Kia taking on the small cars from the big guys

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA – Kia rounds out its attack on the country’s best-sell-ing cars with the launch of the final two models to the Forte lineup.Last year Kia introduced their all-new Forte sedan to compete with such top sellers as the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Hyun-dai Elantra. This week, the 5-door hatchback version called Forte5 and the coupe, called Forte Koup begin arriving in dealerships.The launch of these two vehicles took us from Huntington Beach, California, through the mountains and desert to Borrego Springs and then back through the mountains to San Diego. The terrain varies from massive California highways to very twisty mountain passes and vast desert valleys. Stunning scenery and a recommended drive for any sightseer or driving enthusiast. LooksThe Forte5 is the more practical of the two new Kias with a hatchback design that sets it apart from the competition. Many competitors don’t offer a hatch so this is sure to be noticed by people who need extra storage and passenger room. Sold with a new base 2.0L engine or an optional 1.6L turbo engine, there are varied looks depending on which trim is chosen. The non-turbo Forte5 gets a front grille similar to the sedan with a smaller lower intake and a larger grille opening. The Forte5 SX turbo gets the same grille as the Koup, with the opposite

front treatment, a bigger lower opening and a smaller, more aggressive grille. The great news is that all Forte5 and Koup models come with alloy wheels; 16-inches on the Forte5 and 18-inch alloys on the turbo version. The Koup has 17-inch base alloys or 18-inches on the turbo.InsideI drove the top Turbo version of the Forte5 and the base, non-turbo version of the Koup. Both have an amazing level of interior refinement. If you have ever questioned that Kia knows how to make good quality cars, just look at these new products. The switches and dials look and feel first rate and the layout is logical and easy to use. Koup can actually fit adults up to six feet. The dash has either a conventional radio layout with a smaller screen but when the backup camera is added on either model, the screen jumps to 6-inch-es and becomes a touchscreen device. If the buyer wants the navigation system, then the top turbo model with luxury package is needed. The front seats sit high off the floor for good outward visibility. What continues to amaze me is the level of equipment Kia offers from standard Bluetooth and satellite radio to optional heated and cooled seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, power folding outside mirrors and more. True luxury touches.DriveKia has put some punch into both the base and turbo versions of the Forte5 and Koup. The base engine is a large 2.0L direct injection engine with 173hp. In comparison, the top selling Civic has 143hp. The turbo model gets a 1.6L direct

injection engine with a solid 201hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque that comes on at a very low 1750 RPM. The turbo also gets a stiffer suspension, bigger wheels, sharper steering feel and shorter gear ratios from first to third gear. This makes the car livelier and handles better but it also makes the car a bit twitchy on the highway when driving straight.

The base 2.0L would be my choice. 173hp is loads for a car of this size and the smaller wheels and less aggressive suspension might be a better day-to-day driver. Ei-ther way, Kia has kicked things up a notch and both are fun to drive and never feel underpowered.

VerdictThe Forte5 starts at $19,495 and tops out at $28,395 for a turbo with navigation. The Koup comes with a few extra standard features and it runs from $20,895-$28,695. Some might think that the higher end models are getting expensive but they have features such as dimming rearview mirrors, power outside mirrors and heated rear seats that are not generally avail-able in this class.Kia has been growing steadily since it entered Canada 15 years

ago, and with new products like the Forte5 and Koup, there’s no reason to believe the trend will end.zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca

The LowdownPower: 1.8L 4-cylinder with 132hp or 140hpFill-up: 8.6L/5.8L/100km (city/highway Forte5 auto) Sticker price: $19,495-$28,395

DrivewayCanada.ca | Welcome to the driver’s seat DrivewayCanada.ca | Welcome to the driver’s seatWelcome to the driver’s seat

Question of the week:As spring approaches, new drivers will be as common as the blossoms on the trees. Should a course of professional driver training be mandatory for all new drivers?

Please explain why you have made that decision. Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer and you could win a $100 Safeway gift card.

OF THE WEEK!

?QUESTION

Safety Tip:Auto crime incidents continue to plummet across the province but there’s still more we can do to deter thieves and

protect our vehicles. Use an anti-theft device, park in secure, well-lit areas, remove all valuables and always lock your doors.

Buying used? We’re looking out for you. Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

Confessions of a Curber...Meet Walt. He lives with his wife and two teenagers in a quiet neighbourhood. Walt goes to work every morning, provides for his family and chats with his neighbours. Walt has a secret. He’s no Walter White from“Breaking Bad.” But, his love for quick cash and high profi ts drive him to a sideline that makes us all a little less safe and costs some their savings. Walt is a curber.

Walt has no shame! This week he sells a stolen car.

Visit the 2014 Kia photo gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

If you have ever questioned that Kia knows how to make good quality cars just look at

these new products.

Zack Spencer

‘‘Kia has been growing steadily since it entered Canada fifteen years ago and with new products like the Forte5 and Koup, there is no reason to believe the trend will end.’’Zack Spencer

Friday, April 4, 2014 Richmond Review · Page 13

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Page 14 · Richmond Review Friday, April 4, 2014

Lace up for someone

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Noodling on the web one morning I found out that I was selling vehicles illegally. If I was in the business of selling, I need to be licensed as a dealer.Oh well. Everything’s been working out just fi ne for me. I skated through those recent bad deals. My previous sales were a distant memory – I was eager to start selling more. So, I decided to up my game a bit. I got a low-end truck and a car from an auction and another car from a new parking lot friend. I put ads for all three vehicles on Craigslist. Of course my ads said they were all real gems. You’d think people might see through my ads. “Need to sell fast, so price is fl exible. Call with best offer.” And my cell number was the same for all three. Would anybody notice?The fi rst two cheaper vehicles sold quickly.The last one took a bit longer to sell. Of course, it was the one I was most eager to sell. Why, you ask?Well, not that I passed the information along, but the auction provided vehicle history reports for the fi rst two. I had no information on the last.So, I bought ICBC and CarProof vehicle history reports. I wanted to educate myself. To my surprise, there was a statement in both reports that the vehicle was possibly “stolen*.”I knew I had to sell it fast. I mean, I’d paid for it and I knew my new “friend” wouldn’t take it back.Four days later, I got a call from a young

woman. She asked if the car would fi t a family of four. “Defi nitely!” I practically screamed. I was a wreck during this sale. I just needed to get rid of this car – fast. I told the nice lady the details of the car. Apart from being stolen, it was pretty nice!I told her I was in a hurry to visit my mum in the hospital. She was in a hurry too – her three-year-old was anxious, pulling at her pant legs. She seemed to not want to be there as much as me. Finally, she agreed to buy the car. Phew! I was saved. Whatever happens next, I don’t care. It’s her problem not mine.I quickly changed my phone number (again). Weeks later, I saw her on the news – with kid still at pant legs – talking to a reporter. Apparently, the car was towed away by the police. And yes, she was trying to fi nd me. Had I covered my tracks? I agonized.

*How can a stolen vehicle be sold? Curbers often break the law by bridging a title. Instead of registering a vehicle in their name within 10 days after a purchase, as required, they leave it in the name of the previous owner. This keeps their name out of the chain of title and from being caught with a stolen vehicle or one that would not be able to be registered or insured for another reason.

Confessions of a CurberConfessions of a Curber

“Apart from being stolen, it was pretty nice!”

driveway

by Rob Sass

Few things in the development of a new car are more crucial than the name.

In the case of a bland or mediocre car, it’s the last chance the marketers have to generate some buzz. That may well be why some of the most ordinary cars have wound up with some of the fiercest and flashiest names. Here are five inappropri-ately named cars:

1. Chevrolet Sprint — The Sprint was built by Suzuki for Chevrolet. Powered by a rather anemic three-cylinder engine, its ac-celeration off the line resembled not so much a sprint but more of a drunken stumble. Its Suzuki-badged counterpart was known by an equally inappropriate name, the Swift.

2. Mercury Bobcat — A bobcat is a rather fierce North American wild cat. The Mercury Bobcat, on the other hand, was es-sentially a fancy Ford Pinto over laden with chrome trim and other options that added on additional pounds, sacrificing what little performance the Pinto possessed. While the feline Bobcat is plentiful in the wild, the Mercury version is all but extinct.

3. Hyundai Excel — The Excel was first car sold by Hyundai in the U.S., and given the top-to-bottom excellence of the current Hyundai lineup, it’s probably a car they’d prefer to forget. Other than

cheapness, the Excel essentially excelled at nothing — unless someone handed out an award for “crudest interior” or “oddest-smelling plastic.”

4. AMC Hornet — The hornet is one pugnacious insect, and as anyone who has ever been on the wrong side of one can attest, they definitely can sting. With the exception of the rare S/C 360 version from 1971, the AMC Hornet was a pleasant-looking and practical compact sedan/wagon/hatchback without much of a sting.

5. Hudson Jet — Jet planes were on the mind of nearly every car designer and ad man in the U.S. during the 1950s. Fins, bogus jet intakes, jet exhausts and jet hood ornaments found their way onto countless cars. Curiously, there was nothing even slightly swoopy or jet-like about the Hudson Jet. It was a thorough-ly upright and conventional compact.

Five misleading car names

by Ian H arwood

The all-new 2014 Jeep Grand Chero-kee is a luxury sport ute that attracts a lot of attention.

The body styling went through some major changes this year and is very dif-ferent to the previous version that had more chiseled and square edges. This vehicle is refined and more rounded. If it wasn’t for the traditional Jeep grille you would think this was a Volvo or an Audi.

The first thing you notice is the new LED lighting that wraps around the HID headlamps, it gives it a very sophisti-cated and contemporary look.

Jeep did not sacrifice its off road capabilities. Options are; Quadra-Trac 1 that features full time on demand four-wheel drive with single speed transfer case and equal torque split (50 front/50 rear) with brake control. Quadra-Trac 11, with a 2 speed transfer case with low range and variable torque distribution that delivers up to a 100 percent front or rear. Quadra-Lift air suspension that lifts four corners of the vehicle to provide the best in class ground clearance of 272 mm that will allow you to negotiate just about any terrain you encounter.

The Summit model has a gorgeous in-terior, all the bells and whistles. Premium Nappa leather seats with heated/vented 12 way power front seats. The steering wheel is heated and wrapped in leather with sections of wood.

The instrument panel, doors, and cen-tre console are also leather stitched. The Power lift gate that can be controlled via the remote to make life easier load-ing and unloading cargo. Be careful at night, with the lift gate open it’s hard to see the bottom of the gate and if you’re not careful you will be wearing the lock mechanism as a tattoo on your forehead, don’t ask how I know.

With this model, you get the naviga-tion screen complete with a backup camera. There is also an optional rear seat DVD system.

There is an optional stability control with anti-roll, hill start assist, trailer

sway control. Front air bags with reactive head rest restraints, and side curtain airbags. Forward collision warning system detects whether you are approaching another vehicle too rapidly and alerts you to take action. Parkview/ Park-sense Park assist systems that help see what perhaps you would not see when backing up.

Four engine choices here. The first is a 3.0L Ecodiesel V6 that an amazing 420 lb-ft of torque and 240 horse-power. My tester was equipped with the fuel frugal diesel – 9.8 /7.0 L/100 km (city/highway).

The second is a 3.6 L Pentastar VVT

V6 that has been on the Ward’s 10 best engine list for three years. It delivers 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. There is a 5.7L VVT V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque and delivers a surprisingly 9.9L/100 km on the highway. The last engine choice is the 6.4L HEMI V8 which is available on the SRT model. It delivers 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, all these engines come with an 8 speed automatic trans-mission. Basic warranty coverage is for three years or 60,000 km

I remember as a kid, wearing my Sunday best and then going out and playing in the mud! With this Jeep, you push a button, hike up the truck, and go have some fun!

I was very surprised that it was able to perform off-road given that it has undergone some dramatic changes to the body and the ride comfort, but like all Jeeps it is built to take a punishment.

ian.harwood@drivewaybc.ca

Jeep Grand Cherokee:Rugged beauty is more than skin deep

The Mercury Bobcat.

The all-new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Sticker price:Price as tested: $54,395

Laredo: $39,995

Limited: $47,895

Overland: $55,895

Summit: $60,895

SRT: $63,495

‘‘I remember as a kid, wearing my Sunday best and then going out and playing in the mud! With this Jeep, you push a button, hike up the truck, and go have some fun!’’Ian Harwood

Friday, April 4, 2014 Richmond Review · Page 15

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by Bob McHugh

Marseille, France – The mid-sized C-Class is the most popular and affordable Mercedes-Benz sedan and about 8.5 million of them have been produced, since it was originally introduced in 1993.

Mercedes engineering typically operates on a seven-year “circle of life” production run and an all-new generation of C-Class will arrive in Canada, as a 2015 model year vehicle, this summer.

In brief, it’s a bigger and better C-Class, however, real progress is in the details. This C-Class is lighter, safer, comes with a choice of two more powerful (yet more fuel-efficient) new engines, uses even more advanced technologies, plus its body is more aerodynamic and, to my eyes, better looking. The South of France global launch location, even though I had to share it with over 800 other auto hacks, was another nice bonus—more later...

There’s no pricing available at this time, but we do know the initial trim levels offered in Canada will be a C300 and a C400. A sporty AMG edition, called the C63, will also be added to the line in January 2015. Although not official, a diesel edi-tion is also expected to be added in 2015. At this event Mercedes was also showing a Euro-destined hybrid-diesel edition.

An optional (Airmatic) air suspension is offered for the first time in C-Class. It allows a driver to choose between Comfort, Eco, Sport, and Sport+ settings via an Agility Select switch on the console. The 4MATIC all-wheel drive system is, as before, the other major option. Also available is a

Sport Package that includes AMG trim upgrades, wheels and front brake system.

The C-class has classic rear-drive vehicle proportions with a long hood (with a choice of two front grilles) and a short rear deck. It looks like a smaller version of the top-line, and redesigned last year, S-class, especially the new LED headlights and taillights. Compared to the current C-Class it’s longer, lower and wider and is now close in size to a 90s E-Class. Its extended wheelbase also helps create more interior space, especially for rear seat passengers.

The big change under-hood is a four-cylinder tur-bocharged 2.0-litre, in the C300, that’s max rated at 235 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. While it produces more power than the outgoing base V6, I found the initial power surge, when you push on the gas pedal, overly aggressive. In fairness, the North American edition will come with different throttle mapping.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 in the C400, on the other hand, is a beauty. It can pump-out up to 329 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. More importantly, it does so in a quieter, smoother and effortless fashion that most drivers expect when at the wheel of a Mercedes. Both engines come with idle fuel saving start/stop systems and are mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The list of standard and available high-tech ac-tive safety features is simply amazing. It includes almost everything that’s available in the top-line S-Class, which is touted as the world’s safest car. Intelligent Drive is an optional suite of technologies

that includes autonomous braking with pedestrian recognition, a low-speed heavy traffic auto-pilot feature, active parking assist and a 360-degree camera setup with numerous views of immediate surroundings.

Bordering on frivolous, there’s an Air-Balance in-car perfuming system ... to prolong that new-car Mercedes smell. Another one is a GPS-linked climate-control system tech feature that automati-cally switches it to “recirculation” mode when a C-Class is driven into a tunnel.

Even with the (100 kg) weight reduction, this C-Class is sublimely stable on the road. The switch to a full electronic assist rack and pinion steering system, called Direct Steer, is also flaw-less. There are fuel economy and active safety benefits.

Inside the seating is typical Mercedes with easy

to find power controls on the door panel. Gener-ous in size, yet excellent support and a good range of adjustable elements didn’t give my weak back a reason to complain, even after many hours of driving.

The restyled dash is an elegant and less fussy design, thanks mainly to a new Touchpad control-ler that eliminates a multitude of switches. It can recognise both single and multi-finger gestures, wiping movements, zoom finger gestures, even user handwriting.

That said, the stand-alone display screen looks out of place, as if an afterthought I-Pad was at-tached to the dash.

Overall, this C-Class is sure to please both purists and newcomers. Superbly engineered, technically sophisticated and pleasure to drive.

bob.mchugh@drivewaybc.ca

Marvelling at a new Mercedes in Marseille

An all-new generation of C-Class will arrive in Canada this summer.

‘‘Superbly engineered, technically sophisticated and pleasure to drive.’’Bob McHugh