Kia Ride & Drive Is All About Personal Experiences #KiaAutoShow

It’s no secret that I love the Kia brand even though I don’t drive one. That has more to do with logistics rather than desire, and I’m sure by the end of the year, we’ll be adding a Kia to our troupe. No worries, I still love my car, but we can be multifaceted and still live. I just really, really like the Kia brand. Let’s examine what they are doing right, and let’s start at the biggest event in Chicago during the month of February; The Chicago Auto Show. This experience was made possible by Kia Motors and all opinions shared below are my own. 

Currently, there is a Customer Experience Track up and ready for you to see the all wheel drive capabilities of the Kia Sorento and Kia Sportage. We trekked up a hill at a 30 degree angle and just hung out. Our diver took her foot off of the brake and we didn’t roll backwards – thank goodness, because my stomach was already doing flips in the backseat with Mr. Houseful and our John my Kia fairy carfather. In the front passenger seat was Shelley from Magical Siblings. You’ll remember her from the epic road trip we took from Baltimore, Maryland last year right before my birthday. We traversed our way from Baltimore back to Chicago with stops in Pittsburgh and random rest stops for peaches. It seems that Shelley is quite the pro at road trips, and we’re already in cahoots to plan one together for this year. See, Kia is really all about experiences. Especially with folks that you think are totally different than you, but just as prone to hopping behind a wheel and hitting the open road. 

Kia wants you to really get a chance to see the cars in action at the Chicago Auto Show instead of seeing them sitting all pretty on the showroom floor. And they are pretty, let me tell ya. Especially that new Stinger – but I digress. The Sorento is the car that the houseful of teens and littles and I took to Minnesota last summer after that car I love and own decided to break down on me. We were delivered a Sorento and we were on our way. It was an incredibly smooth, comfortable and spacious drive, and just like the Soul and it’s magical powers, it helped break my teenager out of his shell so he talked to me. Or maybe 7+ hours in a vehicle with me there and back was the reasoning behind that. Either way, we kind of bonded, and I’d like to think that the Kia possesses some sort of teenager mojo to make them act right. Bring yours to the Auto Show to test this theory out and get back to me. 

Photo Courtesy Shelley – A Magical Mess

When you come, make sure to have valid ID when you come for the experience, otherwise you won’t be able to join in the fun! The Auto Show takes place at the McCormick Place until February 19. The Ride & Drive experience is only open until 6 pm each day, but the Sports Utility Gym is open on the main showroom floors until the show closes each night. For each experience, you receive a gift card, but of course we know that’s not going to be the reason that you slip behind the wheel of one of these vehicles. It’s going to be all about the experience.

Speaking of experiences in Kia’s – I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the time I went to San Diego and traveled the highways and biways with three women and made a video of epic proportions. We bonded over donuts and karaoke and it’s something that I won’t soon forget. This career can be lonely in so many ways, but Kia is making sure that even when I’m working, I won’t ever feel alone. 

So many people have car stories, right? I mean, I can tell you the first time that I took a long distance road trip by myself, and how my dad was equal parts horrified and proud of me. This was a time when cell phones weren’t in every home, and sleeping in rest stops wasn’t as questionable as it is right now. Okay, well, it was questionable, but I had a method to my madness. I’ve loved being behind the wheel of cars for as long as I can remember, and I love being behind the wheel of a Kia these days because I know that I’m not only getting style, but I’m getting comfort, safety and savings. 

Photo Courtesy Shelley – A Magical Mess

For me, the Auto Show is steeped in tradition and experiences. The tradition of gearing up with my grandpapa and heading out to see the newest vehicles that all of the car companies were offering. The experience of seeing him and my dad ooh and aah over horsepower, engines, and mufflers.  Back then, Kia wasn’t on the docket, but I sure do wish they were. I wish that my grandfather was still here to experience the feel of the Stinger when I was able to floor it on a straight path and SEE it go from 0 to 60 in the 4 seconds they claimed. Spoiler alert – they told the truth.

When you come to the main floor of the auto show, you’re going to go the smaller show room – before even entering the show, you’ll have to follow the signs for the Kia Ride & Drive down the the main floor, and sign up for the fun. They’ll ask what car you want to drive, and I’m just going to go ahead and tell you that you’ll want to snag the Kia Stinger. Just do it. It’s all wheel drive, and fast, and the seat hugs your body like it’s known you forever. 

My Baltimore trip buddy, Shelley, and I were able to test drive ALL of the Kias at the Auto Show and we have some pretty amazing behind the scenes clips on our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Just follow #KiaAutoShow and see what we got to experience from OUR point of view. We did the hard stuff so you’d want to come out and tackle it too! 

Remember that the Chicago Auto Show is open until February 19 and you’ll WANT to experience Kia’s Ride & Drive.