There is nothing worse than owning a vehicle and being bored driving it.
You should look forward to driving your vehicle every day, and if there are a few of you going for lunch with the girls, or if you are taking some of your buddies to a hockey game or a bit of bowling, you should like your vehicle enough to be the one to stand up and say, I'll drive.
After all it is no fun getting into someone's vehicle and having to move the kid's half-eaten bologna sandwich off the seat just so you can sit down. Then you my have to avoid all the clothes, shoes, bags, and garbage that some people have a habit of leaving in their vehicles. On the other hand, you may have to enter a vehicle that has lumes of blue or black smoke spewing out the back, maybe a touch entering the cabin, and you have to watch where you put your feet in case they g through the rust hole in the floor. You have to sit down as softly as you can in the seats as to do otherwise would cause a plume of dust to rise up and choke everyone in the vehicle. Not only that but the noise from the vehicle drowns out any semblance of conversation taking place.
It can be embarrassing.
You need to be the one with the new, clean vehicle with all the options and plenty of space to take your friends to wherever it is you are going.
So it was this week that I test drove the KIA Sorento for the third time this year. There was no garage in the back seats, no half-eaten bologna sandwich or clothes strewn about and everything was brand new. OK, maybe this is because it is a new vehicle, but first appearances are what count, right.
But the point is, even though this is the third time have test driven the Sorento, I wasn't bored. I wanted to drive it. It is a good looking SUV, it has plenty of space, lots of options, good power and is fun to drive. In other words you won't get bored driving it even if you are just going to the end of the driveway to get away from the kids.
he Sorento looks a bit more aggressive with its big front fascia and 18-inch rims, but the interior doesn't seem aggressive until you hammer the gas. One you do, all 276 horsepower come to life and the Sorento will have you hurtling along the highway in no time at all.
KIA have been steadily working on their transmissions over the last few years and the changes have all been for the better. Gear changes are smooth and the manumatic six-speed transmission allows the driver to choose the perfect gear for the driving scenario, and for me is much better than an automatic for a bit of spirited driving and cornering.
This Sorento, the SX V6 came with three rows off seats, all of which are surrounded by air bags. The third row folds flat into the floor into he back making for a huge amount of storage space. There is also some storage space under the floor.
If you are a back seat passenger the reclining seats will be welcome on long trips and the fold-down centre armrest adds to the comfort quotient.
Above the head is a power moonroof for the front sat passengers, wile those in the rear get a skylight that is bigger than the moonroof up front. This can make for a very bright cabin allowing you to make the best of a dull day.
The seating is covered in perforated leather and the heated seats and dual-zone climate control will help keep the cabin at the perfect temperature.
There is Bluetooth hands-free phone on the steering wheel as well as controls for the entertainment system.
With this Sorento you get USB and AUX inputs, navigation system and satellite radio.
There is also a mute button on the steering wheel which comes in very handy for when Alanis Morissette comes on the radio slapping her chops moaning about some other ex-boyfriend. When this happens you will be able to shut her up with one push of your middle finger.
The Sorento is a nice vehicle with good power and the ability to keep you from getting bored, which is a really good thing when you are driving something that weight several tons.
KIA Sorento
5-door SUV
6-speed manumatic
3.5 litre V6
Horsepower 276 @ 3,600
Torque 248 @ 5,000
Mileage: 11.1 l/100 km 25 mpg City 8 l/100km 36 mpg Hwy
Price $42,895
