Congratulations, Randy & Cheryl!
We must be following each other around a little bit. I also had a Smart Passion, we have two Kia's (an Optima and a Soul that replaced the Passion), and we bought a new 2012 rPod RP-173 last Fall.
I was torn between the 171 and 173 models; but decided to go with the more open look of the 173 with the sofa and u-shaped dinette. As a practical matter, though, I expect to have the sofa opened into an almost full-time bed. I cut a 7"x7"x74" foam piece to fill the gap between the top of the sofa back and the wall when the sofa is opened; and, today, I bought a full size 3" memory foam mattress topper that fits over that whole area perfectly. The result is sort of a RP-171 with a slightly smaller bed and slightly larger dinette. My wife and I aren't big people, so the full (double) size bed should be comfortable for us; and we do still have the option of converting things back to a sofa.
Happy Podding.
Sam