Page 75 - Motor Trend (May 2020)
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UPDATE UPDATE
CHRYSLER HONDA HYUNDAI JEEP UPDATE ARRIVAL
BMW X2 PACIFICA GENESIS G70 INSIGHT KONA WRANGLER KIA SOUL KIA TELLURIDE
MAZDA3 NISSAN RAM SUBARU TOYOTA VOLKSWAGEN VOLVO S60 VOLVO
KICKS 1500 LARAMIE ASCENT RAV4 ATLAS UPDATE XC60
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Our S trim doesn’t get the 10.3-inch
screen and fancy dash of the EX and
SX, but it’s still a nice place to be. 2020 Kia Soul
in Sport mode, it will light captain’s chairs with a 60/40 Service life:
up the front tires if you give split-folding bench seat. 2 mo/3,784 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 26.7 mpg
it too much throttle from a The captain’s chairs have a “The Soul doesn’t scream ‘I made it,’
standstill, or so I have been premium look and makes
but I still like the COTY finalist enough
told. Sure, a little more torque access to the third-row easier, to stunt on them haters.” Robin Trajano
would be great, and I’d prefer but a bench is more useful,
to have the optional AWD, and my dog hammock only Avg CO2 0.73 lb/mi Energy cons 125 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved
but overall the engine and works with a bench. Getting problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0
transmission are really well us to that reasonable $36,015 Base price $23,685 As-tested $25,755 EPA City/Hwy/Comb
Fuel Econ 27/33/30 mpg Real MPG 23.5/36.2/27.9 mpg
matched to the chassis. price tag, we added carpeted
The Telluride is a pleasure floormats, a cargo cover, a started off my year in the trim kinda gives off Range
to drive. During our SUV of cargo tray, and an auto-dim- I 2020 Kia Soul EX with a Rover Sport vibes.
the Year evaluation, many ming rearview mirror with lot of feelings. Sadness, Finally, it has a lot of cargo
of this year’s judges sang its a HomeLink garage door confusion, and a little bit of room with the second row
hope. After some time with it, folded—62.2 cubic feet, almost
praises for comfort, quietness, opener and compass.
I’ve learned a few things about an exact match for my old
and refinement compared to With the Telluride starting
it that I like and some things I BMW X3’s 62.7 cubes.
the rest of the class. My first off strong with an SUV of
don’t. Let’s start with former.
impression is that when it the Year and a Big Test win,
Things I Don’t Like Lots of NVH,
comes to ride and handling, I have reason to hope that Things I Like The IVT (Intelligent especially under hard accel-
the Telluride is in a different my year with the three-row Variable Transmission) is intel- eration. The noise that fills the
league than the Atlas. Kia should be pleasant. ligently tuned. It uses the little cabin when you mash the gas
Looking around from the Maintaining much of available power to make the pedal makes it clear you’re
comfortable black Sofino the utility offered by the car feel peppier in real-world driving an economy car.
leatherette driver’s seat, the gargantuan VW Atlas but in situations. This is a pleasant It only has 24.2 cubic feet
surprise because in my experi- of cargo volume with the
Telluride’s interior is pretty a more refined package, the
ence, other CVTs feel like they second-row seats up; if you’re
nice. We opted for the $100 Telluride is already giving me
suck the life out of engines. The transporting much stuff at
eight-seater option, which a more positive outlook for
Soul is still slow off the line, but once, you’ll need to fold the
replaces the second-row the 12 months to come. once you’re moving, it responds seats down to make room.
quickly to throttle changes. The small cargo opening
2020 Kia Telluride S V6 Vehicle Layout Front-engine, FWD, Kia’s infotainment system is makes it hard to shoot out
8-pass, 4-door SUV Engine 3.8L/291-hp/262-lb-ft DOHC intuitive and responsive, and it of the hatch, and there's no
24-valve V-6 Transmission 8-speed automatic has features you really use. For sunroof to shoot out of. But
Wheelbase 114.2 in 0-60 MPH 7.2 sec (est) Energy Consumption, example, it tells you what wiper these are very specific prob-
City/Hwy 169/130 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions 0.87 lb/mile
setting you’re in so you don’t lems for photographers.
have to squint behind the wheel The short wheelbase paired
in the dark to try to read the with the lower-profile 18-inch
Height 68.9”
wiper stalk. wheels and tires make for a
The exterior styling is sharp choppy ride. And I want more
and stands out in the oversatu- power. Give me the turbo!
rated subcompact segment. I’m These early impressions
glad Kia decided to retain the may change as I get to know
Soul’s boxy figure. The GT-Line the Soul more. Stay tuned.
Width 78.3” Length 196.9”
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