The 2014 Kia Sorento is no exception to this general statement either, with a slew of great features, creature comforts, and technology packed into a ride that feature-for-feature, competes well with its more expensive cousins.  It’s a great vehicle designed for the modern family, with 3 rows for all the kids, pets, friends, and toys, along with technology to make the whole experience as easy as possible for the parents.  It looks great in the driveway, fits well in a standard garage, and uses all the nooks and crannies well to fit as much into the ride as possible.  Overall, there is no reason it shouldn’t be one of the top choices for a growing family, especially one looking to haul everyone everywhere.

But there is a downside. This vehicle is probably one of the least comfortable to drive.  I mean physically taxing and uncomfortable.  At 6ft 2in, my head was only a few inches away from the ceiling with the seat as low as it can go, as well as having limited movement back, and the steering wheel couldn’t telescope out far enough for an optimal position.  I found myself sitting for hours in a vehicle that was not ergonomic to the driver, especially one of my height.  Sitting so close to the dash and steering wheel.  To say I was tired of driving at the end would be an understatement.  The other seats were amazing, with a back row that would slide back and forth with ease, and the passenger seat was comfortable and lacked the same feel as the driver’s.  I was not able to test the third row as I have legs, but it looked as if I could have tossed a child or two back there with ease.  But the driver’s position killed my enthusiasm to drive a car, and I feel this should be one of the most important aspects in designing of any ride.  If a vehicle is taxing in the drive, or the positioning isn’t proper, safety can be compromised.  Reactionary movements have to change, and in this day and age, a driver needs to be as focused as possible on the road ahead and not on the comfort (or discomfort) of the driving position.

Then there comes the singular issue of the quality of the seat, not something I am usually able to speak on as the vehicles we drive are often fresh from the factory.  But this one, within 8000 miles, had a broken seat cushion that made it feel as if I had a wrench in my back pockets.  Trying to find an optimal position after driving for a few hours with that constant feeling was neither pleasant or comfortable, and after only 8000 miles, it’s disappointing.  I will note that I was able to speak with a few other journalists who had driven the same exact vehicle in the past, and we all felt the same on the issue.*

So where does this bring me?  Well, the 2014 Kia Sorento is an amazing SUV packed full of features often reserved for the luxury market.  It has a great price tag, an amazing warranty, and overall is a great buy.  But there is a feeling that maybe, just maybe, Kia was so concerned about putting as much technology into the ride they missed a few of the quality and ergonomic check marks.  And that’s what feels strange about the whole ride; compared to the other vehicles from the up and coming brand, the Sorento is the only one that has that issue.  With all the updates we saw in this new generation, maybe, just maybe, they will see this miss and catch is next time.  Maybe.

*Editor’s Note: The seat issue was brought to the attention of the press fleet management group in hopes of getting it repaired for future journalists.

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Don’t get me wrong, I actually mean that as a compliment. This is the most comfortable and stylish Jeep I’ve been in, and I’ve been in them all. The new Cherokee seems to bring the storied American brand kicking and screaming into the 21^st century, and they did it with more than a little help from their new Italian family. This thing rides with a comfort and smoothness of a German sedan, and the interior is blessedly devoid of D-grade plastics or excessively chunky switches. The Cherokee is plush.

On the road, you still get the unflappable confidence that the Jeep brand has been built on, but with a refinement that makes this vehicle feel closer to a Land Rover than to the rock-crunching Wrangler. I can honestly say that this is the best vehicle Jeep has built in decades, and finally puts the brand on par with any other soft-roader currently out there.

Many people are held up by the looks of the new Cherokee, but I’ll say this: reserve judgment until you’ve seen it up close in person. It is much less “challenging” when you are standing next to it. Just as the Nissan Juke seemed crazy at first but now looks normal and commonplace, I think this new Cherokee will age very well.

The days of prioritizing ruggedness over livability are finally gone with Jeep. The king is dead, long live the king.

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