I have a confession to make. When I found out I was going to be driving a big SUV I totally freaked out and whined like a baby about how terrified I was of this type of car.
Not my finest hour, I know, but given I’ve been whizzing about in a pint sized Nissan hatchback for the last few years it’s not surprising I was a wee bit daunted by the size of the Kia Sorento.
That all changed when I hopped (or rather climbed!) behind the wheel and I was quickly converted to the idea of a car this size.
The Car: The Kia Sorento is a pretty standard mid-sized SUV with all the features you’d expect of a car in this category. I loved the wide array of little compartments and drawers, from the sunglass holder to the large central console with cup holders big enough to take a water bottle.
The Bells & Whistles: My favourite feature of this car was definitely the seat warmers! I don’t know how I’m going to cope in my car now that I’ve discovered the joy of having a toasty warm behind. In fact I pretty much loved the whole heating system of this vehicle from the external thermostat which let me know how freezing it was outside through to the dual control air conditioning system that lets each front seat passenger select their own temperature… great for my fiancé who always complains when I crank the heater as high as it goes.
Parking: This car was surprisingly nimble to manoeuvre, although I have to admit I was too much of a wimp to attempt parallel parking. However, getting it in and out of angled parks was stress free and it was easy to negotiate out of tight parking lots. It took me a while to get used to the reduced rear view vision, but I really appreciated the sensor on the back of the car that beeps when you get too close to something while reversing… it saved me from hitting the low trees that line my driveaway a number of times!
Driving: I couldn’t get over how comfortable the Sorento was to drive. It accelerates away much quicker and smoother than you would expect for its size and cruises along nicely. In fact I enjoyed driving it so much I happily went on long distance journeys just so I could make the most of it. Which brings me to gas side of things. I was convinced this vehicle would be a major gas guzzler, but I was definitely proved wrong on that front. Running on diesel, when I returned the vehicle it still had over half a tank left despite almost a week’s worth of solid driving, which included a number of long trips all over Auckland.
Space: There’s no issue with space in this beast. There is plenty of leg room in the front and back seats, not to mention a good sized boot. While for your average, childless couple there is an overkill of room, if you have a hobby or sporting passion that involves carting a lot of gear about the place (does a shopping addiction count?) this is the perfect vehicle.
The Downsides: Despite the sensors, I still felt a bit uncomfortable about the lack of rear vision and I can see why so many children get hit by 4WDs. But being so high definitely makes driving a lot easier and it's great having that more encompassing view from the driver's seat. The Price: $55,300 drive away.
The Verdict… While lifestyle wise I couldn’t justify buying this car at the moment I would definitely consider an SUV in the future, which is a pretty big change of heart considering how strongly I used to feel against this sort of vehicle. If you want a well priced, comfortable car then look no further than the Kia Sorento.
be driving a big SUV I totally freaked out and whined like a baby about how terrified I was of this type of car.
The Bells & Whistles: My favourite feature of this car was definitely the seat warmers! I don’t know how I’m going to cope in my car now that I’ve discovered the joy of having a toasty warm behind. In fact I pretty much loved the whole heating system of this vehicle from the external thermostat which let me know how freezing it was outside through to the dual control air conditioning system that lets each front seat passenger select their own temperature… great for my fiancé who always complains when I crank the heater as high as it goes.
the Sorento was to drive. It accelerates away much quicker and smoother than you would expect for its size and cruises along nicely. In fact I enjoyed driving it so much I happily went on long distance journeys just so I could make the most of it. Which brings me to gas side of things. I was convinced this vehicle would be a major gas guzzler, but I was definitely proved wrong on that front. Running on diesel, when I returned the vehicle it still had over half a tank left despite almost a week’s worth of solid driving, which included a number of long trips all over Auckland.