2011 Toyota Sienna

Third-generation minivan features new sport grade

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Sienna SE

What was once old is new again. The minivan is, after all, the original active lifestyle vehicle. At its peak in the late 1990s, the minivan segment commanded a million unit sales annually.

Minivans are more aerodynamic, and hence get better gas mileage than sport-utility vehicles; yet they hold as many passengers and carry as much gear. The 2011 Toyota Sienna that rolls out in February is available with all-wheel drive. Three rows of seating hold up to eight passengers. The V6 model’s 3500-pound towing capacity meets our ALV minimum standard.

A new sport grade with a unique exterior, larger wheels and special suspension tuning rivals like-sized crossover vehicles. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Sorento EX V6

Compact crossover is Kia’s first car built in the USA

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sorento

The original Kia Sorento that debuted for the 2003 model year was a sport-utility vehicle engineered for off-road performance. This January, an all-new Sorento rolls into Kia’s 650 US dealerships: a compact cross-utility vehicle marketed towards young families with active lifestyles. Its unibody chassis is similar to a passenger car, whereas the former model was built on a truck platform.
 
The new chassis is longer and lower: longer to accommodate an available third-row seat, and lower to enhance highway performance. Kia remains true to its value pricing strategy: the base four-cylinder front-wheel drive model starts under $20,000.

Both the four-cylinder engine and available V6 come with an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. Cars equipped with the V6 meet the ALV 3500-pound towing standard.

All-wheel drive, available with either engine, enhances wet weather performance by transferring engine torque to the wheels with the best traction. Standard hill descent control and hill-start assist improve maneuverability on steep grades.

New West Point, Georgia manufacturing plant

The Sorento is the first Kia built on American soil. Kia‘s West Point, Georgia manufacturing facility represents a one billion dollar investment, giving the automaker a comparable US presence to Honda and Toyota. Read the rest of this entry »