Initial Impressions Touring w/advanced package.

I was driving a chevy volt. I think the volt is awesome but since I'm not sure I'll have a plug available to me in the next year or so I decided to get a non plug in. Plus the rear seat is a joke. These are my initial impressions after 2 days and they will be mostly based on my experience with the volt. I got touring with advanced.

Visibility in the front is very good. I feel I can see much better than the volt. At night the HID lights do a very good job.

The tires of the touring are grippier, it handles better than the volt, but it doesn't coast as well probably due to the tires. Wish I could have gotten the 16in ones for better mpg. I'll probably buy the smaller rims and more low resistance tires when these are used up cause to switch them now would only save like $50-100 a year.

If you drive in the eco range you will definitely get the rated MPG.

Interior is roomy for the size of the car.

No usb or seat warmers in the back seat. But there is a standard plug for like a computer which is nice.

Back seats have very good leg and head room.

The coasting guide, part of eco-das, which is activated when you use the in car GPS, I have not had any recommendation to let off the gas in the trips I've had home. I don't really know when this activates.

Love apple car play integration and even when only activated via bluetooth the siri activation via a long press of the voice recognition button works very well.

I like that the mirrors open and a small led light up when you get close to the cars. It's very inviting.

Volt automatically locks the doors when you leave the car, wish the Niro had this feature.

I wanted a power lift gate, but after testing it out on another kia and compering it with the manual lift gate, I like the manual better it seems much faster.

I wish they gave you the option of no sunroof and smaller rims for the top end version.

I like that the parking sensors show you if the instruction is in the center or more to the side.

When I'm coasting and slowing down and right before a complete stop (usually because the light has turned green), it sort of has a weird transition, it feels like a jerk, it does this sometimes. I've found I either have to come to a complete stop or accelerate more slowly to avoid it. Maybe it has something to do with the hill assist feature.

I wish the instrument cluster on the right for speed was digital. I understand it looks better with the instrument cluster on the left and right, but the analog mph is just a waste in my opinion, a big digital one would have been better. However, you can see mph in a digital screen in the center.

I don't like that the trip computer doesn't give you MPG for that specific trip. You'd have to reset the MPG counter.

I don't know if you can do this but I wish I could see the map and another screen like the eco level screen or mpg screen side by side, right now I can see the map and the radio/music etc side by side. Not sure if this can be changed.

When using the cruise control it maintains the designated speed even when going downhill, in the volt it wouldn't slow the car. I prefer the Kia way.

Rear windows came tinted which I totally liked.

Noise buffering is better on the 2014 volt.

I oddly like that the hand break thing is a foot break now.

I like all the physical buttons. It was such a pain to raise/lower the temperature on the volt. I like the driver only climate function.

If I had better coasting tires I think I could get 50mpg in city driving.

Rear backup camera is good, an audible sound can be heard outside when backing up for pedestrians. I think this is a good feature.

No integrated garage door opener which surprised me. But a multi one cost me 24 dollars on amazon so it isn't a big deal.

Rear view mirror has less visibility than my volt, it's narrower. Doesn't auto dim.

The sun visor can be moved, you know for when you move the visor towards the window and you need it to block further away from the front. Maybe this is confusing but when I realized this I smiled.

This is my first Kia so I don't have experience with uvo yet.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.