Most parents will know the battle of getting kids into the car, comfortable in the car, calm in the car – generally just not screaming, whinging or attacking their siblings – in the car.
I am fortunate enough to be in a generation of parents who have a decent amount of kid-specific entertainment at their disposal while driving.
Gone are the days of ‘Spotto’ and ‘I Spy’ – long trips now call for tablets loaded up with movies, podcasts and games.
Shorter trips are not as reliant on tech, but my four-year-old will still demand “my playlist!” on repeat. It’s mostly Taylor Swift, K-Pop and, of course, Disney songs.
So, this week when Kia announced it would team with Disney on a series of new display themes on its navigation screens, my interest was piqued.
The themes are set to be available on Kia models with the company's Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) based infotainment system, and will include popular Disney characters including Mickey & Friends and Frozen’s Anna and Elsa.
There will also be Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and Star Wars themes, allowing drivers to tailor their vehicle’s “personality”, Kia Senior Vice President and Head of Global Brand and CX Division Charles Ryu said.
“Kia aims to establish itself as the industry’s most approachable mobility brand both through its innovative product design and the advanced use of smart technology,” Ryu said.
A total of 30 themes are set to be available by the end of next year in the US, Europe and Korea in models including the EV3, K4 and Sorento.
However, Aussie parents and Disney fans keen on the idea will have to – ahem – Let it Go for now, as it is not yet confirmed if FOD (features on demand) or this feature would eventually be available locally, a Kia Australia spokesperson told Drive.
Maybe if we wish upon a star.
Jemimah is Drive's Consumer Editor. She has more than a decade of editorial experience and has previously worked in property and lifestyle journalism for Domain, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and REA Group, among many other publications.
