Automakers are turning to smaller displacement, turbocharged engines to produce decent power without sacrificing fuel economy. Kia has followed suit with its Sportage SX, succeeding in delivering these goals.

The Kia Soul and Subaru Impreza hatchback are similar in some ways, such as engine size; use of simple controls; easy access to the noisy cabin; and comparable fuel economy, cargo room, and turning circles. Yet, there are big differences in styling and performance.

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon nationwide, there are more than 20 SUVs and trucks that cost more than $100 to fill up. But, there are almost 30 cars that cost less than $50 to refuel. We crunched the numbers and found the cheapest cars in America to fill up.

As gasoline prices creep closer to $4 a gallon nationwide, fuel economy has become a paramount concern for most drivers. Consumer Reports has tested a fleet of new, small-cars looking for those that deliver good all-around performance. And the results show it is not smart to buy based on brand reputation alone.

Our Annual Autos Issue presents a dizzying array of facts and figures, all aimed at helping car shoppers choose the right model for their needs and budget. While we rate the automakers and present numerous best and worst lists, we haven’t offered a simple guide to the best and worst models by brand. Until now.

Last week, we looked at whether cars rated at 40 mpg EPA highway could actually deliver on that estimate in the real world. It turns out that most can based on our tests, but the Hyundai Elantra fell a bit short. Are there other cars that are also challenged to live up to their window sticker?

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.