2013 Kia Sorento: Long-Term Test

Efficiency, practicality, and style come together to make the Kia Sorento one of the best selling mid-sized SUVs on sale today. The Korean automaker undertook a massive redesign effort in 2006 that resulted in more coherent interior and exterior design across their lineup. And their efforts have not gone unnoticed, with KIA Motors consistently posting sales numbers that rival Japanese automakers and downright beat domestic ones.

In my two weeks with the Sorento I've noticed that it's more than just a cheap alternative to the established brands from Japan and the United States; it's actually a respectable well-built, and capable car. Maybe it's a bit too suburban mom/dad-ish for my taste, but that doesn't keep it from doing an excellent job at a wide array of tasks.

We can start with the performance. Since I first drove the Sorento, I've admired the 3.5 V6's overall peppiness as mated to the six-speed auto box. You get the sense that the engine has more than enough power to handle the job of moving the car and any combination of passengers and luggage around without any trouble at all. However, with the LX trim's front-wheel drive configuration, torque steer becomes a slight issue. On occasions where I had to really mash the pedal to the floor (of which there were relatively few), the whole car shimmied as power was being shuffled frantically between the two front wheels. I highly doubt that this would become an issue during a normal daily commute, but it's something you should definitely be ready to deal with when it happens.

Fuel economy is somewhat below-average, but the KIA still returns more than acceptable numbers. The 240 mile trip to school took me a little over half a tank of gas to cover, and around town the Sorento has returned an acceptable 20 miles to the gallon. Another thing to note is the green ECO light that appears in the bottom of a speedometer gauge. Apart from reminding you that, yes, keeping your foot off the throttle pedal is good for gas mileage, there are no "Eco mode functions" like cylinder deactivation or varied throttle mapping in place to save you fuel.

The Sorento may be clasified as a mid-sized SUV, but that doesn't mean you'll be wanting for space. The third row seats are so easy to deploy once your friends have discovered that you now drive the biggest car of the group. Cargo space with the seats down is brilliant as well. Plenty of space for as much flat-packed Ikea furniture as your heart desires. Apart from moving a new entertainment center (some assembly required), I found the abundance of space a bit unnecessary for my needs, but, again, I'm a student living alone on a student's budget. The grocery load is never going to be overwhelming.

Apart from its suburban mother and sorority girl appeal, the Sorento has proven itself to me. I can almost trust KIA Motors now. Well, almost, anyways.

2015 Nissan Juke: Revised, Not Revolutionized

Keeping that face that only a mother, or a questionably sane person like myself, could love, the Nissan Juke is ready for another generation of niche market domination. No matter where you go, be it a bustling sub-metropolis like Baltimore or a rural college town like Statesboro, you're bound to see a handful of these quirky small crossovers roaming the streets and littering the apartment complexes and Aldi parking lots. In fact, the Juke all but invented the small crossover market back when it was introduced in 2010. Since then, it has sold nearly 420,000 copies and has brought a staggering amount of new customers to Nissan's doorstep.

Tuesday marked the unveiling of the brand new, (slightly) redesigned Juke at the Geneva Motor Show. As noted in the press release, the Juke is a car based, and either loved or hated, on it's exterior design, so major design changes were out of the question. Instead the new Juke sports some handsome tweaks, such as reshaped headlights and tail lights, both furnished with LEDS, reshaped front and rear bumpers, and an optional sliding sunroof. And the options list just keeps growing from there. Three new paint colors have been added for the 2015 lineup, as well as a myriad of different personalization packs, which allow customers to change the colors of mirror caps, the roof spoiler, side sills, and door handles.

These personalization packs also carry over into the interior, which is otherwise unchanged, save for an optional new NissanConnect system. Drivers can now further personalize colors of door panels, the center console, and other interior panels. The split folding rear seats are now able to fold completely flat and, in two-wheel-drive models, a two-stage floor in the luggage compartment increases cargo capacity by 40 percent.

Standard equipment in the new Juke will include LED daytime running lights, a CD player with AUX input, and tire pressure monitoring, but more interesting is the list of available options. The first of which is the new NissanConnect system, which utilizes a 5.8 inch touchscreen and Google navigation. This system also allows for Bluetooth connectivity, internet radio streaming, and weather information. Nissan also offers a host of different driver aids based on an optional Around View Monitor and Safety Shield system. Around View Monitor is comprised of four different cameras mounted around the car, which together give a 360 degree view to assist in parking. Safety Shield, meanwhile, includes Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Moving Object Detection. In addition to these new options, drivers can also choose power folding mirrors, a smart key access system, and light and rain sensors.

Engines and drivetrains have not yet been announced for the U.S. market, but the two variations of gasoline engines and the new 4WD system are likely to be carried over. The Juke offers a more refined version of the old 1.6 liter, and adds a smaller 1.2 DIG-T turbocharged engine with stop/start to the lineup. Either of the engines can be mated to either the existing 6-speed manual or a new Xtronic gearbox, which maximizes fuel efficiency.

Since its inception, the Juke has been a car that you either loved or hated. 2015 brings some modern refinement to the model, but it essentially remains the same lovable (or unlovable) little crossover it has been for the past four years.

Economy Doesn't Have to Mean Misery

Economy. It's a buzzword that's been on the lips of nearly everyone for the past decade. Whether it's referring to our economic practices as a country or the fuel economy of a car, the American people have a good idea of just what economy means. And for automobiles, that usually means more negatives, from an enthusiast's standpoint, than positives.

Automobiles today are becoming more and more advanced, all the while becoming safer, easier to operate, and more efficient than ever. On the other hand, cars in the present day are also being pushed to broader audiences. Not to mention these advances in technology usually mean sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity and ultimately affordability.

Over the past couple decades, we've seen plenty of truly miserable economy cars here in the US. However, all is not lost, as several pristine apples refuse to be spoiled by the bunch.

One of these apples is the new joint project between Toyota and Subaru (although Toyota can only take credit for a couple of small improvements). This 2012 venture has resulted in the Scion FR-S (deemed the Toyota 86 overseas) and the Subaru BRZ, rear engine Japanese sports car that keep affordability in mind. These two hark back to the essence of Japanese sports cars from decades past. The lightweight coupe body is mounted to a Subaru-designed sport suspension, with power being sorted by a standard 6 speed manual transmission and delivered to the rear wheels by Subaru's familiar 2.0 liter boxer powerplant. This setup will return you 34mpg on the highway, on the way home from a blast through the mountain passes, no doubt. And what's the price for this back road bruiser? Why, it's only a couple bills over $25,000.

But what if you're looking for something with a little more heritage? Well, not to worry, because the Mazda Miata is here. In fact, it's been here since its launch in 1989. Drawing on inspiration from classic British sports cars like the Lotus Elan and Triumph Spifire, the Miata enjoyed massive success, employing the same modest dimensions and front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout of its predecessors. Much like the Porsche 911, the Mazda Miata has only grown better with age. Refreshed for 2014, the Miata comes with a 167 horsepower engine mated to either a 5 or 6 speed manual gearbox. This Sport trim level will net you a combined 25mpg, which isn't brilliant, but at a price that is: $23,720.

What if you're leaning toward a hot hatchback, though? I can hardly blame you, as there have been a myriad of truly epic five door wonders redefining the joys of driving for the past couple decades. For the purest driving pleasure with arguably the most practicality, we need to steer towards Ford. More specifically, the all-new Ford Fiesta ST. This is a five door, five passenger hatchback that's powered by an Ecoboost four cylinder that will have you giggling like a school girl at recess. At its peak, this turbocharged powerplant is producing 197 horsepower and 202 pound feet of torque, which is a lot, considering the car only weighs 2,700 pounds. Mated to a six speed manual, this car is built with the cash-conscious enthusiast in mind, returning over 30mpg on the combined cycle. With a base price of $21,400, this is also the least expensive of the group.

As we press forward into a world with increasing demands of efficiency, safety, and simplicity, we need to be reminded that cars like this still exist and are still being built and sold right now. Rather than being cars for all people, these cars are instead made for those of us who enjoy the feeling of connectivity to controls, to the road underneath us, and to the activity of driving. However, each of these three cars could easily be used everyday and while they may not be practical for everything, they can be depended on for one thing: to consistently put smiles on the faces of their drivers.