At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, Kia unveiled a fully-loaded Optima sedan, the SX Limited, that will sit at the top of the sedan’s trim-line offerings. The SX Limited will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 274 horsepower, with fuel economy rated at 22 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. We have found this four-cylinder to be both economical and powerful, but not as refined as some competitors' V6 engines.

Aimed at car enthusiasts, Kia unveiled a high-performance concept called the Track’ster based on the Soul wagon at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have a commanding lead in car brand awareness, as determined from interviewing car owners for the 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey.

The U.S. National Highway traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall alert for nearly 145,800 vehicles from Kia Motors America. Certain models of 2006-2008 Kia Optima sedans and 2007-2008 Kia Rondo wagons may have front air bags that might not deploy, increasing the risk of injuries to drivers.

Joining the ranks of carmakers offering an ever-increasing range of telematics services, Kia’s new e-Services launched at CES leverages a user’s smart phone connection à la Ford SYNC to provide a suite of navigation, diagnostics, safety, and convenience features.

Curt Manufacturing is recalling about 2,400 tow package wiring harnesses because moisture can seep into the converter module and defeat the internal circuit protection. This could potentially cause the module to overheat, leading to a fire hazard.

In such a large, diverse country as America, long-distance road trips feel like a birthright. But going the distance coast-to-coast isn’t for just any jalopy. It requires a good, safe, reliable car that excels in comfort and other factors. In anticipation of the long weekend, the Consumer Reports’ Cars team has been debating which model is the best road trip car, and below we present our picks.

Kia has announced pricing for the all new Rio compact car will start at $13,600 for the five-door hatchback and $14,700 for the sedan with automatic transmission. These prices are below the previous generation and do not include a $750 destination and handling fee.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration along with Kia Motors have announced a recall of more than 10,600 Kia Sorento sport utility vehicles. The problem: Faulty programming may incorrectly deactivate the front passenger airbag for adult riders.

By the looks of it, Kia may be adding a big coupe-like sedan to its lineup. The Korean automaker unveiled the GT concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week, a long-sleek, rear-wheel-drive coupe powered by a turbocharged V6 engine.

When you drive a different car every couple of days, as we do around here, it’s always interesting to see what, if any, reaction the “ride du jour” draws from people on the street. In my experience, the overwhelming majority of the time, nobody cares. Why should they?

The Kia Soul receives new, more-powerful engines and upgraded interior for the 2012 model year. The sticker price has edged up, but the better-equipped base model remains just under $14,000 at $13,900 with a manual transmission. Models with an automatic start at $15,700. Destination charges add $750.

As summer winds down, many families are preparing to send their teens off to college. Cruising off to the world of academia, it is important to make a smart decision on a reliable car that can be counted on for errands and journeys home. We maintain a list of the best cars for teens that can be a good guide, but the Cars team has additional thoughts on cars specifically for college. Below are our personal picks for campus duty.

For years, Kia’s entry-level model hasn’t been much more than cheap wheels. Sure, the Rio5 hatchback tried to put a sporty spin on things, but it wasn’t ultimately wasn’t all that convincing. Time has also marched on in the subcompact segment with more modern drivetrains, safety gear, and better driving dynamics. In other words, it’s time for a new Rio.

In assembling our best new car deals on American cars and deals on American-made cars, we compiled and examined a lot of data. Much of the findings enriched our deals reports, while others inspired trivial pursuits. To fuel your discussions around the BBQ grill (or even an automotive grille) this weekend, we determined how many cars each brand actually builds in the United States.