Kia's latest minivan makes a better mobile lounge than road machine. Its strikingly-posh interior is a standout for a minivan. That could make the Sedona a terrific people mover -- if all people did was sit in it. But, alas, the luxury impression vanishes as you pull away from the curb.
We bought a relatively modest mid-level EX to test. But it feels much grander inside, featuring two-tone leather seats with luxurious piping, as well as heated front and rear seats. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels rich in your grip, and wood trim completes the lounge-like atmosphere.
But the Sedona is a disappointment in the more core minivan attributes.
The biggest letdown is the ride. It's way too stiff for a family mobile. The rear has a tendency to pound over bumps and reverberate discordantly through the cabin. What's more, our Sedona suffered from a cacophony of squeaks and rattles.
The 3.3-liter V6 is plenty smooth and powerful, remaining quiet even when pushed hard. Its 20 mpg overall is fine. But as you try to thread the Sedona through turns or holes in freeway traffic, the vague steering rears its ugly head. Lack of precision compounds the van's reluctance to change directions, ultimately frustrating the driver.
Inside, Kia one-upped the competition in terms of cabin storage solutions, with a clever and cavernous center console. It features a slick sliding bin to hold your phone or glasses, with a thoughtful notch to thread cords through to power and data ports below.
But after wowing you with the neat features and luxurious appointments, the interior experience takes a dive. The driving position is marred by a too-prominent, oddly-angled footrest, which impacts both short and tall drivers. Visibility is slightly worse than in competing vans, but the backup camera helps. Unfortunately, LX and EX models are saddled with a tiny display screen, making it hard to make out what's behind you.
The heated second-row seats perform a mechanical ballet that gives plenty of access room to the third row. But they aren't removable and prevent the Sedona from providing the traditional open, flat floor of a minivan. While the seats slide forward and tuck up against the front row seatbacks, they limit overall cargo room. Good luck hauling that old couch to the Goodwill.
The Sedona scores as an IIHS Top Safety Pick, in part because it aced the difficult small overlap crash test. While blind-spot monitoring is readily available, other advanced safety equipment like forward-collision warning is restricted to the top-trim level only. Front-crash prevention technology isn't offered.
In the end, the Sedona's luxury accommodations aren't enough to overcome its functional limitations.
Navigating the trim lines
All Sedonas have the same powertrain, a 3.3-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. L, LX and SX models seat seven, with an optional eighth seat. EX models get the eighth seat standard. Thanks to their swanky First Class second-row seats, Limited models accommodate only seven.
L models have basics like Bluetooth and cruise control, but lack a power driver's seat. LX versions get the power seat adjustments as well as optional power sliding side doors. EX models add leather, automatic climate control and a power tailgate. The SX trim line brings an upgraded audio system with navigation, while the Limited trim includes a panoramic sunroof. This top trim line is the only way to get advanced safety equipment like forward-collision warning and the surround view monitor system.
Best version\/options to get
Skip the base L model. If you can live without a sunroof, the EX is the best overall value. Add the optional EX Premium package for its blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert systems and lumbar adjustment on the power driver's seat. We wish you could get the optional up-level audio system with its larger (and easier-to-use) screen here, but it's not worth going to a higher-level SX trim just for that.
Changes from the previous version
The previous Sedona, from 2006-2014, put value far above any aesthetic or driving pleasure. The new Sedona is much more stylish and appealing, with a luxurious interior and new powertrain that is both more refined and efficient. Starting in 2016, a rear-view camera became standard on all trim lines.