2015 Kia Sedona: Is it a Minivan?

Even though Kia has been advertising the Sedona as a multipurpose vehicle they did not redefine those purposes and the Sedona continues to troll the minivan segment. With this in mind, a minivan that is trying to become an SUV makes for a dynamic and interesting vehicle with a flattened hood and more vertical sides to give the Sedona more room and have space to add more power, safety, refinement and comfort for families to really enjoy. In a class that has shrunk over the years with the growth of the SUV classes the Sedona competes with the Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna.

Knowing this vehicle will be purchased by families with small children Kia offers the Sedona with a smoother ride and quieter cabin than before. Add a very nice interior and even more space than before and the Sedona is the perfect minivan for growing families to fully enjoy and take out on a long trip or drive around town to complete their errands. For 2015 Kia redesigned the Sedona which now shares very little with the previous models except the name. With a longer base and a redesigned chassis as well as a more powerful engine the Sedona is built to lead the entire class of minivans owners can choose from.

The Sedona is a fantastic minivan to drive. As stated, Kia put ride quality at a premium in the Sedona for 2015 and the suspension shows up to prove that. This suspension is so refined it seems out of place in an affordable minivan as it deftly handles all road abrasions and conditions to keep all occupants secure and enjoying a very smooth ride. The steering is excellent as well. While not intuitive, it is smooth and easily handles the turns and curves of the road with a balanced effort that keeps the passengers from being thrown around the cabin. The final ride piece is the noise. A loud car won’t help soothe babies in their seats, and many times parents of young children turn to their car as a last resort to help put babies to sleep. The Sedona has a superior cabin for the quiet of the ride which makes it one that will take care of the babies and help parents gain some peace and peace of mind.

Similar to other minivans the Sedona is powered by one very enjoyable engine that can be trusted to take the family to any destination desired. This engine comes in as a 3.3-liter V6 engine that offers up to 276 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque. Attached to a six-speed automatic transmission which replaces the five-speed from last year, the Sedona offers a fuel efficiency of 18 city/24 hwy mpg for owners to fully enjoy. This engine is more than capable of handling mountains and the heat which allows it to take the entire family to the lake, to a great hiking spot, or to be able to handle the daily errands that every family has to take care of throughout the week.

Offering either seven or eight passenger configurations the Sedona has gained space inside the cabin to allow more leg and shoulder room throughout the vehicle. Soft surfaces can be found throughout the inside and a two-toned inside gives the feeling of a vehicle that should be much more expensive than it is. The infotainment and connectivity is in easy reach of any driver along with all control and warnings understandably placed for drivers to be able to fully experience the drive of this great minivan.

On the outside Kia added some interesting dimensional features that help create more space inside and give a hint to the thought the Sedona doesn’t want to be a typical minivan. This includes the bull like nose on the front, a flatter hood and more vertical sides that are normally found on large SUVs. Other than these additions the Sedona still looks like a minivan, which it is, but it is one that offers a nice smattering of chrome trim along the outside to make the van look upscale and unique. Finally a set of spoked wheels add a bit more high-level feeling to the Sedona for owner to fully enjoy.

The standard features offered for the base model of the Sedona, the L model, are actually very nice in a class where the base models seem to be stripped down in most cases. This model includes steering wheel audio controls, a tilt/telescoping steering column, air conditioning with front and rear controls, a backup warning system, side mirrors with turn signal repeaters, Bluetooth connectivity, twelve cup holders and soil resistant upholstery material. The SX and SX Limited models come standard with a navigation system. These features give hint to the fact that the Sedona is made for families to enjoy and truly appreciate a great vehicle.

Moving up to the different trim levels brings in several great optional features. The SX Limited adds 19-inch chromed aluminum-alloy wheels, a set of reclining second row of captain’s chairs with leg rests, Nappa leather upholstery and a heated and wood-trimmed steering wheel. This model can be had with some additional stand-alone features as well which include adaptive cruise control, auto-leveling xenon headlights, a surround view monitor, lane departure warning and forward collision alerts. Adding any or all of these features to the Sedona makes the van filled with much more safety features to help keep the occupants in the van safe and secure.

Starting the pricing structure the L model of the Sedona comes in with a base price of $26,700 and can reach up to a price above $40,500 with a loaded Sedona SX Limited. This minivan has a four trim lineup to work through in order to offer a vehicle that will be at the price just about anyone could afford and have the pleasure of taking their family for many drives in this spacious and enjoyable minivan that doesn’t want to be a minivan anymore.