GLEANER JAMAICA
The Kia Soluto is a subcompact sedan that offers a lot of value for money. It is a domestic car in the truest sense as it is built on practicality and efficiency.
The exterior design is modern, with a distinctive tiger-nose grille, LED daytime running lights, and 14-inch alloy wheels.
The body has some character lines and even non-functional air vents to give it a sleek appearance. Something that I immediately liked is the mechanism thatu allows the trunk to rise on its own when opened. This is extremely convenient, especially when your hands are occupied. It also comes with a spare tyre, which is very uncommon for new cars, even the luxury ones.
The Soluto is available in six colours: Clear White, Titanium Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, Blue Stream, Mars Orange, and Gravity Blue.
The interior of the Kia Soluto is adequate and comfortable, with ample headroom and legroom that is okay for medium-height persons. For the most part, it is both simplistic and functional, nothing too exorbitant, and at the same time, it can get everything done. Controls for the window are unconventionally placed on the centre console and not on the door panels. Below this is a USB port, a 12V socket, and an AUX port. The seats are upholstered in fabric and have side bolsters that will keep the driver in place. As for the dial cluster, it is simple and intuitive, with a 3.8-inch LCD that displays important information such as fuel range, fuel level, and engine temperature. The Soluto also has a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The audio system consists of four speakers and two tweeters that deliver a moderate sound.
The ride and handling of the Kia Soluto is smooth and stable, thanks to its MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension. The steering is light and responsive, making it easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces and traffic due to its turning radius of 5.2 metre. The braking system is composed of disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear, with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) for enhanced safety.
The engine performance of the Kia Soluto is impressive for its class, with a 1.4-liter dual-CVVT gasolene engine that produces 95 horsepower and 132 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and power comes in at about 3500rpm. The Soluto has a fuel consumption rating of 15.4 km/L for the manual transmission and 14.8 km/L for the automatic transmission, which is quite economical for a sedan.
The Kia Soluto is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, practical, and affordable subcompact sedan. It has a stylish exterior design, a spacious and comfortable interior, and a decent audio system. Where driving is concerned, it handles smoothly and has an efficient engine performance.
Price of tested model:$3.795m
Engine: 1.4-litre engine
Horsepower: 95
Transmission: FWD
Fuel tank: 43 litre
Gas consumption: 7.7 l/ 100 km
Body Type: compact sedan
Competition: Toyota Yaris, Honda City, Mitsubishi Mirage
Vehicle courtesy of ATL Tiger Motors. For more information, interested persons can visit www.kia-jamaica.com or call 888-ATL-AUTO (285-2886).
GLEANER JAMAICA
The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck that offers a unique blend of car-like ride comfort, utility, and technology.
The brand has long ditched the design concept of the first-generation Ridgeline, which had no dividing line between bed and cabin. Now, it more resembles a traditional pick- up, with a large bed with a number of features that make it more versatile such as a built-in trunk, which can also be used as a cooler. Adjacent to this is a hidden compartment that stores the spare tyre.
Once I entered the vehicle, I realised how spacious it felt due to the huge centre console, which acts like an island between driver and front passenger.
There are also individual armrests mounted on both front seats and a secret storage compartment that can hold a medium-sized handbag in the centre console. Nonetheless, with all of this, I still felt like at 6.55 feet, it was wider than most pickups, and I was right, with the standard bearer Toyota Hilux being narrower at 6.05 feet wide.
The leather front seats are supportive and well-cushioned, with side bolsters and adjustable lumbar support for the driver. The rear seats are spacious enough for three adults, but what really stands out for me is how innovative Honda is with creating more storage compartments. The 60/40 split rear-seat configuration can be folded up from the floor, which allows for a medium-sized mountain bike to be placed upright in the second row.
When the seats are placed down, a hollow space exists between the base of the seat and the floor, which is ideal for storing delicate items like fruits.
The interior is well-appointed, with soft-touch materials and a modern design. The dashboard is easy to use, and the controls are well-placed. The Ridgeline also comes standard with a number of features, including a rearview camera, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a six-speaker sound system. A quirky, but nifty feature is the conversational mirror. It is a concave mirror that is incorporated into the sunglasses holder in the overhead console. When it is in use, it allows the driver to have eye contact with the rear passengers and is excellent for parents who want to monitor kids.
The Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The driving options, such as reverse or neutral, are controlled by buttons instead of a traditional gear lever.
The Honda Ridgeline has one of the best rides in the midsize pickup truck class. It’s smooth and comfortable on the highway, and it handles well for a pickup. It shares its unibody chassis with the Odyssey, Passport, and Pilot, and has independent rear suspension. This gives the Ridgeline a more car-like ride than its competitors, which typically have body-on-frame construction and solid rear axles.
The all-wheel drive system helps to keep it planted on the road in all weather conditions and improves handling, with little to no body roll.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline is a great choice for buyers who want a comfortable and versatile midsize pickup truck. It’s not the most powerful or capable truck on the market, however it will be able to handle light-duty towing and hauling.
Pros:
Car-like ride comfort
Spacious and comfortable interior
Versatile bed with a number of features
Standard safety features
Available advanced safety features
Cons:
Not the most powerful or capable truck on the market
Single engine option
Price of tested model: $12.6m
Price Range/ Options:
Engine: 3.5 litre V6
Torque: 262 lb-ft at 4700 rpm
Transmission: AWD, 9-speed automatic
Fuel tank: 73.8 litre
Body Type: pickup
Competition: Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Mazda BT50, VW Amarok, GWM P Series.
