i took one for a spin tonight...just curious how it actually was...i drove the EX-Limited which is almost identical to the GT-Line..the only difference is flat bottom steering wheel, roof rails and sport bumpers with side sill accents...i was mostly interested in how it drove as well as seeing the infotainment, etc.
it was a short drive, maybe 20 minutes...i went around the block about 3 times, modifying the route slightly to try different things...my conclusions in point form:
-even though the rear suspension is a torsion beam (like my Rio5), it is set up much better...the train tracks don't make a clunk sound like my car does (or, nowhere nearly as pronounced)...not sure if that is the tires, suspension, mix of everything...in any case, definite upgrade.
-not a fan of the cooled seats...maybe it's something you get used to, but to me, felt like i was sitting in a puddle (that type of sensation)...in any case, it's a neat feature, and maybe you just need to get used to it.
-HUD display...thought it was a bit gimmicky at first, but it's actually kind of neat...not only does it show you your speed, but also the speed limit of the road you are on (in an icon that looks like a speed limit sign)...i think there are several things you can display on it, i just left it at whatever it was at by default...also, you can adjust the display to your height (perhaps the straight pipes guys didn't know this).
-engine power...i was prepared to be somewhat underwhelmed, but i didn't mind it at all...i can see why they didn't bother with the turbo...the combination with the IVT makes this "peppy" i guess i'd say...i think it's 0-60 time is about the same as my Rio5, and i find it zippy around town if i want to drive it that way...i'm sure this new 2.0L engine is a definite improvement over the base engines used in previous models.
-IVT...never owned a car with a CVT, but i wouldn't hesitate getting this one...in regular mode, it operates much like you'd think it would...it also "seems" slow, only because you can't hear the sound you are used to hearing (the engine revving up the range, then a gear change, and the cycle repeats)...i did a couple of "give 'ers" from a stop in normal mode and it doesn't feel overly peppy, but the speed increases faster than it feels like...it's a weird sensation, honestly...my guess is it likely does zip around just as fast (if not faster), but it doesn't feel like it...in sport mode, it simulates a conventional auto, and "shifts" using preset gear ratios...it feels peppier in this mode, but i'm not sure if that's simply because it feels and sounds like how we'd expect it to.
-tech...being a top trim, there's lots of it, and it's quite impressive...full suite of safety gear, full LED lighting, 640W, 10 speaker Harmon Kardon sound system with sub, 10.25" HD display (it's a nice screen), heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging dock, ACP/AA, NAV, power front seats and power lumbar for driver, smart key and sunroof.
summary...if i was going to buy a vehicle right now, it would definitely be high on my list...it's got all the features i'd want, is reasonably priced ($30k), has a ton of space inside (for it's exterior dimensions) and looks very good in and out...i can see why so many people buy them, and the new model seems to better still...factor in the long warranty, decent interest rate (for a new model) and i'm sure Kia will have no problems selling them.
