2002-2005 Kia Sedona: Full Review

Updated: 11/23/08

2002 Kia Sedona EX
2005 Kia Sedona
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2002-2005 Kia Sedona 

  • Price Range:  $2,500 - $8,700
CG Rating

61

out of 100

About our Road Test

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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.

Pros

  • Cargo room
  • Instruments/controls
  • Passenger room
  • Interior storage space

Cons

  • Acceleration
  • Steering/handling
  • Fuel economy

Vehicle Highlights

Kia joined the minivan race for the 2002 model year. Built in South Korea, the new Sedona had a standard V6 engine and seven-passenger seating. All Sedonas were the same body length, which was comparable to a Toyota Sienna and roughly 2 inches longer than a regular-size Dodge Caravan. Base LX and uplevel EX models were offered. Both used a 195-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 teamed with a five-speed automatic transmission. Dual sliding rear side doors were standard, but power doors and side airbags were unavailable. Antilock braking was optional. The LX's second-row seat was a bench, while the EX contained buckets. Extra equipment on the EX also included heated mirrors, fog lamps, keyless entry, and alloy wheels. A sunroof and leather upholstery were optional only for the EX model. Rivals for this front-drive minivan included the Chevrolet Venture, Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV, and Toyota Sienna. Kia was owned by Hyundai, and duplicated Hyundai's warranty: 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 10/100,000 powertrain, and 5-year/unlimited roadside assistance.

Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)

Category Kia Sedona EX Rating
Performance 3
Fuel Economy 4
Ride Quality 6
Steering/Handling/Braking 3
Quietness 6
Controls/Materials 8
Interior Room 8
Room/Comfort (rear) 7
Cargo Capacity 9
Value within Class 7
Total Score: 61
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona.

Year to Year Changes


2003 Kia Sedona: This South Korean automaker's minivan returned for its second season with minimal changes. For 2003, the LX gained a standard AM/FM/CD player, central door-lock button, and remote fuel-door release. EX models added additional stereo speakers, and a second remote for the keyless entry. All minivans got new taillights.
2004 Kia Sedona: A new grille went on both versions of Kia's minivan this year. The base LX model gained a center tray table that had previously been optional.
2005 Kia Sedona: The Sedona is unchanged this year.

Our road test for the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 2002-2005 Kia Sedona is right for you.

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

A Sedona has adequate power in gentle driving, but it's among the heaviest minivans on the market. Therefore, heavy throttle application is needed for scooting from a stop, passing, or catching up with highway traffic when loaded with passengers. An EX accelerated from 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds, which falls short of the minivan norm. Fuel economy is no bonus: An extended-use EX averaged 17.5 mpg in mostly highway driving. Other EX models averaged 15.6 mpg in a more even mix of city/highway travel. One managed just 13.2 mpg including mostly city driving and 0-60 mph acceleration runs. Kia recommends regular-grade gasoline. Sharp bumps, tar strips, and pavement cracks register through the steering wheel, seats, and structure, but they seldom induce jolting. Wavy surfaces trigger some float and wallow. Handling is marred by a slow, rubbery steering feel. Even leisurely changes of direction induce noticeable body lean. Excess weight and soft tires cause the nose to plow as cornering speeds increase. Stopping power is adequate, but some test models have suffered poor brake-pedal feel, with or without ABS. Sedonas could be quieter, too. Tires sing on coarse surfaces, and the engine intrudes under even moderate throttle. One test model suffered considerable wind rush from around the tops of the front doors at highway speed, but others had acceptable wind-noise suppression. Simple, clear instrumentation is satisfying. Controls are generously sized, plainly marked, and easily reached. The gearshift lever sprouts from the lower center of the dashboard, leaving controls unobstructed and allowing passage between front seats. The gear-position readout is thoughtfully repeated near the speedometer. All told, the Sedona has a pleasant, contemporary interior ambience. Some lightweight-plastic controls are used, but assembly quality and most materials are competitive with those of like-priced minivans. Annoying rattles from second- and third-row seats were noticed on one new model tested. Front seats are roomy and supportive. Driver positioning is good, and the EX has a standard power passenger seat. Both front seats have fold-down center armrests. Windshield wiper de-icers and rear wiper/washer have been standard, but aft visibility is impeded by headrests. Rear seating is comparable to rivals, though second-row bucket seats don't tilt, greatly complicating third-row entry/exit. Second-row seats slide fore/aft to fine-tune leg room for both rear rows. Outboard seating positions have ceiling air vents, and the second row gets separate air-conditioning control. The EX has power-opening rear quarter windows, and gives third-row passengers their own control buttons. Cargo space is slim behind the third seat: a split 50/50 bench that flip/folds for more space. Second and third rows remove, but the lightest sections weigh over 60 pounds and are cumbersome to handle. Small-item storage is excellent in both models, with multiple cupholders, covered felt-lined dash-top bin, a two-level glovebox, slide-out locking front passenger-seat tray, and front overhead compartment. A cupholder/storage tray between the front seats folds to allow pass-through.
Value for the Money
Korean automakers stake their fortunes on delivering more features per dollar than class competitors. On that basis, Sedonas trump all rivals. Kia says its comprehensive warranty is the number one reason buyers purchase its vehicles new. However, Kia's customer satisfaction ratings and resale values have been low--which might make the Sedona a good buy secondhand.

Expert Ratings Summary

Category Kia Sedona EX Rating
Performance 3
Fuel Economy 4
Ride Quality 6
Steering/Handling/Braking 3
Quietness 6
Controls/Materials 8
Interior Room 8
Room/Comfort (rear) 7
Cargo Capacity 9
Value within Class 7
Total Score: 61

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Kia Sedona includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Kia Sedona .

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Battery: The battery may discharge (be drained) while the engine is running at slow speeds with the A/C running during hot weather requiring a revised alternator, a battery heat shield and reprogramming of the ECM. (2002-03)

Cold-starting problems: The engine may hesitate and stumble when cold requiring reprogramming the ECM. (2002)

Engine fan: The original electric cooling fan was noisy and may be replaced with a fan having different style blades. (2002)

Windshield: Windshield may crack in cold weather. (2002-03)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.
Item Name Repair Cost
A/C Compressor $560
Alternator $320
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $1,995
Brakes $490
Constant Velocity Joints $800
Exhaust System $525
Radiator $570
Shocks and/or Struts $1,340
Timing Chain or Belt $320
Our price chart for this generation Kia Sedona details a range of prices in year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Prices Good Average Poor
2005
Sedona EX $8,500-9,700 $7,700-8,700 $4,400-5,000
Sedona LX $7,500-8,700 $6,800-7,800 $3,800-4,400
2004
Sedona EX $6,500-7,500 $5,700-6,600 $2,900-3,400
Sedona LX $5,700-6,700 $4,900-5,800 $2,300-2,700
2003
Sedona EX $5,100-5,900 $4,300-5,000 $2,000-2,400
Sedona LX $4,300-5,200 $3,600-4,300 $1,500-1,800
2002
Sedona EX $3,900-4,600 $3,200-3,800 $1,200-1,400
Sedona LX $3,200-3,900 $2,500-3,000 $800-1,000
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.
Specs for this generation Kia Sedona include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification 4-door van
Wheelbase, in. 114.6
Overall Length, in. 194.1
Overall Width, in. 74.6
Overall Height, in. 69.3
Curb Weight, lbs. 4709
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 127.5
Standard Payload, lbs. --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 19.8
Seating Capacity 7
Front Head Room, in. 39.4
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 40.6
Rear Head Room, in. 39.2
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 37.2

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.


Powertrain Options and Availability

All Sedonas used a 3.5-liter, dual-overhead-cam V6 engine rated at 195 horsepower, coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Engines Size liters /
cu. in
Horse- power Torque Transmission:
EPA city/hgwy
Consumer Guide Observed
dohc V6 3.5 / 213 195 218 5-speed automatic: 15/20 5-speed automatic: 15.6

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Built In:  South Korea
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Kia Sedona include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 2002-2005 Kia Sedona directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.

NHTSA Recall History

2002: Dealers will replace second and third-row seatbelt buckle anchor bolts because they may break in a crash.
2002: Faulty second- and third-row seat components could cause them to break apart in a crash. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2002-03: During assembly, throttle cable might have twisted out of position; cable hang-up could result in crash.
2002-04 EX w/power seats: Misrouted wiring under front seats could contact metal components, eventually resulting in short-circuit and possible fire.
2003: The brakes may not function properly at speeds below 25 mph due to a programming error in the antilock brake system. Dealer will reprogram the system.
2003-05 w/alloy wheels: Moisture may accumulate around rear hubcaps, causing damage to outer wheel bearing that could result in bearing failure without warning.
2003-05: On some minivans, freezing conditions can cause water on throttle cable to freeze during normal operation; cable could stick, preventing engine from returning to idle.

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