Leftlane’s bottom line

Kia is no longer content to be the butt of jokes or the car of last resort for those who may be fiscally challenged.

Although still very much a Hyundai rival, Kia finally has a design language and style of its own. The brand is making all the right moves, unlike a certain Japanese rival that seems to make all the wrong decisions these days.

This particular Korean firm is succeeding in their quest to become a tier-one import that won’t cause anyone to have to explain their purchases. Competing brands should do well to look over their shoulders for there is a new contender gaining on them.

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    Interior overview
    1. Door lock/unlock button.....................3-10 2. Outside rearview mirror control switch*...............................................3-71 3. Power window switches* ...................3 ...

    Interior light
    CAUTION: Do not use the interior lights for extended periods when the engine is not running. It may cause battery discharge. Map lamp • : Push the switch to turn the map lamp on or off. Th ...

    Driving
    The Kia is available with 2.0-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engines, but we prefer the 2.0-litre turbodiesel. There's a fair amount of diesel clatter at idle, but once on the move it delivers power ...