My wife and I were once Minivan Deniers. We wanted desperately to avoid those most stereotypical of family vehicles, but after our second child was born our resistance crumbled and we joined the minivan world back in 2010. Last year, we took that one step farther and became a two-minivan family. For our newest addition, we chose what happens to be the least popular minivan in North America, Kia’s Sedona. After 12,000 miles and a recently completed two-week road trip, this seems like a good time to look back and see how the Sedona’s been treating us. Pretty good, it turns out. In the Sedona’s case, Least Popular certainly doesn’t mean Least Capable.
First, why a minivan? Two reasons: Cost and flexibility. Like many families, we don’t exactly have unlimited resources, so we prioritize a reasonable cost of ownership. Furthermore, since we take frequent long-distance trips, we require a comfortable car that can accommodate four people and a full load of luggage. While SUVs may be more fashionable, they are costlier and have less cargo capacity than minivans. In fact, to find an SUV that exceeds a typical minivan’s behind-the-second-row cargo volume, one needs a Suburban-sized vehicle – and a $50,000 price tag. Since we don’t need 4wd or heavy-duty towing capabilities, those advantages of SUVs are not worth paying extra for. A decently-equipped minivan can be purchased well under $30,000. For us, minivans make more sense.
Our minivan ownership experience began in 2010 when we purchased a Honda Odyssey, which has served us well for nine years and 136,000 miles. But we didn’t want to push our luck – I’d prefer not to use a higher-mileage vehicle for long vacations in the summer heat, with a full load of passengers and cargo. So last fall we shopped around for the Odyssey’s successor (not replacement as it turns out, because I sold my trouble-prone Crown Victoria and now use the Odyssey as my daily driver).
North American consumers have their choice of five minivan models; I’ll spare you the details of our decision-making, but we crossed off the Grand Caravan, Odyssey and Pacifica early in the car-shopping process. That left the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona to battle it out for our hearts and wallets.
Runner-Up: the Toyota Sienna: We expected to love the Sienna, since it and the Odyssey have for years been considered the gold-standard of minivans. We liked it, though nothing stood out to make us love it. The Sienna was comfortable, versatile, seemingly well-built and appeared to achieve everything we’d expect from a minivan. Then we noticed one nagging problem. While on our test drive, the Sienna’s transmission shifted roughly – enough for both me and my wife to wonder if something was wrong.
Back at home, I researched this issue and found that when Toyota first equipped the Sienna (and Highlander) with a 9-speed transmission for 2017, complaints were numerous. Eventually, Toyota issued a technical service bulletin to reconfigure software for customers who complained about rough shifting, but this didn’t seem to solve the issue entirely. Both the problem itself, and Toyota’s tepid response to it, chilled our enthusiasm for the Sienna. We didn’t completely rule out the Toyota, but it made our test drive of the one remaining minivan a bit more meaningful.
And the Winner Is… the Kia Sedona: When we drove the Sedona, our memories of Toyota’s Sienna were fresh in our minds. My first impression was that the Sedona drove similarly to the Sienna, but with a smoother (6-speed) transmission. There were some things we liked better and some things we didn’t like as much, and on a cost-independent basis I’d say the Sedona/Sienna match-up would have ended in a draw. But life is not independent of cost, and here the Sedona has a sizable advantage. Sedonas are cheaper, and as of last fall, dealers were knocking a significant amount off the sticker price. We ended up paying $22,000 for a new Sedona… about 30% off the sticker price and thousands less than what I think we could have negotiated for a similarly-equipped Toyota. Once it became clear how much we could save with a Kia, our decision was an easy one. We became Kia owners in late October.
Sedonas come in five trim levels, and we chose an LX, which is the second-from-the-bottom. Starting with the base L model’s equipment, the LX adds privacy glass, a power driver’s seat, 8-passenger (as opposed to 7-passenger) seating, and power sliding doors. Most LXs in dealer inventory came with two option packages (called the Essentials Premium and Advanced Technology Packages), but leather seats, a larger screen, push-button start and various tech features didn’t interest us, so we sought out an LX without those features. That was a challenge, but not impossible.
We eventually settled on a silver one located at a dealer 100 miles from home – they gave us the best offer, were professional to deal with, and it’s not an unreasonable distance to travel for a good price.
Source of data: GoodCarBadCar.net
Few consumers choose like we did and pick the Sedona over its competition. For the last decade, the minivan market has been dominated by the Big Three – Dodge/Chrysler, Honda and Toyota. Other manufacturers, unable to break into this top tier, have drifted out of the minivan market, but Kia has opted to remain. Sales jumped somewhat in 2015 after the current-generation Sedona debuted, achieving 40,000 annual sales and 9% of the US minivan market. However, both numbers have declined substantially since then. In 2018, just under 18,000 Sedonas found homes here, with just a 3.7% market share.
Source of data: GoodCarBadCar.net
Interestingly, Canadian Sedona sales have largely increased since 2015, and Kia holds a 7.7% share of the Canadian minivan market. But any way these numbers are examined, it’s clear that Kia is a distant 5th in North American minivan popularity. Name recognition likely has something to do with that (ask someone to name five minivans, and I bet the Sedona won’t be on the list), though the brand isn’t exactly obscure any longer. Granted, the Sedona has few characteristics that make it stand out from the crowd (if you can call four competitors a crowd), however my experience is that the Sedona is as good as the competition, and a worthy successor to our Odyssey. So let’s take a close-up look:
The Sedona is a good-looking van, avoiding the Darth Vader appearance of the new Odyssey, the incongruously aggressive maw of the Sienna, or the appliance-like boxyness of the Grand Caravan. In my opinion, only the Pacifica has a more pleasing design. Out front, Kia’s corporate grille provides a strong relationship to other cars in the automaker’s lineup – it’s a conservative, modern design that works well with larger vehicles like the Sedona and Sorento.
Around back, Kia tried to make the box less minivan-like – the high rear quarter windows present an appearance suggestive of SUVs. That was obviously intentional; SUVs are cool and minivans aren’t. I didn’t particularly like this rear-quarter view at first, but it’s grown on me.
More than once, I’ve mistaken Toyota Highlanders or other compact SUVs for Sedonas… a story that would likely cheer up Kia’s styling team. Overall, I have no complaints about the Sedona’s appearance.
Apparently, there’s an engine under that plastic cover somewhere.
The 276-hp 3.3-L V-6 has plenty of power, whether in town or climbing mountain Interstates. Handling-wise, the Sedona exhibits more body roll than our Odyssey (which is surprisingly agile for a minivan), but it’s still well within acceptable parameters for a large family vehicle. One important attribute for a long-haul family vehicle is to deliver a quiet and smooth ride, which the Sedona certainly achieves.
I find the driving position comfortable – intriguingly, my wife absolutely loves it. Why? Because at 5’1” not every vehicle is comfortable for her to drive, and the Sedona is outstanding in this regard. The driver’s seat, for instance, lowers enough so that her feet can comfortably reach the pedals and floor (not always the case, even in vehicles with power seats). And according to my wife, everything in the cockpit is well designed for small-framed people; she reports that the Sedona is the most comfortable vehicle she’s driven in years.
Looking out from the driver’s seat, one is greeted by a functional and attractive dash layout. Large round gauges set deep into the dashboard, a central trip computer readout, redundant steering wheel controls for cruise and audio functions – all of this is usable and works exactly how driver’s controls should. Interior components are of excellent quality, both visually and tactually. Dash controls are illuminated red at night; at first I thought that would aggravate me, but fortunately the speedometer and tachometer numbers are backlighted in white, which eliminates what would have been tiring effects from too much red lighting.
Techies may scoff at the relatively low-tech center stack of our LX, but I like it. Not being a fan of infotainment screens, the 5” display here is plenty big for me, and the climate controls have solid knobs and buttons. Higher-trim Sedonas received a larger screen and more console buttons (and all 2019 models get at least a 7” screen), but I’m glad we bought this version.
My biggest frustration with our van lies between the front seats. Instead of an open or semi-open area as found in many minivans, Sedona has a console containing the gear selector and a storage bin. This irritates me. Having grown accustomed to the Odyssey’s open center area (with flip-up tray), I’ve come to view that feature as one of a minivan’s most versatile attributes. I miss the ability to easily slide over to the passenger seat, walk through to the rear, or to temporarily stow anything from jackets to take-out bags between the seats. Kia was probably aiming for an SUV-type interior feel, as SUVs tend to have big consoles. Though I’m sure plenty people like this van’s console, I’m not impressed. If I could change one thing about the Sedona, it would be this.
One Sedona feature in particular attracts a good deal of criticism, so it’s worth extra attention here. The second-row seats slide up and forward, but are not removable. This setup, while providing quick access to the third row, consumes about 20″ of potential cargo space. The seats can be unbolted from the floor and taken out that way, but other minivans have seats that retract or can be removed without tools or frustration. This is certainly a downside to the Sedona. For us it wasn’t a deal-killer because we don’t haul a lot of bulky items, and we’re keeping our Odyssey (with removable seats) for the foreseeable future. But in a market segment where buyers value maximum usefulness, Kia should have better designed these seats.
Fortunately, when used as actual seats, the second- and third-rows are very comfortable. And we put this comfort to a test this summer by embarking on a 4,300-mi. road trip taking us from our home in Virginia to the Texas Panhandle and back. Any flaws in the Sedona’s comfort or performance would certainly show up on such a journey.
This type of trip is the ultimate test for a minivan, so how did the Sedona perform?
Excellently, it turns out. With the third row seat folded down, all of our gear fit into the car below the window line. Try stowing this much gear in an SUV like a Honda Pilot, and your luggage will be piled up to the roof.
Highway performance was very good. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that 276-hp minivans actually exist, but I’m glad that they do, because we never lacked in power. The Sedona never struggled, even on steep grades, and always had enough muscle to pass other vehicles, such as on two-lane roads. The cruise control and transmission don’t always do a great job of communicating, leading to some slowing down on hills, but I found that on hilly stretches of highway that leaving the transmission in 5th gear is a good compromise. The ease of using the Sportmatic transmission in manual mode compensates for the slow downshifts and other idiosyncrasies common in many automatics. Fortunately, the transmission doesn’t exhibit the endless gear-searching of some modern cars (leaving it out of Eco Mode helps in this regard, too).
We spent a night at the Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma; it’s the only high-rise designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is now a hotel. For architecture enthusiasts, I highly recommended it.
Comfort-wise, the Sedona’s seats were wonderful. None of us had a sore back, cramped legs, or anything else, even after a day of 600 miles worth of driving.
This was taken in southwest Kansas overlooking the Santa Fe Trail’s Cimarron Cutoff. No Cadillac Cimarrons to be seen, though.
In the hot sun of the Southern Plains, Sedona’s climate control worked flawlessly (ours has manual controls; automatic climate control comes in higher-end versions). In fact, this car has the most potent heating and air conditioning systems of any vehicle I’ve owned. In winter, the hottest setting will roast you in a matter of minutes, and even on the hottest days, it’s rare to leave the a/c on a high setting for long.
We spent several days at this cabin in Arkansas. The Sedona was comfortable on the Land of Opportunity’s mountain roads.
On trips like this, we choose non-highway routes whenever possible, which require a different set of vehicle capabilities than highway driving. Again, the Sedona performed very well. Sedona’s ride isn’t as firm as our Odyssey’s, as its handling is probably 20% squishier. However, for a minivan it’s a perfectly acceptable compromise of handling and comfort. Twisting mountain roads posed no problem, and any type of handling maneuver that the Sedona can’t accomplish probably shouldn’t be attempted in a minivan, anyway.
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better long-distance trip car, especially at the price we paid for this van.
There are, of course, some minor annoyances that I’ve noticed as the miles piled on – things one only observes after spending a large chunk of time in a car. For example: 1) The headlights, particularly the high-beams, are weak, especially for dark rural roads. 2) Storage bin space isn’t as voluminous as our Odyssey, which has several covered storage bins and an underfloor well… such things are incredibly useful. 3) There are too many blind spots. Sedona’s not alone in this regard, but between the pillars, the high windowline and the headrests, a whole car can hide back there. Additionally, thick A-pillars create blind spots out front. 4) While versatile, the rear cargo area could have fewer protrusions… not a big deal, but some other minivans do a better job at this.
But these are relatively small nitpicks. As for the big issues – performance, comfort, reliability and value, I have no significant complaints… especially about the value. I have a hard time picturing a Toyota Sienna, or any other minivan for that matter, performing better than our Sedona did, and for $22,000 that’s quite a complement.
Yes, all these bugs took some effort to clean off.
Popularity contests are sometimes hard to figure out. By all rights and reasons, Kia should sell more of these vans than they do. I understand that Kia’s lack of name recognition, the rear seats issue, and the presence of long-established competition all affect Sedona sales to some extent, but this van is every bit as good as the class leaders, and in most cases cheaper too. If the Sedona could satisfy us for a trip halfway across the continent and back, then it’s an awfully good vehicle. Hopefully Kia won’t give up on the minivan market (sales of the slightly-revised 2019 model are down 24% over last year), because they have a competitive and competent product.
I never thought I’d own two silver minivans, yet here they are.
It’s satisfying to have purchased something, and then a year later to know that you made the right choice. That’s how we feel about the Sedona. Sure, it’s not perfect, but given the value, the high level of fit and finish, and its excellent road manners, the Sedona suits our needs very well. And while ours is a relatively low-end LX model, I presume that the high-end versions also stack up favorably against the more established competition. The Sedona shouldn’t be overlooked by folks shopping for a minivan.
The real test of the Sedona’s merit came on the final day of our two-week trip. After spending 77 hours (according to the elapsed time indicator) riding in the Sedona over two weeks, I asked our daughters what they thought of it: “We love the Sedona!” was their reply. Case closed: the Sedona is a winner for us.
Related Reading:
Rental Car Review: 2018 Kia Sedona SX – Comparing Apples And Oranges JP Cavanaugh
Excellent review Eric. My neighbor’s father, who used to live in the house across the street from us before giving it to his daughter, bought one of these several years ago and I always thought it looked good. Sadly, he passed away while visiting family outside the U.S. so his van sat in their driveway until last week when Kia came to pick it up. Turns out the resale value dropped so fast that taking ownership of the van wasn’t a good idea, so they had the company come take it. But you seem to keep your minivans a long time so I doubt resale will be an issue for you.
From a cursory internet search it seems your Kia probably has the new eight speed, not a six speed transmission. Is this the case?
Thanks Ed. We didn’t look into resale value too much, but I presume the resale value is less than the Honda/Toyota vans. Interestingly, we had looked at slightly-used (under 20k mi.) minivans, and found that for all models, the prices being asked didn’t justify buying a used vehicle. That was true for all models we were looking at – I think used car values are overall very high right now. I’m sure that trend won’t continue indefinitely.
And our van still has the 6-speed transmission. The 8-speed came with the 2019 models.
Or, a great year with Australia’s most popular minivan, the Kia Carnival! Starting at $40,000AUD ($27K USD current exchange), so a good bit pricier. Folk tend to buy a van only when at the 3 or more kids size, and Kia got a good following with the previous Sedona/Carnival, largely because it was the only large van that was vaguely affordable. (No Pacifica or US-sized Odyssey or Sienna here). The majority are 2.2 diesels, (which btw is a really torque-chunky unit, 335 lb ft at about 1800 rpm).
The Audi-man styling is good at the front, but the rear overshoots. It just looks like the stylist chucked in a 50 year-old Coke-bottle hip line (or perhaps the hip 50 y.o. stylist, just coked-up on a line, chucked in an old look, but I digress) and it clangs with the svelte front. Worse, why on earth did they not do like all others and hide the door slider path under the back side window? It looks like a parking gouge, way down under that raised hip.
All of which means nowt compared to the usefulness of the car, and it seems to have done you well, at a good price too. Modern stuff is incredibly competent, even though it must be said the Chryco stowaway seats are still by far the cleverest after all this time.
I knew the Sedona/Carnival was popular in Australia, but I hadn’t realized the minivan market is quite as different from North America as what you describe. That certainly helps to explain the Carnival’s popularity.
During the buying process, I enjoyed reading reviews of this van (alternatively called Sedona / Grand Sedona / Carnival in various markets with no identifiable pattern) and perusing the various worldwide options on Kia’s websites. (Diesel engines, zillion-passenger seating configurations, a camper-van package in Korea, an available purple color in South Africa, etc…).
I agree with you about the sliding door rail. This isn’t the 1980s after all… these things can be hidden well.
As someone who is overjoyed with our (second generation) 2008 Sedona, the current model was my only consideration for a replacement next year . . . . . until the non-removable second seat bugaboo reared its ugly head. In our case, using the van for long trips and primarily historical reenactments I’m talking load hauler with enough finish in the back to be comfortable as a rudimentary R/V when we hit the race tracks and want to camp.
On my current Sedona, the second seats came out and went into storage the day the van came home, and will most likely stay there until we take it to be appraised as a trade in. Yeah, this attitude could put the third generation van back into consideration, but I’ve still got the theoretical option of putting the second row back in quickly should I need to do people (as opposed to cannon) hauling. And I’m not sure if we’re talking just removing a few bolts, or are there lots of electrical connections, too.
As to buying another van (and that’s the only thing that’s going to replace the current one, as it fills my needs better than a pickup), I tend to refuse to look at Toyota. I’ll be damned if I’m paying 20% more when I don’t get that much better for the competition, and the one Toyota product I did own (my Scion xB) was good but nowhere near exceptional compared to the competition. The Honda’s reputation for transmission chewing makes it a no-go. Yes, they’ve supposedly fixed the problem, but I’m not convinced. Wonder how Honda feels when the shoe is on the other foot: Being continually blamed for design deficiencies that existed 10-20 years ago, just like most internet posters happily do to GM products. And the “Honda tax” is almost as bad as Toyota’s.
Which leaves FCA. With the Sedona out of the running, I really want a Pacifica Hybrid, which would be the only way I can have my long hauler and gasless/high mileage commuter and van while keeping the driveway down to two cars, mine and the wife’s. However, the cost so far is prohibitive. It’d be cheaper to buy a three year old Grand Caravan AND a three year old Leaf than to look for a new or year old Pacifica Hybrid.
If you’re experience with your Sedona parallels mine in the slightest, you’re going to love it. And I’ll be by the end you’ll wonder why you ever bothered paying Honda prices.
On my van there are no electrical connections to the 2nd row seats, so they really do just unbolt. There are Youtube videos showing this process. I think the higher-end vans do have electrical connections to the 2nd row, so seat-removal in that case would get more complicated. But still, this would be an operation of last resort for me.
I took a couple of front seats out of a recent Kia Forte with some sort of sport package recently to turn them into exceptionally nice gamer chairs for my boys. There were four bolts and two electrical connectors that literally pulled apart after depressing a little tab on each one. It was not difficult and I can’t see it being much if at all more difficult in the Sedona.
Removing the seats in a Sienna or Odyssey isn’t THAT easy, sure there’s a latch instead of bolts but physically moving the seats into the garage is/was the hardest part. Lining it all back up for the latches to engage when reinstalling always sucked as well unless you happened to hit it just right, there’s a reason Stow’n’Go became so popular.
I’ll bet with a little practice I could bolt four bolts on in a few minutes, just need to set up a pit stop routine, the Nascar dudes seem to replace five-bolt wheels and tires in a few seconds and that includes jumping over a concrete wall which I don’t have in my driveway….
This is indeed a nice van, having seen it in person earlier this year. From the sound of it, Eric hasn’t shut it off since then.
The other day a friend of my wife’s was here. She has a Sedona of the same vintage as the JPC-mobile but that day they were in a ’97 Geo Prizm they recently purchased for their eldest son. Noticing my admiring the impeccable condition of the car, she asked if I knew it was a Corolla underneath (I did) and then mentioned the ’79 Cressida which was her first car and how she used to love Toyotas. She then started talking about her Sedona, how much less it was to purchase than a Sienna, was just as dependable, and how she does not see herself buying another Toyota as long as Kia is around.
She does not know I write here and I kept her talking to see what her thoughts were. Given this was average person talking, it makes me wonder how rampant this sentiment is.
Anyway, is that cabin in Arkansas at Diamond State Park? If it is, we stayed in one of those cabins a few years ago.
The cabin is at Petit Jean State Park — I suspect that many of the Arkansas State Park cabins look similar. This one was built as a CCC cabin in the 1930s, and then heavily added on to since then.
Great review Eric. One question: how is the gas mileage? Thanks!
I don’t track mileage much, but from what I recall, the Sedona has averaged about 26-27 mpg in non-mountain highway driving — that’s with a full load. Kia/Hyundai products don’t seem to deliver high gas mileage; I don’t know if it’s due to gearing, vehicle weight, etc.
That’s still better than your Odyssey which has the Variable Cylinder Management and a 5-speed, no? At least from what I recall with our ‘08 Ody…
I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but I hardly ever check gas mileage on our cars. From what I recall, the Odyssey averaged about 24-25 mpg on highway trips, so it’s in the same ballpark. Our Odyssey does not have the Variable Cylinder Management — we have an Odyssey EX, and from what I recall Variable Cylinder Management was standard on the EX-L and above.
2018 EPA ratings (which I have always pretty much duplicated in real life on various cars)
Combined, city/highway
Kia Sedona: 21, 18/25
Chrysler Pacifica: 22,18/28
Toyota Sienna: 22, 19/27
Honda Odyssey: 22, 19/27
Great post. I’ve gone through a similar research process. I have a 2012 Grand Caravan now, which has not been reliable. Made with a faulty cylinder head due to incorrectly machined valve seats (warranty replacement). It’s had rear air fail, numerous brake cylinder issues, and needed a transmission rebuild. And we’re in Canada, so it’s rusting on both sides, hood, and tailgate. I’d love to support FCA, who build vans in Ontario, but I’d be a fool to buy another.
After the transmission issues, I’m looking for reliable van that can handle some abuse. Lots of miles, lots of hockey gear and other crap, and pulling a tent trailer twice a year. The Kia doesn’t have reported transmission issues, and FCA, Honda, and Toyota have all had their share of issues.
I’m probably going to end up with a Kia Sedona LX as well. The seat issue is the only drawback.
Kia, if you are listening, make the second row seats removable and I will buy your van right now!
A great review, thanks!
Yup, another Canadian Caravan owner here. Ours is a 2015, the Sedona would have been our 2nd choice but since we do a fair bit of camping, hauling kids and their belongings back and forth to university and summer camp the stow and go seats were essential. And the engine looks just like the Sedona’s 🙂
Even with the seats up the “fish wells” under the floor are very handy storage.
Just waiting for JPC to chime in here with the Sedona love.
Amusingly, Kia terms their seats Slide-N-Stow® (yes, apparently it’s a registered trademark).
My Sedona is a 12 and I briefly considered a GC as the alternative. The funny part is that I nixed it because of the relatively new engine design (and Chrysler’s then-recent history with new engine families). Which is one thing that has not proved a problem on those.
Having rented a GC or three I have been happier with my choice every passing year. And I still have 15K left on my powertrain warranty.
“I’m looking for [a] reliable van that can handle some abuse. Lots of miles, lots of hockey gear and other crap, and pulling a tent trailer twice a year.” If you consider pre-owned options and are willing to sacrifice car-like handling & thrifty fuel economy for all-around versatility, a Chevy Astro would fit your needs almost perfectly. I bought an ’05 last December with 260k miles; 3k miles later it still starts right up every time and has never left me stranded on the side of the road with its original engine & transmission! Fuel mileage won’t be spectacular (I’ve gotten no higher than 18.5 mpg) but it’ll pull most typical trailers with no fuss as long as the transmission is in “3” with Tow/Haul Mode engaged. Seats? Take out the ones you don’t need if you want more cargo room (YES they are heavy!); alternatively you can put a board over the unused seats when folded down & now you’ve got multi-layer cargo storage! If you still prefer newer minivans then the Kia Sedona is your best option transmission-wise, but for some the Stow-N-Go seating of the Grand Caravan/Town & Country/Pacifica wins over anything else. Depends on your priorities.
I would have to deduct one thousand brownie points for no rear amber turn signal indicators.
What marvelled me the most was how comprehensive the safety and comfort equipment options as “standard” and how much the manufacturers love to emphasise on safety features. Yet, they skip on the simplest and cost effective rear amber turn signal indicators. Because FMVSS doesn’t require it, the manufacturers don’t bother with it.
Even NHTSA not long ago admitted the safety benefit of the said safety feature. When will NHTSA/DOT get its head out of the sand and update its FMVSS to reflect that?
I agree with the red rear indicators being a real bummer. But, can the rear lenses be replaced by ones from, say, the Australian version?
Ford had them on the Aerostar (except in ’97; THIS one’s off my ’96) AND the Windstar, but not on the Freestar to my knowledge. The Ranger had amber from ’93 to ’99 & with the current model just NOW got it back. The Explorer had amber from ’95 to ’01; it came back on the 2011 model. The Transit Connect has always used amber. Chrysler has used amber on the Journey and the Town & Country (from 2011-16) but apparently forgot about it on the Pacifica; the Grand Caravan never had it from the start. Why this on & off affair with rear turn signal colors?
Agree this isn’t a bad-looking minivan… what kind of fuel economy have you been getting (highway and “normal”)?
One of the things we liked about our Routan was that the 3.6l Pentastar easily returned in the low 30s on the highway. About 24 average including “city.” OTOH, its transmission shift programming really ruined what should have been a pleasant driving experience.
In my experience, Hyundai/Kia vehicles don’t seem to be class-leaders in fuel mileage. It’s actually not something I pay a great deal of attention to, but from what I recall, in highway driving we average about 26-27 mpg. I actually never track mileage ordinarily, so I don’t know the around-town mileage. I assume that fuel economy for the 2019 models (w/ 8-speed transmission) is higher.
Can I get a Sedona transmission in my GC?? That would be ideal.
We’re also past the age where the walk through seating is used, but when the kids were real young the “in flight servicing, how may I help you?” aspect was very handy indeed..
“3.6l Pentastar easily returned in the low 30s on the highway”
Just how slow are you driving it to get that? My T&C with the same drivetrain can knock down a solid 26 driven at 75mph loaded down running A/C which I’m quite happy with, could maybe hit 28-29mpg I’d imagine if kept at 70mph with less of a load.
We generally drive at or slightly (2-3mph) above the posted limit.
Ah that makes sense!
Just wanted to put this out there……does anyone here like technology in their vehicles? I feel like I’m the odd man out.
I love modern tech in vehicles, and my next car will have Android Auto capability because Waze is incredible. Seems like the infotainment question is mainly along generational lines.
Technology lover here, too. I dare say Brendan will also agree, confirming Edward’s theory it’s a generational thing.
For those of us who keep their vehicles for long periods of time, I have learned that in most cases “technology” is another word for “expensive failure”. I keep waiting for the day when everything in the junkyards has all of the mechanical components picked over but the electronics are left alone because nobody ever needs them. We are not there yet.
That said, I think tech in vehicles is cool. I just prefer the tech in someone elses’ vehicles.
But would you want manual windows and locks in your Sedona? (Especially if your kids were smaller again?).
A lot of that tech is what keeps the vehicle easily lasting 200k miles without a lot of upkeep. Sure you could get an older car there but consider how little maintenance your van has needed to date compared to what an average vehicle needed thirty years ago. You likely wouldn’t even have it anymore at this stage.
As with most other things there are some manufacturers that seem to do “tech” reliably (and generally adopt it later once it’s fully fleshed out) and others that are on the bleeding edge of it that have more issues with it but precisely that tech is what makes them attractive to their target (new car market) buyer.
When I say “tech” I am not including some of those power options that were around in the 70s. I would never buy a van without power locks, for example. My stripper Sedona has power windows too. But a digital electronic control for HVAC in place of mechanical controls is something else. And a touch screen that is the only way to control certain essential functions? At the risk of sounding like the old fart I seem to be becoming, they are just trouble waiting to happen.
I’m older than those guys above me and while I don’t always seek out the tech, once it’s in the car and I actually learn how to use it and how it works, then I tend to fall in love with it and want it going forward.
For a vehicle that’s used for mundane things like commuting and important things like driving the family around in, any help or convenience feature that makes the task easier or less stressful or just more comfortable that I can get is appreciated. For the “fun” times, it’s not the tech that’s annoying, frankly it’s the capability of modern cars that’s the problem, it is so much more difficult to find places and times to exploit 100 percent of the power and handling capabilities of modern performance vehicles as opposed to say, a mid-80’s GTI.. Sure you can easily hit over 100mph at the end of an off ramp or take that last right angle corner into your subdivision at 60mph but that’s just asking for trouble. In the long (or maybe short) term. But doddering around at 2/10’s is boring so….
Technology is a real head scratcher for me. Some of it is amazing, like bluetooth. But too much is now taking away responsibility of the driver to be fully aware of their surroundings, with lane departure, blind spot monitoring, and the like. I like the idea of blind spot monitoring, but in stop and go traffic, it’s always on. Rear view cameras are great, but you still have to look for traffic in parking lots.
But the main issue, to me, is added complexity and obsolescence. When a car is inoperable due to a diode blowing out on a no-longer produced chip, the car can end up scrapped. When we see electronic systems fail with no replacements available, as we are now seeing with late 1980s and early 1990s models, what are we going to do to keep them on the road once junkyard parts are no longer there?
I like tech, but simultaneously dislike large centrally-located screens that control the majority of the car’s everyday functions. To me (and I say this having experience driving multiple cars with this setup) it simply takes far too much attention off the road to do even basic things like switch media inputs or change the cabin temperature. I much prefer the layout of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which has a bit of a learning curve but places all the information directly in front of the driver and controls the screen using buttons on the steering wheel, minimizing the amount of time spent looking away from the road. In fact, my favorite modern interior is the one found in the Audi TT, where the central screen is ditched entirely in favor of this system, which drastically cleans up the space visually as well.
As always, it’s different for everybody. Like others have said, much of the difference is generational, and as more and more drivers have grown up with screens controlling their lives, it’s unlikely we’ll see a shift away from this trend. The skew on a predominantly old-car website is (almost) always going to be toward conservative adoption of new features, so that’s why you may feel in the minority here. If you go to a site like Green Car Reports, you’re likely to see the opposite trend. Just different audiences.
This would be a good QOTD, if it hasn’t been already.
I’m in my late fifties and never thought I wanted infotainment until I bought a 2017 Ford Fusion with Sync 3 and Apple Car Play. Very intuitive to use and it quickly became indispensable! Just bought a 2019 Honda Passport and the Apple Car Play was a must-have. The absence of such eliminated Toyota products from consideration.
I think my truck (‘15 RAM 2500 Tradesman) is close to perfect from a tech standpoint. Power steering, brakes, windows and door locks, a/c, electronic 4WD shift-on-fly and the only nanny is traction control that’s easily disabled. I replaced the base radio with a CarPlay head unit, and the only other feature that might be nice would be keyless entry.
Our former ‘12 Routan wasn’t too bad, either. I considered replacing the head unit with a CarPlay unit, but then we decided to buy the TourX and it became a moot point.
The 276 HP is a definite plus. The second row seat problem is a downer, but overall it sounds like you made an excellent choice!
I have been waiting to hear your experience. Has it been a year already?
It seems that either 2 or 3 things are universal criticisms – The rear seat design, the styling of the rear 1/3 of the van and the fixed console. I am really surprised that Kia has not come out with an alternate option for removable seats. Call it the Quick Convert package or whatever, this would be the biggest issue for me. My van got pressed into furniture-moving duty twice in the last few months and the space occupied by those seats (including making the side doors useless for loading) is invaluable.
I am not wowed by the rear styling and am ambivalent on the console. I am past the age where a walk-through is crucial. My current van has something like your old Odyssey, and it is always up with stuff on it – making it permanent for practical purposes. At least the new one gives you lots of storage. Oh well.
My 2012 is at about 85K miles and has been an excellent experience all around. I still enjoy driving it after these several years. I fret about it getting older but my van completely lacks all of the CAFE tweaks that provide both extra MPGs and driving irritants. Am I going to be one of “those guys” who commits to this thing for the next 15 years? A scary thought.
Sounds like a great van! Personally I find this to be the most physically attractive of the options both inside and out. Losing the ability to move into the driver’s seat Millennium Falcon style from the back is a bummer but something that’s a bigger issue with small kids when attending to them in transit by a passenger or in poor weather makes this very desirable.
While HK products are now stickered more closely to their competitors, they still get the resale rap. However that is much less of a consideration if one takes into account the initial discounts that are often/usually available and also if one keeps the vehicle for the longer term. With the warranty that’s offered on these it all kind of works out.
I considered a minivan last year but ended up with a truck for a couple of good reasons (passenger hauling wasn’t a prime motivator). While things have worked out very well, buying a van instead still is something I occasionally wish I did (and then sometimes am glad I didn’t). But the Sedona was high on the list of possibles at the time.
I for one look forward to catching up with this thing again in the next year or two to see how it ages or, even better, how it ages compared and contrasted to the Odyssey on the other side of the driveway.
You remind me of the one question I forgot to ask: If given a choice, which of the two vans would Eric rather buckle into and drive if you are running out for an errand or two?
I am one of the 18000 that got an ’18 in the US. We purchased a few weeks before the refreshed 19 came out and like you got a huge (10000$) discount (included rebates due to trading in an odyssey). I’m sure resale will not be as good, but I figure I just collected it up front.
I like tech and have an SXL. Android auto (the new version released aug2019) works well. All the safety things to keep the van from crashing work well and I don’t find them intrusive. Mileage on long trips is 26, all around is usually 20 per the trip computer. We are a family of 6 with 2 dogs, so the middle row seats lack of removal are not a huge issue for us (for clarity the middle row center seat is removable). My biggest pet peeve is that I couldn’t get a sunroof in an 8 seat configuration in the top package. Kia does this in other cars too (telluride). On the sxl, to get the sunroof you had to delete the center middle seat. We added a tow hitch and a ceiling mounted entertainment system. The Kia version in 18 was mounted to the back of the center console and in 19 to the front row seat backs which both kind of suck for those of us with kids that ride in the back row. I too wish there was less wasted space. Example in the odyssey the center middle row seat had storage in its base. Sedona doesn’t. No service other than oil. Consumer reports gives the Sedona a very high quality score (best of the minivans) Overall at 12000 miles I’m happy with the van
The second row layout, non-removable large center console, and needlessly squished rear greenhouse wrote this generation of Sedona off for me basically immediately. A shame, since I think they are built quite well. We ended up with a lightly used 2016 Town & Country in our own minivan search.
Yeah, those were dealbreakers for us too. Plus our local dealer is a “no-haggle” one, and they were asking Honda money for them (this was when they were new, perhaps that was why). It drove nice though.
We also ended up with a T&C and yeah it’s less refined but for the money we don’t regret it, it’s a great road tripper.
I just got back from a road trip out to a mini vacation on Lake Michigan, my wife and 3 month old and my in laws, all the baby stuff (pack and play, stroller, diaper and pump bags), a big 10ft canopy, cooler, chairs, etc, etc. We had the left 2/3rds of the third row folded with my mother in law in the way back, mom and baby in the captain’s chairs, me and my father in law up front. I can’t think of a better vehicle to do it in. 26.5 indicated mpg on the trip up cruising at 75mph in climate controlled bliss.
Kia’s certainly improved the Sedona dramatically from the first generation, which I mainly remember for its cheapness and dismal Consumer Reports reliability rating. I’ve liked the styling of this generation ever since it’s come out, and agree that minivans are a much more practical choice for most families than are large SUVs. It never fails to amaze me how little room a Tahoe has inside; the large crossovers are better, of course, but never as good as a minivan due to their concessions to style.
And this is a steal at $22k; a no-brainer, in fact. I’ve long been a Sienna fan (only as a passenger, though, so no experience with the transmission) but I see it’s been slapped in the face with Toyota’s Gillette-inspired corporate ugly-stick, and at this point hasn’t been seriously redesigned in nearly a decade, both which would give me serious reservations even without the price difference. Not to mention that the 2019 Sedona comes standard with Android Auto, which the Toyota doesn’t even offer (for whatever reason). At the price you got, the only “competition” is the Grand Caravan, which is so thoroughly uncompetitive I can’t believe Dodge sells any to non-fleet customers. Looks like you made a nice choice!
“which is so thoroughly uncompetitive I can’t believe Dodge sells any to non-fleet customers. Looks like you made a nice choice!”
I think a lot of these are sold as ex-fleet vehicles, at which point a loaded up 1 year old Caravan GT with leather and heated seats/steering wheel can be had for about $17-18k if you look… truly a bargain at that point compared to a relatively speaking spartan Sedona LX. To say nothing of the compromised utility of the Kia vs Stow and Go.
Twenty-two thousand dollars. How sad that most people spend (borrow) many thousands of dollars more for a SUV or pickup with less utility and generally less comfort. A compelling example of the fact that economic behavior is not necessarily rational.
What are you, Amish?
That’s not helpful
*cries, continues fruitless search for one of the 1000-or-so desired-spec Ford Transit Connects in the States*
Good review of an unconventional choice in today’s fast shifting automobile market. Though I am now an empty nester and have no need for a minivan, I have always admired their capabilities to haul both passengers and cargo and wish more people would consider them as alternatives to giant SUVs, such as Suburbans and Expeditions. I happen to like the looks of this Sedona, front and rear, where I agree that the Audi influence is most apparent.
I have “sold” four Kia/Hyundai products in the past two years by recommending them to family members looking for reasonably priced new or nearly new transportation. The basis for this was my experience renting numerous Sonatas, Santa Fe’s, and a previous-gen Sedona. I found them all equally desirable as most of their primary competition, if not quite class leaders. The kicker in all four cases was that a K/H product costs thousands less than the equivalent Honda or Toyota, to the point where, as noted above, a new Kia costs less than a year-old Honda or Toyota equivalent. The H/K products generally are rated as more reliable than the domestic makes by Consumer Reports, so it seems like a good bet. So far, everyone has been happy.
To put that $22k price in perspective: I paid exactly $22k for our new 1992 Dodge Grand Caravan L, with a slew of options that are all base equipment now, including the Fail-O-Matic 4 speed automatic (it went through four of them), ABS (It went through four ABS pumps – lifetime warranty), rear A/C, AM/FM radio, flip-down built-in kiddie seats (a handy thing at the time), and various convenience packages (lights and such).
That $22k adjusts to exactly $40k in today’s dollars.
But at the time, it was the king of the minivans. And one can only speculate as to its profit margin back then.
It’s been interesting following the chatter on this post. Let me explain: I’ve become a born-again minivan fan. I was minivan deprived for a long time, as my wife doesn’t like them. After our last Aztek was taken out by a deer, I found a van I liked (as I would be driving it all of the time) and the love has returned. However, it’s 15 years old and one good mechanical issue or another deer strike will likely take it off the road.
For me, it’s been interesting seeing people’s opinions on different vans as they have popped up in this string. A friend had one of the second generation Kia Sedonas which served him well, until a tree fell on it. Forced to buy another van, he ended up with a Town & Country. But the Sedona seemed reliable and durable. What else do you really need when you have four kids?
I keep watch for possible replacements for my own van, with an eye to future uses of said van. If my van were to be totaled today and I needed immediate replacement, I would probably get a Mopar van of some stripe. However, I’ve been looking at some of the Ford and FCA small Euro-vans with their higher roofs as potential replacements. These can be turned into overnight campers with ready made kits; and if nothing else, the higher roof allows me to carry my 29” mountain bike upright inside the van.
I should also mention, that if cost were no object, I’d be rocking a Pacifica Hybrid. That would be the best of both worlds for me.
But, for now the Silhouette keeps on truckin’ (or is that vannin’?) and I will enjoy the lack of car payments as a result.
George, you ought to try test driving one of the later 2nd gen vans sometime, just for fun. It has the more flexible seat system and I’ll bet prices are really attractive. Also, I have yet to see a really rusty one, and the style goes back to 2006.
Jim, after seeing all of the positive comments on here, they definitely will show up on my list. Other than the one guy I know, no one else I know has a Sedona.
In the wealthier parts around here, a gray Honda Odyssey is pretty much the equivalent of a black business suit. In the solidly middle class areas, everyone has a version of the Chrysler minis, and the poorer parts of town, they’re still rocking the U-bodies.
I’m not poor, but I have a U-body that refuses to quit… LOL!
It would not surprise me that the Korean brands have less market penetration in Michigan than they do elsewhere. The Americans seem better represented there than the norm and the Japanese have been around long enough that they have forced their way into that market.
Down here, even with all of the GM employment we had up until not all that long ago, the U vans are not that common. But then maybe I’m just not in the right neighborhoods. What is really rare is the high-end EX model in my generation of Sedona. I used to laugh at those and say “who buys a loaded Kia?” But as much as I have come to like mine, I would not look askance at some upgrades like the electric rear flipper windows. But then I would have to take the ‘lectric doors. Ugh. 🙂
Note that for the second generation there was also a Hyundai Entourage for a few years, if I am not mistaken basically the same thing as the Kia with a Hyundai logo…
Yes, the Entourage was only offered the first few years. I always found its grille more attractive than the early Sedona. The taillights from the Entourage made it onto my 2012 Sedona.
I tried to hold out for a well kept low mile 2nd gen Sedona EX, and just missed out on a clean 46k mile unit up near South Bend, alas it sold a few days prior to me driving up. I’m impressed with their sturdiness, beefy six lug hubs, almost truck-like. JPC let me test drive his and I really liked the powertrain, interior is basic but well built. When I was researching them i did see there was a recall for lower control arms rusting out in the salt belt, but that’s not too scary compared to a subframe or something else much more expensive and hard to replace. Dealers inspect them and rust-proof them as needed.
2014 is the last of the second gens, and I believe you get the six speed by then. My 08 has a five.
My 2012 has the 6 speed too. Wiki says that the updated engine and the 6 speed came out in the 2011s, which was also the year they got the new grille. Oddly, there was no 2013 model, and I always wondered if the 2014 re-introduced the 2nd gen for one final year because the 3rd gen was running behind somehow, if only for compliance with US regs.
“However, it’s 15 years old and one good mechanical issue or another deer strike will likely take it off the road. ”
Don’t forget the rust. These 97-04 U-Vans suffer from rust under the headlights and on the bottom of the firewall. I spray my 1997 Trans Sport down after each of my state’s rock salt events to to keep the rust at bay.
@eckell3: I get underneath mine several times a year to inspect it. So far the rocker panels are gone, the headlight rust is just intensifying and the rest of the unibody looks good. But, this car came from the southern half of Indiana and I don’t think they hose down their roads with anywhere near as much salt as we do in my part of Michigan.
My part of Michigan has one of the highest deer strike amounts in the US. I fully expect to hit another one. It might even be one of the ones that live in my neighborhood!
Nowhere in the comparison idea did the vans from Ford and FCA show up. I suppose that’s mostly because there’s no 3rd row of seating, and neither manufacturer does any marketing whatsoever on the passenger versions of their small commercial vans.
My hankering for a minivan waxes and wanes, but if I do wind up with one, it will be a Transit Connect. I don’t need 7 seats.
Good call on the Transit Connect or its chief competitor, the Ram Promaster City. The passenger versions of those two come the closest to the SWB 1984 Chrysler minivan and the selling points of the original still apply today.
Ever ride in one of these?
I thought similarly, and then spent the day with them. After a day, I needed my jock strap. It was like riding in one of my kid’s school buses on an all-day field trip.
There’s a real conundrum with the current minivans, and that’s falling sales with what seems to be the best-ever array of choices. Simply put, you just can’t make a bad minivan decision and it largely depends on what a buyer wants or needs. Tight budget? Grand Caravan or Sedona. Reliability and AWD? Sienna. Best driving dynamics? Odyssey. Practical and latest features? Pacifica. Fuel economy? Pacifica Hybrid.
One point worth mentioning is the inability to access the rear area from the front seats, thanks entirely to the large, fixed console between the seats. This was a major selling point for the first 1984 T-115 Chrysler minivan and, to me, it’s a huge mistake to do away with it, at least on all but the lowest trims.
In fact, in Japan, they still make a point of offering column mounted shifters and a clear path to the rear in many vehicles, thanks entirely to the very congested and tight urban environment. In effect, it’s sometimes necessary to be able to get in/out through alternative doors.
FWIW, our fairly loaded up 2016 Town & Country Touring L has the removable style of center console, and the Odyssey’s is still removable as well, at least the 2011-2017 ones did.
My wife loves minivans, but I don’t. So, when buying one for our family, I looked at the purchase without emotions.
I see new parents spend $10-15,000 too much, thinking that they have to have that new Honda or Toyota. New parents should not put pooping, peeing, vomiting, and spilling babies in these vehicles. Honda and Toyota vans are for seniors who wear absorbent undergarments and have pensions that can pay for a Honda or Toyota. New parents don’t have that luxury. New babies don’t care if you are driving an expensive minivan, or if they are being taken around town in a wheelbarrow. Get the wheelbarrow minivan, not the van designed for trips to church, bingo halls, Bob Evans and cemeteries.
Our first minivan was one of the GM embarrassments from 2006, named worst vehicle of the year repeatedly. Instead of getting a new Relay3 minivan for $35,000 – we got it for $18,900 because Saturn only sold 200 of them that year. Our child breeding friends bought Hondas and laughed at me. That POS Saturn outlasted their transmission-blowing Hondas by five years.
We now have a 2015 Town and Country that Chrysler gave away at 0% financing for 60 months to clear the lots for their new Pacifica. Still completely trouble free after 4 years as of today. No hints of problems either.
Buy cheap. Kids grow up fast. You don’t want to drop thousands into a Honda or Toyota when a Kia or a Hyundai does the job without problems. Screw resale. Use that rolling diaper pail up until it is left smoking along a ditch near your house.
Good job dude!
VanillaDude, well said. Graphic, but it drives home the point.
Several years ago, one of my cousin’s kids came to the States as an exchange student from Germany. The family she was placed with was 100 miles from where I lived at the time, so we spent a few weekends with her there.
The doctor and his family that was hosting my third cousin had a top of the line Honda Odyssey. In addition to three kids, they had two large dogs. The van was a cesspool of people and dog detritus. I wasn’t really surprised by this, as I had seen plenty of this when I was selling cars. Essentially these things become rolling biohazards after a couple of years in family duty.
Most of the biohazard minivans I’d run across were cheapo Voyagers and Aerostars back in the day. It just seemed like a shame to totally trash a very loaded vehicle like that.
The 2nd row seats and center console are bizarre oversights. I wonder if this model is meant to be a luxury/chauffeured minivan in its home market, where Kia presumably also offers more cargo-oriented models for those who need them.
Still, that’s a helluva lot of car for $22k.
Our first minivan had captain’s seats for the second row and they were a nightmare that blocked our ability to reach around them to fasten the kids in the third row. You cannot fold captain’s seats when there is a fixed car seat strapped into them, so you have to either stretch yourself around the captain’s seats or fasten the third row kids by going over their shoulders through the tail gate.
Been following you guys since you split from the other site, but not a poster. However, this review finally roped me in. That was a great review, and I agree that the KIA is a great value. During carmageddon in March of 2009, my wife and I decided to sell our 1996 Chrysler Town and Country to a friend and shopped the Sienna and the Sedona.
We bought a new 2008 Sedona EX as the dealer dropped the price by over a third as they were desperate to see something move off their lot. As a somewhat stereotypical Midwesterner, this was my first non-American branded car since a bad experience in the early 80’s with an early 70’s Mazda RX-2. I added an aftermarket warranty to cover the gaps in KIA’s already generous warranty which was mostly used for the power sliding doors as this generation was prone to door failures. Had a few other claims but all in all the Sedona was a great van for the price.
I say “was great” because my sixteen year old daughter just wrecked it (not her fault). It was a bad enough accident, where as fate would have it a 2010 Dodge Caravan ran into her. The steering wheel air bag went off but she walked away with nothing but some burns/scratches on her arms so even wrecked it stays in the great column.
Based on my experiences with two minivans they are fabulous all around vehicles. I too find the fixed center console a fail as KIA chose fashion over function which is the antithesis of the minivan.
However, it looks like I’ll finally be getting a Toyota after all as I’m going to replace it with a 2011 Rav4 with 55,000 miles as my wife’s friend is about to migrate from Toyota to Subaru. I tried to talk her into keeping the low mileage Toyota. but I guess she’s set on a little love.
That’s a rough ending for a good van, but I’m glad your daughter’s OK. A RAV4 with low miles like that is a great find, so that’ll last hopefully for a good long time.
Regarding buying an import-brand car, it seems to me that over the past decade, even in the rural Midwest, imports are much more common. I’d love to know how much import-brand penetration has changed by region over the past 10-15 years, but to me it seems like a lot.
Thanks for the reply Eric. I too think the Rav4 will be a good purchase particularly as it’s replacing the van that pretty much became my daughter’s car except when her mom used it for her estate sale excursions.
I’m a city Midwesterner but I agree with your observation about import-brand penetration in rural, and city, Midwest. Lots of reasons already talked about on this site and the site from which it sprang. There used to be a bias against import branded vehicles by certain segments in the Midwest, but I feel as if it’s all but disappeared in the last ten years or so. There may be a personal bias toward buying American branded, particularly pickups, but that bias towards others for purchasing import branded has largely disappeared. Plus I’m at the age now where other’s biases don’t sway me much.
Now I go for the vehicles that fit my needs/wants at what I consider the best value. I’ve got a 2017 Nissan Titan in the garage that I hope has a camper on it’s rear end soon. Would I have bought a Ford, GM, or Ram in May of 2018 when I bought it? Yep, if anyone would have come near the Titan’s price. Like in your review all things are not equal when price is factored in especially when the gap is large.
I’m glad I decided to ring in. I’ve enjoyed this site and the comments since day one. I find it very interesting, informative, friendly, and, refreshing to me, gentlemanly in it disagreements.
I considered the sedona when I was shopping for a van in late 2015. When i discovered the 2nd row seats wernt removeable that was a deal breaker. I didnt even test drive it. This was a big blunder kia made with this minivan. Minivans are all about utility and that just kills it for me and many others. The tiny 3rd row windows are also a drawback.
Let me say that I, probably more so than most, commend you for keeping the minivan alive and thriving Eric!
This generation Sedona is actually one of the few modern minivans I’ve driven, as Kia was offering test drives of it at the Boston Auto show back in January 2015 when in debuted. I found it as comfortable and capable as any CUV from behind the wheel.
Although you are not fond of it, count me in as a fan of the Sedona’s full car-like center console. If I recall, this generation Sedona was the first minivan to offer such one, and I’ve personally felt the lack of a traditional center console in most minivans has been something that’s limited the vehicle’s appeal, making it seem overly utilitarian/truck-like and reminiscent of “mom’s minivan from the 1990s”.
I think that in the console vs. no-console debate, people are starkly divided… like window seats vs. aisle seats.
But keep an open mind… once you experience the joys of console-free driving, you may never look back!
I am in the same boat with an aging Odyssey and several cross country trips per year. Our ’07 has 180k. It has not left us stranded, however repairs have become more frequent since hitting 160k or so, and I am concerned about possible breakdowns.
The Sedona is a great value. A brand new van with a warranty for 22k is hard to beat. I don’t think the center console in the Sedona would bother me. The flip up center “table” in our Odyssey has been up for 10 years.
I see these Kia minivans about but they are badged Carnival, they blend into the ocean of Japanese models in all sorts of sizes we have, most have a RUC label in the windscreen denoting a diesel engine, Hyundai/Kia diesels have a pretty good rep and are a popular choice in all their various vehicles.
Thanks for a great review. I considered a Sedona to replace our third, adored Sienna, each of which have been superb. The huge comprimise I couldn’t live with in the Sedona was that middle seat design, as you describe. It’s such a dumb compromise in making the seats almost totally unremovable. Anyway, great to know it’s a solid choice if that issue isn’t important.
Not sure where your getting your information but everything I have read over the last few years puts the Pacifica as the gold standard. Interestingly, if I were in the market for a minivan I wouldn’t even cross shop. I would just go by the Pacifica. But hey, this makes the Kia fanboys happy.
The Pacifica is indeed an excellent car in most metrics, I’ve had one as a rental to drive 8 hours frome Iowa to Indiana and I was incredibly impressed. But there’s one metric that’s a bit of a sore spot, and that’s reliability. Moreso than even the older Caravan platform.
Hey Ted C, go buy what makes you happy. From everything I have read the Pacifica is a very nice van. I would like to drive one just for fun. But it is really expensive. For someone who wants to pay top money for a really nice van the Pacifica sounds like a great idea.
And if buying a Sedona instead of a GC in 2012 and being very happy with my choice makes me a fanboy, then I guess I am a fanboy.
“Interestingly, if I were in the market for a minivan I wouldn’t even cross shop. I would just go by [sic] the Pacifica.”
This seems like rather fanboy-ish behavior…
$22,000? That is a hell of a deal for that van. If i could have found a van like that at that price I would have bought it instead of the Elantra I bought.
It is probably that low because it is considered a “base model” and nobody wants that anymore. They all want top of the line. It reminds me of my dad buying his 2009 Taurus back at the end of 2009. This was a $25,000+ car but he got it for well less then $20,000 out the door because it was considered a base model and nobody wanted it. My dad looks it over and sees it has pwr windows/locks/seats/remote entry/ABS. All stuff that was considered luxury/fully loaded in the car this 2009 replaced.(93 Taurus). It seems the non base cars had leather and a touch screen/GPS
As for the blind spot, I had this in my 1997 Trans Sport until I took the advice of a friend. I adjusted the side mirrors so that I could see no part of my van in them while in a normal sitting position. The mirrors were now adjusted to see everything in the next lane. You don’t need to see your vehicle in the side mirrors.
As for the infotainment system, Hyundai/Kia are very good with their units. I have the bigger touch screen but it looks good in the dash and is easy to use. Plus you don’t have to really interact with it. I rarely touch it unless I need to select a specific song or artist on the USB stick. I mostly just use the steering wheel for the radio and phone controls.
I’ve wondered if my deal was an anomaly, or whether Sedonas often sell for such a discount. I find it interesting that in Michael Taylor’s comment above, he describes buying a fully-loaded 2018 Sedona SXL and also negotiating about $10,000 off the sticker price (similar $ amount to my discount, but a smaller percentage due to the higher price).
I think my deal was a confluence of three factors:
1) Like you mentioned, it’s not heavily equipped, and my experience last year was that only about 5-10% of Sedonas in dealer stock were equipped like mine.
2) We bought the van in October… dealers were trying to clear out the ’18 inventory and the ’19 Sedonas had not yet arrived in stock. The dealer I bought from only had 3 Sedonas in stock, but several others had a dozen or more, so there was clearly excess inventory around.
3) Kia’s sticker price is too high. It seems like they’re trying to wiggle out of the bargain market by raising the sticker price, but then giving big discounts. It’s like shopping at Kohl’s… the sticker price seems largely mythical. Questionable strategy in my opinion, especially because these cars’ value vs. the competition is their biggest asset. If they’re almost always selling for less, then lower the sticker price and advertise that!
The $22,000 sale price was less than what we paid for our Odyssey nine years earlier (and like Paul N. mentions above, it’s the same as he paid for a Grand Caravan in 1992). So, we’re very pleased with this van’s value.
Regarding the rear blind spots, I do swing my mirrors out like you mentioned, so I don’t see any of the car in the mirror. I’ve found the blind spots are caused by the pillars and headrests blocking what I’d ordinarily see from the inside rear-view mirror. It’s an annoyance for sure.
I paid about 19k for my 2012, and that was based on a sticker of about 24k. Ours was a 2nd gen so the example may be less relevant than more recent purchases. Ours was also purchased in Sept of 2011 so we got one on the very leading edge of the model year (although that may not have been much of a factor on something that changes as infrequently as one of these.)
I have noticed that stickers are higher now. Also, my research when I bought mine was that Hyundai/Kia did not build as much fat into their stickers then so the dealers didn’t have as much room to move as happened on other less popular brands. We took advantage of two rebates, a Costco discount and a final negotiated discount due to a dealer that provided a vehicle with a couple of hundred miles more than had been agreeable when we agreed to buy. Perhaps they have fattened the margins on current stickers, allowing bigger discounts (and probably helping financing for folks upside down on their trades).
I loved staying at Price tower. I too travelled from DC, but flew to OKC for a meeting and then drove up in an unmemorable rental car. I hung out with some oil field workers – filthy after their shift – in the bar on the top floors. It is a remarkable building, although the elevators are not for the claustrophobic. Also much better as a hotel than the bizzare original use as an office building.
It was one of the highlights of our trip, and by far the most unique hotel I’ve ever stayed in. We stayed in one of the “suites,” which were originally used as apartments. You can definitely get a feel for Wright’s design nuances by staying there. I avoided the top-floor bar, though! And, yes, the tiny elevators were quite an experience.
We have a 2006 Sedona — and a 2016 Sedona! So, we’ve got two minivans, as well. The earlier version has a flip-down center console and tons of space between the driver and passenger seats. The monstrosity of a center console in the newer one is my only major complaint. I hate it. But I love our Sedonas!