The first-generation Kia Sedona (click for my review) sold entirely based on price. Smaller, heavier, and much thirstier than the segment leaders, Kia has been forced to pile ever larger rebates--$6,000 currently--on top of an already low price. If you've been looking for a $14,000 brand new minivan, there are still a few out there. (But don't wait, at that price they truly are flying off the lots.)

Kia doesn't want to keep giving away vehicles. So when it redesigned the Sedona for 2006, it made a number of significant changes. First, the new van is eight inches longer and nearly four inches wider, making it slightly larger than the Odyssey and Sienna. Maximum cargo volume grows from 127.5 cubic feet to 141.5. despite the addition of a stowable third row. The Honda and Toyota offer six or seven more cubes, but the Kia is now in the ballpark. Meanwhile curb weight is actually down 400 pounds, to a competitive 4400. The Sienna is a couple hundred pounds lighter still, but the Honda weighs about the same. Finally, the wheezy iron-block 195-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 has been tossed in favor of an aluminum block 244-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. The Honda's engine makes as much peak power, but has a weaker midrange, while the Toyota engine is smaller and weaker than either.

Aside from these major changes, Kia has also upgraded various details. The EX's power seats (as in the Toyota but not the Honda the passenger gets one too) are now operated using Mercedes-style door-mounted seat-shaped switches. Heated leather is available. The second row windows roll down, and in the EX the third row windows power out. Yes, there are six window switches on the driver's armrest for the first time in a minivan. The optional DVD entertainment system comes packages with a 605-watt, 13-speaker Infinity sound system. Stability control, first-row active headrests, and three-row side curtain airbags are standard.

The only things missing are the option for eight passenger seating--a shame since the interior is easily wide enough--and high-end features like xenon headlights, nav, and adaptive cruise control. And I wouldn't be surprised if these became available on the Sedona or the upcoming Hyundai Entourage in a year or two. These companies are clearly committed to doing whatever it takes.

All of the above I knew from the spec sheet. To find out what the van was actually like to sit in and drive, I visited a dealer. I drove an EX with Power and Luxury Packages. The former includes dual power sliders and a power liftgate for $1,000. The latter includes a sunroof, heated leather, memory for the driver's seat, automatic climate control, rear obstacle detection, and a few other minor features for $2,400. To refresh my memory of the competition, I sat in a 2006 Honda Odyssey Touring and drove a 2006 Odyssey LX immediately afterwards.

Styling

Note: I have no idea why the photo is of the previous generation Sedona with a tacked-on hood scoop. Update: apparently Sedonas sold in Europe have this scoop from the factory.

I liked the Odyssey's upscale styling fairly well when I first saw it, but since then the bulky rear end has grown increasingly unappealing. Even after this year's redesign the Sienna looks awkwardly proportioned, and the front end remains odd. In comparison to these vans, the Sedona is a breath of fresh air. Looking like a minor update of the 1999-2004 Odyssey, its body is clean, trim, and well-proportioned. Anyone who wishes Honda had never abandoned the previous Odyssey's less pretentious styling will find the new Kia very appealing. Mild fender flares and a shoulder beneath the beltline make the Sedona more up-to-date than a simple copy of the old Honda would have been.

Inside, the story is much the same. The new Sedona doesn't look quite as upscale and seem as high in interior quality as the current Odyssey, but some people will find its more pedestrian styling more to their taste. Nothing special here--just simple, functional design. Materials seem of good quality, if not quite up to the level of the Honda and Toyota.

The leather is smooth like that in Toyotas; I prefer the more textured leather in the Odyssey. A grippier leather would be especially welcome on the steering wheel. As it is, the wheel slips all too easily through ones fingers. This is a problem shared by other Hyundais and Kias.

Accommodations

You sit higher relative to the instrument panel in the Sedona compared to the current Odyssey. I personally prefer this, as the Sedona feels smaller and more agile as a result. The seats are comfortable, but don't feel quite as substantial and cosseting as those in the Honda. (And last year I found the Toyota's seats substantially more comfortable than the Honda's.)

This is especially an issue in the second and third row. In terms of total legroom, the new Sedona still trails the Honda by four inches and the Toyota by six. The difference didn't feel quite this large to me based on the distance from my knees to the previous row's seatback, but this is partly because the seats are mounted lower in the Sedona, forcing knees up into the air. Though the Sedona's second row would work for adults even on long trips, and the third row would be suitable for adults on shorter drives, said adults will be more comfortable in the higher, slightly more substantial seats of the Odyssey or Sienna.

It is easier to get into the third row of the Sedona than that of the Honda, as the seat tumbles forward rather than simply sliding forward. I'm guessing that there's a tradeoff between seat height and the ability to tumble forward, and Kia and Honda went different ways. I cannot recall which way Toyota went. Unlike in the Honda, the second-row captains cannot be put together to form a bench. And at this time no second-row console is available.

Because of the tumbling second row, the Sedona is a bit more versatile than the Honda, as you can carry more cargo without removing the second-row seats. Like in the Honda but unlike the Toyota, the front-row passenger seat does not fold flat for even more capacity. In any of these vans the second row must be removed for maximum cargo volume; Chrysler maintains an advantage here. The Sedona's third seat folds into its well using the same method as the Sienna, so this operation is a bit easier than in the Honda.

On the Road

The Sedona's new big six doesn't sound as refined as that in the Honda, but it moves the van at least as quickly. Which means this van can accelerate much more quickly than a minivan has any right to. Getting to forty is especially brief and effortless. Stomp on the gas from a stop and you will spin the tires for a second until the traction control kicks in.

Because weight is down, fuel economy actually improves from 16/22 to 18/25 despite all of the additional power. The Honda and Toyota remain a bit more efficient, but the Sedona's ratings are now respectable. Like the Sienna, but not the Odyssey, the Sedona requires premium gas to produce its stated horsepower. But if you're willing to sacrifice a few ponies, regular will do fine.

Partly due to its excess mass, the old Sedona was a fairly soggy handler. Okay for a minivan, but not up with the best.

Though I still wouldn't enter the Sedona is an autocross event, among minivans its handling just might be the best. I much preferred the handling of the Odyssey Touring to the Sienna XLE last year. Yet this time around I preferred the Sedona to the Odyssey.

I must note that I drove a Touring last year and an LX this year, which accounts for some of the difference. The Touring rides on lower profile tires, which should give it more responsive handling but a harsher ride. Overall, though, handling shouldn't be significantly affected, as the suspension tuning remains the same.

I drove the Sedona EX, which has 17-inch Michelins in place of the LX's 16-inch Kumhos. Compared to the Honda, the Kia feels tauter and more responsive when the wheel is turned. It leans less and plows less in hard turns. As mentioned above, the higher, more open driving position also helps lend the Sedona a more agile feel. The Korean minivan's stability control is also much less prone to kick in when it's not necessary.

A penalty is paid in ride quality. The Sedona, while far from uncomfortable, reacts more noisily and harshly to road imperfections than the non-Touring Odyssey, much less the ultra-smooth Sienna. Partly as a result, the Honda feels like a more luxurious, more substantial vehicle. Similarly, wind rush and road noise are higher at highway speeds in the Sedona. On the other hand, you'll hear more "drumming" in the Odyssey.

Kia Sedona Price Comparisons and Pricing

Partly because of additional standard features, the 2006 Sedona is a couple thousand more expensive than the 2005 even before considering the latter's $6,000 rebate. But it's still less expensive than the Odyssey or Sienna.

How much less? Compared to an Odyssey EX-L, the Sedona I drove lists for $1,700 less and is nearly $900 less invoice to invoice (a better indication when sales are soft). Many people will gladly pay a grand more for the Honda. You can probably count me among them. Except that the Kia includes about $1,700 worth of stuff you cannot get on the EX-L, making the apples-to-apples difference $3,400 at MSRP and nearly $2,500 at invoice.

These comparisons do not include rebates, currently $1,000 on the Sedona.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Sedona:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Sedona.php

Last Words

The new Sedona is a very competitive minivan. It's not quite a match for the Honda in some areas, most notably seat comfort, ride quality, upscale ambiance, and features, but comes very close in just about every way, and surpasses the Honda in driving position, cargo versatility, and handling. People who just want a good, solid, functional van will be very satisfied. Especially if Kia later offers a rebate, the new Sedona should be on every minivan shopper's consideration list.

General Motors and Ford, for decades the two largest manufacturers in the world, are well on their way to abandoning the minivan segment altogether. This vehicle is the reason. Minivans are very hard to engineer because of the number of systems they include. Yet little Kia, in its second effort, has managed to include nearly everything available on the Honda Odyssey in a thoroughly competitive vehicle. You cannot buy a minivan with the Sedona's level of all-around competence from a Detroit manufacturer.

In a segment that puts the highest priority on functionality and price, Hyundai and Kia have an edge. Aside from Stow n'Go, the Chrysler vans lag well behind. They're tight inside, and lack the chassis refinement and powertrain performance of the leaders. DCX needs to get a redesigned van to the market ASAP. Even Toyota and Honda, as strong as their minivans are right now, cannot count on dominance in the future. If the Koreans are ever to dominate a market segment in North America, it will likely be this one.

A Note on Kia Sedona Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a Sedona rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Kia Sedona reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the Sedona--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. For non-participants, this access will cost $24.95.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

If you're an Epinions member, and you want to receive an email alert from Epinions when I post a new review, click here.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Kia Sedona review (first generation)
Dodge Grand Caravan review
Honda Odyssey review
Hyundai Entourage review
Nissan Quest review
Toyota Sienna review
Amount Paid (US$): 30000