Kia not abandoning its small car roots

Story by John LeBlanc

Human nature demands improvement. This is why when given the opportunity to move their products upmarket, the people who run car companies jump at the chance like kernels of corn in a hot-air popper. You only have to look at the likes of Germany’s Volkswagen or Japan’s Toyota to see companies that started out making bare bones transportation before graduating to selling $100,000-plus luxobarges. Today, we have Kia, whose vice-chairman, Hyoung-Keun Lee, recently announced that Kia would be a real competitor to the established luxury brands by 2017. Read more

Dear John: Help me find the right luxury CUV

Story by John LeBlanc

With hundreds of vehicles available to choose from, today’s new-car buyers have never had so much selection. Even educated buyers find the differences between models are slimmer than a hipster’s wallet. To help new-car buyers with that burden of choice, I welcome you to Dear John, my new-vehicle consultation column. Read more

Is Ferrari already getting too greedy with its LaFerrari?

By John LeBlanc

Road Test: 2013 Kia Sportage SX

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

If evolution is supposed to improve the breed, how did we end up with the crossover-utility vehicle? Taller, heavier, thirstier and less cargo-accomodating than the station wagons they’ve essentially replaced, here we are 13 years into the 21^st century and there are more crossovers on new car dealer lots than sales folks in plaid suits. Read more

Comparo: 2013 Ford Escape versus Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

Station wagons aren’t dead. They’ve just been reincarnated into crossovers, essentially a taller, beefed-up version of what our parents were chauffeured around in when they were kids.

Two of the biggest sellers in today’s compact crossover segment are all-new for 2013: the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Santa Fe. Like most Fords these days, the new Escape was designed in Europe. It’s roomier, more fuel efficient and drives and handles better than the decade-old original. Although the model the new Santa Fe is replacing is more modern than the outgoing Ford, the 2013 version is an improvement in almost every area as well.

So which one is the better station wag-, er, crossover? Read more

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