Kia Sedona
Overall Score - 8.7 (Very Good)
Reviewers praise the Sedona's wide range of standard features, stellar safety equipment ,and impressive powertrain warranty. If you're in the market for a minivan, you should also consider the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna.
Kia, a division of Korean automaker Hyundai, redesigned the Sedona minivan in 2006 and reviewers find the current model to be a significant improvement over the previous one. "The new Sedona minivan is better in almost every way than the first-generation Sedona," says AutoWeek. The majority of the praise goes to the Sedona's award-winning safety equipment, the powertrain warranty and Kia's willingness to put features in the base model that would ordinarily be available as extra-cost options. Reviewers are less enthusiastic about the vehicle's performance and appearance, but many find the Sedona an acceptable alternative to its rivals in the minivan market. "[T]he new Sedona actually stacks up admirably against many of its competitors," says the Detroit News, "including safety leaders such as the Honda Odyssey."
Several reviewers feel that the price is right. "For consumers interested in a quality minivan at a very agreeable price," says Edmunds, "the Sedona is well worth the consideration." U.S. News reviewer Rick Newman adds that "Kia is selling value, not sex appeal, and the Sedona shows that the Korean automaker understands its mission well." Consumer Guide awards the Sedona its "Recommended" status. Motor Week gives it a Driver's Choice Award as "Best Minivan," in a tie with the Hyundai Entourage. Kelley Blue Book feels that the Kia won't look like quite as good a value when the time comes to sell it: "[I]ts biggest disadvantage is its mediocre (but improving) resale value." IntelliChoice calls the 2007 Kia Sedona a "worse than average" value based on total cost of ownership compared to other vehicles in its class. The 2007 Kia Sedona is available in three trims: the base model, the LX and the top of the line EX.
Sedona Performance - 7.5 (Good)
Reviewers largely agree that the 2007 Kia Sedona's performance is competitive within its class. Kelley Blue Book feels that the Sedona's "powerful engine and smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission...provide an around-town eagerness that makes the Sedona as enjoyable to drive as any minivan on the road." continue
Sedona Exterior - 6.2 (Mediocre)
Most reviewers find the 2007 Kia Sedona's looks bland but inoffensive. "The redesigned...Sedona offers the same slick, rather innocuous, styling of most conventional minivans," says MSN. continue
Sedona Interior - 7.4 (Good)
Reviewers praise the 2007 Kia Sedona's long list of available features while generally agreeing that its interior is spacious and comfortable. "Inside, there's seven-passenger seating with seats that easily collapse to create a vast cargo space," says New Car Test Drive. "Every cabin convenience known to man is either standard or available." continue
Sedona Safety - 9.8 (Excellent)
Reviewers are almost unanimous that the 2007 Kia Sedona, which received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" award, is the safest minivan around. "One place where the Sedona excels," says Newsday, "is in safety." continue
Sedona Reliability - 8.0 (Very Good)
The 2007 Kia Sedona reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Kia offers impressive warranty coverage on all of its cars, including a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. continue
