2006-2008 Kia Sedona: Full Review

Sedonas and their Hyundai Entourage cousins accelerate strongly from a stop-a brisk 8.4 seconds to 60 mph, as tested. But rolling acceleration can seem sluggish, as the automatic transmission is sometimes slow to downshift for extra power. The transmission doesn't always promptly follow manual gear changes, either. Test Sedonas and Entourages averaged a so-so 16.5 to 18.1 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving, or 19.2 to 22.7 mpg with more highway runs. A test Sedona averaged 16.1 mpg in mostly city use, including gas-eating acceleration tests. Kia and Hyundai recommend premium-grade fuel for their minivans. Sedonas ride comfortably for a minivan, but not quite carlike, though the suspension smooths out small bumps well. Generally composed, these minivans do bounce somewhat over larger humps. The Sedona EX's 17-inch tires make the ride a bit more jiggly over rippled pavement. Handling capabilities are typical for a large minivan: never nimble, with marked body lean in turns, and not noticeably improved with 17-inch tires. Steering is nicely weighted, but feels numb. Traction/antiskid control is a welcome standard feature. Although the engine emits full-throttle growl, it's reasonably quiet otherwise. Tire thrum and some body rumble are noticed even in around-town driving. Wind rush joins into the melody at highway speeds. Some test examples have annoyed with creaking interior panels, and rattling second- and third-row seats. Sedona and Entourage share a dashboard with large, unobstructed gauges and clearly marked, nicely sized, easy-to-reach controls. Standard three-zone climate control is a helpfully upscale touch. Cabins are short on soft-touch surfaces and long on nondescript plastics, but materials are mostly in line with the minivan's price. Comfortable chair-height seats provide ample front head room, though lanky drivers may prefer more rearward seat travel. Entry/exit is trouble-free. Thick windshield pillars can impede visibility to front corners, but sightlines are clear otherwise. Like some rivals, Sedona and Entourage have a flip-down center tray table that's handy but lets items slide around quite a bit. Comfortable second-row seats offer adult-size head and legroom, even with front seats pushed fully back. Tight for long hauls, the third row is adult-comfortable for short trips. Note that power sliding side doors have been available on the Sedona only as an EX-model option. Power or manual, some testers have said sliding doors don't open wide enough for best rear entry/exit. The bulkiness of folded second-row seats hampers access to the third row. Power sliding-door windows are a fresh-air plus. A deep well behind the third-row seat serves as a useful cargo hold, and seat sections fold into it easily. Second-row seats tumble and fold for generous load volume. They can also be removed, but weigh 60 pounds each. Occupants get plenty of cubbies for small items.

Value for the Money
Sedona and Entourage, which share basic design, don't rank with Best Buy minivans in terms of ride quality, powertrain response, or squeak-free construction. Even so, they earn Recommended status for matching the class leaders in size, utility, and standard safety features. Warranty coverage is impressive, and these two beat every comparably-equipped rival on new-car price. Relatively weak resale value helps keep secondhand prices down.