If it's a DOHC it DOES NOT have an interference motor. If it had an interference motor, you couldn't set the timing gears up per KIA instructions. Plus, the 2000 motor I put into my 96 came with broken cam gears from a collision. I put new cam gears in, put the motor at TDC and rotated both gears 720 degrees before I installed the timing belt and nothing hit. I'm not doubting that your motor was scrambled, and that you had alot of damage, but something out of the ordinary probably happened. From what I have read in this forum and others, plus what other motor builders have written about the FE3, how KIA has you set the timing gears when you change belts, plus my own experience with both types of motors, and some personal experiments, it is a non-interference motor. You cannot put a non-interference motor @ TDC and rotate the cam/cams 360 degrees and not have the valves hit the piston. (tried it in my honda z6)
I don't know about the other comparisons that you speak of because it's my first 4x4 and I don't go out on runs with others. I do know that the AC is fantastic and the heater works as good or better that any car I've owned.
Just my 2 cents
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />