Seven seats for new Sedona

The all-new Kia Sedona seven-seat MPV will face stiff competition from clever rivals when it goes on sale in spring 2006.

This sketch shows the long-wheelbase version that will be unveiled at the Chicago Motor Show on February 10, 2005. Europe will get only standard-wheelbase cars, with UK prices likely to start at £14,500.

The manufacturer is revealing very little about the car at the moment but has said the third row of seats will fold flat into the floor. The rear bench is fixed in place in the current Sedona.

The Vauxhall Zafira was the first MPV to have rear seats which folded flat into the floor – a trick that will be repeated by the all-new version of that car, which goes on sale from July 2005. The new Mazda 5 due in autumn 2005 works in the same way and also has an adaptable second row of seats.

The pick of the large people carriers is the Chrysler Grand Voyager, the What Car? MPV of the Year for 2005. Its Stow ’n’ Go system allows the five rear seats to be individually folded into hidden under-floor compartments, which double as stowage space when the chairs are in place.

Renault is also set to improve its Espace MPV, introducing easier-to-use seats in April 2005. The manufacturer said the system, called Slide and Lock, allows seats to be removed and reinstalled in a matter of seconds rather than minutes.

However, starting prices for the Chrysler and Renault are several thousand pounds higher than the budget Sedona.

The Hyundai Trajet is based on the same platform as the Sedona, but there is no word on when it will be replaced.

• Visit Whatcar.com on Thursday, February 10, for a closer look at the new Sedona and on Friday to see an exclusive special report on the new Vauxhall Zafira.

Kia Sedona
Current price range: £14,508 to £18,763
What Car? Target Price saving: 8%, £1109 to £1449
Facelift due: Not imminent
New model due: Spring 2006
Rivals: Fiat Multipla, Hyundai Trajet, Mazda 5, Vauxhall Zafira