On The Road: Kia Sedona

Our friends at Kia don’t like calling the new Sedona a minivan. They prefer the phrase “multipurpose vehicle.”

And, well, of course they do. Who wants to be associated with a concept that goes all the way back to 1984, and the first Chrysler products. And those products were geared toward family utility, not fun…baby car seats, not sexy cool outdoor activities…little league team hauling, not a night on the town with 8 or so good friends.

But from its short nose, square back to its sliding side doors, make no mistake, it’s a minivan. And frankly, that’s OK.

Marketing folks may not think being a high quality, attractive, beautifully executed family truckster is a great idea, but fortunately, customers do.

And though the minivan market may have shrunk a bit, the Sedona is proof it is alive and well.

The latest version is larger, but sleeker. It is quieter on the road, and with it’s 3.3-liter direct injection V6, it has 276 horsepower to haul the lovely box around.

With it’s 6-speed automatic transmission, the EPA says you’ll get about 24 miles on each gallon on the highway, and 18 in town.

Seats are Barcalounger comfortable and will make you feel like you’re flying, at least business class on Lufthansa. The middle row even reclines.

Prices start at around $26-large for the base model, and can rise to $40,000 plus for the upscale SX Limited edition.

With a full boat of safety and audio and climate features, the Kia Sedona is a minivan for the sophisticated family. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.