Yes, I have joined the school run and all those parents who wish they could still drive a sportscar to work, but find new solace in practicality. There are, of course, plenty of options. As I write I have also been driving a Volkswagen Caravelle. It too is a great vehicle, full of practicality, but let’s be honest, it’s a bus, loved by tour companies and executive shuttle services. It is probably better than the Sedona in many areas, but the Kia can still be called a car, just like the Porsche. It’s a stretch I know, but many a parent will understand.
The multipurpose vehicle is a tricky thing. There was a time when your choices were limited to the Renault Scenic, the Toyota Verso, the VW Touran or the much-loved VW Kombi. You could also go for the American favourite, the Chrysler Voyager, but that has got rather expensive these days.
Not to say that the Sedona is cheap. At R661,995 for the 2.2 CRDI seven-seater version we had on test, it puts paid to the idea that Kia is a cheap brand. Yes, it’s cheaper than some rivals, including the Voyager, but it reinforces the fact that parenthood does not come cheap.
You do, however, get a lot for your money. It boasts electronically sliding doors and luxurious leather captain chairs that adjust all over the place. There is masses of space and a boot that looks as though it could swallow a Smart car when the third row of seats is folded away. There are cup holders galore, armrests, storage spaces, power outlets and road trip necessities such as cruise control, multizone climate control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, heated and cooled front seats and an Eco driving mode. There’s also a rear sunroof so when the kids start playing up you can tell them to look for a plane in the sky. It works for five minutes, I promise.
Then there is the styling. It looks good. It has presence. The designers have recognised that parents do not want a vehicle that looks like a bus. They do not want to give up completely on style and feel they have to park around the corner when they go to a work function and pass all their colleagues’ German sedans. From the large grille, LED daytime running lights and plenty of executive chrome embellishments, the designers have given the front of the Sedona a smart look. It carries on through the modern side profile and stylish wheels to the rear with its slightly sporty spoiler and neat lines. This is no box on wheels — it actually has plenty of style. I might even go so far as to say it looks slightly more intimidating than some German sedans.
It also drives surprisingly well. The 2.2 turbodiesel punches out a very respectable 147kW. To put that into perspective, that is the same output as the fifth generation Volkswagen Golf GTi. Leave the kids at home and find a decent piece of road and it holds its own, particularly in terms of dynamics. I was remarkably impressed at how composed it is. There is little body roll but the ride is not hard. This is a family vehicle after all and it offers a comfortable ride.
I was even more impressed with the ride quality when I put the Kia Sorento through its paces during Car of the Year testing. The Sorento was wallowy and battled to remain composed during an emergency lane change procedure. The Sedona, despite its family values, handled much better.
Journeys in and out of town were a pleasure, with a relaxed driving position. I can only imagine that the designers know what it means to be in a relaxed driver’s seat while the kids are shouting in the back. On that note, the sound system is also quite good, but as we have said so many times before, Kia needs to catch up to its rivals when it comes to infotainment systems. The company does have a South African-sourced option but even that is not great.
But the Grand Sedona is an excellent compromise for those who want to transport the family to the nearest jungle gym or a road trip destination in a relaxed and luxurious manner. It is stylish, well equipped and goes beyond what one expects of a regular MPV. It really is quite grand.
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