Over the last few weeks, I was able to get into two crossovers with upgraded engines. While both offered more horsepower, I wasn’t completely floored by either, and it begs the question of whether they’re worth the additional cost compared to their basic offerings.
If they want to reflect reality, Subaru execs should really rename the Outback the Vermonter. I swear, virtually every fifth car I passed from Burlington to Brattleboro to Bennington was a Subaru of some sort, and the vast majority were Outbacks.
It’s not hard to understand: Vermonters are outdoorsy people, and they need the space that Outbacks offer to carry their stuff. In the summer, they’re carrying their bikes (I saw almost as many of those as I saw Outbacks). In the winter, they’re carrying skis and snowboards. Despite the harsh winter, Vermonters are dedicated to getting out.
Perhaps the best aspect of the Sprinter is its mileage. It’s a big, hulking van that seats 12, yet I averaged nearly 20 mpg over more than 1,600 miles over the course of nine days. While it’s not Prius-like, there are millions of Americans out there who need to haul around that close to a dozen people at a time, and this is far better than driving in a gas-powered van that gets only 10-12 mpg. Here’s how each leg broke down in driving:
Leg 1: 405 miles, 8 hours on road, 20.6 mpg; Aurora, Ill., to outside Akron, Ohio.
I think we benefited from heading east; while winds were largely calm, they were blowing behind us. We got bogged down in heavy traffic leaving Chicago, which I’m sure cost us, and ran into some road work in Indiana. Still, it wasn’t too bad, although our youngest riders weren’t very happy at how long it took.
Not every feature was readily apparent on the Sprinter. Here are some gems and surprises we uncovered on our trip.
Hidden gem: For this trip, we bought a converter to plug into a 12-volt outlet that gave us a household outlet, and another with a couple of USB outlets. When we loaded up the van, the cupholder on the center stack was pulled out and it had a 12-volt outlet in it. Unfortunately, the lip of the cupholder blocked us from plugging in our converter. We shrugged and lamented the fact that we’d bought converters we couldn’t use.
OK, we’ll let the passengers vote on the Sprinter using the categories we used last summer: looks, comfort, entertainment options and roominess. Here’s how it fared among the six family members voting:
Looks
I suspect that for most people, the Sprinter’s looks are polarizing. I liked the tall shape, the long lines and the interior. I suspect other people see it as a monolith. For me, I could appreciate the function over form, and I didn’t see it as boring or dull, which is often how these kinds of vans can be seen. I grew up driving a Ford 10-seater van, and I thought this was much more attractive. My kids liked the looks of it less: “They’re pretty awful-looking,” my daughter volunteered as she gave its looks a lowly, single point. Her mom and I each gave the Sprinter a 4 on looks.
Family vote: 19 out of 30 possible points (each person ranked on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being lowest and 5 being highest)
I have to admit, when I saw the Dodge Sprinter in my driveway I was intimidated by its size. In some ways it was smaller than the van I had been picturing in my mind, but in person it stood awfully tall and was verrryyy long. I asked myself, “What have you gotten yourself into?”
I needn’t have worried. The Sprinter is a more-than-capable travel van, one that took my family (and a couple of extended family members) to upstate New York and back in style and comfort. Sure, there were a few things we’d have changed, but all in all I wouldn’t hesitate to rent one of these for another long road trip.
Join Suburban Dad and family as they take a weeklong trip from the Chicago area to upstate New York and beyond. Can they fit eight people (including three adults, three teens and two small kids), plus all their luggage, drinks, snacks, games and more into a 2009 Dodge Sprinter as they head for a family reunion? Watch the video to see how quickly they make it happen, and. Then check back each day this week for updates on the trip.
The 2009 Kia Borrego definitely had a big leg up in the technology department over my aging 2004 Sedona. Our spring break tester came with a navigation system and both USB and auxiliary input jacks for MP3 players. Given that I’m a true iPod nut, this was great news.
In one of the Suburban Dad’s annual traditions, spring break is time for a family vacation. This year, we headed to Southern California for a week and lined up a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego as our mode of ground transportation.
As a longtime Kia driver (I bought my Sedona back in 2004), I was eager to try out the 2009 Borrego and see how Kia’s entry in the three-row SUV segment compared to the Sedona as a family-hauler. The Borrego feels fresher in many ways, but in crucial areas my wife, kids and I definitely prefer the Sedona.
First off, I loved the look of the Borrego. Painted a dark blue, it says truck-based SUV in a way that will definitely appeal to a lot of men, though my wife liked it, too. Inside, the interior is attractive, with soft-touch surfaces in and around the dash. The leather seats were very comfortable and supportive, and visibility was great.
I've been a fan of the Flex ever since it won top honors on our
Vacation Blogging trip last summer. My family and I found it roomy,
nicely appointed and filled with lots of tech features to make long
drives more than bearable. That drove my interest in the Lincoln MKT,
and I have to say that, for two cars that share the same platform, they
sure look very different from each other.
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