Tag Archives: 3.3-liter V6

Car Reviews

Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport

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Genesis G80 Sport stirs comments, all good … 2018 Genesis G80 Sport

I’m used to getting questions about the test cars I drive, but few get as many comments as the Genesis G80 3.3T Sport I just drove.

Dressed in Caspian black, a deeply layered sparkling metallic black, the G80 oozes luxury and authority on the road. Old and young folks alike asked what it was, guessing everything from a new unmarked police car to a Bentley. What it is, is fantastic, and Bentley-like, but without the horrible price tag.

If you’re not a car geek you may be unfamiliar with Genesis, as were several of the questioners. It’s Hyundai’s new luxury brand. Think Toyota’s Lexus or Honda’s Acura.

Like those makes, it has invaded the luxury sedan market with a generously equipped model at a price that seriously undercuts the existing luxury brands. Its looks are a mix of BMW and Audi, and the badge on its nose and tail resembles the spread wings of a Bentley. Hyundai did its homework!

2018 Genesis G80 Sport
Hmmm, this sure looks like a Bentley logo to me!

I consider this the best looking luxury sedan today, with the exception of Audi’s sleek A7 fastback.

A little more history. For 2018 the G80 line adds a Sport model with a new engine, a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 that cranks an amazing 365 horsepower with a torque rating of 376 lb.-ft. Some offer more, some less, but even weighing in at a solid 4,519 lbs., this new G80 will move. Continue reading Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport →

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SUV/Truck Reviews

2016 Kia Sorento SX Ltd. AWD

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Kia Sorento, a crossover that will haul seven peoplesorento

            Kia’s Sorento is a fine crossover that will haul up to seven folks and look good doing it.

The 2016 model is the continuation of a revamp from a couple years ago and the tested pearl “snow white” test vehicle was the top-level SX Limited with AWD, so stickered at $43,100, plus $895 destination and just a couple options. Grand total, $46,695.

That’s approaching the stratosphere, but if you want a larger crossover with AWD and much in the way of electronics, you’re already sticking your nose in rarified air north of $40 grand.

Sorento is pleasant looking, smooth, yet muscular. The $200 for the pearly white paint job is worth it to me as it enhances the luxury appearance. Naturally if you don’t want AWD and don’t need to be swaddled in leather or have a zillion buttons to control most everything, you can go more basic. The entry-level L with front-wheel-drive starts at $25,795. It is powered by a 185-horse 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that gets 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

sorento2  The tested top-liner packs a much more satisfying 3.3-liter V6 that creates 290 horses and 252 ft.-lbs. of torque. It’ll even tow up to 5,000 lbs., so power is good, even if this version does drink more gas. The EPA rates the AWD V6-powered version at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. I got 19.6 mpg in a week’s drive that was about 50-50. With gas at about $3 a gallon again, falling below 20 mpg is a little tough on the wallet. Continue reading 2016 Kia Sorento SX Ltd. AWD →

SUV/Truck Reviews

2014 KIA Sorento SX Ltd. AWD

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Sorento handling, performance make it more fun than Santa Fekia1

KIA has raised the bar with its revamped 2014 Sorento crossover, making it a much more enjoyable drive than the 2012 model I tested roughly 18 months ago.

This is the smaller cousin of last week’s Hyundai Santa Fe, which wins on value and size, but Sorento wins on handling and performance, while packing the same engine and transmission.

For the record, the new Sorento looks much like its predecessor, which means it’s attractive, I think more than Santa Fe. But the wheelbase also is 4 inches shorter and overall it’s 9 inches shorter in length. That makes it look, and feel, a bit sportier. It’s also 200 lbs. lighter, and that improves its power to weight ratio, which you feel at every stoplight.

Where the Santa Fe felt heavy and somewhat lumbered away from a stop, the Sorento seems livelier. Both feature Hyundai’s new 3.3-liter, DI V6 that packs 290 horsepower. This is a new engine replacing the KIA 3.5-liter V6 that made 276 horses. The new V6 comes in all trims except the entry level LX which features a DI I4 that creates 191 horses.

Fuel efficiency dips a bit, according to EPA ratings. But remember KIA got into a bit of trouble with the EPA for using more optimistic numbers than it should have on previous models. I was happy with 23.7 mpg in about 70% highway driving, but I must say the trip computer was about 2 mpg more optimistic. I’m seeing a pattern here. The EPA rates this model at 18 mpg city and 24 highway, running on regular gas. Note too there is an ECO mode button you can press to suppress acceleration and reduce gas consumption. Continue reading 2014 KIA Sorento SX Ltd. AWD →

SUV/Truck Reviews

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD

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Santa Fe grows into large crossover with third row seat

Korean automaker Hyundai’s market share is growing in the U.S. market and its vehicles are getting larger too. It appears Hyundai has adopted the age-old American car strategy of not only expanding its offerings, but its vehicles’ dimensions.santa1

Case in point, the new Santa Fe, what used to be a modest mid-size sport-utility truck, is now a large crossover. It’s heavy, 4,098 lbs. It’s long 193.1 inches. It has a large 3.3-liter V6 engine, and its gas mileage is mediocre at 18 mpg city and 24 highway.

I drove the GLS AWD model, meaning it has all-wheel-drive, which naturally adds some weight and cuts its gas mileage. But AWD does give Santa Fe some of its old sport-ute functionality. Outwardly the Santa Fe looks like most other large crossovers, not much to distinguish it. In fact, it looks more like a minivan now, but with outward opening rear doors instead of sliding van doors.

The crossover’s size means it now has room for a third row seat, which is split, and will fold flat in back to boost cargo capacity that otherwise is moderate. My test unit, a Night Sky Pearl (metallic blue/gray), had no power hatch, which seemed a bit odd at the asking price of $35,180. A power hatch is optional though. Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS AWD →