2008 KIA NEW VEHICLE MODEL GUIDE

Kia of South Korea constructs a diverse product line of value-priced vehicles extending from economical small cars like the Rio, to premium luxury sedans such as the Amanti. It also offers multiple wagons including the Sedona and Rondo minivans and the Sorento and Sportage sport utility vehicles.

Optima
Kia's mid-size sedan scored a new platform in 2007, with a longer wheelbase and wider track, making more room in the five-seat cabin. OFor 2008 the Optima continues in trims of LX and EX, with powertrains of a 2.4-liter, in-line-four for 161 horsepower and a 2.7-liter V6 with 185 horsepower. A five-speed Sportmatic automatic is optional with the four-pack, and comes standard with the V6. Other gear includes curtain-style air bags, active front headrests and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Other available features are anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (ESC) on the V6.

Sportage
Kia's versatile, small-class wagon is a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform and the smooth ride quality of a sedan. There are FWD and all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction options and two tiers of trim, the base LX and deluxe EX, each with different powertrain choices. A bargain-priced Sportage LX entry edition packs a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine for 140 horsepower with a manual five-speed shifter. The Sportage LX V6 and upgraded EX V6 use a twin-cam, 2.7-liter V6 worth 173 horsepower as linked to a four-speed automatic with Sportmatic manual shift mode.

Sorento
Kia's mid-size SUV looks keen, carrying a spacious passenger compartment with room for five. For 2008, the Sorento presents a new V6 engine option for its base LX trim. The new 3.3-liter V6 achieves 242 horsepower. The Sorento EX stocks a 3.8-liter V6 boosted to 262 horsepower and tied to a five-speed Sportmatic automatic shifter. The SUV also offers two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) traction. A comfortable cabin with seating for five contains standard safety items like curtain-style side air bags, ESC, a traction control system (TCS), TPMS, active front headrests and a driver's knee air bag.

Sedona
Kia's minivan appears in two body lengths — the short wheelbase (SWB) edition at 113.8 inches and the long wheelbase (LWB) version at 118.9 inches. Those extra inches for the LWB Sedona bring about 15 percent more space in the seven-seat passenger compartment. The cabin has front bucket seats, flip-and-fold second-row seats and a rear bench that folds into the floor. Kia laces the Sedona with safety features including lots of air bags. Also, the Kia Sedona packs a forceful engine with the 3.8-liter V6 netting 250 horsepower and linking to a five-speed Sportmatic automatic.

Amanti
Long and elegant with a sculptured style drawn from Europe's classic luxury touring sedans, the Amanti measures up to its large-car status by carrying the trappings of a premium luxury model. Conformed as a notchback four-door sedan with seats for up to five, the Amanti looks substantial with a bold prow displaying a prominent chrome, egg-crate grille tucked between flanking pairs of oval articulated headlamps. Go-power stems from its 3.8-liter aluminum V6 rated at 264 horsepower. Amanti's optional premium package adds Supervision gauges, aluminum trim in the cabin and chrome-coated wheels.

Rondo
Kia's miniature minivan/wagon rolled out in 2007 model and is back yet again in 2008. It's a five-door, hatchback-styled wagon sized for the compact class and constructed on the FWD platform of a car. Its body styling is slick and streamlined, with the option of an accessory kit including chrome trim and front fascia and side sills extensions. The Rondo's cabin makes room for up to seven riders. Lots of safety equipment goes into the model including six air bags and ESC. Its engine choices are a 2.4-liter in-line-four worth 162 horsepower or a 2.7-liter V6 for 182 horsepower.

Spectra
Spectra is a shapely four-door sedan for the compact class stocking a respectable powerplant with FWD traction and ample safety systems. Layout of the cabin seems conventional with two buckets in front of a bench for three. However, personal space is definitely not conventional for a compact — the cabin seems tall and broad with generous room to stretch out. Model grades are the EX, LX and sporty SX, all stocking curtain-style air bags. Power flows from a 2.0-liter, four-pack with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and 138 horsepower through a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic.

Spectra5
A five-door hatchback, fuel-effcient variation of the Spectra sedan mixes the spry road manners of a small FWD sports sedan with the cargo capacity of a pint-size SUV. It's partly a sporty car styled like a street-racer hatchback and partly a small wagon and thrifty runabout that's practical and fun to drive. The Spectra5 holds the same engine and running gear as the four-door Spectra. However, it gets a strut tower brace in front for improved torsional rigidity, stabilizer bars and taut tuning for the four-wheel independent suspension.

Rio
Kia's subcompact four-door sedan draws class-capping strength from its zippy engine. The 1.6-liter, four-cylinder CVVT plant produces 110 horsepower and employs a five-speed manual transmission or optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic. The sedan brings three trims — base, upgraded LX and sporty SX. All models stock six standard air bags including dual advanced frontal and front seat-mounted side air bags and full-length, curtain-style air bags above the front and back side windows. The Rio SX adds chrome accents to the instrument panel, special fabric inserts on seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching.

Rio5
The number attached to the nameplate denotes a tail-side, fifth door perfect for accessing the aft cargo compartment on the hatchback variation of Kia's Rio sedan. The sporty hatchback edition uses the same engine and equipment as the Rio, but gets its own SX trim. Styling for the exterior package on Rio5 features a raked windshield, pronounced wheel arches, an aggressive prow with corner headlamps and a grille with black mesh insert.

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