Kia Sedona MPV full 9 point review
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Performance
You get lots of horsepower for your money with the Sedona. It comes with a 192bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine, and it feels pretty strong in most situations. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, although you can specify a six-speed auto. However, it can't quite make up its mind which gear it should be in at low speeds.
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Ride & Handling
The Sedona is geared more towards comfort than agility, which is not surprising for a big MPV. However, the ride is poorly controlled and it thumps over bigger bumps. The combination of slack body control, numb steering and modest grip mean corners can be a rather nerve-wracking experience, too.
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Refinement
The engine is gruff under acceleration, but things generally quieten down once it's up to speed. You hear too much road- and wind noise, though, so motorway journeys aren’t as relaxed as they should be. Around town, meanwhile, you can hear (and feel) the suspension thudding.
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Buying & Owning
The Sedona’s prices look competitive, especially for a car of this size. That’s not the full story, though. You won’t get as big a discount as you will from Ford or Citroen dealers, and the big Kia’s resale values aren’t very strong, either. With just one big engine on offer in the Sedona, many rivals are more economical.
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Quality & Reliability
Compared with most rivals, the Sedona’s cabin has a very drab feel. The materials look and feel decidedly cheap and uninspiring, and there’s very little to love about the bland design. On the other hand, the plastics should be hard-wearing. Unfortunately, though, Kia doesn’t have the best reliability record, but the super-long warranty should give you some peace of mind.
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Safety & Security
Every Sedona comes with front, side and curtain airbags, which is good news for family buyers. The four outer rear seats have ISOFIX child-seat mountings, while the electric sliding doors have a system to stop them closing on obstructions such as a child's hand. However, only top-trim cars have active front seat head restraints and stability control.
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Behind The Wheel
A straightforward dashboard layout, a gearlever that falls easily to hand and an upright seating position means that it's easy for Sedona drivers to make themselves comfortable. All-round visibility is decent, but the parking camera incorporated into rear view mirror takes some getting used to.
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Space & Practicality
Seven adults can sit in comfort, with enough head- and legroom to go round. There's a flat floor and five rear seats that individually slide and recline. Access is also excellent. With all seats occupied, the boot isn't that large, however. Folding the seats creates extra space, but you have to lift them out for maximum capacity. That takes plenty of muscle, because they’re really heavy.
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Equipment
There are three trims and even the cheapest versions are decently equipped. 1 models have air-con and four electric windows, but you have to move up to 2 to gain alloy wheels, tri-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. As well as these, top-trim 3 cars have leather upholstery and cruise control.
Sedona rivals
Sedona used car reviews
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Kia Sedona MPV 2.2 CRDi 1 5dr
This is a lot of car and space for the money, and we think there's no need to spend any more than this on a Sedona. This is our favourite car in the range
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