportage had a host of standard features, including air, remote central locking, immobiliser, power mirrors and windows, six-speaker CD sound system, fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels. In the shop As the quality of Korean cars has improved so too has their reliability, and carsGuide receives little in the way of complaint about Korean cars in general, and the Kia Sportage in particular.  Owners appear content with their cars and little of a serious nature goes wrong with them. When checking a car for purchase make the usual checks for crash repairs, make sure it's been regularly serviced, and inspect the underbody for signs of extensive offroad use.  Sportage owners are unlikely to have driven their cars offroad, but it's worth taking the time to check underneath. On the road The KM Sportage, while not sporty, was a decent driving car with secure handling and a comfortable ride on most surfaces.  While the V6 engine was a good performer, the overall performance was dulled a little by the wide spread of ratios of auto 'box. In a crash The Sportage suffered from the same dull dynamics most, if not all, SUVs suffered from. The handling was secure without being sporting, but that came with the SUV territory. Standard ABS and traction control, and all-wheel drive helped on the active safety front, while dual front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners gave decent crash protection. At the pump Kia's lab rats claimed an average fuel consumption of 10 L/100 km for the KM Sportage, 13.0 L/100 km when driven in town, and 8.2 L/100 km when outside the city limits.  Road testers of the time of the Sportage's launch reported an average of 11.5 L/100 km in real world driving conditions. Look for Pleasant SUV styling . Lots of standard gear . Decent performance . Secure handling . Comfortable ride . Improved build quality . Robust and reliable . Value-for-money The bottom line Well-built, reliable, comfortable wagon should be on family shopping lists. Rating 75/100

Here's our guide to the five biggest-selling people movers on the market (2010 year-to-date, VFACTS).

Graham 'Smithy' Smith reviews the used Kia Sorento 2003-2005, its fine points, its flaws and what to watch for when you are buying it.

More and more manufacturers are realising they can attract extra sales by creating two-wheel-drive versions of their 'soft roaders'. 2WD buyers are looking for the practicality of the wagon - a commanding driving position, perhaps a little higher ride height for a short drive down a dry dirt track, the 'look' of an SUV, strong suspension, and in some cases seven seats - without getting a people-mover. If they don’t need to go offroad, in the snow, through muddy tracks, they don’t need the four-wheel-drive ability. But they can get everything else they want with 2WD versions of the SUV. What’s the benefit of 2WD? By opting for the 2WD version, the vehicle costs thousands of dollars less because that second set of drive-shafts, differentials, wheel joints and bits are not in the vehicle. And that means the 2WD versions weigh considerably less. Less weight means less fuel, a cost saving to the owner and lower exhaust emissions for the planet. And less weight means better performance in acceleration and handling. The month of May this year was the best-ever May for new-vehicle sales in Australia. Part of the reason was a staggering 29 per cent growth in SUV sales over May of last year. Clearly Aussies still love their SUVs and many of those extra sales were because of 2WD versions. Toyota offering its large Kluger in 2WD and 4WD, in all trim levels. The choice (between 2WD and 4WD) will give buyers an alternative purchase decision based on their real needs. Toyota also offers the RAV4, which gets revised gear ratios for with 2WD. Ford launched its Territory SUV in 2004 in 4WD and 2WD right from the start. But some brands don’t offer the full choice of models of the 4WD. For example, the Kia Sorento 2WD cannot have Kia's excellent turbo-diesel engine of the 4WD, but it's recognised that 2WD buyers are looking for lower buying and running costs and so only a base model engine is provided. KIA SORENTO - $36,490  Drives well with good ride; six-speed automatic, fuel economy  Engine sometimes works hard to move 1814kg weight A much better onroad wagon than previous (4WD-only) model. The 2WD Kia Sorento is available only with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to keep down cost. Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol Power: 128kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 226Nm @ 3750rpm Transmission: Six-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive. HOLDEN CAPTIVA - $27,990  Low price, plenty of Holden dealers for back-up  Modest power, tows only 1500kg, no auto option The Holden Captiva 2WD gives wagon motoring to Holden followers not wanting a V6 or V8 Commodore Sportwagon. Captiva has been selling well lately. Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol Power: 103kW @ 5200rpm Torque: 220Nm @ 2400rpm Transmission: Five-speed manual; front-wheel-drive. TOYOTA KLUGER - $40,990  Engine power, full model range, including seven-seater  Large, blunt design, fuel use The larger option from Toyota can be had in all the trim levels of the Kluger 4WDs, which means seven-seaters as well. The well-known 3.5 V6 engine is a good 'un. Engine: 3.5-litre, V6, petrol Power: 201kW @ 6200rpm Torque: 337Nm @ 4700rpm Transmission: Five-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive. FORD TERRITORY - $39,890  Torque at low revs, parts costs, seven-seat option  Size to park, fuel use, dating body shape, auto only a four-speed The only Australian-designed and built SUV, Territory uses Ford Falcon running gear and is a popular vehicle, especially now that Falcon wagon is ceasing production. Engine: Four-litre, six-cylinder, petrol Power: 190kW @ 5250rpm Torque: 383Nm @ 2500rpm Transmission: Four-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive. BMW X1 sDrive18i - $43,500  BMW owner pride, diesel option, equipment, fuel economy, 1430kg weight  Expensive parts and servicing BMW's new compact SUV in two-wheel-drive form is known as the sDrive. It is one of the low-cost ways of getting behind the famous BMW badge and suits Yuppies. Engine: Two-litre, four-cylinder, petrol Power: 110kW @ 6400rpm Torque: 200Nm @ 3600rpm Transmission: Six-speed manual (optional six-speed automatic); rear-wheel-drive. TOYOTA RAV4 - $28,990  Fuel economy, Toyota reputation, modest kerb weight (1525kg), price  Tows only 1500kg RAV is the most recent 4WD SUV available in 2WD and uses the Toyota Camry 2.4 engine. RAV started the compact SUV segment and has kept updated nicely since. Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrol Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm Torque: 224Nm @ 4000rpm Transmission: Five-speed manual (optional four-speed automatic); front-wheel-drive.

Transport has always been a problem for parents of large families.