Our Secret Mission: 2014 Kia Sorento SX

Disclosure: We partnered with Kia.  All thoughts are my own.

I recently blogged about us needing a bigger SUV and eyeing the Kia Sorento after hearing rave reviews from friends.  It has been an ongoing conversation on Twitter for the past year with Kia owners Melissa and Melissa.  But shopping for a car is not easy when you have a budget it's completely dreadful!  It's right up there with looking for a preschool and looking for a home.  When the opportunity came up to test drive a Kia Sorento for a week while we were in Orlando, FL for Family Forward - I was all over it.  The kids though, they are an even tougher sell.  I decided to make it fun for all of us and coined our test drive a "secret mission"!!!  

Orlando International Airport is unique because it is attached to the Hyatt Regency.  Yeah, try hearing that and then seeing it for yourself.  First part of our mission was to retrieve our Kia from Hyatt Valet.  I gave them the claim ticket number that was texted to me and we waited for the valet to pull up.  I wish I got video of the kids faces when they saw the shiny 2014 Kia Sorento that was ours for the week.  It looked perfect for us with it's chrome wheels!  I might have heard "swag" a few times from the teenagers.

We had 2 suitcases, 2 duffle bags, a stroller and 4 backpacks - and it all fit.  Now the real mission was figuring out how to work an extremely tech savvy vehicle since our truck is a 2006.  We were all seated, I was checking out the console - Chris was trying to figure out how to start the Sorento and Ty yells from the back that he has to push the Engine Start button.  It was really quite hilarious.  After about 10 minutes and the help from the valet, we were on our way!  We all appreciated that the ac worked it's magic in Florida heat and humidity.  Even at 7pm, it was ugly outside.  We just wanted to get to the hotel, unload and pick up some dinner.  It was a smooth, smooth ride.  I personally loved the navigation system with 8" display.

I asked my husband Chris what his favorites were and he says:  The Kia Sorento SX drove real smooth.  I appreciated blind spot detection when we were on a freeway that I'm not used to.  The teens sat in the 2nd row with the baby and found built-in window shades that really won us over.  They also enjoyed the panoramic roof and SIRIUS/XM radio!  Other noteworthy features:  cooling front seats, UVO with rear camera display and power liftgate.

Teenager approved!  Our 16 year old Ty got his license earlier in the month and was impressed!

There's that Engine Start Stop button - How spiffy is that!

Keep your smart key in the center console or in your purse or pocket!

This has to be my favorite feature - the console is full of goodness.

How about we go to Miami!

Our schedule was really packed with things at the Universal Orlando Resort but we did get around to shop and feed ourselves!

We are leaving with more bags than we arrived with and they all fit too!

One happy husband - he really enjoyed the Kia Sorento!  (After looking at all these pictures, I noticed Duke and Damien missing and every time it was go time, they jumped in the car oohing and ahhing over it!)

Secret Mission COMPLETE.  Family APPROVED.  

Thanks DriveSTI for facilitating this review!