Clean,
lean and crisp are not typical words used in describing a minivan. But Kia seems to be trying just a little
harder to stand out with its re-engineered 2015 Sedona.
This is
the third generation of Sedona
and, my, but has it come a long way. It was coarse, underpowered and clunky on
its debut in 1998, but Kia
quickly smoothed the rough edges and now it has a technologically advanced and
sophisticated front-wheel-drive
minivan. However, the company
resists using the “M” word and refers to the Sedona a midsize multi-purpose
vehicle with CUV styling.
The new
model has more power than last year’s Sedona, a longer wheelbase for
improved legroom and an option for “First Class” second-row seats. Second row
Slide-N-Stow seats slide and fold upright for “on-the-go” cargo hauling.
Sedona is sold in five trim levels,
with seating for seven or eight, and one powertrain choice of a 276-horsepower,
direct-injection 3.3-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Starting
prices range from $26,995 to $40,595, including the $895 freight charge from
Korea. Today’s test car is the top-line SXL, which had an as-tested price of
$43,295. Its factory option was the SXL Technology package, $2,700, which added
Xenon HID headlights, lane departure warning system, forward collision warning,
surround-view monitor and smart cruise control. Those are all worthwhile extras
for the busy life of a minivan
pilot and families with teens of driving age.
The
styling is progressive and lean. The interior is neatly assembled with
quality-appearing materials and plastics in warm hues and pleasing textures. It
is a cohesive design statement and the tester’s $43,000 sticker included
entry-luxury features and finish. All of the minivan goodies are
present, such as dual power sliding doors, a power tailgate, privacy glass, the
Uvo infotainment system with navigation system and a rearview camera. There is
no shortage of cup holders and the dual glove boxes are just two among a
plethora of storage areas.
Friends
may grimace at your offer to drive to lunch, but
they won’t complain about the accommodations. The Nappa leather upgrade of the
SXL is soft and fragrant. The heated and cooled front seats are more like sport
buckets with more bolstering and padding than those in a stock Corvette.
Minivans
are wide and roomy with just enough ride height for good views. Sightlines are
generally good, but I always checked twice at the corners of the stretched out
windshield, which can obscure pedestrians in crosswalks. Headroom is, of
course, good and with the dual sunroof, which is unique in that the second
panel opens, while most are fixed panes.
The
“First Class” lounge seats in the second row have retractable leg rests and
airplane-style winged headrests. These seats are better than most first-class
seats in an airliner and they can slide back for looong legroom (if nobody is
in the third row). And for more cargo configuration, the third row has split
folding 60/40 in-floor-retractable design.
Drivability
is quite comfortable with decent power, but the grunt of the V-6 – 248
foot-pounds of torque ¬– peaks fairly high at 5,200 rpm. That’s good for
maximizing fuel economy, but not for double-downshift passing power. Fuel
economy ratings are 17 mpg city, 22 highway and 19 mpg combined, on 87 octane.
I was averaging 22 and into the low 23 mpgs. A 21.1-gallon tank allows a good
cruising range.
With a
small turning circle of 36.8 feet, maneuvering the mall parking lot is no
issue. The surround-view camera upgrade is excellent because it gives a front
view, overhead view and, in reverse, the back-up view.
The
variety of seat configurations are good, but I found the mechanisms stiff for
the second-row tilt and slide. And while the third row seats fold with easy
leverage there needs to be flaps to cover the hardware brackets that are
exposed on the cargo floor. The Toyota Sienna has a similar style of folding
seat and it has folding flaps to smooth the floor for loading and unloading.
The
term “minivan” does have
harsh connotations, but this one’s very well done for those who will swallow
their pride and embrace the ride.
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