How would you like to drive this beauty around for a week? Well fortunately for me, on the heels of test driving a 2014 Kia Sorento (read my post HERE about that), I got to review a second vehicle, the all new 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Edition. The CX-5 was the 2013 J.D. Power “Highest Ranked Vehicle Appeal among Compact CUV’s,” and it was fun to see what all the fuss was about as I drove the 2014!  How sharp is that Soul Red Metallic color? I have always loved red (I drove an Explorer for 10 years that was bright red!), and although I’m partial to black these days, I thought this SUV’s color was simply beautiful.

So how did I like this car? Well, if you’re looking for a sporty crossover (crossver = in between a car and a big SUV) with great gas mileage, safety features, and handling, the 2014 Mazda CX-5 might be just the vehicle for you.

Of course they gave me the top of the line with the tech package included, but let’s talk about some of the standard equipment that I think you’ll find noteworthy in the Grand Touring edition of the CX-5.

For starters, check out the gas mileage I got after rolling around town for a week:

This is due to their SkyActiv Gasoline Engine Technology, which they make a pretty deal about.  You can read more about how it works HERE, but all I know is that the end result was 27.5 MPG, which is actually better than what the brochure said I could expect (27 MPG). I love it when a company under promises and over delivers!  So for all you mommas toting the kids from this practice to that one, it’s something you’ll want to keep in mind.

Speaking of toting kids around, I know you’re interested in how much space the CX-5 provides.  Here’s a shot of Asher in the back seat, which you’ll notice is all leather, a standard piece of equipment in the Grand Touring package:

While there is plenty of  room for a family of 4 or possibly 5, that is definitely what the CX-5 is designed for. It’s not going to accommodate the whole soccer team, if that’s what you’re looking for.  But the head and leg room were sufficient, and with the 8-way power seating, lumbar support and heated seats, you’ll certainly be more than comfortable.

The trunk has adequate space for a couple of strollers, groceries, backpacks and more. Since a third row seating is not in mind with the CX-5, they leave more trunk space for us, which is always a plus.  On the whole, if you’re looking for lots of room and space to accommodate more than 5, I would not suggest the CX-5 for your family.  But you can move forward with confidence with your 3 children or less, knowing there will be plenty of space for all.

What about some of the other standard features in the 2014 Mazda CX-5?   Here are a couple to note:

• Blind Spot Monitoring – if someone is in your blind spot, you’re going to know about it. The blind spot indicator will light up like Christmas any time another car is there. I find this very comforting and safe.

• Rain-Sensing Wipers – IF you have the right setting, the CX-5 knows when it’s raining and will automatically “sense” to wipe away the rain. I say “if” because you’ll need to make sure the setting is right, lest you become befuddled at why they’re not turning off when you want them to.  😉

• Pandora Radio Compatibility – This was hubby’s favorite. His friend recently shared Shai Linne Radio with him and he loves that he can take it with us when we drive.  It’s an awesome feature that not many vehicles have.

• 24 Hour Roadside Service

• Bose AM/FM/CD/MP3/SAT 9 Speaker Audio System – If you’re into quality sound in your music, you’ll love this feature. I really enjoyed the black faux wood that adds to the ambiance of the sound. You really feel like you’re in a quality environment inside the CX-5.

• Push Start Engine Start – I have really come to enjoy this feature of some of the newer cars. You don’t have to have the key in the ignition. Just place your foot on the brake and push the button – as simple as that!  Plus it won’t allow you to lock your key in your car, which might be my favorite standard feature.

There are others I could mention, but you’re getting the picture.  So what about some of the goodies that come in the technology package?

• TomTom Navigation Package – You’ll notice in the pic below that the backup camera is also included, and actually comes standard in the Grand Touring. You don’t need to get the technology package to have the backup camera, but if you want the Navigation, you’ll have to splurge!

• Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System – This is one of those fun features I could get used to! Just make sure you have your key on you (in your purse or pocket) and you can just hit the button on the door and voila!, it will open. No need to dig through your purse to open up the door. Love it!

• 4-month Sirius Satellite Subscription – Funny story when we were testing out the kids channel on the Sirius Satellite Radio. Here’s a shot of what was on (song title is on the left – I know some of you will be curious to Youtube this Wiggles Song):  😉

• Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) – This feature is especially helpful if you live in rural areas where there is not a lot of nighttime light. Basically the headlights “swivel” to point light in the direction of an upcoming curve, even though  your care is pointed straight.  This is a safety feature that alone could be worth the $1625 cost of the technology package.

So you’re probably wanting to know what the 2014 Mazda CX-5 costs, right? Well, the Grand Touring Edition MSRP’s at $29,865, and if you want the goodies in the Technology package, you’ll need to spring for an extra $1625.

However, the good news is that you can get the Sport Trim for as low as $21,395, or most likely, find that happy medium that fits your needs and budget.  I will say this about the CX-5: it handled every bit as well as a car, and even though it’s just a 4-cylinder, it definitely has good pep when you’re trying to accelerate!

On the whole, I definitely think this is a great answer for the family of four or five who needs a little extra trunk space, wants a sporty looking crossover SUV, but still wants to save on gas. Remember we got 27.5 MPG’s, and there are many cars that don’t get that kind of gas mileage!

You can find out more about the CX-5 by visiting Mazda’s website HERE.  I’d love to hear from those of you have driven it for a while – what do you think?

One of the perks of blogging is I occasionally get to do some really fun reviews.  One of my favorites is reviewing new cars and SUV’s!  Of course we all love that new car smell, pristine interior, and fun feeling of knowing that car is in perfect condition, just for us.  But when I get to review them, often times they come with all the bells and whistles, which makes it extra special.

Last week I was able to test drive the all new 2014 Kia Sorento EX, and let me tell you, it was a treat! If you’ve followed my blog at all, you know that I’ve test driven some other Kia vehicles and had a blast:

• 2012 Kia Soul

• 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

• 2012 Kia Sorento SX

I was looking at some of my past reviews and saw that I was a little stingy on the size of the pictures, so I’m making them as big as possible this time to give you a good view.   It rained much of the time during my test drive, so you’ll have to excuse the cloudy and rainy pics.

From a exterior “looks” standpoint, I think they’ve made the 2014 bigger and longer than the 2012, so that it rivals some of the larger SUV’s/crossovers in its category. I always like stepsides on the side of an SUV, which this one didn’t have, but you can get that if you want.

The interior is just beautiful. The SX model comes with leather in the first and second rows, and I love the wood grain trim – just makes me feel all grown up. 🙂  One of the things hubby and I have concluded as we enter parenthood is that leather seats are a non-negotiable. Of course a lot of the other standard equipment on the Kia Sorento SX are not necessities, but if you’re getting leather, they automatically come with.

What equipment comes standard worth noting?

Well, for starters, check out this video to see my first favorite thing about the 2014 Kia Sorento EX:

What about another standard accessory that I enjoy? This one is all about safety! Check out the UVO eServices Telematics w/ Rear Camera Display in action!

You also have no shortage of options for staying “connected,” which as a blogger, is essential for a girl like me! Take a look for yourself:

I realize it was hard to see the back seat in the video, so here’s a better shot of that:

You also get BLUETOOTH technology for hands free calling  in the EX model, and an adjustable power driver’s seat also comes standard. Heated power mirrors and airbags everywhere also come standard in this 3.3L DOHC V6 engine.

Speaking of the engine and how it runs, I have to tell you that this is one of the smoothest rides of any of the cars I’ve test-driven.  I’m pretty sure I mentioned this when I reviewed the 2012 SX Sorento, but it’s definitely worth mentioning again – the Kia Sorento has the best turning radius of any car I’ve ever driven, period. It’s almost too loose on the actual road, that’s how smooth it is. You will have no problems getting into tight corners with this SUV.

You will especially have no problems if you opt for the fun stuff, like the Power Folding Outside Mirrors. 🙂  I present to you Exhibit A:

Now about that fun stuff – let me break it down for you.

The 2014 Sorento SX comes in with an MSRP of $31,700.  All Kia vehicles have a warranty that’s hard to beat – 10 years/100,000 mile powertrain, and 5 year/60,000 mile basic coverage (as well as 5 year/60,000 mile roadside service). But if you want to splurge and kick in an extra $4000 for the Touring Package, here’s what you get:

• Navigation w/ 8″ display
• Infinity sound (note – I would personally like to see this piece of equipment improved)
• Air conditioned seats (that’s right – you get heated seats and ventilated seats!)
• 4-way power seats
• Memory Drivers Seat & Mirrors
• Power folding mirrors
• Power lift gate (trunk) – which is very nice, I might add

In addition to those, you get a couple of others, which happen to be my on my top 5 favorites list.  Here’s the first one – the panoramic view!

My last favorite, which could actually save your life and would be worth every penny, is the Blind Spot Protection. Here it is in action:

I mentioned the Navigation package, and one thing I really do enjoy about having it is something I hadn’t noticed in the 2012, which is that it lets me know the speed limit! If you look at the below picture, you’ll see on the left hand side that you know it’s 50 m.p.h. on this particular road. I find that to be super helpful, if not so much for me, for hubby and his lead foot. 😉

So what about space for the kiddos inside?  Well my sister in law was down with her son, and so we put both of them in the back with the carseats, and took turns squeezing in the middle.

Quite frankly it was a squeeze.  For a family of four, this car is perfect.  With a family of five, you can do it. But I probably wouldn’t suggest it for a family of 6+ unless you get a third row of seats, which this model did not have.

However, I found there to be plenty of trunk space.  We fit two BOB strollers in quite easily and had plenty of room to spare when we went to the beach:

What about the gas mileage?  Even with the V6 engine and a bigger vehicle than the 2012 I drove before, I was able to get about 21 MPG.  The SX has an ECO button you can push which helps it to conserve energy and restrain getting all the juice you’d typically want out of a V6.  The good news is, if you really need to punch it and get moving in a hurry, you can flick the ECO button off and it has plenty of get-up-and-go!

And then there’s that panoramic view and sunroof….  Oh, I already talked about that?  Well, it’s worth taking one more look:

So what is my personal recommendation on the 2014 Kia Sorento SX?  Just my quick thoughts:

• The base model of the SX comes with leather, backup camera, BLUETOOTH, and tons of ways to keep your devices charged. I love it.  Thumbs up.
• The upgrades are probably worth it – panoramic view, blind spot protection, folding mirrors, and navigation, just to name a few – if you can swing the cost, I would do it.
• While bigger and longer than the 2012, I would still like to see a little more space in that second row.  Two carseats work fine, and a family of 4 or 5 will be fine, but you’ll need to spring for the optional 3rd row if you’re a family of 6 or more.

If you want to see more about the new 2014 Kia Sorento, make sure you check out all the details on their website HERE. Overall, even with the Touring (upgraded) package, this is a vehicle with all the luxurious amenities that you expect to come in SUV’s with prices tags of $50,000+, but you can get this one for around $36,000.

Not too shabby if you ask me.

Are there any other Kia Sorento owners out there? I would love to hear your thoughts about your own experience!