LVSteve
Member
Ahh, I can hear the groans already. Another of Steve's reports and it's a blasted Kia.
So, the basic facts:
Type: Sort of mini crossover/large hatchback
Engine: 1.6, 130 bhp, 118 ft-lbs
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Weight: ~2750 lbs
Equipment: HVAC, Bluetooth, Satellite capable radio, Electric Windows, optional 17" rims.
Gas tank: 14.2 gallons
So, it came in the nasty colour you see below, BUT it's the first rental car in 17 years with the tyre inflation correct. Kudos to my new rental guy.
My first impressions around Vegas were shockingly positive. This thing is very quiet, the transmission is butter smooth and it gathered speed deceptively quickly given the small displacement. Remember this is as ~2200 ft ASL.
After a bit of fiddling I was able to get the seat comfortable and found that there is a vast amount of headroom. If you want to crank up the seat to be more "bus driver" style, you can. Some may not like the headrests. They seem to be a little intrusive and require you recline the backrest more than you might be used to.
On the open road I found the thing hummed along very well with a quiet engine, little road or wind noise and a remarkably good ride. As I climbed in altitude it became apparent that the little engine would struggle. Passing maneuvers on two-lane roads above 4000' required much forward planning and a willingness to let the motor rev out. It does get loud, but it is very smooth. The only other time it got loud inside was on some newly laid, very coarse surface. It was flat, but the grain in it would give a Rolls-Royce fits.
Something I noticed straight away on the two-laners was that this vehicle is incredibly stable in a straight line. Multi-trailer big rigs going the other way caused a "whap!" of air and a slight sway but nothing else. It was the same coming home against a heavy head/front quartering wind. Camrys and Chevys were tacking like yachts, but this little box trucked on dead straight. Pretty counter-intuitive for a vehicle that looks this square. I think the secret is the cleverly rounded nose and the tumblehome sloped sides.
The wind was so strong that in places the big rigs were down to 60 mph or less and at one point my car shifted into fifth to maintain 70 mph road speed. I dread to think what the airspeed was.
Radio worked OK and the Bluetooth operated perfectly with my 'phone. The HVAC seemed OK, too. The interior is a little plasticky, but better than most cars at this price point.
My only real gripe is gas mileage. I got about 30-31 both ways. On the way up I was climbing much of the time and running at 75 mph on the excellent cruise control. On the way back I cruised at 70 but had a headwind nearly the whole way. Cruising at 65 mph before the wind got up I saw 34 mpg. The EPA only rates them as 30 mpg Highway so maybe I did OK.
Pros: Very quiet and refined for its size. Excellent ride and very stable in a straight line for a small car. All the toys work as advertised.
Cons: Needs a turbo for Nevada's altitude. There is an available 2.0 motor that gets the same gas mileage according to the EPA.
So, the basic facts:
Type: Sort of mini crossover/large hatchback
Engine: 1.6, 130 bhp, 118 ft-lbs
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Weight: ~2750 lbs
Equipment: HVAC, Bluetooth, Satellite capable radio, Electric Windows, optional 17" rims.
Gas tank: 14.2 gallons
So, it came in the nasty colour you see below, BUT it's the first rental car in 17 years with the tyre inflation correct.
Kudos to my new rental guy. My first impressions around Vegas were shockingly positive. This thing is very quiet, the transmission is butter smooth and it gathered speed deceptively quickly given the small displacement. Remember this is as ~2200 ft ASL.
After a bit of fiddling I was able to get the seat comfortable and found that there is a vast amount of headroom. If you want to crank up the seat to be more "bus driver" style, you can. Some may not like the headrests. They seem to be a little intrusive and require you recline the backrest more than you might be used to.
On the open road I found the thing hummed along very well with a quiet engine, little road or wind noise and a remarkably good ride. As I climbed in altitude it became apparent that the little engine would struggle. Passing maneuvers on two-lane roads above 4000' required much forward planning and a willingness to let the motor rev out. It does get loud, but it is very smooth. The only other time it got loud inside was on some newly laid, very coarse surface. It was flat, but the grain in it would give a Rolls-Royce fits.
Something I noticed straight away on the two-laners was that this vehicle is incredibly stable in a straight line. Multi-trailer big rigs going the other way caused a "whap!" of air and a slight sway but nothing else. It was the same coming home against a heavy head/front quartering wind. Camrys and Chevys were tacking like yachts, but this little box trucked on dead straight. Pretty counter-intuitive for a vehicle that looks this square. I think the secret is the cleverly rounded nose and the tumblehome sloped sides.
The wind was so strong that in places the big rigs were down to 60 mph or less and at one point my car shifted into fifth to maintain 70 mph road speed. I dread to think what the airspeed was.
Radio worked OK and the Bluetooth operated perfectly with my 'phone. The HVAC seemed OK, too. The interior is a little plasticky, but better than most cars at this price point.
My only real gripe is gas mileage. I got about 30-31 both ways. On the way up I was climbing much of the time and running at 75 mph on the excellent cruise control. On the way back I cruised at 70 but had a headwind nearly the whole way. Cruising at 65 mph before the wind got up I saw 34 mpg. The EPA only rates them as 30 mpg Highway so maybe I did OK.
Pros: Very quiet and refined for its size. Excellent ride and very stable in a straight line for a small car. All the toys work as advertised.
Cons: Needs a turbo for Nevada's altitude. There is an available 2.0 motor that gets the same gas mileage according to the EPA.
