Last weekend when I had the chance to drive the 2014 Kia Sorento SX AWD and the sun decided to shine, we took the car on a last minute family camping trip. This meant two adults, two kids, more camping stuff than you can shake a stick at, and a drive of several hours into the mountains.
You’d think packing for a weekend trip would be an easy thing. It’s not. The only thing you need to pack less of than on an extended trip is food, so space is always at a premium. This includes space for the kids, who suddenly seem to be in each other’s faces the minute I back out of the driveway.
The 2014 Kia Sorento comes with an optional third row for $1,200 and it might be the best money you’ll ever spend. Although access to that back row is best reserved for little people who can navigate a somewhat narrow entry space, it’s a comfortable ride once you’re back there and even has its own A/C.
The 40/20/40 2nd row and 50/50 third row made it easy to give each kid her own space while still packing the car full of stuff. Tents, chairs, and sleeping bags not only fit, but I could still use my rear view mirror to see over the top of it all. I could have packed more for the first time ever.
The 2014 Kia Sorento SX AWD comes with a 3.3-litre gas direct injection V6 with 290 hp so it’s no slouch. All packed up, it still easily managed the NH White Mountains so I could pass slow vehicles without the engine sounding or feeling strained.
The car also managed 23.8 mpg which was a happy surprise. It’s rated 18 city and 24 hwy so I’d fully expected to be closer to that 18 given the steep grades I navigated most of the weekend.
Pricing on the 2014 Kia Sorento runs from $24,100 to $40,100 with the SX AWD model I drove coming in closer to the top end of the range. Given the vehicle’s comfort, versatility and functionality it’s worth every penny.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
