22nd Aug 2012, 13:48
Apparently, you live in the 90's. The 2.0t engine Kia makes puts out far more power than the S-10 ZR2 I just bought to replace it. Chevy's 4.3L V6 has less power than Kia's base model 2.4 non-turbo engine.
Towing an 1,100lb trailer can be done with something as weak as a Dodge Caliber. I know, I've hauled it hundreds of miles with my old Caliber.
Direct injection and turbocharging tech have come a long way. Ford's new turbo V6 smashes their V8's. The new Escape also has a 2.0t engine, capable of towing 3,500lbs, and powering an Explorer. You don't need a big gas guzzling truck to tow. You need torque. And that's what a turbocharger does. Unfortunately, Kia mis-programmed theirs, and it caused the engine to detonate at low RPM, under load.
25th Aug 2012, 20:19
A V8 to tow an 1,100 lb. travel trailer? A four cylinder Tacoma will pull up to 3,500 lbs without a tow package. But even that would be overkill. My '06 Corolla is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds. I could pull an 1,100 lb travel trailer with that (I don't, but I could).
8th Aug 2012, 15:43
KIA is Korean, not Japanese. The Japanese make pretty good trucks that have big V8 engines, a full frame and are RWD (think Nissan Titan / Pathfinder/ Armada and Toyota Tundra / Sequoia / 4Runner).