Dogmobiles: Road-testing the Kia Sorento
By Gina Spadafori
January 14, 2007
Unless you write about cars or are a total gear-head, you don’t get the opportunity to keep up with trends in automobiles. I figure I’m pretty much the norm in that before I started reviewing “dogmobiles” I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on, aside from noticing an especially good-looking new model as it swept by me.
Which is why I’ve been pretty surprised at how much has changed since I last bought a car, almost a decade ago. Safety, in particular, has come a long, long way, and so has the idea of what’s “basic” in features, now including such luxuries as electric windows in most models. Then there’s change in which manufacturers are coming up with high quality. When I was last in the market, Korean cars didn’t have that good a reputation and people who bought them were pretty much those who were lured by hyper-competitive pricing.
The pricing on these vehicles is still very competitive, but everything else has changed.
These last few days I’ve been driving the Kia Sorento, the all-bling 4WD model — yes, heated seats! — priced at a very sweet $30K (basic models start at a little less than $21K). And I’ll tell you, it’s equipped and drives like vehicles priced thousands of dollars higher. Rides smooth, feels solid and very quiet indeed. Nice looking, too, and a pleasure to drive.
So … how does it stack up as a dogmobile?
Although it’s a classified as a mid-sized SUV (the Sportage is Kia’s “cute ute”), the Sorento suffers from the same swoopy-line disease that minimizes the usefulness of what otherwise is a roomy cargo area. To fit crates in, you’d have to build a platform over the wheelwells, and when you do that, you won’t have enough headroom to fit. Nothing new here, since most SUVs suffer from the same problem. I guess we’ll just have to wait until styles trend towards the boxy again to have our cargo space made useful.
The seats fold flat, but not effortlessly. You have to pull off the headrests, lift the seat bottoms forward and then fold the seatbacks into place. (Lifting the seat bottoms always makes me think of airplane travel, by the way, but I’m guessing that’s just the crazy way my mind works, always leaping toward worst-case scenarios and water landings.)
The Sorento does have one of my absolutely most favorite dog-friendly features: A rear hatch with top glass that flips up to provide ventilation when the engine’s off. It’s also an easy way to put groceries in the back — flip up the glass, put in the bags and slide the cargo cover into place to hide it all.
Cupholders are dog-conveniently placed in the middle between the seats, but at least not any of the window controls are. McKenzie can try to sneak a sip of latte without changing gears or opening a window, and for that, I’m grateful.
For a mid-sized SUV, the fuel economy is good (17/22).
If it weren’t for the problem with crates, the Sorrento would be at the very top of my list, combining comfort and value for people and most of what I look for in a dogmobile. All things considered, I’d venture that if you are a two-dog-crate family as mine is, it might be worth it to shift to one crate and seats restraints for your four-legged family. The Sorento truly is nice enough to consider compromise.
So are you going to review the Honda Element?
They are quite the hit with the dog folks we know. Not a luxury car by any means, but very affordable - great MPG - and without the seats in the rear, they have magnificent cargo space.
We got one for our aging Great Danes - no more jumping into the back of our Ford Explorer - they can now simply step into the cargo area from the side door entry.
Just wondering if these will be featured?
Comment by kasie — January 21, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
Oh - duh! Sorry Gina. I just saw your Element entry - should have looked closer at the blog first.
Comment by kasie — January 21, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
The Element is one of my all-time favorite dogmobiles!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — January 22, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Great review and very helpful. As an owner of a Kia Sorrento and only 2 weeks before getting a puppy (our first one), we have been surfing the internet to find a dog crate that will fit. You have just confirmed my fears. I guess I’ll have to make do with a rear dog guard and risk my belongings being chewed! The Sorrento is a great car - I won’t consider swaping just to fit a car crate.
Comment by Wendy M — February 24, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Gina, are you going to test the Toyota Sienna? Or did I miss it? My wife is interested in down sizing to that model. She always has a large crate, or two with her in the full sized Dodge RAM Van.(she raises Irish Water Spaniels). At times we will need room for two passengers as well as us with out having to shuffle crates in and out every time. I don’t belong to this web site, please reply to my e-mail and I will look for the Sienna article.
Thanks Ed & Judy
Comment by Edwin Goonyep — April 1, 2007 @ 10:53 am
The Sienna is on my list of upcoming. Looking forward to it! So far, most of what I’ve been sent to test-drive have been SUVs. I’m looking forward to driving more minivans this year.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 1, 2007 @ 11:12 am
I found the neatest dog restraint….it’s like a small bungee cord that goes around a fastened seatbelt. I believe it’s called a Snap-Back. If anyone is interested, I’ll go digging & find the website for you.
My dog likes to go from window to window in the backseat. This restraint is adjustable so I let it out a little so she has room to get to both windows. It’s still a restraint so she can’t get in the front seat or go anywhere else. Plus, if I ever had to slam on the brakes, she wouldn’t go flying out the windshield or hit the dashboard.
I have the harness type which I use if I’m going on a longer trip but she can’t move around nor can she lie down comfortably. I found this one & love it because she can sit, lie down or look out the windows.
Comment by JanC — June 30, 2007 @ 7:29 am
What do you think of the Scion XB? The 2006 gets 30 mpg in town. I’m wondering if the fold down seats are practical for a golden retriever/
Comment by bob connelly — August 12, 2007 @ 9:24 am
I haven’t driven the xB yet, but it’ll be coming soon.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 12, 2007 @ 11:29 am