My husband and I usually stick with one car for a long time, but our habits changed slightly when we bought a secondhand Honda Civic about eighteen months ago. We didn’t think about our growing family back then, so we started looking at more spacious SUVs as an upgrade from our 2-door car.
SUVs can be pricey, and it’s common to find them loaded with extra features that dealerships consider necessary, making basic models almost impossible to get. After some searching, we decided on a 2013 Kia Sorento because it’s newer and less likely to have the electrical issues that older SUVs (pre-2008) often have. Consumer Reports noted that many SUVs have been redesigned recently, which also influenced our decision.
We’re really happy with our choice. The 2013 Kia Sorento came with many great “standard” features like a backup camera, Bluetooth connectivity, seat warmers, and odor and water-resistant seating. These features usually make SUVs much more expensive.
Another great thing about Kia is their extensive warranty. We opted for an additional 100,000-mile warranty, fitting our goal of keeping the car for a long time. The Kia Sorento drives smoothly and comfortably, much like a car, and has impressive fuel economy, averaging 23-24 miles per gallon for both city and highway driving. It even tracks your fuel efficiency and alerts you when you’re in an optimal fuel-saving mode.
If you’re in the market for an SUV this year, I highly recommend the Kia Sorento. It offers excellent value with high-end features and cost-saving benefits that surpass many other SUVs.
We also considered the 2013 Honda CR-V, which has strong connectivity features and a solid set of amenities. However, to get luxuries like a navigation system or satellite radio, you need to go for the much pricier EX-L model. This top-tier version includes premium interior upgrades, leather seats, a ten-way driver’s seat, heated front seats, automatic climate control, heated mirrors, and a high-powered audio system with a subwoofer.