- CHARTING THE CHANGES. CAR AND DRIVER. OCT/2019
New Cars for 20 20 Hyundai — Kia
Infiniti
—
Q50: The turbocharged
2.0-liter four-cylinder base
engine is gone. That leaves the
Q50 with only the twin-turbo-
charged 3.0-liter V-6, offering
either 300 or 400 horsepower.
—
Minor trim changes: Q60,
QX50, QX80
Unchanged: QX60
Dead: Q70, QX30
Jeep
—
Gladiator: The pickup
version of the Wrangler
debuted late last year. More
than just a stretch job to
accommodate the five-foot
cargo bed, the four-door-only
Gladiator has a reinforced
back end that helps up its
towing capacity to a hefty
7650 pounds—4150 over
the max a Wrangler is rated
to handle. A manual and
automatic are available, as are
more options and accessories
than you can shake a muddy
stick at. Wait, hey, look at this!
This is actually someone’s jack
handle! A 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6
is the only engine, although
Jeep promises that theKia
—
Rio: Like the Hyundai Accent,
the littlest Kia updates its
powertrain, offering only a new
120-hp 1.6-liter four and a CVT.
—
Seltos: Bigger than the Soul,
smaller than the Sportage,
the Seltos crossover will
likely arrive here in 2020. It
shares its architecture with
the Hyundai Kona, but Kia’s
design yields more rear-seat
room and seats-down cargo
space and its own distinctive
stying. We drove one equipped
with the same turbocharged
1.6-liter four, seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission, and
all-wheel-drive system familiar
from other Kias, and we found
it an engaging machine.EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 will be
added to the mix.
—
Wrangler: Introduced in 2017,
the JL-generation Wrangler
gets a round of special
editions for 2020. There’s the
Willys, a cut-rate off-road deal;
the Freedom, a paean to the
military; and the Black & Tan,
which you can probably figure
out. Both the turbo 2.0-liter
four and the 3.6-liter V-6 will
now be offered with or without
eTorque hybridization. A diesel
six arrives at a later date.
—
Minor trim changes:
Cherokee, Compass, Grand
Cherokee/Trackhawk,
Renegade
Unchanged: Grand Cherokee
SRTJaguar
—
XE: Jag’s compact sedan
drops the optional diesel
four-cylinder and super-
charged V-6. The only choice
now is a turbo 2.0-liter four
making either 247 or 296
horsepower. Revisions to the
XE’s grille, fascias, and lighting
elements lend it a crisper
appearance and bring it more
in line with its siblings. Inside,
Jaguar redid the door panels,
installed a fancier steering
wheel, and added Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto
compatibility. New options
include the brand’s dual-
screen infotainment system,
a digital rearview mirror, and
wireless phone charging.
—
Minor trim changes: E-Pace,
F-Pace, F-type
Unchanged: I-Pace, XF
Dead: XJwake of its corporate cousin,
the Kia Telluride. They might
not look like the same vehicle,
but they share a platform and
are both powered by a 291-hp
3.8-liter V-6. The two employ
the same eight-speed auto-
matic and optional all-wheel-
drive system. Starting at
$32,645, the smooth-driving,
right-size Palisade enters the
segment on the right foot.
Venue: Meet Hyundai’s
newest addition to its already
plentiful selection of SUVs. It
slots into the lineup below the
subcompact Kona and will be
powered by a roughly 120-hp
1.6-liter four bolted to either
a six-speed manual or a CVT.
And because contrast-color
roofs are all the rage, the
Venue will be offered this way
as well. It should go on sale by
the end of the year.
—
Minor trim changes: Veloster
Unchanged: Kona, Nexo,
Santa Fe, Tucson
Kia Forte: Boasting 201 horsepower from its
turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and the buy-
er’s choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed
dual-clutch automatic, the new GT trim level lends
some legitimacy to the Forte’s Stinger-wannabe
design cues. Add an independent rear suspension
in place of the regular sedan’s torsion-beam axle to
the car’s sport credentials. Exterior trim upgrades
accompany a cabin dressed up with sport seats with
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steering wheel, and metal pedals. If the Forte5
hatchback returns to our market, we expect Kia to
give it the same GT treatment.KIA FORTE GT