Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
“THE world is yours to explore.” This was what Columbian Autocar Corp. (CAC) had in mind when they brought selected members of the motoring media to Bacolod for the three-day “Negros Exploration Drive.”
The group arrived at the “City of Smiles” one morning via the Bacolod-Silay airport and from there we proceeded to the Kia Bacolod dealership. A hearty breakfast of the famed Chicken Inasal certainly put the “good” in our morning. After the sumptuous meal, event head organizer and veteran race car driver, Pepon Marave, briefed us on the day’s itinerary.
“In my surveys, Negros has one of the best roads. Both traffic and driving conditions are great. You will love them,” Marave shared.
From the showroom, we drove through 250 kms of asphalt and rough roads enroute to Dumaguete.
Among the Kia fleet, the Sportage EX 2WD was first thrown in the mix for us to try out. Together with AQ Magazine’s Bess Zamora, we got acquainted with their latest offering in the market. Towards places unknown, we swept past the suburbs as we eventually discovered the Sportage’s unique features.
Truly, it was “sporty, energetic and dramatic,” just as Kia defined this fourth generation subcompact C-segment SUV.
Powered by R 2.0L inline-four e-VGT CRDi DOHC Euro 4 Diesel engine, its maximum power of 185 Ps at 4,000 rpm could easily take the rough and more often than not harsh suburbs in stride. Not to mention, its emission, fuel efficiency, NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), and response have improved a notch.
Next, we found ourselves behind the wheel of a red Kia Forte. This looker behaved well on paved roads but needed a little push on gradual uphill sections. Inside, the comfortable cushy leather seats and cool dual zone automatic climate control were perfect for long drives such as this.
After that brief tryst, the Kia Grand Carnival was then ours for the taking. The front seats of the vehicle immediately gave a commanding view of the road ahead. Noticeable, too, were the generous legroom spaces of the second row captain’s and third row bench seats. The Grand Carnival’s suspension is one of the finest there is, as it nonchalantly absorbed every bump on the road, making our ride cool and comfy. Despite its bulk, it never felt short of power especially during the uphill climb as the 2.2L turbo diesel impressed us with its193 hp of power and 441 N-m of torque.
After that long parade, we finally checked in at Dumaguete by early evening. The place is known for the old American-rooted Silliman University and relaxing hangout spots by the sea. There, a delightful dinner was then served to cap our night.
Day two was our moment out in the sun. This time, we boarded the funky yellow Kia Soul going to the pier. The sexy compact hatchback featured a 1.6 L diesel engine that delivered 128 hp and 260 N-m of torque. It gave enough oomph to keep up with the convoy.
Once at the docking area, we immediately embarked on a 45-minute boat ride to the paradise island of Sumilon, where we spent a fun-filled day basking atop its fine sand and wading in its gentle waves.
As we headed back to the famed “City of Gentle People,” we were able to witness and appreciate the beauty of nature. In fact, a friendly dolphin was there to bid us farewell, while a picturesque view of the sunset made it all the more memorable.
The next morning, we woke up early to catch the sunrise for a wondrous photo of the whole Kia fleet: the Sportage, Forte, Soul, Grand Carnival and the Sorento.
Shortly after breakfast, we were able to chat with Kia president Ginia Domingo before taking the 250 km route back to Bacolod.
“We took this journey so that you could see and feel for yourselves our vehicles,” said the top honcho.
“This is to enjoy the cars as we explored the beauty of Negros,” she then added.
On our long trek back, we first tried the Kia Sorento before we turned the heat up for a spirited drive of the Sportage GT variant.
The Sorento’s 2.2L turbo diesel engine squeezed out 200 hp and 441 N-m of torque which proved useful during overtaking maneuvers.
While the top-of-the-line Sportage, GT Line, the most versatile of the fleet, delivered on its promise of comfort and performance driving.
From its LED fog lamps, aluminum-effect skid plates, and 19-inch alloy wheels which all contributed to a more aggressive look, the interior enamored us with elements such as D-shaped leather steering wheel, high quality piano black fascia, aluminum alloy pedals, and paddle shifters.
Performance-wise, its unique suspension characteristics, specifically designed for crisp handling and firmer rides without sacrificing comfort, was most notable.
As we closed another test drive chapter, we ended the day bringing home memories of a world made bigger by exploring places unknown, such as wonderful Negros.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes