The Kia Sorento 2013

We’re shopping around for a family car, an SUV this time around at my husband’s insistence. I’ve never driven anything but a sedan and was frankly quite scared to drive a larger car, especially after a few test drives in wich I couldn’t see the curb to park, back up, etc. I pictured myself hitting a car, or worse, a kid playing behind my car.

We recently test drove a Kia Sorento for a week, a titanium silver and black Kia Sorento with a back-up video, heated seats, and a slew of other features that surprised me because 1. I never thought of Kia when I shopped around for a new car, and 2. I never thought I’d like an SUV.

By great luck, we received the Sorento during the week of Storm Sandy, because driving around in bad weather is scary in anything but an SUV. I wouldn’t take my sedan out amidst fallen trees or questionable roads. I loved being high up and seeing the road better. I loved the navigation. I loved not bending over and hurting my back to put my sons in their car seats. I really loved the heated seats.

(returning the Sorento after experiencing heated seats was depressing)

Features of the 2013 Kia Sorento That I LOVED (in addition to all your basics)

• Great family size, manageable for me to drive (and not scary) but it still has lots of seat and storage space for a family with kids
• Rear camera display, so I can make sure there are no cars (or kids) behind me when I drive in reverse
• Heated leather seats for driver and passenger and air-cooled driver seat (from little air holes in the seat)(I will never buy a vehicle again that doesn’t have this)
• Push power start button- so weird, I never tried this before, but it’s awesome- you don’t have to hunt for your key, as long as it’s on you, the car senses it
• Dual zone climate control (specifically, offers air conditioning for passengers in the back that is independent of what the front seat has)
• Third row seats that split and fold, and second row seats that split/fold/recline
• Infotainment system with navigation, Sirius option, USB and input jacks, phone, and more- when someone would call me, the system’s wifi sensed it and would ask me if I wanted to answer via the car or my phone
• Memory driver’s seat and mirrors for two drivers, so you just press a button and it adjust your seat and mirrors to your favorite positions
• Panoramic sunroof

The 2013 Kia Sorento is a great family vehicle. We felt safe, comfortable, it’s gorgeous and offers luxury features, and I wasn’t scared to drive it. I told my husband that if he insists I get an SUV, this is the one I’d want to get. I was just so happy driving it and felt that someone who was used to driving smaller cars could easily adjust to the Kia Sorento without any problems.

The only thing we would change about it? We’d love a power lift gate in the back. I never had this in a car before, but as a mom with her arms full all the time, my husband said this would have been a great feature for those days when I’m overwhelmed and carrying a tot and bags at the same time. Otherwise, between the storage space, the comfortable heated seats, the infotainment system, and the overall look, I utterly love the Kia Sorento.

This Kia Sorento usually retails for about $35,875. We reviewed a press fleet vehicle, all opinions are 100% our own.