Kia Sedona

A significantly updated Sedona arrived in 2015, with a refined V6, room for seven or eight passengers and an upscale interior. The biggest letdown is the ride. It's way too stiff for a family transport. What's more, our Sedona suffered from a cacophony of squeaks and rattles. 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.

Sedona's 2006 redesign brought about terrific improvements, with a more powerful 3.8-liter V6 and additional standard safety equipment. The sliding-door side windows retract, which is an unusual feature among minivans of this vintage. Handling and fuel economy remained so-so. Offering lots of features for the money, our Sedona EX had a DVD player, heated leather seats, power adjustable pedals, automatic climate control, a sunroof, power sliding doors, and a power liftgate. Drivers have plenty of room. But some found the steering wheel positioned too far forward.