It is no secret that Kia Motors has a knack for pulling off spacious interiors, and its New K5 is a prime showcase of that ability.  The New K5 (Kia Motors)The moment I opened the door of the midsize sedan, I instantly noticed the lofty space in the back, large enough not only for tall adults but also luggage on the floor. The front seats were equally spacious, allowing plenty of legroom. The interior design was lean, modern and simple, accentuating the space. According to Kia, the wheelbase was

Kia’s new luxury sedan highlights contrasting features of power, comfort

In a dramatic change from previous models, GM Korea’s new Chevrolet Malibu 2016 is sleeker than before in design and has more power.The new Malibu, presented during a media test drive on a rainy day last week, offered a stable driving experience at speeds of around 120 kilometers per hour, proving that it was ready to challenge its rivals in Korea’s mid-sized sedan segment.The new Chevrolet Malibu (GM Korea)At first, the new Malibu gave the impression of a sharp, progressive sedan. But inside, i

Renault Samsung’s latest rollout SM6 diesel is ready to repeat the popularity of its gasoline model unveiled early this year. During a test drive last week, the new diesel model offered a stable driving experience at speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour. The vehicle got 15.5 kilometers per liter on a 900-kilometer round-trip between Seoul and Tongyeong, located on the nation’s southern coast. It is slightly lower than its official fuel efficiency of 17 kilometers per liter apparently as t

JEJU CITY, Jejudo -- German auto giant BMW invited the press on Friday to get behind the wheel of its flagship model 750Li xDrive on Jejudo, a resort island off the southern coast of South Korea, to mark its 100th anniversary. The new gasoline model, which delivers maximum 450 horsepower with a 66.3 kilogram-meter torque, offered peppy acceleration, breaking the stereotype that the feel of a large sedan is slow and heavy. It offered comfort driving below 3,000 revolutions per minute.The highligh

JECHEON, North Chungcheong Province -- Motorists looking for affordable sport utility vehicles have a wider range of options now. Renault Samsung‘s latest SUV, the new QM6, has jumped into the fray, with a set of smart features designed to boost the driving experience.The QM6 inherited its “design DNA” from the SM6, Renault Samsung’s popular midsize sedan, the company said. And it does indeed look like a SUV version of the SM6, with daytime light-emitting diode headlights that have a unique futu

The two previous models of Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis have been popular as corporate cars among executives, but this might change with the launch of the G80 Sport, a speedy luxury sedan unveiled in October. According to the company, 71.3 percent of the 500 preorders taken between Oct. 6 and 31 were made by those in their 30s and 40s, while 7 percent were by those in their 20s.The shift in the vehicle’s popularity among younger consumers might be due to its hip design, which drew hordes of y

 TOKYO -- US Tesla’s electric vehicles are about to hit the South Korean market with its flagship store set to open in Starfield Hanam, located some 20 kilometers east of Seoul, as early as the end of November. Tesla’s debut in the country has lagged behind other neighboring countries such as Japan and China. The electric-car maker opened its first showroom in Japan in October 2010 and in China in November 2013. In Korea, Tesla started to receive preorders in August. Tesla’s media representative

Mercedes-Benz has recently launched two sport utility vehicles, GLS and GLE Coupe, in South Korea to target the growing premium SUV market. “We have achieved the goal of doubling SUV sales this year thanks to the continued rollout of upgraded models,” Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Dimitris Psillakis said at a recent launch event. 　The chief also added that the SUV market in Korea is expected to continue growing, despite the saturated vehicle market here.The German auto giant had sold 7,454 SUVs this y

Forget about the Grandeur that you used to know. The old image of the luxury sedan for upper class, middle-aged drivers is gone with the release of the all-new Grandeur last week. The new Grandeur, the sixth generation of Hyundai’s signature luxury sedan, is young, innovative and sporty.And the market is responding fast. Of all preorders, 48 percent of the drivers were in their 30s and 40s, a 7 percent increase from its previous model Grandeur HG, said Ryu Chang-seung, head of Hyundai’s domestic