As a man in my late ‘20s who used to teach high school, and I can tell you that what was once “cool,” even when I was a teenager, really isn’t cool anymore. Kids today wear all kinds of different clothes, listen to new bands, have new slang and catch phrases, new technology, and even a new sense of humor. When I was in high school, I wore baggy clothes, listened to Boyz II Men and Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony, and didn’t even dream of owning a cell phone. That was enough for me then, even if it wouldn’t be enough for kids now.

However, some things never stop being cool. Green Day, for example, is a band that kids loved in the mid-‘90s and still love today. Music in general is still something that adolescents love, and teens still put a lot of stock in driving what they and their friends would consider a “cool” car. In Gurnee, Kia dealerships are hoping that their parent company’s partnership with the Warped Tour brings more love and attention their way, as kids who go to the huge music festival to see Blink 182, Alkaline Trio, Dropkick Murphys and others will be exposed to Kia promotions that could dramatically enhance their view of the automaker.

The partnership between Kia and Warped Tour starts with the Soul Lounge, which gives concert-goers all sorts of information about the top Kia vehicles, most notably the lounge’s namesake, the Soul. It’s sleek look and personalization options make it a top choice among younger demographics, and that’s why they’re pushing that as the main car in the promotion.

There also will be live DJs spinning records, airbrush tattoo artists, and autograph tables for hot bands like Hey Monday and NeverShoutNever. Also, Kia representatives will be handing out a select few VIP wristbands that allow certain patrons access to a special hi-rise seating area for a bird’s eye view of all the great music being played.

Honestly, all that would’ve been cool when I was in high school, too, and it would’ve been cool for my parents, and their parents as well (though I’m not sure what Warped Tour 1932 would’ve looked like—headlined by Lawrence Welk?). This year’s ticket clearly is a hot Waukegan buy. Used car salesmen in the area are hoping the backlash from the promotion allows for higher sales. That’s Kia’s goal, at least, and it’s a pretty cool one. Pretty cool indeed.

Kelley Blue Book is like a bible for the auto world.  I’ve referenced it and I am sure you have a time or two, especially when you wanted to see the trade in value for your preowned car Waukegan.  If KBB votes your car, truck or SUV as a cool model, then you must be driving something great.  This is the case for the 2010 Kia Soul, as KBB has named it one of the “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″.  

KBB chose the Soul for the second year in a row and used several criteria for creating it’s top 10 list.  They considered fuel economy, comfort, technology, safety, and interior size- those items that most everyone takes into consideration when buying new or Gurnee used cars.  But, they also added another “cool” criteria.  The 2010 Soul combines fun-to-own and fun-to-drive in a great way that makes it worthy of making the “cool” list.

The 2010 Soul, according to a top Kia staffer, keeps drawing shoppers into their favorite Kia dealer.  It’s funky design as well as being a great value, are big selling points with interested buyers.  Having something a little different than your mainstream preowned car Waukegan sedan or coupe keeps the line up fresh, attracting buyers of all different ages and walks of life.

The Soul comes in several different trim options:  The base, +, !, and Sport.  Yes, that’s correct, the plus sign and exclamation point are not typos, but actually “Names” give to Soul trims.  Kind of fits this model, since it’s quirky and fun!  The base Soul comes with a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine that gives 122 HP.   Stepping it up to another trim you’ll get the pleasure of a 2.0 Liter, inline-four that ups HP to 142.   Not bad driving!

The 2010 Soul also comes with antilock brakes, stability control, front side and side curtain airbags.  The interior is also pretty cool.  You can get upholstery that glows in the dark and/or colorful seating to spice up the common black, gray and white interiors found in other Gurnee used cars!

Come and check out the 2010 Kia Soul for yourself- see if this modern, boxy style fits you!

A new ad campaign has been rolled out for the 2010 Kia Soul and it brings back some fun-loving, furry creatures we’ve seen before.  The hamsters used in a previous campaign for the Soul were widely accepted, so the company felt that bringing them back was a smart move!

The new campaign came out the end of May and runs through the month of July.  The “rapping hamsters” can be seen doing their thing on Comedy Central, Fuse, MTV, MTV2 and Spike.  Since social media is such a growing industry, the campaign will also stream through Pandora, Facebook, Social Vibe’s PetVille, KMA’s Kia.com. and a YouTube contest. Very cool!

The video’s song lyrics will be sung to the tune of “The Choice Is Yours”, which was performed by the 1990′s sensation Black Sheep!  The hamsters will be driving around in an urban setting behind the wheel of a Kia Soul painted a cool green color.  They’ll be singing “You can get with this, or you can get with that”, comparing the boxy style of the Soul to other Antioch used cars of similar shapes. The other cars will be represented by washing machines, cardboard boxes, and toasters.  Pretty cool concept, as the song is definitely a catchy one!

The 2010 Soul has a very unique style, compared to the design of other preowned car Waukegan models.  Depending what model you opt for, the designs are certainly appealing.  For example, the Soul Sport features red and black interior patterns.  You’ll get cloth seats that have a red trim and accents with a metal finish!

There are many other outstanding features that the 2010 Soul offers such as outstanding gas mileage.  The Soul + will give you 24 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway.  It also comes in many awesome paint color options.  A few of my favorites include Bright Silver, Java (a rich brown color), and Ignition (a bright orange).

Like many other Kia Antioch used cars, you’ll get all the important safety features such as front and side, driver and passenger air bags, tire pressure monitor, four-sensor anti-lock brakes, and much more.

Head to your local dealer today and test drive the 2010 Soul and many other preowned car Waukegan models!

Kia has earned another award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2011 Kia Sorento is following in the footsteps of the Kia Soul and Kia Forte in being recognized as a “Top Safety Pick” by the IIHS. The 2011 Kia Sorento was evaluated by the IIHS and earned the best possible rating on frontal, side, rear and rollover safety tests. Gurnee Kia dealers are extremely proud of the prestigious rating given to the 2011 Kia Sorento.

The Kia Sorento is a compact utility vehicle, or a midsize crossover SUV. The Sorento boasts a sleek stylish outside featuring the prominent Kia trademark Tiger nose grille. The Sorento is available with a plethora of features from satellite radio to a stunning interior. An Antioch used cars dealer reports that Kia is an incredible brand that promotes style and safety and the Sorento is no exception.

The IIHS “Top Safety Pick” is an incredible honor and the 2011 Kia Sorento certainly earned it. The 2011 Sorento comes full equipped with the best safety features available. The Sorento has several sets of airbags including driver and passenger advanced front airbags, side curtain and front seat mounted airbags. The Sorento also utilizes four wheel antilock brakes as well as other brake technology ranging from Downhill Brake Control to Hill Start Assist Control to keep passengers safe. Gurnee Kia dealers agree the incredible safety programs included in the Sorento greatly attribute to its new reputation.

The IIHS did not stop honoring Kia with the 2011 Sorento. Kia’s Sedona minivan also earned a few awards this year including the “Top Safety Pick.” The Sedona also earned the “Safest Minivan Ever Tested” award every year from 2006 to 2009. Drivers of used Kia’s from Antioch used cars agree Kia cars are extremely safe and fun to drive. Kia strives to be known not only for incredible automobiles but for safe automobiles and the automaker is certainly on the right track.

The Kia Sorento is just one shining example of a well performing, extremely safe automobile. The automaker boasts a wide array of safe vehicles ranging from cars to SUVs. To find out more information about Kia visit your local Gurnee Kia dealer or visit the automaker’s website.

Late last year Kia delved into the compact coupe market, unveiling their Kia Forte Koup at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. Targeting driving enthusiasts, Kia lured the thrill seekers in with a twin turbocharged version of the Theta II four cylinder engines. There is a direct injection that results in a 144 lb-ft. of torque at 6,200 rpm and 156 horsepower. That’s right folks, not only does Kia do quality and affordability, they now do speed in the compact sector.

The former laughing stock of the automotive industry, Kia is now making serious plays in most automotive market segments. Kia along with its sister automaker Hyundai have been winning tons of awards in the past two years and analysts over at PriceWaterhouseCoopers suggest that 2010 will be filled with just as much success, if not more.

The Forte Koup is based upon a Kia Koup concept vehicle that was unveiled at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. This concept vehicle was well received, won some rewards and generated enough buzz to be tweak and made into a viable vehicle available for purchase. Check-in at your local Round Lake Kia Rondo dealer to find out when you can grab the keys to a 2010 Forte Koup.

Hugging the ground closely while sporting an aggressive body, the Forte Koup has a contemporary design futuristically accented with wrap around headlamps, dual exhaust outlets and a rear diffuser. Further reinforcing its contemporary look is a pair of chrome exhaust tips, integrated turn signal indicators and body-color bumpers. To see for yourself visit a Gurnee Kia Sportage dealership, where the staff will encourage a test-drive.

Sporting enthusiasts are also excited about the Forte Koup turning radius, which can circle in 33.9 feet. Whether you’re riding the red at high speeds or carving the curbs with precision you’ll be doing so very quietly thanks to Kia’s new noise-lowering materials in the engine bay bulkhead. The Forte Koup has a 2.0 L four cylinder engine, which comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission or the option of a 4-speed automatic.

The Forte Koup seamlessly takes the place of the five-door Spectra job which was lagging in sales and the fact that Kia has chosen the Forte Koup to compete in the Grand-Am Continental Sports Car Challenge, their first entry ever, means they’re proud of their compact coupe. Stop by your Classic Kia dealership to test drive the Kia Forte Koup and experience a vehicle that will make you proud to be its owner.

Families searching for the perfect auto are looking for vehicles that offer everything from safety features to plenty of cup holders for sippys and bottles.  One vehicle found at your Kia dealer Gurnee is rapidly becoming a top choice for young families across the nation.  The Kia Soul is proving to be a very kid-friendly auto.

Most parents out there are familiar with the popular parenting magazine, Parents. They recently teamed up with Edmunds. com to compile a list of autos that are great options for families.  The cars, SUV’s, hatchbacks, etc that were chosen all had to come equipped with antilock brakes and front, side, and side-curtain air bags.  In addition to those necessary safety features, the autos chosen offer other amenities that parents and guardians find convenient when traveling with their kids!

The Kia Soul, found at your pre owned car Waukegan Kia store, has a feature that I find a necessity, from a parent’s standpoint.  It’s taller, boxy shape will help reduce the chances of bumping your head while strapping a toddler into their seat.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that on my current sedan since my son transitioned to a front facing seat a year ago!

The Kia Soul also has other features that are handy.  For example, the price is an attractive amount.  The base begins around $13K and the top Sport model tops around $18K.  The gas mileage is really good, saving you less time and money at the pump.  City driving is 26 mpg and highway 31 mpg.  I can take that, for sure!

Going back to safety features, we know it comes with antilock brakes, and plenty of air bags, but it’s also been tested for other things.  For example, it received 5/5 stars for Passenger, Driver, and Side Impact Front crash test results.  This means that in the event of impact in any of these spots, the Soul has more than adequate protection.  Every parent likes to know that what they’re driving their child(ren) around in is safe!

Head to your Kia dealer Gurnee today and see if the Soul is right for you.  If not, they’ll be able to show you many other pre owned car Waukegan models that are also very safe and reliable for you to travel with your precious cargo!

What good news for your Round Lake used cars Kia dealer:  Thanks to increased traffic here and at Kia dealerships all over, sales of various Kia models are up!  Overall, Kia is seeing increases in sales this year compared to the same time period last year.

April 2010 was an awesome month for the South Korean auto maker: 30,036 Kia’s were sold!  This is a 17.3% increase over April 2009′s stats!  This is thanks to new designs on some autos, the new Kia Sorento that is being built in the USA, and much more!

Leading Kia’s sales for April was the 2011 Sorento, which came out earlier this year.  It’s a great crossover and was redesigned with some awesome features.  The outside has a fresh design, very modern looking and it drives a lot better too.   The 2011 Sorento has a solid chassis and improved suspension that helps it move along smoothly when the road might not be!

Another highlight of the Sorento is the more powerful engine.  It is a 3.5 Liter,  V6 with 273-hp.   This will pack a punch when hitting the area’s expressways and side streets!  But, try it on the open roads where there’s less traffic to get the powerful engine’s full effects!

If you don’t feel like the Sorento is the right fit for you, consider the Round Lake Kia Rondo.  A friend of mine needed a new vehicle to schlep her kids around in, and needed something inexpensive since she had experienced a job loss.  The Kia Rondo, she says, has been a great wagon.  It has all the features she needs, such as plenty of legroom, head room and cargo space.  The warranty can’t be beat and the safety features are a plenty.

Kia has been hard at work improving its image by offering affordable vehicles that feature better design, performance, and comfort.  Obviously, the company’s hard work is paying off, as sales are up!  Head to your Round Lake used cars store today to see if the Sorento, Round Lake Kia Rondo, or other model will work for you!

While cars today have much more advanced interior features than their predecessors, the technology is slow to keep up with the rapid world around us. In fact, a lot of the technology people use in cars they bring in themselves, like portable navigation systems and iPods. Automakers are making the choice to try to keep up with technology by developing new dashboard systems that will implement all the technology the world has become accustomed to. Kia is one of the first automakers to delve into this project with the Kia Uvo.

Kia is planning to implement their new dashboard technology called the Uvo in the 2011 Sorento and Sportage models. The Antioch used cars dealer of Kia automobiles is confident Kia will do an excellent job in developing this new technology. Kia developed the Uvo along with Microsoft which will integrate Wi-Fi internet along with other features to make driving a Kia much more enjoyable and efficient.

The main idea behind the Kia Uvo and similar technologies like the Ford Sync is to make automobiles more similar to computers. Currently, drivers must decide what technology to put in their car the day they purchase it. With the Kia Uvo drivers would have the base hardware in their automobile to begin with and be able to download upgrades at any point. A Gurnee used cars dealer confirms this technology will be well received. Individuals are captivated by tools like iPhone apps and downloading new software to your car would not be much different.

The Uvo uses a touch screen format on the dashboard of their vehicles to operate the system. This technology will hopefully also be able to help drivers navigate more safely in the future. A system like this could be combined with other current features like rearview cameras and sensor detection and voice recognition to prevent accidents.  In fact drivers by using voice activation this technology may even help prevent distracted driving. Antioch used car drivers say anything to help make the road a safer place is a positive step.

While the Kia Uvo is new and certainly not cheap it is a great step toward what automobile drivers want from a vehicle. Automakers like Kia are using our demand for technology to make cars safer places to be. To find out more, visit your local Gurnee used car dealer or any Kia dealership.

Kia has been hard at work producing some great models in the recent years.  They opened up their first ever United States plant down in the West Point, GA where the new 2011 Sorento is rolling off assembly lines.  Yup, they’ve got a lot to be proud of right now.  To add to their success, one Kia sedan was a recent IIHS “Top Safety Pick”: The 2010 Kia Forte.

The 2010 Kia Forte is currently an attractive buyer’s option at your new and preowned car Waukegan dealer, Classic Kia!  The IIHS awarded the Forte this honor since they scored “good” in the front, side, rear and rollover impact crash tests.  “Good” is the highest rating based on the system used.  This is news to my ears.  Now that I’m toting around a toddler, safety in a vehicle is  more important to me than ever.

What are some features found on the Forte that help make it safe to drive?  First, all cars have to be equipped with Electronic Stability Control to be considered for a “top safety pick” award.  The ESC is an important element that’s been perfected and researched over the past 20 years or so.  It detects if a car is veering away from it’s intended path and applies the brakes to get the car driving where it should go.  The ESC measures the steering wheel’s angle to help figure out where the driver is going to help get them back on track.  It can apply the brakes to individual wheels.  Technology has come so far, much different than what you’ll find on older models in local Gurnee used car lots!

The 2010 Forte also has plenty of front and side airbags and the active front headrests.  The anti-lock brakes are a necessity, especially in the harsh winters we face in Chicago!  The Forte also has a system that monitors tire pressure, helping avoid a blowout, which could end you up in a serious accident!

The Kia Forte  from Classic Kia is definitely a safe sedan to own, as are many other new and  preowned cars on our Waukegan lot. Stop by today and we’ll  give you even more safety information on your favorite Kia models and for our Waukegan and Gurnee used car shoppers!

Check out the newest 2010 Kia Sorento located at Classic Kia in Waukegan, IL. This awesome crossover vehicle is great for those summer road trips and has all of the additional features anyone could need. With ample interior passenger and cargo space, an aux input for an mp3 player, a premium sound system, Bluetooth connectivity and a ton of safety features, this car should definitely be on your car buying radar. Enjoy our quick video!