I have been given compensation for this post by Kia Motors. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I’m overwhelmingly practical when it comes to looking at and shopping for cars. Sure, a pretty car is going to turn my head as much as the next girl, but what I’m really looking at the features and the cost. Give me what I need at a price I can afford and I’m a happy girl. This is one of the reasons why it’s so fun to visit an auto show. I can indulge that tiny part of my nature that’s completely impractical by sitting in ridiculously fancy cars, and at the same time I can check out what’s actually in my budget. When Kia invited me to the Charlotte Auto Show this weekend, I jumped at the chance to head back to the Queen City! Marissa, my friend and Charlotte local who I haven’t seen in far too long, came along for the ride.
While I loved checking out all of the practical details like trunk space and MPGs, I’m still impractical enough to let the Kia Stinger turn my head. And yes, that is indeed a giant inflatable bug behind the Stinger from a pest control vendor at the show. (Which seems more than a little appropriate when pictured in the background of a car named Stinger…)
Sadly, the Stinger wasn’t an available option for the Kia Ride and Drive experience. Luckily the Kia Sportage, my second choice, was. We both fell in love with the Sportage when we sat in it on the floor and noticed the sticker saying it was equipped with ventilated seats. Ventilated seats? I live in the south. Heated seats are a luxury. Ventilated seats seem practically mandatory. Why doesn’t everyone have ventilated seats?
After we finished up on the auto show floor, we visited the Kia Ride and Drive booth and asked to take the Sportage for a spin. We were each handed a tablet and filled out a digital form. We also showed our IDs and got a wristband to wear. Then a representative from Kia took us outside and walked us around the Sportage, telling us about all of the important features.
Of course, the proof is in the drive. Marissa and I both had the chance to sit behind the wheel. That means first-hand experience with the 2.0L Turbo engine, the great handling and the built-in safety features like blind-spot detection. Of course proving that maybe I’m not as boringly practical as I thought, I completely fell in love with the gorgeous panoramic sunroof. Between that and my obsession with the ventilated seats, I’m not sure who I am anymore! Luckily the Sportage has everything I need to totally fulfill all of my practical needs, too.