20. BMW 7-Series

In the market and shopping for a used car? Consumer Reports has released a list of 20 used vehicles to stay away from as they have a reputation for causing trouble. Listed is a top 20 list of used cars from 2003 to 2012 model year to avoid in alphabetical order. These vehicles had multiple years of much-worse-than-average overall reliability, according to Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey.

The BMW 7-Series may be the German automaker’s luxury flagship, but used models aren’t without their issues. From 2001-2008, the 7-Series featured the good ‘ol “Bangle Butt” and sported some highly controversial styling. Early production of that generation was overwhelmed with issues even causing BMW to purchase back some of the vehicles back in 2002-2003. BMW of North America even extended its warranty on all 2002-2003 model year 7-Series vehicles to six years/100,000 miles from the original four years/50,000 miles.

According to Consumer Reports, the BMW 7-Series ranked “worse” in the categories of Engine Major, Engine Minor, Transmission Major, Transmission Minor, Body Hardware, and Audio System.

Third-Row Legroom

Welcome back to the all-you-can-eat Top-10 buffet! You know you want more, and AutoGuide’s happy to serve up another heaping helping of facts, neatly garnished with a sprig of fun. Grab a plate, load it up and tuck in to another generous portion of automotive infotainment.

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As expected, Kia has revealed its “Space Babies” Super Bowl commercial ahead of the big game, and it’s every bit as strange as we anticipated.

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Kia has released pricing on its redesigned 2014 Sorento SUV, which debuted late last year at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.

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Last year, Kia generated plenty of hype with its Super Bowl commercial, which featured the beautiful Adriana Lima. This year, the Korean automaker is doing a complete 180 in order to promote its Sorento model.

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At the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Kia unveiled its redesigned 2014 Sorento crossover, packing plenty of changes including a new 3.3-liter V6 engine.

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Kia will be heading to this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show with a redesigned Forte and an updated Sorento, the Korean automaker has confirmed.

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Kia recently unveiled its face-lifted 2014 Sorento, and now the first commercial for the car has been released in Korea, showing off the interior.

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After seeing spy photos of the 2014 Kia Sorento, the re-design was still mostly hidden, but now some photos have surfaced of the model undisguised, showing off the new look. 

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The 2013 Kia Sorento was unveiled to us by the company over a month ago, but the spy photos that keep pouring in tell us that there must be some changes in the works for the next gen Sorento.

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Although we recently saw the new face of the 2013 Kia Sorento, we have already received spy photos of the next generation Sorento, camo clad and testing on the Nürburgring.

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No more spy photos necessary, Kia has officially revealed their facelifted 2013 Sorento to the world. The Korean automaker updated its Sorento for the 2013 model year, changing up the front end, body color accents, and adding 17-inch wheels to the SUV.

The top-of-the-line SX model also gets itself a chrome exhaust tip, LED taillights, and larger 18-inch wheels. Engine choices include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder MPI with 175 hp and 169 lb-ft of torque, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder GDI with 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque and a 3.5-liter V6 with 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.

All engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive is available as an option.

The interior of the 2013 Sorento comes with air conditioning, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel and power windows as standard on the base model. Available options include an UVO infotainment system and a “Convenience Plus” package that includes an eight-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a first aid kit.

On the EX trim model, leather seats are standard along with dual-zone automatic climate control. The top-of-the-line SX model adds heated/cooled front seats, stainless steel pedals, and illuminated door sills.

Pricing details are still unavailable.

GALLERY: 2013 Kia Sorento

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) celebrated the 500,000th vehicle being completed this morning. 

“Building 500,000 vehicles in just over two years is quite a milestone for our first U.S. manufacturing plant to accomplish,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO for Kia Motors America and KMMG. “The commitment from each one of our team members is a big reason we’ve been able to achieve 17 consecutive months of record sales. Their dedication to building world class, high quality vehicles is apparent in each vehicle we produce.”

KMMG provides jobs to more than 3000 people to date and manufactures the Sorento CUV and Optima sedan, which was the car to get the half-million unit distinction.

On the market now for a few years, the Kia Sorento is due for a facelift and out photographers have snapped the first spy photos of the updated car testing in northern Europe.

While the car continues to be covered in a great deal of camo, especially on the rear, the front shows new LED driving lights that give away at lest some of the design of the new headlights. The extensive rear camo would indicate a more dramatic change to the back of the crossover.

As for engines, look for the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and 2.0T to be carried over, with the possibility that Kia could introduce a hybrid variant. Of note, Kia was testing the new Sorento along side a new Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK, indicating they’ve upped the benchmark for the updated crossover.

GALLERY: 2013 Kia Sorento Spy Photos

Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik reaffirmed, in an interview with Fox News, that the Korean automaker doesn’t intend to join the truck market but will look instead into the six and seven passenger crossover segment.

With vehicles in over a dozen automotive segments, Hyundai is seeing success in both the pre- and post-family stages, but is struggling in the family life stage, where their Veracruz sits. In 2009, the Entourage minivan was discontinued which left the Santa Fe as their only three-row vehicle. In 2011, the Veracruz sold a disappointing 9,146 units which utterly fails to compete with the 130,235 Kia Sorentos sold last year, it’s obvious that Hyundai has their work cut out for them in that particular market.

“We’re not a big truck player. I like to say brands define themselves as much by what they choose not to do as what they chose to do. We could be a truck player if we wanted to, we choose to focus on more fuel efficient segments of the market,” Krafcik said.

So it appears that Hyundai will probably be working more on crossovers and possibly SUVs but for now, we won’t see trucks bearing their badge anytime soon.

[Source: Fox News]

10,631 Kia Sorento SUVs built between June 15th, 2006 and November 27th, 2007 will be recalled due to a faulty airbag issue where the passenger-side air bag may be turned off even when an adult is occupying the seat. Naturally, the Occupant Classification System is designed to be turned off when children or small adults are seated in the front passenger seat, but in the recalled models it can mistakenly classify an adult passenger as a child. If the air bag is deactivated, the light will illuminate on the center instrument panel.

The recall will have vehicle owners’ programming updated by Kia in the Sorento’s OCS module at no charge. Owners that are affected may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

NHTSA has announced a safety recall for 10,600 model year 2007-2008 Kia Sorento SUVs. A sensor used to deactivate an airbag when a child or baby seat is installed at the front passenger side may incorrectly deactivate the airbag when an adult is in the passenger seat. Airbag deactivation will cause an increased risk of occupant injury in the event of a frontal collision.

According to studies, this malfunction occurs when a heavier adult rider is present. The “passenger airbag off” warning light will illuminate in such an occurrence, notifying the occupants of the vehicle.

Kia is currently informing all affected Sorento owners to bring their vehicles to authorized dealerships to receive a reprogram for their OCS system.

[Source: NHTSA]

Kia is recalling 7,697 Sorentos due to a problem with the rear brake calipers, according to a release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Kia claims that no crashes have resulted from the problem, but is going ahead with the recall anyways.

“Some of the rear brake calipers may not have been properly machined,” said NHTSA in a statement released to the media. “As a result, brake fluid will leak, followed by illumination of the malfunction indicator light indicating the brake fluid level is low and should be checked, then a soft or spongy brake pedal feel, and if not serviced, reduced braking power which could increase the risk of a crash.”

Owners can contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. The recall is expected to begin this month.

[Source: Inside Line]

Jeong Sung Eun, Kia‘s Vice Chairman, took the rare step of resigning his post on September 3rd, as he accepted responsibility for a large recall of Kia vehicles.

Roughly 86,000 vehicles were recalled due to an electrical wiring issue that posed a potential fire hazard. About 35,000 Sorentos and Souls from the the 2010 and 2011 model years were affected. Jeong’s responsibilities included overseeing the production division. A spokesman told Automotive News that the company has not yet appointed a replacement.

[Source: Automotive News]

Kia‘s top of the line Sorento SX comes with special Dual Flow Dampers, which apparently offers a great blend of performance and comfort, while giving the Sorento a slightly lower ride height.

However, the lesser Sorentos apparently offered a harsh ride of broken-up pavement, and Kia has taken notice. The DFD dampers will now be standard across the board starting in the fourth quarter of 2010, so any “early adopters” might be kicking themselves for having purchased a lesser Sorento. Kia made no mention of whether there’s any kind of retrofit for previous production runs (we doubt it) so buyers who got on the bandwagon early may just have to live with their purchase.

[Source: Autoblog]

One of the funkiest kids’ shows on TV and Korean automaker Kia are hitting the road for a cross-country tour. Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba” is pairing up once again with Kia (the first time being the Super Bowl commercial collaboration that aired this year). The ad featured Yo Gabba Gabba character Muno and an assortment of toys taking a Kia Sorento out for a joy ride.

Kia is the main sponsor of Yo Gabba Gabba’s 60-city live performance tour. The idea behind the pairing is that the two brands cross-pollinate each other: fans (and their parents) of “Yo Gabba Gabba” will get exposed to the Kia line of cars, while Kia drivers and prospective buyers will be exposed to the show.

So far, the ads have proven to be a great success for Kia. “I had someone tell me – who had just gone to buy a Kia, a Sorento, believe it or not – that people are going into the Kia dealership and asking for the car that Muno drives,” said Michael Polis, CEO of Wildbrain Entertainment and executive producer of “Yo Gabba Gabba.”

For the spot dedicated to the new Sorento SUV, Kia decided to work with Yo Gabba Gabba for their first Super Bowl ad in order to make a big splash, said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing for Kia.

The tour starts on August 27 and runs through December 12. Appearing on stage will be DJ Lance, Muno, Brobee and the rest of the Gabba gang, as well as rapper Biz Markie.

[Source: Orange County Register]

It may cost more money to purchase and fill up, but SUVs , trucks and mini-vans are cheaper to insure. This information is coming from a recent government report that based its findings on the fact that some vehicles cost less to fix, and therefore reflects how much it will cost to insure.

Based on losses of insured vehicles for the model years 2007 to 2009, work van Ford E350 Econoline tops the list as the cheapest vehicle to insure. It’s followed by the Mercury Mariner, a small SUV, and the Chevrolet Traverse.

Due to the fact that so many of the company’s vehicles made the list, Ford has no issues about tooting its own horn. “Vehicle affordability continues to be the most important purchase consideration for car and truck buyers, rivaled only by fuel economy,” said Frederiek Toney, a Ford vice president. “We design our vehicles to be easier and more affordable to repair because we know this saves our customers money in insurance premiums and repair costs over the long term.”

The only car to make the list is the Smart ForTwo microcar. The basic idea behind the list is that some vehicles are cheaper to fix if you crash them, and that difference is reflected in their insurance So that Econoline van is 61% cheaper to insure than the average vehicle. The Mariner is 59% cheaper to insure. Traverse is 57%.

Other cheap vehicles to insure, and their percentage they are cheaper than average:

Ford E350 Econoline: 61%

Mercury Mariner: 59%

Chevrolet Traverse: 57%

Ford Escape: 50%

Jeep Wrangler: 53%

Smart ForTwo convertible: 52%

GMC Acadia: 47%

Saturn Outlook: 46%

Ram 1500: 45%

Ford F-150 Supercab: 44%

Kia Sorento: 44%

Dodge Grand Caravan: 40%

Ford F-250: 40%

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Thanks to the folks at KiaWorld.net, we have these photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento. Looking significantly more modern than the old model, the crossover has also grown in size.

The vehicle measures 184.8-inches in length (an increase of 3.9-inches), 74.2-inches in width  (an increase of 1.4-inches), and 67.3-inches in height (a decrease of 0.6-inches). It will also feature a 5mm shorter wheelbase for a total of 2700 mm (or 106.3-inches)

Engine options will include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.8-liter V6 for the U.S. and Europe, with a diesel engine offered in Korea. The new diesel is the first all-new environmentally-friendly “R-diesel” engine from Hyundai/Kia and will get 200hp from a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel with an average fuel-economy rating of 16.7. I twill also meet EURO5 requirements.

Also available in Korea will be a 2.7-liter engine and it is expected that a a six-speed automatic transmission will be offered across the line.

As for the design, as promised the Sorento features Kia’s new corporate face, which the company debuted on the No. 3 Concept car at the Geneva Auto Show.

More info will be available at the Sorento’s official unveiling at the 2009 Seoul International Auto Show.

GALLERY: 2010 Kia Sorento

[Source: KiaWorld]