Sporty, ergonomic, charismatic. I've always wanted to take the Kia Stonic for a spin. So I entered the #JudgeMe contest where the prize was a weekend with the car. And I won! Can't tell if my kids or I were more excited with our new toy, if only for the weekend.
Saturday, 23 Feb
We decided to kick off Saturday nice and slow with a stayover at my parents' place. Since moving out, we actively try to visit them once a week as that's the home our kids grew up in.
Kids being kids, they insisted on bringing their favourite toys and pillows, so we had all that to pack on top of clothes and other necessities. This makes our regular "staycations" pretty cumbersome to pack for. But I was pleasantly surprised by how easily we managed to fit everything in the trunk of the Stonic. And with space to spare! I honestly didn't expect it, considering how compact the car appears from the outside.
We tested out the various features of the car. But the two that really stood out for us were the sunroof and the Apple CarPlay. Being able to connect seamlessly with an iPhone, we were able to play music directly from Spotify, switching between playlists with ease so that everyone had a chance to hear their preferred tunes. It felt like a mini road trip for us, with the sunroof open and all that singing and driving to random places.
Later in the afternoon, we brought the kids out for a day at the park. Being indoors most of the time it does feel good to get out every now and then, as we want our kids to be able to take in some fresh air as well. We love being outdoors every chance we get and having the Stonic definitely made that a breeze. Most of all, we really enjoyed bonding as a family.
In the evening, we met up with some friends for dinner at a restaurant at Shaw Centre. This is where my preference for compact cars comes in. Shaw Centre probably has some of the smallest and tightest lots in town. If I were driving a regular-sized SUV, I wouldn't have parked there at all.
Sunday, 24 Feb
No stayover at my parents' place would be complete without a trip to our favourite prata place. We managed to get a parking spot right in front of the stall. Parallel parking is so easy with the parking assist video feed.
Unfortunately our day was cut short due to a stomach bug that one of my kids caught. So while one rested at home, I brought the other with me to return the car.
Throughout the ride back to Kia, my son kept asking why we couldn't just keep the car. Perhaps it was the sunroof, or the foldable seats that allowed him to crawl to and from the trunk. Maybe it was even the car's exterior that made it look like a Power Ranger or Bumblebee the Transformer.
Suffice to say, the Stonic made our weekend. Winning the #JudgeMe contest allowed me to experience the unapologetic character the car embodies, along with its modern exterior and user-friendly features.
Thank you, Kia, for this super-Stonic weekend with my family.
