Our Road Trip in a Kia Sorento

Powered by Mom test drove the Kia Sorento but regardless all opinions are 100% my own/

Powered by Mom Blog & family took a Kia Sorento out on our road trip for our 2013 Summer Vacation!

So what do you think did we like the Sorento? Read on to find out!

Here’s a picture of the Kia Sorento, in fact we drove a duplicate of this one, the same color and everything!

Many of you know that I was in Chicago at the end of July for a conference but did you know that I then flew from Chicago to meet up with my family to start our vacation which included a fun road trip? Yep that’s right I met up with my husband and daughter in Las Vegas (interesting side note – we did the same thing in 2010 almost exactly the same time of year, I had to fly from Chicago from a conference to Vegas to meet up with them for vacation) to start our family vacation! My father-in-law would join us in Vegas a few days after that so that he too could come on the road trip.

Now before I tell you more have to say that neither my husband nor I have ever driven a Kia vehichle of any kind. I also have to make a confession we both had the preconceived notion that Kias were maybe cheaply made vehicles. I’m not even sure where we got that notion from but I’ve never been so happy to be so wrong! My husband and I started to quickly change our minds when our Kia Sorento arrived at our hotel in Las Vegas. The vehicle has great curb appeal, it just looks nice, roomy and the interior does not disappoint either. It feels and looks very well made it’s not a tin can on wheels my any means.

My husband was very appreciative of all the technological extras in this vehicle particularly the GPS. He stated more than once during our vacation that it was the best GPS system he has ever used and that says a lot. My hubby and I but especially him is known amongst our family and friends as the gadget guy, want to know something a gadget ask my hubby. Especially a GPS has he drives 50-60% of his work day from job site to job site and he’s gone through many a GPS system, he is picky! The GPS was definitely handy as we drove from Las Vegas to San Diego to Palm Springs and back to Las Vegas!

Check out the GPS below and the other options, we also appreciated the satellite radio and being able to hook up our iPhones for our own tunes too!

Now I just have to show you the “trunk space” when the Sorento is completely empty

Now here is all of our luggage, all four of us, our suitcases are big hard case ones and remember I was away for a week before this so was already on the road. I knew we would have a lot of luggage so I mentioned to the folks at Kia we need room for 4 people and lots and lots of luggage :). The Sorento can sit up to seven people but six would be more comfortable like most vehicles and when not in use you can see above the seats can all be easily folded down. I love how easy it is to fold down the seats, which is not something my own minivan does, I have to literally take the back seats out.

I told you it was a lot of luggage but it all fit in the back too! We each still had lots of leg room at our seats as we didn’t have to put any bags up front with us. We utilized the consoles with the drink holders, all the many plugins for our various phones and gadgets, we could not find anything lacking when it came to all the little extras that some of us are used to or just like to have 🙂

As you can see below my daughter and my father-in-law had lots of room in their seats and they put the console down between them to hold their drinks. While as I mentioned the GPS was fantastic my father-in-law is old fashioned and likes to look at a paper map. However he did confirm that the GPS was leading us the right way several times lol.

Now how did the Sorento feel to drive you may wonder? Well let’s put it this way at one point on the highway my husband was going 100 miles an hour and we could not tell! My father-in-law even said you’re putting me on right this does not feel like a 100 miles an hour! Well after he slowed down we still had to convince my father-in-law that we had been going 100 miles, it just goes so smoothly it’s amazing. Too amazing when you don’t notice we had to start watching our speed :). That motor definitely has spunk, it wasn’t what I call choppy when you increase or decrease your speed, everything from just felt smooth and comfortable.

Now here’s something I don’t want to forget because it was one of my FAVORITE features of this vehicle besides the climate control, GPS and smooth ride and that was the rear camera display! Oh wow I love it! I don’t have one in my current vehicle and I’ve been missing it since we had to leave the Sorento behind in Las Vegas. You know what they say you don’t know what you’re missing until it’s gone? Well I know! Las Vegas is busy which means uber busy parking lots and that rear camera helped a lot even for me the person who hates parking lots and really hates to back out in to them. In fact 99% of the time I will back into a parking spot just so I don’t have to back out of them.

Even though hubby is a pro at driving and backing in and out he said he got used to having the rear camera and could get quite used to that! Combine that with the sensors that told you when you or another car was getting too close to you on your right or left it was very cool. You would actually see a picture pop up in your side view mirrors when a car was approaching and then beeping if it was in your blind spot so you knew not to turn into that lane. What an amazing safety feature as I’ve seen a lot of close calls and accidents from people turning in and not seeing the other car!

For those of you who’d like the technical 411 on the Kia Sorento here you go don’t say I didn’t give you enough info 🙂 (this is not an exhaustive list either just the highlights)

• This baby was a 6 speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic
• Independent Front & Rear Suspension
• Dual Front Advanced Airbags
• Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Side Curtain Airbags 1st & 2nd row
• ABS
• Dual Zone automatic Climate control
• Infinity Surround Sound Audio System
• UVO eServices Telematics w/Rear Camera Display
• Adjustable power drivers seat with lumbar support
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering /Column
• Front fog lights
• Panoramic roof with power sun shade
• heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators!
• Power liftgate

Now have you guessed whether or not we liked the Kia Sorento? I think you’d have to be blind or can’t read not to have figure out that we LOVED it! Yes loved it and I never thought I would say that and neither did my husband. Drive after drive on this road trip through desert we kept getting pleasantly surprised by all the features, how he felt to drive and more. So much so that in 1-2 years when it comes time for me to select a new vehicle I will seriously be considering a Kia. The tough decision will be whether or not to look at a Sorento or the Sedona which is their minivan. I currently drive a minivan so I like the room however, the Sorento is not that much smaller than my minivan, is still a nice height as I don’t want to sit down low like in a car and I can get all the features and more I want in either vehicle. So yes the Kia Sorento gets a 6 out 5 stars (no that’s not  a typo this is the first 6 stars we’ve given as it exceeded our expectations!) from Powered by mom and family for comfort, technology, safety and more!

One last picture which is not of the car but I did take it while we were driving ahem 75 miles an hour in the Sorento. I think that’s a darn good picture!

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