2004 Kia Sedona Review

More Than Expected

Okay, so youve come to your senses and accepted the fact that a minivan is for you - or rather for the family. At least thats what youll be telling the SUV and sports car crowd at the gym.

As you visit dealership showrooms youll surely realize that nicely equipped minivans are not cheap. Of course the dealer has strategically situated a similarly priced convertible next to the minivan on display allowing the mind to escape free from the ties-that-bind, a visualization of you and your new sports model travelling down a country road with the wind in your face, sipping an Americano and eating Tim bits. Your partners elbow in your ribs shatters that short-lived nirvana like a stick of dynamite in a china shop.

Back to the challenging business of selecting a minivan that incorporates the two critical elements of every purchase, quality and value. Well, the Korean auto manufacturer, Kia, has hugely simplified that challenge. Applauded for their ability to deliver sensational value, Kia continues to evolve and mature with each passing year. That maturation is reflected in the Sedona, which was one of just four minivans to be awarded the five-star rating in both frontal and side impact crash tests for the 2003 model year, according to information released by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“The takeaway is really quite simple,” said Kia Account Director Mike Dillon. “The Kia Sedona offers you more value and comfort than you probably expected, as well as the peace of mind of knowing it comes with the federal governments highest safety rating.”

Although 7 inches shorter than Hondas large Odyssey minivan, the nicely sized Sedona is 5 inches longer than the base Dodge Caravan. The Sedona is eye pleasing from any angle too, but not eye-popping. The exterior design is definitely - yawn - mainstream if not a little like Fords Windstar and Freestar designs; not that theres anything particularly wrong with that. Its just that the design envelope has been nudged ahead by the likes of the new Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest vans, which leaves the mainstreamers a little further downstream.

One thing Kia has done well with the Sedona is ensure that all of its bits and pieces fit together accurately, more so than on an American made minivan I recently tested. The dual sliding doors, standard on the Sedona, opened and closed with ease and a reassuring thunk, as did all of the Sedonas conventionally opening portals. Once inside the vault-like Sedona interior, I was immediately impressed with the touch and feel factor. Surface finishes impart a sense of quality and refinement usually associated with a pricier product. But thats the Kia way, more-quality-for-fewer-greenbacks.

Seating in the well-appointed cabin of the Sedona can take on several configurations, depending on the buyers preference and pocketbook. My test model featured leather seating and second-row captain-style chairs. Standard seating is cloth covered and standard for the second-row is a two-passenger folding bench that can be easily removed and pushed on a small set of wheels attached to the underside. The third-row seat is a 50/50-split bench capable of accommodating up to three narrow rear-ends. Either or both sides of the split rear-bench can be removed and wheeled into storage. Although Kia has made the seat removal process as painless as possible, they have missed the mark by not designing a third-row that tumbles into the floor when not required. Many of the competing minivans have adopted this design, which has been eagerly embraced by many-a-parent. Chrysler currently leads the disappearing seat competition with second row bucket seats that also drop completely flat into the floor. Toyota and Nissan second row seats fold forward but not as flush to the floor as the Dodge and Chrysler vans.

Just when I was thinking Kia is flying beneath the design and equipment thresholds set by other manufacturers, something about the Sedona jumped out and made me say, “Wow, these guys really do have it together.” Take, for instance, the standard 8-way adjustable drivers seat with lumbar, or the 4-way adjustable passenger seat. Of course, all Sedonas feature power windows, heated power mirrors, front and rear air conditioning, cruise control and lots of interior lighting and storage. Kia also makes a point of informing its customers of the 10-cupholders on-board. Interesting, given the Sedona holds a maximum of seven passengers!

The base audio system in the Sedona is an AM/FM/CD unit. The upgraded stereo adds several more speakers and a cassette tape player. Sadly, this nice sounding unit does not include a multi-disc CD player. Perhaps most listeners wont really mind listening to the same disc over and over again, or changing discs all the time, but I would. I hate fumbling with CDs while trying to drive. Just let me load six or so discs into the unit and button-punch to find the tune that matches my mood.

Now that I have revealed my button-punching penchant, please grant me one further rant related to audio systems. I seldom remain on a single radio station for more than a song or two, unless glued to the news - which is usually depressing. When the commercials begin to air, I begin to button-punch again and thats when steering-wheel mounted audio controls earn their keep. With such the driver doesnt need lean over and seek out little buttons situated somewhere away from the direct sightlines of the road. Sadly, Kia has not affixed audio controls to the Sedonas steering wheel. Listen-up Kia, if I go the extra bucks on an upgraded audio system, I want steering wheel controls.

Controls worth praising though are the large rotary wheels that administer heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the front and rear areas of the van. These dials are simplistic and intuitive to operate. I wish more manufacturers would place functionality over fashion and abandon the little button trend for HVAC controls. Sedonas HVAC controls are housed in a center pod, along with a stick shift for the transmission. Thats a 5-speed automatic gearbox by the way, when many of Kias competitors are still fumbling away with outdated 4-speed transmissions - another major coup for Kia.

The vans gauge cluster, including a tachometer, is nicely placed directly in front of the drivers sight line and easily viewed through the upper half of the steering wheel - some other vans are trifling with center mounted gauges.

For such a reasonably priced vehicle, Kia has done a marvellous job with the entire Sedona interior, including its tasteful application of wood-like trim on the doors and centre pod in EX models. At present, Kia does not offer a navigation system in the Sedona. Hopefully one will present itself soon, but can appreciate Kia buyers have thus far bought into the brand to save money more than buck up for expensive electronics. Still I can think of nothing worse than being lost in a strange town, with a van full of kids who have passed their bedtimes and entered the “I hate this trip” zone.

Okay, so weve dealt with some of the Sedona highs and lows, not to mention family issues, now lets talk driving as that is a critical part of what a road test is all about. In a word, driving the Sedona is a pleasure. Minivan stigma aside, I would have no problem making a daily driver out of the Sedona. The driving dynamics emphasize comfort over performance, and rightfully so, given the family orientation of this vehicle.

The front seating positions, as with most minivans, provide panoramic views of the road and surrounding environs. In the Sedona the drivers seat is cushiony yet supportive and infinitely adjustable, not to mention heated in the EX model. Surrounded in comfort, it doesnt take long for occupants to realize that the Sedona offers more than comfy seats as a means of wooing its passengers. In the Sedona, Kia has achieved a level of refinement that meets and in many cases beats the competition. Top-notch engineering has effectively dampened engine noise and vibration. This is a major achievement when considering that the Sedona is one of the less expensive, if not the least expensive, minivans on the market today.

Navigating choppy uneven surfaces such as bumpy laneways, however, will send a fair bit of vibration through the steering column to the steering wheel. This isnt unusual for minivans, although it seems a little more pronounced in the Sedona than in others I have driven. That being said, the structure and chassis of the Sedona is solid and as tight as they come.

Kias van rides on an independent MacPherson strut front suspension and five-link coil spring rear suspension. This setup achieves a nice balance between handling and smoothness. Road irregularities and bumps are absorbed without excessive jostling or body shudder, which has historically haunted passenger vans. Although the scale tips in favor of ride-comfort, handling is composed, predictable and progressive. I found the Sedona to be a nimble vehicle given its size and significant curb weight of 4,702 pounds, which exceeds the girth of most its competitors.

Unfortunately that additional baggage presents itself when accelerating hard or passing on the highway. Kias very capable 3.5-liter V6 can spool out 195 horsepower and 218 lb-ft of torque and, as mentioned previously, is connected to a 5-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. This arrangement proved very competent within normal driving parameters. But if loaded with seven adults and assorted gear, I predict the already beefy Sedona will struggle when passing or hill climbing demands are issued, even with the smooth downshifting of Kias auto-box. The Sedonas transmission does well to conceal its entry-level roots. It performs every bit as well, and in some cases better, than transmissions found in significantly more expensive minivans.

Due to some rather inclement weather, as evidenced by the photos, I was unable to effectively test the Sedonas braking ability: which is something I wanted to do given the front disc, rear drum method of Sedona immobilization. Four-wheel disc brakes are not available and anti-lock is an option. For a manufacturer who claims “no safer minivan” in their press material not to provide safety systems such as 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, traction control and vehicle stability as standard equipment is deceptive. In fact, traction control and/or vehicle stability is not available at all. Sure the Sedona, with its five-star rating, will do an admirable job of protecting its occupants during a crash, but what about preventing the crash in the first place?

And if the unthinkable were to occur, the only heads in the Sedona to meet an airbag will be those attached to the driver and front-seat passenger. Those in the middle and rear seats might consider bringing along a pillow or two. In 2004 I dont think such inadequacies are acceptable in a family vehicle that touts “no safer minivan!”

In the interests of journalistic integrity, I have been a little hard on the Sedona so its time to put in a little balance and emphasize its true value when compared to its competitors. This is a vehicle that will carry a family in great comfort, and I predict reliability as well. Although on the J.D. Power initial mechanical quality rating, the Sedona scores only 3 out of 5, a ranking the California based research firm states; “Does not stand out.” That being said, Kia has much faith in the Sedona, as they do in all of their vehicles. Ergo all Kia products are protected by the best warranty in the biz: 5-year, 60,000 mile comprehensive and 10-year, 120 mile powertrain, plus roadside assistance.

The Sedona is offered in two trim packages, each with several available options. The LX starts at $19,975 and is very well equipped. Moving up to the $22,085 EX will fill the Sedona with almost every conceivable feature, including heated seats. Options for both the LX and EX include anti-lock brakes, a rear spoiler and a tow hitch. Options exclusive to the EX include leather seating and a power sunroof. A destination fee of $640 applies to the prices quoted for both the LX or EX models.

The real virtue in Kia ownership is value and the Sedona is the epitome of that virtue. Here is a first-class family hauler that will do most everything the big boys do, and in some cases do it even better. In all cases itll do it for less. Sure the Sedona has a few shortcomings, but then again it offers some technologies unavailable by the domestics.

As an overall package, the Sedona is tough to beat. Just start checking out the price tags attached to others in this segment and you will quickly gain an appreciation for the upstart from South Korea. Before you drop a wheelbarrow or two of cash on a higher priced competitor, take a Sedona for a spin. Youll probably agree with Kias Mike Dillon, that the Kia Sedona offers you more value and comfort than you probably expected.