Lions linebacker Devon Kennard's taste in wheels ranges from austere to elite

Allen Park — Detroit Lions linebacker Devon Kennard made national headlines as a rookie for the New York Giants in 2014 because he arrived to the team's facility driving a 2005 Kia Sorento, the same vehicle he’d been using since he was 16. 

"Just because you have money doesn't mean you have to spend money," he told CNBC last year. "Any purchase that's over, let's say, $300 or $400, I take a long time to consider."

But the Sorento, which had held up well in the dry desert heat of his hometown of Tempe, Arizona, wasn't proving an ideal fit for the inclement New York winters. 

“It started to like spin out on me in the snow and stuff like that,” he said. “I was like, all right, when it’s not safe anymore, I’m gonna have to change some things up.”

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Last year, after much deliberation, he conceded and upgraded to a Range Rover. And despite a fresh influx of cash this offseason, thanks to a $5.25 million signing bonus he received from the Lions, he doesn’t anticipate making another vehicle purchase for a long time. 

“No, not buying anything,” Kennard said. “(Buying the Range Rover) was hard enough. I’m sticking with that for a long time.”

As for the Sorento, Kennard still has it and isn’t planning on getting rid of it any time soon. 

“I’ll probably keep it forever,” he said. “I spend time back home in Arizona and I’m like

‘Why buy another car?’ I just go home and drive that.”

Loonie tuned in

Kennard isn’t the only player being fiscally responsible with his earning. 

Tight end Luke Willson, who grew up a half-hour south of Detroit in LaSalle, Ontario, was asked if he planned on moving back to Canada after signing with the Lions this offseason. 

“No, got to shield myself from those Canadian taxes, man,” Wilson quipped. “Come on, now. Can’t be doing that.”

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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