My Newest Love... (2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review)

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
Photo Credit: Samuel W.
No, you're not seeing things.

This is not a test of the emergency broadcast system.

I am reviewing a car.

Why am I reviewing a car? Let's start with a strong dose of good ol'e fashioned honesty here. Because I wanted to. There's a really cool program called Drive Shop that partners with bloggers and social media influencers such as myself. What Drive Shop does is bridge the gap between car manufacturers and influencers by providing us with vehicles that fit our lifestyles that we can then turn around and share on our blogs and social media platforms.

Pretty awesome, huh? Now you see one of the reasons why I wanted to do participate in the Drive Shop program and do a review. The second reason? My car is pretty old (hey 2010), and technology develops at a rapid pace. I wanted to be up on all the latest features, so that when I'm ready to get rid of Abigail (don't judge my car's name lol), I know what's out there and what to look for. Lastly, I wanted to get my feet wet with an SUV. Because I'm a pretty active gal now (heyyyy #EveryDayFitness), I feel like the Sport Utility Vehicle is my spirit animal. I wanted to test that theory out, and Drive Shop came through and blessed ya girl with a 2016 Kia Sorento SXL. Now that you know the why, let's get on with this review. Because I'm all about format and order, I'm going to use my very familiar review/breakdown structure here, too.

Let's dive in!

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
Photo Credit: Samuel W.
Cost
The 2016 Kia Sorento SXL retails for about $48K, with the specific package I had. WELL worth it!

Where to Buy
Click here to find a Kia Motors dealership near you!

Active Ingredients
Clearly, I'm going to use this section to talk about ALL the wonderful features and specs of the 2016 Sorento SXL that made me fall in love!

  • V6 engine
  • 4WD
  • Eco and Sport mode options
  • Push to start 
  • Keyless entry with FOB/Smart Key
  • Leather seats with temperature control
  • Tinted Window
  • Touch screen in-dash audio system with bluetooth, navigation, and more
  • Moon roof
  • Backup and parking camera with sensors
  • Optional third row seating
  • Lane departure and vehicle proximity alerts
  • TONS of room!
There are other features and specs that I can't remember, but these are the ones that I used and loved the most.


The Good
When I say I feel in love with the 2016 Sorento SXL, I'm not exaggerating. I was legit sad when I had to give it back. I know I don't talk a lot about my day-to-day, but here's few things you should know about me when it comes to driving:

  • I live in LA (hello, atrocious traffic)
  • I'm a point A to point B maximum efficiency driver (to some people, this translates into a-hole...but I really can't stand driving behind people that don't know what they're doing or where they're going
  • I'm very active - in a given week, Samuel and I will visit the gym several times, hit the beach, and the golf course, go play tennis, or bowling. Sometimes this happens all in one weekend.
All of these things made the Sorento perfect for me. Because I was riding in such extreme comfort, I didn't mind the traffic. Thanks to the Bluetooth stereo, I was able to listen to What a Time to Be Alive as much as I wanted to from Spotify. The sound system in the Sorento? Super legit. Even Samuel, who is an audio/sound nerd, was impressed. It was also awesome to not have to worry about scrambling to find a headset to take or make phone calls. I did it all from the dash!

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
My 2 Co-Pilots: iPhone and Pre-Workout!
Thanks to the V6 engine, my driving efficiency was on fleek! My car is a V4 (although it feels like a V1.5 sometimes lol), so having all of this power under the hood was amazing! It was such a smooth ride (even at faster speeds), I had to look down at the odometer occasionally to make sure I wasn't breaking any laws that would land me in jail. 

That third row of seating was a major key! I was able to fit tonsssssss of stuff in the back of the car - groceries, golf clubs, gym bags, and more, easily. There was no shuffling around and trying to find space in the back of the Sorento! Heck, I even sat back there just to see how comfortable and roomy it was. You can definitely have a picnic lunch or sleepover in the back of the Sorento - that's how big it is!

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
Photo Credit: Samuel W.
As far as the safety features are concerned, I found them super helpful. In LA, there are a bajillion accidents on the road at any given time. Thanks to the lane departure technology, I received an alert every time I started moving from a lane without signaling - it's a great feature if you're having trouble seeing the road ahead. I also got notifications about the proximity of other cars, when trying to reverse or lane change. Safety precautions are definitely on my must-have list!

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
That panoramic view...
My two most favorite features? Moon roof and heated seats. The Sorento spoiled me. For my next car, heated seats and a moon roof are non-negotiable. I loved the crisp air above me, while having my butt nice and toasty. Samuel thought I was a weirdo, because every time he got in the car, my seat warmer was on. There's also a seat cooling option, but who wants a cold butt? Maybe me in Summer (lol).

 Another amazing benefit of having a moon roof? Built-in diffuser! You guys know I'm a wash and go gal, and being able to have my curls dry while I'm driving was sooo dope! In my car, I turn the heater all the way up, and put my windows down. It gets the job done, but sometimes I end up burning my eyeballs (lol). In the Sorento, I didn't have to do all that. I just opened the moon roof, put my butt warming seat on, and drove off. No burnt eyeballs, just glorious curls. I'd kindly appreciate it if you took this opportunity to not judge me. 

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
Photo Credit: Samuel W.
The Bad

The only bad thing about the 2016 Kia Sorento SXL? I had to give it back. I was hoping Drive Shop would be like hey Christina, you're so awesome..keep the Sorento as a gift.

But they didn't say that. Lol.

Seriously though, I'm in love with everything about the Sorento. I've got nothing bad to report!

The Bottom Line
The 2016 Kia Sorento SXL really opened my eyes to technology and offerings in new vehicles. My poor little 2010 car is so out of date, but I'm grateful to know now what I like, what I love, and what I'm looking for in my next car purchase. The 2016 Sorento SXL is perfect for active couples on the go and families. It's big, while being sporty, sleek, and cool. The features are top of the line, and the safety measures can't be beat.

2016 Kia Sorento SXL Review
Photo Credit: Samuel W.
Would I Buy it Again?
I didn't buy this one, but I would absolutely go for a Sorento as my next vehicle. I just have one request: black it out! Black paint, tinted windows, black rims, black leather interior...yasssss!

Thank you guys for checking out my review of the 2016 Sorento SXL! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

A special shout out to my rockstar boyfriend Samuel for being my official Drive Shop photographer! XOXO

And thank you again to Drive Shop for allowing me to be part of such an amazing program!

46 Comments

  1. I died at "burnt eyeballs" LOL! This was an awesome review! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! Thank you! It's a struggle for real. But my hair ain't dripping wet when I reach my destination...so I guess the trade off is worth it LMAO!

      Delete
  2. Girl! I love this review. I did a car rental thing via Toyota of Downtown LA cause I am looking to get a Venza. Isn't it the worst when you have to return the car? And after getting used to G riding in it? haha I had a training session a couple of years ago in San Diego and had a Kia Sportage as a rental. It was nice!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh it's the WORST! I was like...can I just have it? Pretty please? I'll blog about it every week if you let me have it. LOL!

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  3. I would definitely want a cold butt in the summer, with leather seats. Awesome review! Now let me go cry in my 2011 Chevrolet Aveo -lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Lol...as I wipe my tears away in my 2010 Altima... sigh... #timeforanewcar

      Delete
  4. To gets the activity achieved, however occasionally I become burning my eyeballs. in the Sorento, I didn't need to do all that. I'm working in OOH Advertisement ERP just opened the moon roof, placed my butt warming seat on, and drove off. No burnt eyeballs, just superb curls. i'd kindly recognize it in case you took this possibility to no longer decide me.

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