Kia's minivan makes a better mobile lounge than it does a 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. Ultimately, 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. Its lack of precision compounds the van's reluctance to change directions, ultimately frustrating the driver. Nobody expects a minivan to handle like a Porsche, but the Sedona falls short of its minivan peers.
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 some neat features and luxurious appointments, the interior experience takes a dive. The driving position is marred by a too-prominent, oddly-angled foot rest, 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.
In the end, the Sedona's luxury accommodations aren't enough to overcome its functional limitations -- especially when you can get the super comfortable, slick-driving, and easy-living Honda Odyssey for not much more.