Last year, news broke that Kia’s Philippine operations would be soon handled by a new entity in the guise of AC Industries, the automotive arm of Ayala Corporation. Well, after all the preparations and anticipation, the time has come for the new Kia Philippines to bring the Korean marque to the Filipino.
A brand re-launch was held at Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City recently, signaling the start of a new day for the Korean carmaker in the country. At the center of all this is a model lineup that brings both the erstwhile offerings and a new player in the form of the Soluto. The new subcompact sedan is Kia’s answer to those looking for a true value-for-money package.
For between P625,000-P725,000, buyers get a stylish four-door that boasts goodies like a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a reverse camera, park distance control, and other niceties. Power comes from a 1.4-liter dual-CVVT motor that puts out 95hp and 130Nm of torque. It is mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto.