6 Reasons to Upgrade Your Kia Optima in 2018
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to upgrade your Optima, now is the time. Kia loaded up our favorite sedan with lots of improvements for the 2018 model year such as a sporty new S trim. You’ll find excellent performance, a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard features, and a slew of technology at every trim level. Let’s delve into our top six reasons to upgrade your Kia Optima this year.
Introducing the New S Trim
The new S trim adds a level of sportiness at a lower price, starting at $23,600. The new Optima S offers drivers a snazzy front bumper and rear spoiler, with larger 17-inch alloy wheels, and more. A 10-way power-adjustable leather-trimmed driver’s seat, and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob add a touch of indulgence to the 2018 Optima S.
It’s Turbocharged
Who would have called Kia’s flagship mid-sized sedan a sports car? But the SX model with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is a confident competitor. Paired with a quick-shifting six-speed automatic gearbox, the SX puts out 245 horsepower. The Optima SX is agile, with responsive steering and a firm, sport-tuned suspension, plus a huge 18-inch tire package starting at $30,600.
Which 2018 Kia Rio Trim Is Right for You?
The Kia Rio is both affordable and stylish. This subcompact car has been redesigned for 2018 to reflect a sleeker, edgier design philosophy than previous models. The 2018 Kia Rio also comes in three different trims, offering a variety of aesthetic and convenience-oriented improvements. Here’s how they stack up.
LX
The first configuration of the 2018 Kia Rio is the LX model. Starting at an MSRP of $13,900, the LX is powered by a 1.6-liter engine that produces up to 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. Unique to the LX trim, you can choose between a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The automatic transmission comes with Sportmatic technology, which allows for manual shifting. The LX trim also comes with solar control glass, variable intermittent windshield wipers, heated rear glass, halogen headlights, and automatic light control. Inside this base model, you’ll discover a five-inch touchscreen and a USB/auxiliary input jack.
Try Fort Lauderdale’s 4 Hottest New Restaurants
Fort Lauderdale’s food scene is almost as hot as it is on the beaches, with new restaurants opening constantly. Check out a few of these hot new restaurants for a great dining experience.
Milk Money Bar & Kitchen
Milk Money Bar & Kitchen, located at 815 NE 13th St., is open every day from 7 a.m. until 12 a.m., except Friday and Saturday, when it stays open until 2 a.m. Milk Money opened up at the end of January 2018 and offers a delicious variety of food and cocktails. They have happy hour meal specials on Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., brunch on weekends from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. every day.
Milk Money is known for their bar bites, which you can snack on while enjoying one of their numerous specialty cocktails. Try the Impossible Lollipop, a creative snack made by frying a burger on a stick, or the vegan cauliflower wings coated with a Buffalo sauce.
4 Reasons You’ll Love the 2018 Kia Soul
The Kia Soul quickly took the subcompact crossover market by storm after its introduction in 2009. This five-door, front-wheel drive vehicle is better than ever in 2018, thanks to a wide range of design options. With distinctive looks, a comfortable interior, and a range of capable engine choices, there’s a lot to love about the 2018 Kia Soul.
Unmistakable Style
The immediately recognizable profile of the 2018 Kia Soul is now available with projector beam headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels with black accents, and mirror-mounted LED turn signals. Choose your paint job from the Designer Collection, and you can drive a Kia Soul that distinguishes itself from the pack with brightly-colored two-toned paint.
An available panoramic sunroof will make your everyday drive more pleasant than ever before, and you can also choose Speaker Lights that pulse in time with your music for a totally unique audiovisual experience. The Soul’s chrome exhaust tips are the perfect finishing touches to the vehicle’s design.
As part of the Greater Miami area, the city of Fort Lauderdale is known nationwide for its beaches and golf courses, not to mention its shopping and dining scenes. But if you’re visiting with children, you might be looking for some activities especially suited to their interests. Here are some of our favorites.
Butterfly Park
The world’s largest butterfly park is located just half an hour from Fort Lauderdale. This living museum features more than 20,000 individual butterflies, as well as hundreds of exotic birds from around the world. A visit to the park is perfect for children, as they can learn about different animal species without getting bored.
Children can hand-feed the park’s lorikeets and explore botanical gardens with cascading waterfalls and plenty of photo opportunities. The park is open seven days a week. Adults can visit for $29.95, while children’s tickets only cost $21.95. Butterfly World is not just an entertainment enterprise, either; the organization contributes some of its profits to nature conservation.
5 Tips for Taking Your Kia Sorento on a Road Trip
The Kia Sorento is a five- or seven-passenger crossover SUV that is larger than the typical mid-size SUV, but it doesn’t have the bulk of some of the big family vehicles. It comes well-equipped with standard technology even in the base trim, and there are three different engines available. The Kia Sorento is a great choice for a road trip, whether it is the whole family or just you and a friend. Here are some tips for taking the Sorento out on the road for an extended trip.
Use the Technology
The Sorento comes standard with a lot of tech features to make your ride go by fast. Even the base has Bluetooth so you can connect your phone and play the music from your playlist, or you can use the satellite radio to listen to your favorite tunes. It also has a USB port for easy connecting on the go. Add the Convenience package to the LS or choose one of the higher trims where it comes standard and you’ll get a 7-inch touchscreen and the UVO infotainment system.
4 Completely Unique Experiences in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a popular vacation spot with a lot of beaches and sun. There is so much to do in the area from boat rides to dining, shopping, and more. But did you know that there is much more to Fort Lauderdale than meets the eye? Here are some completely unique experiences in Fort Lauderdale.
Night Tour of the Everglades
Experience the wonder of the Everglades after the sun goes down. Hop aboard one of the airboats at the Sawgrass Recreation Park and glide through the swamps of the Everglades. You will see alligators and endangered species and hear the sounds of nature during the 90-minute tour, all while the captain tells stories and explains the history of this unique area of Florida. Tickets for the tour are just $38 for adults and $18 for kids between the ages of 4 and 12.
What to Expect From the 2018 Kia Ceed
The 2018 Kia Ceed is a compact hatchback with room for up to five passengers. The 2018 model is the third generation of this vehicle and Kia gave it some upgrades. It is wider than the previous model and also longer with a look that is not as round as before. Here are some more details for the 2018 Kia Ceed.
Exterior Look
The updated 2018 model has a more mature look with sleeker lines. The front features the signature Kia tiger-nose grill, but it is wider on the Ceed than other models. The air intake is also lower, and the front end now comes with the LED daytime running lights that Kia previously used only on the GT models. In the back, the Ceed has new oval-shaped taillights that look similar to the ones on the Stinger, and you can choose between 15-inch, 16-inch or 17-inch wheels depending on the trim. The 2018 will come in eight different trim levels, and there are four different gas engines and two diesel engines.
Fort Lauderdale sits right on the southeast coast of Florida, making it the perfect place to get out on the water. One of the best ways to do this is by taking a boat trip. There are all types of excursions available so you can plan a special night out, or gather your friends together and make it a group outing. Check out these boat trips for a night out in Fort Lauderdale.
Spirit of Lauderdale
Take a sunset cruise on the Spirit of Lauderdale for an entertaining and informative night out. Captain Mike, along with his crew, will tell you all about the catamaran as you sail out past the mansions to open water so you can watch the sunset. About halfway through the trip, you can enjoy a Champagne toast as you sit back and take in the beautiful views. The Spirit of Lauderdale is a 50-foot catamaran with 1,500 feet of deck space and a shaded bar. There is both covered seating and seating out in the open so that you can choose your experience.
Even if you’re trying to stick to your New Year’s resolutions or keep up with a healthier eating plan, you can still grab a tasty bite at one of these restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Healthy eats are plentiful on each menu, with options that taste great and help you stick to your goals.
The Whole Enchilada
When thinking about Mexican food, you might picture cheesy quesadillas, tortilla chips, and margaritas, which don’t always mesh well with a healthy eating plan. However, the food at The Whole Enchilada is different from the traditional fare. You’ll find all your favorites on the menu, each prepared with fresh and tasty ingredients, as well as a wide selection of salads. Try the chili-chicken or go-green salad to stay healthy.
You can also sample one of the burritos with a unique and memorable name, such as the tree hugger, red Ensenada, and black tiger. Each is stuffed with fresh, healthy ingredients, like fish, shrimp, chicken, steak, ground beef, pork, or beans. The menu also includes smaller portions for kids, so it’s a family-friendly location.



Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.