Thursday, July 26, 2012

Giveaway: Take a joyride of a road trip in a Kia Sorento = Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android Tablet $500 ARV {8.5; US} CLOSED

Kia Sorento

We just happen to be going on a long road trip the week I'm writing this — from Seattle to California and back. We know we'll make it to San Francisco, about a 13.5-hour drive if we play it straight down I-5. We might throw in some other cities while we're on the move, if the kids are holding up. I know we'll survive in our 5-passenger hatchback, but…a girl can dream. Wouldn't it be nice if we were taking our road trip in a Kia Sorento instead? With advanced technology, sporty styling and a spacious interior, the Kia Sorento is the crossover everyone will want to drive, no matter where the road takes you.

Before we had two kids, back when we were shopping for a replacement for our 1997 Ford Escort that had had one too many things fall apart, we figured a somewhat larger 5-passenger car was plenty of room. Right? As it turns out, not so much. We're continually feeling the squeeze. And now that we're looking at possibly adding a third child — meaning a third child car seat as well — I'm not sure if our car will be able to take us all! I've been dreaming of future upgrades in passenger space and cargo capacity, and throwing in towing abilities for good measure — and the Kia Sorento, as a midsize crossover SUV, would be ideal. At a starting price of a little over $23,000, it’s also the crossover that makes the most sense to own. Let's imagine a road trip of Now vs. the fantasy of Then, shall we?

  • Room to stretch out — Right now, we've got two car seats fitted next to each other like jigsaw pieces, and my husband has to squish alongside the baby's seat to keep him calm. When someone visits, we have only one extra passenger seat, so if the grandparents want to go along on road trip bliss, we have to rent a bigger car anyway. With the Kia Sorento, we'd have room to spare: space for seven passengers, no squishing required. The seats have remarkable head- and legroom, which will make it easy to fit anyone, from infant-seated babies to adult passengers.
  • Plenty of cargo space — We're packing our hatchback as full as we can, with casual clothes, formal clothes, cloth diapers, toys, snacks, cooler…oy. The Kia Sorento has up to 72.5 cubic feet of cargo space, convenient for transporting suitcases, equipment, even furniture. Obviously, we'd need to keep the second-row seats up for our family trip, but the third row can fold down entirely or by half. The second-row seats split 60/40, so if we have something long to store (like skis), we can thread them beside the seats and still have room for five passengers. The trunk has concealed storage, perfect for organizing what would otherwise become an avalanche of trip detritus.
  • Car camping made easy — When we road trip, we like to travel smart, and that can sometimes mean taking advantage of cheap lodging. What could be cheaper — and yet still ultra-convenient — than car-assisted camping? One thing I've sorely missed in our current car is towing capacity. I'd love to have the option to tow a trailer or pop-up camper. The Sorento offers up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, so no problem there! Given how much space there is in the rear with the seats folded down, we could even bunk some of us back there!
  • Help getting there — I was born directionally challenged. A GPS is to my spatially deficient brain what glasses are to my nearsighted eyes: redemption! One of the optional features of the Sorento is a built-in voice command navigation system. Score! It also offers a rear-camera display, just in case, um, you don't follow the GPS exactly right and need to turn around somewhere. (Not saying this has ever happened to me.)
  • Driving force — The redesigned Sorento has a unibody build that gives a smooth, car-like ride. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission or an option called Sportmatic, which offers clutch-free manual shifting (whoa! sounds like something James Bond would drive!), and a choice of three engines: 2.4L 4-cylinder, 2.4L gasoline direct injection 4-cylinder, and 3.5L V6. I'm going to assume someone knows what that all means, which is why I dutifully copied this info from the brochure. I'm more interested in the following point:
  • Comfort for every passenger — What's above are nuts and bolts. What about the details that make the ride a joyride for everyone? The Kia Sorento doesn't disappoint there, either. One of my favorite features, and again, something I so so so wish our car had, is a sunroof. But not just any sunroof: a dramatically designed, tilt-and-slide panoramic sunroof. From the pictures, it fills the car with the sky, and I WANT it. Wouldn't a pseudo-convertible be just perfect for a California adventure?

Other helpful features (some optional):

  • Cup holders for all: The better to inspire multiple pit stops, yes?
  • Heated driver's and front passenger's seats, and air-cooled driver's seat: I love the idea that driving absolutely anywhere would be cozy!
  • Push-button start: Just me or does this seem futuristic?
  • High-tech seat fabric that resists stains: All the parents here know why I'm excited about this.
  • Voice-activated Microsoft UVO Infotainment system: In-vehicle infotainment that responds to verbal commands? Now that is futuristic!
  • Home again safely — One of the things we were most concerned about when we bought our present car was its safety rating. I'm happy to report that the Kia Sorento paid close attention to safety, providing peace of mind to parents who find themselves hurtling down highways with young children. It offers:
    • Electronic Stability Control, which helps keep the Sorento on course during emergency maneuvering
    • Traction Control System, transferring power to the wheels with the most traction
    • Brake Assist System, helping you stop in time when urgent
    • Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, which adjusts the balance of brake pressure as the vehicle's weight distribution changes
    • Assistance on hills, up or down: Hill Start Assist Control (helps keep you from rolling downhill from a stop) and Downhill Brake Control (keeps your pace steady on a steep decline)
    Plus, the things we never want to think about but know we must plan for:
    • Active headrests
    • Seat-belt pretensioners
    • Dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side airbags, and side curtain airbags for both front and second-row seating positions
    • Steel-reinforced body
    • Rollover sensor
    • Tire-pressure monitoring system
    • LATCH system for child safety seats
    • 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2013 Sorento
    • NHTSA 5-Star Side-Impact Crash Rating
  • Money money money — Ah, yes, but what's the cost of all this luxuriousness? The Kia Sorento starts in at just over $23,000, making it an affordable midsize crossover option. Given the price of gas, I'm also glad to see this isn't a guzzler. It starts at an impressive 22 city/32 highway estimated fuel economy in miles per gallon, comparable to our 5-passenger car for road trip purposes. I know one of my concerns with buying an SUV or just a larger car in general was the environmental impact, so I'm glad to see Kia has taken this point seriously. The 18-gallon tank will mean fewer stops to refuel, leaving you more time on the road. I also appreciate that the Sorento is assembled in the USA, bringing jobs to our local economy.

All in all, I'd much rather be road tripping in a Kia Sorento right about now. What do you think?

Kia Sorento

BUY IT!

If your family needs a bigger car to do road trips justice, crossover to the unexpected with a Kia Sorento! Explore the possibilities at Kia.com to learn more about how the Sorento can make your road trip a joyride.

WIN IT!

By commenting on this post, you have a chance to win an Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android Tablet.

To enter: Answer this question in a comment: What is the most unexpected feature of the Sorento for you?

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion (include #KiaSweepstakesEntry in your tweet) and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post. (Click here for a pre-written Tweet.)
c) Blog about this promotion on your own blog and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

Entries from all participating blogs will be pooled for winner selection; only two entries per household. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/26/12-8/5/12, so get those entries in quickly.
Be sure to visit the Kia Sorento page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

I received compensation from Kia Motors America, Inc., but the opinions and statements are my own.

80 comments:

Mama G said...

The price. Kias always seem really expensive but this is almost affordable.

Mama G said...

I tweeted. https://twitter.com/atozgs/status/228675545058119680

John said...

The most unexpected feature of the Sorento for me was the up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. That's amazing for the size and value.

John said...

Tweeted... https://twitter.com/jdnorthwest/status/228879545573457920

Amy Anderson said...

Dual a/c! What a blessing for the hot kids riding in the back.

Curtis Lu said...

The 22 city/32 highway estimated fuel economy in miles per gallon. Not bad for an SUV.

Curtis Lu said...

https://twitter.com/curtislu/status/228883620058787840

Frugal Mom from California said...

the most unexpected feature of the Sorento is Microsoft Infotainment system
elena150980@yahoo.com

Frugal Mom from California said...

https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/229081562598219778

elena150980@yahoo.com

Linh C. said...

The built-in voice command navigation system.

Krista said...

The sunroof! That sounds spectacular..

Anonymous said...

the rear camera display!~

pokergrl8 at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

https://twitter.com/aes529/status/229301467452940288

pokergrl8 at gmail.com

StephanieC said...

the back up camera, i need one of those! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

StephanieC said...

https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/229312223594573824 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

ms-texas said...

the price is surprisingly affordable - love the GPS and the backup cam

debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

ms-texas said...

i tweeted here:

https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/229408100346642432

debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

Tabathia B said...

the heated seats and push button start
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/229433519527575552
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

won said...

I like the price and the options in engines.

won2xx at gmail dot com

won said...

http://twitter.com/won2x/status/229714568748888065

JC said...

I love great gas mileage and dual A/C
tcarolinep at gmail dot com

JC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JC said...

https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/229817501943463938

kellyr78 said...

The power-folding side-mirrors were the most unexpected feature to me. That is a feature my current car does not have, but it is so helpful for city driving.

kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

kellyr78 said...

tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/229920597751250945

kellywcuATyahooDOTcom

MCantu1019 said...

I like the back up camera.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com

Kimmie said...

I think the Hill Start Assist Control sounds really cool. I've never even heard of something like that before, but what a great idea!

Tina said...

GPS
merleandtina@yahoo.com

Tina said...

https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/230456156223574016
merleandtina@yahoo.com

Erica best said...

32 highway M.P.G is great and a huge money saver in the long run.

purple_lover_04 at msn dot com

Erica best said...

https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/230691292110258176

DeniseL said...

32mpg on highway is much preferrable to what our minivan gets and surprising for a car that size.
dmarie824 at aol dot com

DeniseL said...

Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/230739126369013760
dmarie824 at aol dot com

Grace said...

The back up camera and the price! We were thinking of getting a new car this fall and this has nowade the list.

Grace said...

I tweeted!

https://twitter.com/BecomingGrace/status/230801179230212096

luckynordberg said...

The price is amazing for everything you get!

labfpto@comcast.net

erika said...

I love the roominess of it! We have the tiniest car. With one daughter here already and hoping to expand our family, this would be wonderful!

chambanachik@gmail.com

erika said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/chambanachik/status/231135226498256896

Deb said...

I like the push button start and the back up camera. Never even thought of having a car with those functions.

Deb said...

tweeted
https://twitter.com/fairydancer35/status/231461362080026625

Anash said...

Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/anashct3/status/231607761274802176
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Anash said...

i like the mirror finish wheels, when you drive it you can be sure you will be stylin and profilin!

My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Ashley T. said...

The most unexpected feature to me is the gps system!

ajoy1332 at yahoo dot com

Ashley T. said...

https://twitter.com/ajoy1332/status/231759960822919169

ajoy1332 at yahoo dot com

Alison said...

The back up camera would be amazing!

jrsreagan said...

Best value and nice car!

Christi said...

The rollover sensor!

Christi said...

The rollover sensor!

Ashley said...

An air-cooled driver's seat sounds divine to this always sweating, breastfeeding mama :)

Thank you for the giveaway!

Ashleybgleeson (at) gmail (dot) com

Ashley said...

Tweeted!

https://twitter.com/gleesonmama/status/231855038195183616

ashleybgleeson (at) gmail (dot) com

AmyJean {Relentless Bride®} said...

The voice activated infotainment center.

Mama@frythebaby.com

Betty C said...

I think the most unexpected feature is the voice controlled Infotainment system, especially the GPS and Bluetooth connection for cell phones. It would be nice to be able to easily and legally use my cell phone while driving.

willitara [at] gmail [dot] com

Betty C said...

Tweet - https://twitter.com/willitara/status/231906885383626752

willitara [at] gmail [dot] com

sy said...

I like the power folding mirrors, it's surprisingly nice looking, and will help in parking. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
songyueyu at gmail

sy said...

tweet: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/232056432663609345
songyueyu at gmail

Unknown said...

I was surprised that there was room for 7! The voice activated Infotainment system, sounds great!
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

Unknown said...

tweet https://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/232117114406850560

Teresa Thompson said...

Voice activated and the mirrors. Wow!

marine.mom42@hotmail.com

Teresa Thompson said...

Tweeted. @Superneena1

marine.mom42@hotmail.com

Momma Jorje said...

I was surprised by the heated seats & air-cooled driver seat. Those sound like high-end luxury features, but that is definitely not a "luxury price!"

Nancy said...

I was surprised by the tire-pressure monitoring system!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Unknown said...

The towing capacity took me by surprise.. I'm starting to look into a replacement for my beloved.. if long in thd tooth.. kia sedona. I was thinking id need to switch to a truck... but maybe not. Hmmm... :)

Unknown said...

The towing capacity took me by surprise.. I'm starting to look into a replacement for my beloved.. if long in thd tooth.. kia sedona. I was thinking id need to switch to a truck... but maybe not. Hmmm... :)

Anonymous said...

the most unexpected feature to me is the ◦LATCH system for child safety seats. Would love this!

Jennifer Marie

lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

tweeted

https://twitter.com/JenniferCNP/status/232296035106553856

jennifer marie

lilnursejen at yahoo dot com

JACLYN said...

The push button start- yep futuristic!
firstrosegrrl@yahoo.com

Kerry said...

I would love the push button start with a Smart Key!
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Kerry said...

tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/233745741502369794
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

bitt said...

push button start! would be nice for cold winters or hot summers.

bittofraw@gmail.com

Gina M (crave to save) said...

The dual temperature control is a unexpected and wonderful feature, especially for those with kids.

Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Gina M (crave to save) said...

tweet--https://twitter.com/CrazyItalian0/status/234634485558292480

gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Harmony said...

Im suprised at the 3rd row seating. I never would have thought it had that much seating

Harmony said...

https://twitter.com/hburmeister/status/235110127286509568

Melinda said...

up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity is surprising

Melinda said...

tweeted:
https://twitter.com/MelindaJoy926/status/235424537485910016

Artistic Cook said...

The 3rd row seating is surprising

Artistic Cook said...

tweeted:
https://twitter.com/artisticbaker/status/235437420512948224

Unknown said...

The most unexpected feature of this vehicle is it has SMART KEY.

tianayubi at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/mrsayubi/status/235481459782205440

tianayubi at gmail dot com

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