We really appreciate this great review. Thanks Danielle!

"The service I was provided with at Commonwealth Motors was excellent! They work with you to make sure you are satisfied with your purchase. My salesperson Derek was wonderful in aiding me in my vehicle choice. I am completely satisfied with the service I received and will be returning when it's time for a new car!" - Danielle S

Kia Eyes Luxury Market with KH Sedan

Courtesy of Brand Channel

Kia has been showing off a head-turning concept car called the GT around the auto-show circuit lately. And now it looks as if the Korean brand's first rear-wheel-drive sedan will be introduced this summer — and very much resemble the GT.

Code-named KH, the production version of the car and the GT concept are based on the same mechanical platform that upholds Equus, the top-of-the-line nameplate for sibling brand Hyundai. This means that Kia is following very closely in the footsteps of Hyundai in plans to move upscale after establishing itself in the mainstream market.

"It would definitely be a halo vehicle, limited number" of units, Michael Sprague, CMO for Kia in North America, told Automotive News. "You don't want to build any more than you have to. You want it to be a unique vehicle for the brand."

Kia has paved the way for this move relatively quickly. It has been spiriting the GT around the international auto-show circuit, beginning with Frankfurt last fall and including Los Angeles and Chicago. Producing the similar KH by this summer, initially for the Korean market, would be a quick move for Kia.

There's no word yet on a timetable for getting the car into the U.S. market, but Sprague and his colleagues are convinced that Americans would entertain a Kia that purports to compete around the $60,000 level with stalwarts such as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi 6.

That attitude, of course, is similar to the approach used by Hyundai a few years ago in bringing the pricey Genesis and even more upscale Equus to the United States. It also provides an interesting glimpse into the thinking at the two brands' corporate parent. Some U.S. observers have assumed that the company eventually would split its positioning in the American market into a premium Hyundai brand and a mainstream Kia brand.

But Hyundai and Kia executives in America long have insisted such a bifurcation wasn't in the plans of the Korean conglomerate. And introducing a Kia-badged luxury vehicle certainly would be evidence of such a strategy.

Like us on Facebook to receive our exclusive deal of the month!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Thank you for this awesome review!

"I would highly recommend Commonwealth Kia and the excellent crew who assisted in making the purchase of my new car an easy and satisfying experience. A strong thank you to Shaun Berryman, Sales Manager, Ivan Lovera,Sales Rep, and Hiram Cruz, Financing." - dnsna1

Half-Court Shot At Knicks' Game To Win 2012 Kia Optima

Thank you for your kind words.

"First of all i think that buying a car is a big mine game and you really never feel that you are getting a good deal... HOWEVER I purchased a 2012 camaro ss and LOVE the car. I think if you go to the right sales person ( Al Milley ) you can and will get the best price at Commonwealth Motors.   This is my third new car there and their service  in the past has been excellent. I do thinks that if you shop them FIRST and LAST you will get the best price possible. A little homework can save you thousands.  Reg. ken" - Kenneth C

How to Change a Flat Tire

Courtesy of Kia Buzz

Most of us have at one time or another changed a flat tire or at least witnessed someone else doing the dirty work.  Flat tires can happen anywhere and at any time, so it’s absolutely crucial for your own and the safety of others to learn how to change a tire correctly. It might sound like a no-brainer or common sense procedure, but you’d be surprised how the smallest errors can lead to some serious problems.

Now that you know the basics, you’re good-to-go, right? Well…not exactly, here are some additional things to keep in mind when using a spare tire:

1. It’s smaller than the regular tire
2. It’s for emergency use only
3. It’s a temporary tire to get you to the nearest service center
4. The spare tire is small and light weight for better fuel efficiency
5. Do not drive at a speed over 80km/h (50m/h) with a spare tire

Here are the essentials you should always carry in your vehicle.

1. Spare Tire – The whole point of changing a tire would be pretty useless if we didn’t have a spare one in our trunk. Flat tires happen, so always make sure you have a spare in your trunk, back seat or wherever it’s safe and convenient.

 

2. Tire Changing Kit – Most vehicles come equipped with a tire kit, but if yours doesn’t, make sure you go to your local dealership or nearest store to stock up on a wedge, hub wrench, jack, nut wrench etc…

 

3. Emergency Signs: You want to make sure that cars behind you are able to see that your vehicle is idle or it could lead to some serious consequences. Any sort of warning sign that you could set on the road would be helpful, to warn the cars behind you.

 

 

4.Work Gloves: To keep your hands squeaky clean, warm and safe.

 

 

Unless you’re in a racing team’s pit crew, changing tires isn’t exactly a fun and thrilling experience, but at least you’ll be well prepared the next time you have to change a flat.

We really appreciate your kind words!

"Leave it up to Commonwealth to make your service needs quick and painless! Brought in my Honda Fit for its 30000 mile maintenance visit. Lee Boudreau was extremely informative and went over everything with me. He even asked about my transportation needs (something most places just don't care about). The work was done in a timely manner and Lee was very accurate with the pricing. This was a very pleasurable experience. I highly recommend Commonwealth!" - ssparsons

2013 Kia Sorento Facelift

Courtesy of autoevolution

Kia is getting ready to take the fight to the Germans on every front, and the Sorento SUV, which should debut towards the end of the year, should prove very valuable. The vehicle you see here is a mid-life facelift of their popular vehicle, spotted undergoing winter testing.

The most important change to the exterior will be made to the headlights, which are being completely overhauled. Expect it to get a look that’s not too distant to the new cee’d hatchback for the European market.
Our photographers say the Sorento was being tested together with the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK, suggesting is being compared to some very strong benchmarks.

The current generation of the Sorento SUV was first previewed at the New York Auto Show in March 2009. This new generation uses a unistructure body and is Kia's first model built in the United States.

Become a Kia Fan Reporter & Win a Trip to the Geneva Motor Show

All automotive enthusiasts can agree that the Geneva Motor Show is one of the top must-see auto events of the year. And with the 82nd show right around the corner, Kia is on the lookout for fan reporters we can send to Geneva to share news and updates with global Kia fans. We’re seeking people with personality and a talent for storytelling, filming and/or photography. If that sounds like you or a friend, then keep reading!

The application submission period will be from February 15 to 26 and the three winning teams will be announced on February 27.

 

We encourage everyone to participate, so don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!  Learn more on Kia's Facebook Page.

Time is running out to take advantage of this month's special offers!

Stop by and see us during your long weekend to get a great car at a great price. Sales ends 2/29/2012. Check out our website for details. http://shopuslast.com/

Kia Track'ster Concept - 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Thank you for this awesome review!

"We recently purchased our new car at CommonwealthMotors KIA . We had purchased our last Kia from Commonwealth (Bob Mclean) and had a great experience, We had shopped around to a couple of other dealers before we went back to Commonwealth, (shop us last) We were greeted by a professional sales person, and found out that Bob was still working at commonwealth. We talked with Bob told him the car we had been looking at, and where we needed to be, and the rest is history. Our experience with Commonwealth has been great. I am sooooo happy we went back to Commonwealth and found Bob. The next time we will just be going to Commonwealth. :)" - Tami

Don't miss out on one of this month's awesome sales specials!

Be sure to stop by Commonwealth Kia to take advantage of our latest incentives, including up to 169$ a Month for 2012 Soul Base 1.6L 4-6 spd A/T. See dealership for details!

Kia Releases First Photo of Chicago-Bound Track’ster Concept

Courtesy of Automobile Magazine

Having shown off a sketch last week, Kia has now released the first photo of its Track’ster concept car. The model will bow later this week at the Chicago auto show, but is not slated for series production.

The prior teaser sketch showed that the three-door Track’ster had a sloping roofline, big showy wheels, and an aggressive scallop in the front fender. This rear shot shows the car has a squat stance, with flared fenders leading into a greenhouse that tapers at the top. Twin round exhaust tips, bracket-shaped taillights, and vents in the bumper further dress up the Track’sters rear. The car is loosely based on the production Kia Soul hatchback.

Kia says the Track’ster, which is the brainchild of the company’s California design studio, is a performance-themed variant shows “what the Soul could someday be.” Lead designer Tom Kearns echoed those sentiments, saying the Track’ster has a “rebellious, individual, and urban character.”

The company says the Track’ster concept would be powered by a gasoline engine with about 247 hp on tap. However, there are no plans to put a model like this into series production. The concept car will be unveiled publicly later this week in Chicago.

Drive Green to Save Green!

Stay in tune! Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American's tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.

Sorento Icons

Like us on Facebook to receive our exclusive deal of the month!

Thanks for your kind words!

"Nine years ago when I was shopping for my first new vehicle my father dragged me all over the state, and part of NH, to show me the ropes on buying a car.  It was an interesting process, albeit a big hassle, but in the end I ended up buying my truck at Commonwealth Chevy for significantly less than any other dealer quoted me.

Fast forward to 2012, I knew Commonwealth would be one of the dealers I focused on for my new car. Not having the patience to drive around dealer to dealer, lot to lot, I decided to basically buy my car through email.  Commonwealth's email department was a pleasure to deal with and the only one of the five I dealt with that responded to me in a timely manner.  After a few emails back and forth, I pretty much knew what I'd be paying for the car with the specs I wanted before I even walked through the door for a test drive.  I'm very happy with the price I paid and even happier with the car I bought." - Steve T.

169$ a Month for 2012 Soul Base 1.6L 4-6 spd A/T

Be sure to stop by Commonwealth Kia to take advantage of our latest incentives, including up to 169$ a Month for 2012 Soul Base 1.6L 4-6 spd A/T. See dealership for details!

We really appreciate the positive feedback.

"2012 Honda Pilot EX-L, Dark Cherry Pearl This is my 3rd new car purchase at Commonwealth Honda and there are plenty of reasons why it won't be the last. This is truly a no pressure environment loaded with knowledgeable salespeople of all the Honda products. It's a family run business and that shows in everything they do. The owners are hands-on. But let's face it, what matters the most is that we all want a great deal when buying a new car and while I've tested many of the other dealers every time I've purchased a new Honda, Commonwealth always has the best price. Don't waste your time at the big multi-location dealerships. I like Commonwealth's slogan "Shop Us Last" but if you want to save time and moeny, I'd change the slogan to "Shop Them First and Only"" - Hondafam

Monday Maintenance Tip! Keep your engine in tune.

Courtesy of Bankrate.com

Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent so don't skip your cars regular tune-ups. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent so you'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs.

Thank you for the awesome feedback!

"2012 Honda Pilot EX-L, Dark Cherry Pearl This is my 3rd new car purchase at Commonwealth Honda and there are plenty of reasons why it won't be the last. This is truly a no pressure environment loaded with knowledgeable salespeople of all the Honda products. It's a family run business and that shows in everything they do. The owners are hands-on. But let's face it, what matters the most is that we all want a great deal when buying a new car and while I've tested many of the other dealers every time I've purchased a new Honda, Commonwealth always has the best price. Don't waste your time at the big multi-location dealerships. I like Commonwealth's slogan "Shop Us Last" but if you want to save time and moeny, I'd change the slogan to "Shop Them First and Only" - Hondafam

Thank you so much for the great reviews!

"Can't say enough about my recent positive experience with Commonwealth Honda. The transmission failed on our 6 year old Odyssey Touring minivan with just over 100K miles. At first we were told it would cost over $4200 to replace the transmission on this vehicle. Needless to say, I was pretty upset. After doing a little on-line research I learned that Honda has been having a lot of trouble with transmissions failing on Odysseys, so I called the dealership back and asked them to go to bat for me with Honda North America. Long story short, they were able to substantially reduce the repair cost, and returned the car to us fully up to date with all required maintenance, and cleaned inside and out for a fraction of the original estimate. Special thanks to Jim Taylor the Honda's service manager for intervening on our behalf. Although this Odyssey has been a bit more trouble prone than any of our previous 6 Honda vehicles, its good to know that we have a dealership and service team nearby that support loyal Honda customers like me and my family. Thanks to this recent experience I will continue to recommend Commonwealth Honda to my friends and family. -Jim D. Bradford MA"

Test drive a new 2012 Kia Optima to receive a $25 Kia Visa prepaid card. It's a great time to come see us at Commonwealth Kia!

Click here to sign up!

Thanks for this great review Suzanne.

"We recently purchased our new car at Common Wealth Motors. We were greeted by a professional sales person Steve, who thoroughly answered all of are questions. We did sit down with him and were given a price for the vehicle with no pressure to purchase immediately and no annoying calls after we left. When we finally decided to buy, we went back to them and purchased the vehicle. Steve took the time to go over every features of the car and also set up my phone to the cars system. This is our second vehicle purchase from Common Wealth Motors and we came back because of the service we received the 1st time around." - Suzanne

First Drive: 2012 Kia Rio sedan

Courtesy of Autos.CA

The Rio is Kia’s subcompact car, with the four-door Sedan version complementing the recently introduced Rio four-door hatch. The sedan rides on an all-new platform shared with the Hatch that is longer, lower and wider than the previous generation Rio. And like the hatch, it features styling that is more distinctive and attractive thanks to Kia’s ex-Audi Chief Designer, Peter Schreyer.

The Rio sedan and hatch are fundamentally the same vehicle, although the sedan is 320 millimetres longer than the hatch, and has a different front fascia, grille, headlamps, LED positioning lights, solar glass and available rear LED lights. Also at the rear… well, that’s pretty obvious: it has a trunk.

Choosing one Rio over the other is simply a matter of personal preference. Interior dimensions are virtually the same between the two models, although the sedan is priced slightly below the hatch.

The 2012 Kia Rio’s opening price is $13,795 (all prices plus $1,455 freight/pdi) for the LX with manual transmission. It is equipped with a four-cylinder, gasoline direct injected (GDI) engine of 1.6-litre displacement that makes 138-horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission replaces the six-speed manual for an additional $1,300.

Also standard on the LX are 15-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, tilt steering column, trip computer, map lights, power door locks, power windows, driver seat height adjustment, power and heated mirrors, satellite radio with speech recognition, auxiliary/USB inputs, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and body-coloured mirrors and door handles.

Notable are features like the four-wheel disc brakes, satellite radio, power mirrors and power windows that are rarely found on base subcompacts. Likewise, the GDI engine with its generous output is noteworthy, as is its designation as one of Ward’s Autos Ten Best engines.

Kia expects the LX+ to be the “volume seller” at $15,295. It adds air conditioning, cruise control, fog lights, heated seats, Bluetooth and keyless entry to the base package, creating a very well equipped car for the price.

Other trim levels include a $17,395 LX Eco that maximizes fuel economy by including an idle stop/go feature that shuts down the engine at stoplights, restarting it when the driver releases the brake.

The $16,695 EX adds features like a power sunroof, auto folding mirrors and 16-inch alloy wheels, while the $17,195 EX+ adds the UVO infotainment system and rear view camera. The $20,495 EX Luxury offers many items found in larger, luxury-oriented vehicles like a heatable steering wheel, rain sensing windshield wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels with sport suspension and bigger front brakes, electronic climate control, two-tone leather upholstery, and the option of a navigation system ($1,200). Automatic is the only transmission offered with the EX Luxury.

We drove both the LX+ with manual transmission and EX Luxury with automatic. Normally I find the manual transmission versions of small cars to feel more peppy and responsive than those with an automatic, and while this version of the Rio has those attributes, the automatic model seemed equally capable.

Thank you for the kind words.

"We recently purchased our new car at Commonwealth Motors. We were greeted by a professional sales person who did not pressure us and encouraged us to walk around and check out the Kia Sorrento's. We did our homework and research before going to the dealer and were very satisfied with the price. This is our second vehicle purchase from Commonwealth Motors and we came back because of the service and reputation we received the 1st time around. We were also impressed with the follow up from the entire sales staff, including Ms. Daher (one of the owners), who called to make sure we were completely satisfied!"