Kia Sportage EX Review — Mom vs Dad Perspective

Kia Sportage EX Review

It’s amazing what one person sees and wants vs another. Whether you are looking for a home, shopping for decor or… buying a car.

Bob and I pretty much agree on most things but when it comes to buying cars —- well, we have NEVER agreed on which brand, when and why. {THAT is a whole article on itself.}

Now to the problem we are facing. We are a family of 4 with 4 drivers and 2 cars — talk about math that doesn’t work! Especially since I am also a Las Vegas real estate agent and have to schedule my clients around when my kids get out of school. {Which varies from day to day for each kid.}

Buying a new car has been on our radar for a while. Bob’s SUV is at 150,000 miles {or more – I stopped looking trying to avoid reality}. Spencer is a senior in high school who is graduating in June and needs a car for college. And, Alex will be a senior with her own schedule next year. {Who said having kids so close together was a good idea?!}

We have several options to consider:

1. Buy Bob a car and let the kids have his. This will work until the end of summer until Spencer goes to college. More costly as I know what he wants… vroom vroom
2. Buy the kids a car and Bob keeps his car that really needs to be replaced. Again, this will work until the end of summer until Spencer goes to college
3. Win the lottery and buy everyone a new car. Yea baby!

Number 3 won’t happen so we need to look at options 1 and 2. Both are going to cost us money but we need to look at which won’t cost us the most right now and what is the best choice for everyone in the family. Ideally, I would love to help Spencer finance his first car to help him establish credit, responsibility, etc. This would be a band-aid solution for the family but at least it will work for a while.

Since I am the “practical one” in the family I am always concerned with price and value. Not to say safety is not a factor because it is but I always tend to look at the money part of the equation first.

When I was offered the chance to review a Kia Sportage I immediately jumped. This car was on “hit list” of suggested cars from my insurance agent as one that is recommended overall AND because it has a good monthly insurance rate. {Again, the money factor.} Other reasons I added the Kia Sportage into the running for consideration:

1. Price vs. long term value
2. Upkeep cost
3. Warranty =  5 year / 60,000 mile basic warranty and a 10 year / 100,000 mile warranty on the drive train.
4. Gas mileage {although I was hoping for a little better MPG, it’s not too bad for what you get in the car}
5. Comfort

As soon as the car arrived at the house I immediately asked my 6’1″ son to jump in the back seat and sit behind the wheel. He fit and he said he was comfortable in both areas. YEA!

This would be a great car for him not only because he can fit in it comfortably, all of this athletic gear will too. Add a bike rack on the back and he is good to go for about …. mmm…. 10 years or so!

One thing I LOVE about my car is that it has a kick butt sound system. Nothing like cranking up a little Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Godsmack, Pantera, etc. — you get it? I want it loud with a good sound! Spencer immediately started playing with the audio settings and then mom and son kicked back and enjoyed some mutually loved songs. Verdict: AWESOME sound system!

When I bought my car I didn’t have the option to get a navigation system in mine so I use the portable GPS. I know that technology has surpassed my car but DANG! The navigation system in the Kia Sportage EX is freaking awesome! For those who know me and my ability to get lost anywhere… I think I found a solution.

Throughout the week I drove the car to the store, with the kids to run errands {even though they normally never go I wanted them to be Guinea pigs}, had Bob drive it with us as I really wanted to get a feel for the car. The more I drove the Sportage, the more I liked everything about it. This car met everything I am looking for and had a few bonus items that I was not expecting. {Like the sound and navigation system.}

With the base model pricing starting at $19,000 this would be a comfortable payment for most families. After driving the EX version, I would consider that one for a car I would want to keep long term as the extras will keep you happy much longer.

A few items that made the Kia Sportage not work for a PRIMARY car for our family:

1. I do not like that I had to lean down to open the trunk {it’s the little things and since I am UBER tall and lazy I didn’t like having to bend down especially if I was holding something to put in the back}
2. With Karma our 140 lb Tibetan Mastiff and Jack our 100 lb Chow / Lab, our babies would not comfortably fit in the back for trips to the mountain, dog park, etc.

Bottom line:

• As stated above, for a family car to replace Bob’s current car the Kia Sportage won’t work because of the dogs. But everything else is what we would want and more.
• For Spencer a first car it is perfect! With the size not being too big, good pick up, comfort, interior bell & whistles and of course the price vs long term value. This car has moved up to the top of the list for consideration.

Those are the things this mom was looking for. Now, for the “dad’s perspective” click here to read Bob’s Kia Sportage review and read how our approach and opinions differ.

Product was provided by Kia Motors in order to review the Kia Sportage –
all opinions are my own.

Kia Sportage EX Review