If our
family is of the "just in case" type, that has to pack everything but
the kitchen sink in preparation for road trips, the Sedona will serve us well.
And that's the primary mission of a minivan.
Just
like its rivals – which are getting fewer and further between – the Dodge Grand
Caravan, the Chrysler Town & Country, the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota
Sienna, the 2015 Kia Sedona offers the most interior
space of any other type of vehicle. It allows families to load up a tremendous
amount of luggage, generally without even having to figure out how it will all
fit.
Throw
everyone out, fold up all the rear seats, and the Sedona can haul big objects
like a sofa if that need arises; at some point, it will happen.
On the
powertrain front, Kia went the
conventional route with a 3.3L V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic. With
276 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, the 2015 Kia Sedona can propel itself
up to speed very quickly, but just like every other minivan, that's the most
fun we'll have behind the wheel.
Generally,
this type of vehicle is tuned for comfort, not roadholding abilities. This
shouldn't be a surprise, and shouldn't be criticized either, since SUVs – who
are pretty much killing the very existence of the minivan – aren't any better.
Like in
many new vehicles, there's a drive mode system in the SX and SXL versions that
offers Normal, Comfort and Eco settings. Fuel economy is on par with other
minivans, although it can't match the class-leading Odyssey's efficiency. The
top-level Sedona SXL is the
heaviest of the model range and carries city/highway ratings of 14.2/10.5
L/100km. More affordable trims can theoretically dip below the 10-litre mark,
but barely. We averaged 14.4 L/100km over the course of our wintry test week.
The
2015 Kia Sedona has improved
dramatically regarding interior accommodations. The dashboard design is
straightforward, but fit and finish is excellent, the switchgear layout is
user-friendly and the two-tone Nappa leather upholstery with contrast piping
looks like it belongs in a luxury car. This minivan didn't end up on Ward's 10
Best interiors for nothing.
The Sedona offers seven- or
eight-passenger seating, depending on trim level. There's a removable middle
seat in the second row of the LX and the SX, while the SXL benefits from
adjustable captain's chairs and even kick-out leg rests. Needless to say, the
kids loved chillaxing in the Sedona.
The
base L trim includes front and rear air conditioning, a four-speaker stereo
with USB port, cruise control and keyless entry, while the LX adds alloy
wheels, LED lighting, a windshield wiper de-icer, a UVO infotainment system
with Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, rear park sonar and heated
front seats.
The LX+
should be the most popular version with its power sliding side doors, right
before the SX trim level starts piling more luxurious features, such as LED
taillights, three-zone climate control, a power liftgate, a heated steering
wheel, heated second-row seats and blind spot monitor. The SX+ also gets
leather upholstery and driver's seat position memory.
Moving
up to the SXL also adds 19-inch chromed alloys, xenon headlights, a dual-panel
sunroof, ventilated front seats, front park sonar, a wood-trimmed wheel and the
aforementioned lounge seats. Finally, the SXL+, the one we drove, tops off with
navigation, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system as well as lane
departure and front collision warning systems. I'm out of breath.
Aside
from the plethora of available equipment, the 2015 Kia Sedona serves up a
refined and ultra-quiet ride. SX and SXL versions are equipped with
electric-assist power steering, which provides a good feel of the road. The
only thing missing here for road tripping is a good rear-seat entertainment
system.
All
that available cargo space amounts to 4,022 litres, which is about the same as
in the FCA minivans, slightly less than in the Honda and the Toyota. Even with
all seats upright, there's 960 litres of volume, which is a lot. The second-row
seats are also much easier to fold than before; in the previous-generation
Sedona, they could be removed, but the mechanism was fussy and had full of
sharp edges.
In
addition, the 2015 Kia
Sedona is a looker as well. Its aggressive front fascia, relatively slim
greenhouse and muscular stance could make anyone mistake it for an SUV.
With a
base price of $27,495 before freight and delivery charges, the Sedona strikes
us as a good deal, especially when you step up the LX and LX+ trims. Our fully
loaded SXL+ tester retails for $45,995, which is about what the competition
charges for their most equipped minivans.
Stylish,
roomy and chock full of features, the 2015 Kia Sedona doesn't bring any
innovation to the minivan segment, but it has modernized itself to become a
sophisticated and comfortable people mover.
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