Equipping Your Kia to Explore Eastern Connecticut this Spring
Spring in Connecticut means it’s finally time to get back outside. As temperatures start to rise, weekends quickly fill up with hiking trips, kayaking adventures, camping weekends, and drives along the Connecticut shoreline.
Navigating wooded trails around Mansfield Hollow State Park, afternoons at Watch Hill or Hammonasset Beach, and everything in between demands a vehicle that can handle changing conditions while carrying all the gear that comes with an active lifestyle.
The Kia Sportage and Sorento have become popular choices at Columbia Kia for drivers who want comfort during the week and versatility for weekend adventures. With available all-wheel drive, flexible cargo space, and genuine Kia accessories designed for outdoor travel, the Sportage and Sorento are great for discovering new terrain throughout New England.
Ready for Muddy Spring Roads
Rain-soaked backroads, soft trailhead parking areas, and unpaved access roads create muddy conditions through Windham and Tolland Counties. Kia's available AWD systems automatically distribute power to the wheels with the most grip, keeping the Sportage and Sorento composed on surfaces that would give a two-wheel drive vehicle trouble.
This is especially helpful when pulling into a boat launch, navigating a campground after heavy rain, or just trying to get out of a muddy trailhead parking lot without incident.
The Kia Sportage Pulls Its Weight
The Sportage runs a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Towing capacity for the Sportage is 1,653 lbs without trailer brakes and up to 2,500 lbs when properly equipped. Pulling a small boat to the Connecticut River, a kayak trailer to the Salmon River, or a utility trailer for a weekend project all fall within range.
Genuine Kia accessories extend its usefulness considerably. A roof rack can carry kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes without sacrificing interior cargo space. All-weather floor mats take care of the mud and moisture that follow hiking boots and wet gear into the cabin. A cargo tray keeps the rear load area clean when you're hauling coolers, gear bags, or anything else that comes with a full weekend outdoors.
The Kia Sorento Makes Room for More
The Sorento's active on-demand AWD system features torque vectoring and a center-locking differential, giving it confident traction on muddy backroads, soft trailhead lots, and wet launch ramps.
Towing capacity varies by trim. The LX and S trims are rated at 2,000 lbs. The EX and X-Line trims, including the X-Line EX AWD, X-Line SX AWD, and X-Line SX Prestige AWD, come in at 3,500 lbs. The X-Pro SX Prestige AWD tops out at 4,500 lbs, putting mid-size boats, larger campers, and fully loaded equipment trailers within reach.
The same genuine Kia accessories are available on the Sorento as the Sportage. The Sorento's larger cargo area gives it an advantage on longer trips or outings with a full group, with enough room to pack kayak paddles, a larger cooler, and camping equipment for a full weekend at a state park campground.
Gear Up at Columbia Kia
The Sportage and Sorento are available as new and certified pre-owned models at Columbia Kia.
Make sure to stop by our Parts & Accessories Center to explore genuine Kia roof racks, all-weather mats, cargo solutions, and more.