Teresa’s View
A good minivan needs to excel at three things: roominess, versatility and creature comforts. The second-generation of Kia’s Sedona minivan nails all three. The new Sedona is substantially larger in nearly every measurement. The extra space is put to good use with the addition of stow-n-go third-row seating and a surprisingly spacious cargo area.
To help motivate the larger van and its extra passengers, Kia employs a new 240-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 engine with a 5-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission. Acceleration is strong and the ride is quite car-like.
The Sedona is offered in two trims — the well-appointed LX and the ultra-appointed EX. The LX offers air conditioning for the front, middle and way back seating areas, cruise control, an AM/FM/CD audio system, keyless entry with alarm system and power mirrors and door locks. Bonus: The windows in the sliding doors roll all the way up and down.
The EX adds an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated mirrors, second-row captain’s chairs, power rear quarter glass and an upgraded audio system with MP3 playback capability.
A rear-seat DVD entertainment system with wireless headsets and remote control is an available option.
Power sliding side doors and liftgate are also available. I understand the concept — busy parent, arms full, just push the button to open the doors — but in my experience, the doors open too slowly for most kids and I still worry about little fingers. A sensor stops the door if it meets with resistance, but when I personally sacrificed my own body to test the system, the door squeezed my arm upper arm hard enough to leave a bruise.
Safety features are always at the top of mom and dad’s list when shopping for a vehicle. The new Sedona doesn’t disappoint here either. It features six airbags, including side curtain-style airbags that protect occupants in all three rows. Other standard safety equipment includes ABS with electronic brake force distribution, a tire pressure monitoring system, a traction-control system and an electronic stability program. Kia engineers paid particular attention to providing protection in rear-end crashes — the most common commuter accident. For that attention to detail, the Sedona became the first minivan to earn the “best safety pick” distinction from the Institute for Highway Safety.
What Is It?: The next-generation Kia Sedona is a seven-passenger, five-door, front-wheel drive minivan. Sedona, formerly clocking in as the lowest-priced minivan, now encroaches on its competitors’ territory. Prices for the 2006 Sedona start at $24K including designation charges. A shorter version of the Sedona van is due later this year as a 2007 model.
Gadget Rating: 8 out of 10. Gadgets and doodads are suitably sized and appropriately placed. I do have a quibble with the redundant controls on the steering wheel — they don’t change the radio station. As an avowed channel-surfer, I missed having the switch on the wheel.
Recommended Fuel: Regular. Fuel economy is a passable 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Cheat Sheet: Kia is largely owned by Hyundai.