Three Family-Friendly Kia SUVs for Summer Fun

Summer is here and that means vacations and weekend trips away to the beach, lake, mountains or whatever your favorite destination for fun and relaxation is. If you’ve got kids, then you may already have lots of things planned for them over the summer break. For long road trips or short drives to the beach, Kia’s line of SUVs are perfect for families who are looking for a vehicle that will provide enough room to carry both passengers and their gear, as well as getting everyone where you want to go safely and efficiently. 

For buyers looking for a Kia SUV for sale, there are many considerations to keep in mind, including safety, available space for seating and cargo, infotainment features and reliability. Also, ask yourself how big of a vehicle you might need. The answer to this will depend on how many people are in your family, if there are others who frequently ride with you, and if your kids are involved in transporting equipment associated with their activities. 

With all of that in mind here are some of Kia’s SUV models which are well-suited for family adventures. 

Kia Niro 

The 2019 Niro is Kia’s smallest crossover SUV offering, suitable for families who have light requirements for carrying passengers and gear. To get you where you are going, the Niro is powered but a hybrid system which combines a 1.6L engine and an electric motor to power the front wheels, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This system generates a healthy 139 horsepower for an impressive combined fuel economy rating between 46 and 51 mpg, depending on which of the five trim levels you go with. 

The Niro offers ample space within the interior, including small space storage in front of the gear shifter, where both parents and kids can keep their phones charged. The door pockets hold up to a 16-ounce water bottle, and additional storage is available under the center armrest. 

The rear seats of the Niro fold flat to create almost 20 cu.ft. of space for carrying sporting equipment or beach chairs and a cooler. 

The little ones will be sure to stay safe in their car seats, easily attached by LATCH anchors which are tucked away between the seat cushions. 

The Niro also offers plenty of technology features to not only help get you to your favorite fun spot but to also keep the kids from getting bored on the way there. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is included, along with Kia’s Uvo navigation system. 

The base audio system on the Niro is probably fine for most people to hear their favorite tunes, but those with a more particular ear might want to upgrade to the optional Harmon Kardon system. 

Smartphone integration is standard, and depending on the trim level, wireless charging is also available. This ensures that your family can keep in touch with everyone back home as well as letting others know when you’ll be arriving for that summer cookout.

Kia Sorento 

Part of finding the right SUV for your family is balancing the need to be large enough for your needs, but not so large that you can’t even get it in the garage. Fortunately, the 2019 Sorento provides the best of both worlds. The Sorento comes standard with a third row of seating, which allows room for seven passengers – more than enough room to bring the kids and their friends to the water park. It’s available in all-wheel drive to ensure safe footing on variable road conditions, and an available V6 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, provides excellent power, responsiveness, and fuel economy. 

The Sorento offers plenty of available space to carry what you need, and a touchless power tailgate and easy folding seats make getting items in and out super easy. Interior storage includes small nooks within the cabin, plus a dedicated wireless charging area for phones. To take full advantage of the rear storage requires folding down the third-row seating, which reveals 38 cu.ft. of room. 

The versatile LATCH system allows for child car seats to be placed facing to the front or rear, with the anchors accessible in the seat cushions. 

A beefy 5,000 lb. towing capacity also makes the Sorento a terrific option if you need to haul a boat, jet-skis to the lake, or that custom teardrop trailer you’ve been restoring to the campground. 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide convenient smartphone integration, and two 12 volt sockets, two USB jacks and a wireless charging pad, all up front, will keep all of your devices fully charged and ready to go. Folks in the second row get a USB charger, 110 V inverter, and a 12 V outlet. 

Kia Telluride 

For the utmost in size and utility, the 2020 Telluride is the King of Kia’s SUV lineup. Kia’s biggest SUV offering can seat up to eight passengers in three rows of seating with up to 87 cu.ft. of cargo capacity, all powered by a 291 horsepower V8. For a vehicle in this class, it also offers attractive styling, making it both functional and fashionable. 

As mentioned above, the available storage space within the Telluride is pretty cavernous. Even with the second and third-row seats up, there’s still 21 cu.ft. of room. Small space storage options are fairly comparable to the Niro and Sorento. One difference is the addition of shirt hooks on the front seat backs. Pull straps make raising and lowering the third row from the back easy. 

Child car seats have much more room in the larger Telluride, with clearly marked anchors easy to find between the seats. The larger amount of room also makes it much easier to get the car seats in and out of the vehicle. 

Like the Sorento, the Telluride also has a 5,000 lb. towing capacity including self-leveling rear suspension to help balance heavier trailers. 

The Telluride is packed with technology as well as some excellent upgrades. A large, clear touchscreen and head-up display are standard on higher trim levels, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the line. Plentiful USB ports all around the cabin are also available. 

The optional sound system provides excellent audio quality for all kinds of tunes and the navigation system is straightforward and easy to use, ensuring a trouble-free ride to your destination. 

Two innovative family-friendly features that the Telluride offers are an optional intercom system which allows the driver to communicate with the rear passengers via the audio system – a feature typically found in minivans – and a Quiet Mode which allows the driver to listen to music in the front only. This prevents the sound from going to the speakers in the second and third rows in case the little ones are sleeping. 

No matter where you are headed to this summer, whether it’s across the country to a national park or across town to the local ball field, Kia’s SUVs can get you, your family and all of your gear there easily. At Allentown Kia in Allentown, PA, we carry the full line of Kia SUVs, including those mentioned above. As part of your summer trip planning, feel free to stop into our showroom and let our friendly, professional staff answer all of your questions about how a new Kia SUV for sale can get you on your way to summer fun! Visit us today!