We drive the Kia Sedona SXL

2015 Kia Sedona

The minivan has been forgotten among many manufacturers. There are only a handful of minivans still available for sale and most have not been redesigned in a long time. Kia’s Sedona minivan has been around for a long time but has not been updated for many years. Some assumed that Kia would just quietly get rid of it from their lineup but instead Kia redesigned it and has made the 2015 Sedona one of the best and most attractive minivans available.

We managed to get our hands on a top of the line SXL model. The Sedona has European inspired styling that gives it a very attractive look. It is the last Kia model to undergo the styling transformation of Kia design chief Peter Schreyer. Schreyer has transformed Kia’s styling from a boring economy car to a very attractive lineup and the Sedona is another proof that Schreyer is a master of his craft.

While the exterior is virtually the same size as before, the wheelbase has been lengthened by 1.6 inches. That has resulted in a more aggressive appearance, shorter overhangs as well as more room inside. The Sedona provides more front shoulder room, greater leg room in the front, second and third rows, as well as a slightly higher hip-point, improving outward visibility for the driver over its predecessor.

Captain's Chairs in the rear

As with any minivan, the interior is the focal point of the vehicle. Most minivans are used to haul kids and families around so the interior is the selling point of the vehicle. The Sedona offers tons of storage compartments including one in the center console. The second row seats in our SXL model were what Kia calls First Class lounge seating.

The two captain chairs can be positioned rearward for astonishing legroom and provides retractable lower-leg rests and airplane-style winged headrests. Parents will also be happy to hear that the Sedona offers a special fabric technology to provide anti-microbial protection from spills, anti-static protection from irritating electrical shocks as well as stain-repelling and stain-releasing fabric characteristics.

The only downside of the interior is that the second row seats do not come out or fold flat. They do fold but still take up valuable space if you really want to haul large items. It is a small price to pay for those fantastic seats though and they are well worth the compromise. The third row does fold flat and is easily out of the way to provide you with a total of 142 cubic feet of space.

Sedona's Dashboard

The driver in the Sedona is treated to a very friendly dash. There are lots of buttons but that is because there are lots of gadgets, especially in our SXL model. Features include tri-zone automatic climate control, a very large navigation screen, Infinity premium audio, Nappa leather seat trim, dual sunroofs, back up camera, and more.

Our car also had the optional technology package that included HID headlights, lane departure warning system, forward collision warning system and smart cruise control. Despite all of these features and buttons, the Sedona dash is very friendly with large and clearly labeled buttons and knobs. Everything is easily within reach and simple to use. And when the kids are not in the car, you can rock on with the fantastic Infinity sound system with center speaker, subwoofer and external amplifier.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]If you want to have your fun with the engine, the Sedona will not let you down. The Sedona uses the proven direct injected V6 that powers many Kias and Hyundai models. This version is a 3.3 liter that produces 276 hp on regular fuel.

The engine drives the front wheels through a six speed automatic transmission. The Sedona weighs over 4400 pounds so you can’t expect it to be a sports car but the engine is strong enough to surprise you. It has plenty of power especially in the lower end where you will be using it more often. Fuel economy is 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Sedona pricing is very reasonable with the Sedona L starting out at $26,100. Our SXL starts out at $39,700. There are very options and most can be avoided because almost every important feature is standard anyway.

It is very hard to get excited about a minivan until you use it and see how nice it drives and how useful it is. If you need lots of space, the Sedona is a must see on your shopping list.

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