Wednesday, May 13, 2015

2015 Kia Sedona SXL+: Supreme Family Hauler

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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