2003 Kia Sedona Review

Specifications

No Sacrifice Value Van

Who would have thought that Koreas Kia would be competing head to head with the top domestic and Japanese automakers in the hotly contested minivan sector of the market when they started out?

Well they are, and theyve come to the table with a formidable product. After almost two years of production the Sedona has walked away with various best new vehicle awards, a total value index award and a vehicle satisfaction award, not bad at all. Its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-Star rating for front and rear-seat passengers in both frontal and side impact crash tests was a boost too, showing just how far Kia has gone to not only win over buyers but keep them… alive.

I tested the 2002 Sedona when it arrived on the scene over a year ago and was duly impressed. It wasnt perfect, and didnt completely measure up to the Chrysler Caravan, Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV in interior perceived quality or convenience features, but then again offered standard features that should have made some of its competition blush with embarrassment at the prices they were asking. Even without factoring the 2002 Sedonas low price it was good enough to recommend.

Model year 2003 hasnt brought much in the way of changes, actually none that have been made known to me. I noticed some improvements in build quality, especially with the tailgate that feels more substantial when closing now than the previous example I was testing.

As far as its competition, of which I spent a great deal of time in the previous review doing comparisons, only the Toyota Sienna has dramatically changed with a 2004 model just made available, while a new Nissan Quest, not available last year, and a replacement for the aging Ford Windstar, the Freestar, are on the way for 2004.

The Sedonas 3.5-L V6 remains the same for 2003 at 195-hp, and offers excellent response to input, that is if the front wheels dont light up spinning and screeching desperate for front wheel grip. I dont usually start reviews with complaints but for those whose right foot gets the best of them this minivan needs traction control. Back on the positive, torque steer, often a problem with front-wheel drive cars, is virtually non-existent. Whats more, while some competitors are still only offering 4-speed automatic transmissions the Sedonas 5-speed unit shifts seamlessly, a really impressive gearbox.

Also the Kia wont disappoint those trying to make up time on their way to a past due appointment, as its high-speed stability and agility in the corners is near the top of the pack. Again traction control, or even a more sophisticated stability control system, could go a long way to improving things in slippery conditions, but such features cost money, and would drive up the Sedonas bottom line.

That bottom line is a mere $19,620, the clear value leader when the standard features of the base LX are factored in. Adding to the aforementioned V6 and 5-speed automatic, standard features include speed-sensitive steering, air conditioning, rear manual A/C, rear heater ducts, power windows, power door locks, heated power exterior mirrors, a 6-speaker AM/FM single CD audio system, cruise control, tilt steering, dual sliding doors (not power), driver lumbar support, an attractive and handy overhead console, 8 cup holders, tinted windows, body-color exterior trim, variable intermittent wipers, a rear intermittent wiper, an engine block heater, front and rear mud guards and a cargo net and quite a bit more.

Standard safety features include front driver and passenger airbags, child seat anchors, height-adjustable, pretensioning front seatbelts and 3-point center belts for the rear.

If anti-lock brakes are part of your purchasing agenda its necessary to move up the Sedona EX, but this model doesnt include rear brake discs. Actually, rear drums are all that is available for any of the Sedonas trim levels, but I didnt notice any problems braking during everyday driving. Its most likely, though, that an upgrade to rear discs would shorten stopping distances.

The EX does include a few other options along with the ABS though, including a chrome grille, two-tone paint, a roof rack, rear spoiler, fog lights, 8-way power drivers seat and 4-way power passenger seat, two additional cupholders, a cassette player, day/night rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers, power rear side windows (a rare option), and remote keyless entry, which I personally would not want to live without especially in a vehicle the size of this minivan.

A few interior enhancements include a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel and imitation wood-trim - I appreciate Kia being honest about the faux wood trim instead of calling it woodgrain or something of the like.

The Sedona EX also replaces the standard 15-inch steel wheels with 15-inch alloy rims. The tires continue to measure P215/70R15 on all trim packages. A full-size spare is included as standard equipment by the way.

The top-tier Sedona is the EX with the available leather package, at about the same MSRP as some of its Japanese competitors base prices. What do you get? A power glass sunroof, leather door trim and leather seats, thats a great deal considering there are seven of them to upholster.

As I previously wrote in the 2002 review the Sedonas interior volume is substantial. While not as large as the Dodge Grand Caravans 167.9 cubic foot total cargo capacity, and nothing else is, the Kias 127.5 cubic feet is only slightly smaller than the others used in this reviews comparisons, and ample for most families needs.

But space isnt the entire story. The Kias 50/50 split-folding 3rd row seats dont hide under the floor like many of its competitors, Dodge excluded. Fortunately each seat is completely separate making removal easier, but storage can be a problem if you dont happen to park in an enclosed, secure garage. Also some new competitive minivans are even sporting 2nd row seats that fold flat into the floor, so Kia needs to catch up when it comes to loading convenience.

But then again were back to price. Some wont mind saving the money and lifting the seats in and out the odd time loading something large becomes necessary - youll need to look at your lifestyle to judge how important this feature is to you. Power sliding doors are nice too, but they add weight, expense and complexity to a vehicle that will eventually run out of warranty.

Of course the warranty will take some time to run out if the minivan you choose is a Kia. Their 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper plan should allay any fears about jumping brands. And my guess is with money getting tighter due to the general state of economic uncertainty new car buyers are becoming less brand-loyal, and looking to save a few dollars on their next family vehicle. That is if theres no need to sacrifice quality or basic minivan convenience. If the rewards and accolades are anything to go by, the Sedona should be no sacrifice at all.