Earlier this month we packed up our bags and hit the road to Walt Disney World. Every year we drive the long 16 hours from St. Louis to Orlando. It’s a long drive but the destination is always worth it! I currently drive a Saturn Vue, which is definitely a smaller SUV. Once we get everything packed up in the car, it’s always a little cramped!
I was excited when we got the chance to drive the 2012 Kia Sorento EX for our road trip! I’ve heard such great things about the vehicle and knew it would be the perfect car for everything from road trips to everyday use.
The 2012 Kia Sorento EX is a mid-size SUV that seats seven. That’s right, there is an optional third row that will seat two in the back! Since we were traveling, we decided to put that third row down for more room for our stroller and luggage. It’s nice to know that if you have a larger family you’re able to fit extra people in the car and still have room in the back for groceries, sports equipment, etc.
Once we hit the road, I was excited to test out some of the features of the Kia Sorento. One of my favorites was the Sirius Satellite Radio. I don’t have satellite radio in my vehicle so while on road trips I’m used to either making playlists of music on my iPhone or continuously scanning through local radio stations to find something I like. After 16 hours, that can get pretty old! With the Sirius Satellite Radio, I could scroll through over 100 stations and then set what kind of music we liked. To make sure you don’t get distracted you can even scan through your favorites right from the steering wheel!
If you don’t want to listen to Sirius Satellite, you have the option of listening to CD’s or hooking up your iPhone or iPod and listening to your personal music. I loved that the Kia Sorento came with an iPod/iPhone connector which also charged your phone!
My husband and I are total opposites when it comes to temperature. When I’m hot, he’s cold and vice versa. I love that the Kia Sorento has individual climate control. We were both able to set the temperature for what we needed to stay comfortable on our trip. We didn’t need to use them since we were in hot weather but the front seats were heated! I know this would come in handy in the cold St. Louis winters.
The Kia Sorento also has the LATCH anchors so we were able to easily install his carseat. We installed it in the middle of the second row, but if you don’t have any carseats there is a center console for storage and cup holders. Hayden loved all of the room that he had in the second row for him. Whenever we take a road trip I always put a few bags in the bag for him full of toys, books and snacks. I was able to easily reach back and give him whatever we needed while on the road!
I absolutely loved spending over 50 hours in the Kia Sorento in one week. The front row featured comfortable leather seats with plenty of legroom. I was even able to keep a few bags with me up there to easily reach snacks and books.
Here are a few other things we loved about the Kia Sorento:
– Smooth Ride: We loved how smooth it drove! My Saturn Vue is very bumpy but the Kia Sorento was a joy to drive. Thankfully we had cruise control because there were a few times I was going almost 70 and had no idea.
– Safety: Another thing I loved about the Kia Sorento was how safe it is. There’s an advanced airbag system with a total of six airbags. In addition to the LATCH system I mentioned earlier for car seats, there are also front and rear 3-point seat belts to keep you secure in case of a collision.
– Keyless Entry System: I thought this was pretty cool. The Kia Sorento features a keyless entry system. There is NO key, the car just starts at the push of a button! There is a sensor that you can either put on your key ring or carry it in your pocket or purse. It took me awhile to get used to, but after a few days I loved not having to dig around my purse for keys.
The Kia Sorento starts at $23,150 for the base model and averages 22 city and 32 Highway MPG. Since we were primarily on the highway, we felt we got good gas mileage. Make sure to look into the Kia Sorento if you’re in the market for a new family vehicle!
Disclosure: I received the Kia Sorento to test drive for our road trip. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hanan says
Having a DVD player in the car is seriously genius!!
Alicia says
That looks like such a great car! I have some friends who recently purchased a KIA SUV and now I know I need to take a closer look at this brand! Hope you had a wonderful time in Florida! What a trip!
LeeAnn says
Now that’s road-tripping in style! I love the Kia Sorento! I test drove one last year and was surprised at how much I liked it. I always thought of Kias as being “cheap” but that car is anything but. They are really nice!
Tesa @ 2 Wired 2 Tired says
What a great car! We are in the market for a new vehicle and we’ll have to check this one out. It looks perfect for families!
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
That is GORGEOUS!! Man I wish I didn’t have 3 in car seats, or I’d totally be all over this!
TidyMom says
We haven’t gone to look at these in person yet, but the Kia Sorrento is top on my list for a new car for me. Our youngest turns 16 in July and we are giving her my 2007 Liberty and Momma gets the new car!!!
Great review Mellisa, I can’t wait to go test one out!
Nichol says
I was looking at a little older style Kia Sorento. I love them. Dual controls for temps is a must for my husband and I ( I am always freezing!) This sounds like a wonderful family ride:)
Carrie with Children says
This looks like a great family car! Dual temperature controls are important to me too – I’m always cold! 🙂 The key sensor is a great feature, took me a while to get used to it too.
1stopmom says
Wow, a car with no key. That definitely is a plus.