MORETHANTRANSPORT

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Kia K5 Review: Korea's Snazzy Civic Challenger

Guys, Kia is legit! If you thought that the terrific Telluride was a fluke, think again. Kia has started from the ground up, making quality cars and SUVs. Following in the footsteps of the Telluride, Soul, and Sorento, the K5 is a quirky, fun, car with an unbelievable value. While many automakers are cutting down on the cars and turning to trucks and SUVs, Kia are standing up for car enthusiasts by offering a fun, sporty, quick, and luxurious option. The K5 packs a 2.5 liter turbocharged engine that turns back the clock to the days of sport sedans, back when BMW cars actually were relevant. (I know, it seems like an eternity ago!) Car&Driver heralded the Kia as being "Gorgeous inside and out" while praising the luxury features rarely found in such an inexpensive car. Calling the K5 a "Snazzy looking sedan", CNet commended Kia for making the "One to beat" in a crowded segment. They are right. The K5 is right up there with the Honda Civic, and Accord, both impressive sport sedans that have been crushing it for decades. If you want to keep the car (Not truck or SUV) industry alive, you have found a absolute champ in the fantastic Kia K5.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

All The Car Trivia You Need In Your Life!

( Answers at bottom)

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1: In 2002, Porsche debuted their first SUV. What is it called?

2: Aston Martin are a sports car firm based in which European country?

3: In 1992, McLaren produced a supercar that is generally considered the best car of all time by many. What is the name of this car, which held the record for fastest car in the world for 13 years, a record?

4: Name two cars in Lamborghini's 2021 lineup.

5: Ford cut off all its cars but one in 2019. What is the name of the last one standing?

6: This brand produces the Santa Fe SUV

7: This was the top selling vehicle in America in 2019.

8: The first car in history was of this "make".

9: Name 3 Tesla models in the 2021 lineup.

10: Name 4 German auto manufacturers.

11: In September 2015, this large car brand was involved in a huge emissions scandal that hugely tarnished the reputation of the brand.

12: Toyota and Honda, responsible for the both the 2 top selling cars and 2 top-selling SUVs, are based in this country.

13: This is the top-selling sports car in the world, selling over 55K units in 2019 alone.

14: Which country is responsible for the 3 top-selling vehicles in America?

15: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is well-known for making genius investments, but he sold this sports car before its worth skyrocketed from 1 to 20 million dollars. Which car was this?

16: Which company produces the Panamera 4-door sports car?

17: Unfortunately, Adolf Hitler commissioned this hugely popular car (To this day) to be used in war.

18: Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren each made a hybrid supercar in 2013. Name at least one.

19: The “One:1” in the Koenigsegg Agera One:1 means what?

20: This was the first of hundreds of millions of Japanese cars exported to the US.

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ANSWERS:

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1: Porsche Cayenne

2: England

3: McLaren F1

4: Lamborghini Urus, Aventador, Huracan, Sian

5: Ford Mustang

6: Hyundai

7: Ford F-150

8: Mercedes-Benz

9: Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model Y, Model X.

10: Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen, Gumpert, Alpina.

11: Volkswagen

12: Japan

13: Ford Mustang

14: America

15: McLaren F1

16: Porsche

17: Volkswagen Beetle

18: McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918.

19: It has a equal ratio of horsepower to weight in lbs.

20: Honda Accord

Sunday, February 14, 2021

The Coolest Cars Not Available In The US

HONDA E

The Honda E is easily one of the most desirable Hondas in recent history. No, it doesn't hit 200 mph like the iconic 1990 or 2018 NSXs, and no, it doesn't conjure up the same excitement as the legendary Integra GSR, and no, it doesn't offer the same bang for the buck as the youthful Civic Type-R. What it does do is provide the perfect car for the billions of people living in a crowded city. Pint-sized, with lots of charm, the electric Honda E is sure to succeed in Europe, hopefully leading Honda towards shipping the E over to us! Fingers crossed, because it sure is a fabulous little (electric) car.

MERCEDES-BENZ GLA45 AMG

Unlike the Honda e, which realistically would not really sell well for various reasons, there is no apparent reason why the GLA45 wouldn't succeed in the states. Americans love hot-hatches, as the huge success of the Honda Civic Type-R, VW Golf, and Ford Fiesta RS prove. The Mercedes packs 302 hp, with what is considered the most powerful 4-cylinder engine ever produced. However, as most German cars are, the Benz is quite expensive, costing a hefty $40K. Still, I think it was a mistake not to sell this to the power-hungry Americans.

VOLKSAGEN CALIFORNIA

You gotta' admit, this is one heck of camper van! Unlike the Ferrari of the same name, the California takes a low-key approach to life, with sleeping accommodations for four. The VW also has that all-important shower and toilet, though we both know where *it*goes. It also features a surprisingly high-end kitchen. It isn't particularly cheap, though, costing around $65K. However, I personally would say it is worth it. All things considered, the Cali is the perfect option for the camper in you.

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Subaru Ascent Review: Comfort, Competence, and (19) Cup Holders

The Subaru Ascent is a huge success in many ways by Subaru. Not only did they better they better the high selling (500K units in 2019) Honda Pilot, they are making a strong case that Subaru are THE brand to buy from in 2021. Next to the impressive Outback, Forrester, and Cross-Trek SUVs, and with the Impreza and Legacy sedans, you have to wonder why they are not selling as many vehicles year-to-year as their main competitors, such as Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Chevrolet, Ford, VW, Hyundai, Nissan, and Kia. Unfortunately, Subaru make great cars and SUVs, but the exterior design is usually incredibly stale and bland. Think of it this way: on Christmas day, you see a big package with a brownish-green wrapper, and a sloppily attacked bow. Are you going to have high expectations when you open it? Probably not. Even if there is a million bucks inside, you would never know. Whether that was a good analogy or not, you probably get the point. Oh yeah, cupholders. There is 19 of them (WOW!), so that equates to 2.7 per person. You better start sipping!

Friday, February 12, 2021

Mazda Miata Review: A Mid-Life Crisis You Won't Regret

Very highly thought of among car enthusiasts, the Mazda Miata is possibly the best cheap sports car of our generation. Forget the Mustang, Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Nissan Z, Ford Fiesta, etc... The Miata is pure driving theatre, a joy to hammer on a track. Although the MX-5 is not a very powerful car, (191 horsepower) it has a perfect balance (Nearly 50%-50%), due to the incredible lightweight design, weighing only 2100 lbs. All things considered, the Mazda Miata is an utterly fabulous little sports car, and has earned numerous A+ score cards, such as when Car&Driver magazine handed it an astounding 9.5/10 rating, higher than many Ferraris! Top Gear's website also praised the Miata's many qualities, saying it is a "Joy to drive", while handing it an impressive 9/10 rating. Right up there with the Honda Accord, Tesla Model 3, Kia Telluride, Honda CR-V, etc... , the Mazda Miata is easily one of the most recommendable cars on the market. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time till the lawmakers in D.C. take gas-burning sports cars away from us, so if you're interested, you better move quickly!

Thursday, February 11, 2021

What The Heck Is Up With Bieber's New Custom Rolls-Royce?

Justin Bieber, no stranger to controversy, just spent $400,000 on a Rolls-Royce Wraith, and since he's a millennial, you know he wasn't satisfied. He then proceeded to send his Wraith to West Coast Customs, where he spent another $200,000 on customizing it. Inside Hook magazine titled one of their articles: "Justin Bieber let West Coast Customs shop ruin a perfectly good Rolls-Royce". SlashGear took another angle, calling JB's Royce "Oddly desirable". Whatever you think, the guys got a net worth of over $300 million, and he has money to burn. Even if it is spent screwing up a car.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Tesla Model X Review: Not Simply A SUV Model S

I hate to say something negative about a Tesla, but the Model X has very few positives, something that makes charging a shocking 100 grand for it absolutely revolting, a stunning hit and a miss. Clever little sentence, eh? Anyway, back to the review. Unfortunately, the Model X was unable to build on the tremendous success of the Model S, the sedan the Model X is based on. To be honest (Or, as the Gen-Zers say "tbh") the Tesla Model X is nothing but an overpriced, bloated, impractical, less-efficient Model S. There, I said it. Car&Driver magazine gave the Model X an unremarkable 6.5/10 rating, while Consumer Reports deemed it one of the least reliable cars on the road. Motor Trend criticized the Tesla's "Dystopian doors and seats" and it's "Inability to carry anything" Journalist Johnny Lieberman put it plainly: "Everything that makes it great can be found on the Model S. Everything that's new for the X is either a gimmick or doesn't work properly 100 percent of the time". Bottom line? Tesla is a great brand, with several highly-recommendable cars, but it would probably be a smart move to avoid the Model X, at least for now.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Toyota Venza Review: Toyota's Return To Relevance?

I think it's fair to say that for the better part of eternity, Toyota's products have been the poster child of mediocrity. The Camry, Corolla, Avalon, RAV-4, Highlander, Prius, etc... have all been extremely boring cars, content with merely getting their passengers from point A-B. As you can tell from the title of this blog (MoreThanTransport), I, among millions of others, are not satisfied with such a cynical approach to transportation. Toyota has heard the voices of the enthusiasts, and are now making moves that actually make sense. Bringing a sports car to the lineup, in the form of the legendary Supra, turned out to be a homerun. So did adding some much needed spice to the extremely bland Camry. Now they are moving in the right direction with the Venza, a hybrid that combats the infamous ugliness of the Prius. I cannot believe I'm writing this, but Toyota have a good-looking SUV on their hands. Not only does it look good, it is a highly impressive SUV in every aspect, earning it a place in the finalist round of Motor Trend's annual SUV Of The Year award. Though the Land Rover Defender ultimately ran away with the gold medal, many praised the Toyota for "Getting the balance [Of Luxury, practicality, and fuel efficiency] just right" If you are seeking a "green" SUV, it would be wise to consider the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Tesla Model Y, Kia Seltos, etc.., but, for the first time in a long while, Toyota offers a car that you wouldn't be an idiot to buy.

Monday, February 8, 2021

Which SUV Should I Buy?

OFF-ROAD: FORD BRONCO

The Ford Bronco is after Jeep's monopoly. For 70 years, the impressive Wrangler has carved a hole into American's hearts by offering off-road capability, on-road comfort, and a chic design. Ford had enough of the Jeep brand getting fat with sales. They made a move sure to attract attention: brought back an American favorite, redesigned it, (Without losing the essence of the original), and made it an absolute unit off the asphalt. A winning formula. While I would also highly recommend the Wrangler and the slightly more expensive Land Rover Defender, the Bronco is probably the one for you, all things considered.

EVERYDAY PRACTICALITY: HONDA CR-V

Just look at the terrific Honda CR-V's resume, it speaks for itself.

Motor Trend SUV Of The Year (2018) Car&Driver 10Best (2018-2020) Car&Driver 9/10 rating KBB Best SUV (6 years running!) IIHS Top Safety Pick US News Best Compact SUV Edmunds Most Wanted

MoreThanTransport: COMPARO: Honda CR-V vs. Toyota Rav-4 -- Battle of the Compact SUV's

7/8 SEATS: KIA TELLURIDE

Pictured in it's striking "Nightfall Package" the Kia Telluride proves you don't have to settle for that boring 'ol minivan to comfortably seat 7/8 people. The Telluride is so good, it just came out of nowhere to win all the big awards (Motor Trend SUV Of The Year 2020, Car&Driver 10Best [2x], KBB Best Large SUV, etc..)

MoreThanTransport: The Kia Telluride is A Phenomenal 3-Row SUV.

COMPACT: NISSAN KICKS/KIA SOUL