True to form, this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show was an outstanding amalgam of the weird, the high performing, the conceptual and the efficient. But beyond the stylish vehicles that used to steal the show, a lot of manufacturers revealed their attempts at fuel efficiency and progressive driving. Some appeared to have better potential than others, but a specific vehicle stood out as farther-reaching than any of its competitors: the Kia Venga.

To be quite frank, I wasn’t much of a believer in the Korean manufacturer until I stumbled on its September numbers. Amidst the sales woes of manufacturers across the globe, the recession seems to have had less of an effect on Kia’s affordable line of vehicles. When I had a chance to test-drive a Kia, I was pretty impressed with its overall ability. Let’s be honest here: the Rio isn’t exactly a Ferrari, but it performed well beyond my expectations.

Read the rest of this entry »