2016 Kia Sedona Review

For the 2016 Sedona, all models get a standard rearview camera. The Sedona EX now has heated front seats, and SX and SXL trims get seating for eight with the optional Technology package.

The 2016 Kia Sedona minivan offers plenty of upscale style and features while retaining Kia's traditional value pricing. It should be on any minivan shopper's list.

The minivan is today's station wagon, and while many jokes have been made about this much-maligned mode of transportation, the fact remains that families with children often end up with a minivan at some point in the kids' growth curve.

The segment has been dominated by Chrysler, Honda and Toyota for decades, but there are a few others at the party and none are doing it better than Kia, which replaced its tepid Sedona last year with a muscular redesigned model that borrows much from the SUV/crossover segment. The 2016 Kia Sedona is largely a carryover from the fully redesigned 2015 model, and therefore boasts the same driver-focused dash design, crisp exterior styling and a van load of versatility. Add Kia's value pricing and the Sedona becomes a compelling addition to anyone's minivan shopping list.

The 2016 Sedona's crossover SUV-like style helps set it apart from the rest of the minivan segment.

Kia knows a lot of buyers skip over minivans because three-row crossovers simply look and feel cooler, so the Sedona is a novel attempt to meet them halfway. If you're sensitive to the stigma associated with diaper-toting minivan ownership, perhaps this Kia will make you think twice. At heart, of course, the Sedona is still a minivan. But it offers some nifty features, including the SXL model's lounge-style second-row seats with generous slide-and-recline adjustments, lateral sliding ability and extendable leg rests. In all other trims, the second-row seats collapse upright behind the front row to facilitate cargo-carrying and third-row access, an interesting solution that eliminates the common minivan chore of removing those heavy chairs. On the other hand, maximum cargo capacity suffers as a result, leaving the Sedona marginally behind its main rivals.

Those are well-established rivals, starting with the Honda Odyssey, which wins in fuel economy but carries a steeper price. The Toyota Sienna runs neck and neck with the Odyssey in most respects (though its SE trim is arguably the best minivan to drive), but the Sedona is again likely to be the better value. While the Dodge Grand Caravan has its slick Stow 'n Go seats and attractive pricing, the van's overall quality pales in comparison to the Kia's. A dark-horse candidate would be the quirky Nissan Quest if cargo space isn't a high priority. Overall, we think the 2016 Kia Sedona is right in the mix of the segment's heavies, and should hold particular appeal to those seeking an antidote to soul-sucking minivan-itis.

A 3.3-liter V6 engine rated at 276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque powers the 2016 Sedona. The transmission is a six-speed automatic and all Sedonas employ front-wheel drive. With the optional hitch installed, the Sedona can tow up to 3,500 pounds. In Edmunds testing of a Sedona SX-L, we recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds. Essentially, the Sedona's acceleration is average for its class.

The Sedona's 0-60-mph time of 7.9 seconds is average for a minivan.

The EPA's fuel economy estimates stand at 20 mpg combined (18 city/24 highway) for the L, LX and EX trims, which is about average for this class but not impressive for a new model. The SX improves to 21 mpg combined (18/25), reportedly because of its electric power steering system, which lightens the engine's workload. Meanwhile, the SX-L drops to a subpar 19 mpg combined (17/22) despite sharing that steering system, a deficit partly explained by the extra 100 or so pounds it carries.

Standard safety features for all 2016 Kia Sedona models include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, hill start assist, active front headrests, rear parking sensors, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

Available electronic aids, depending on trim, include a rearview camera, surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, a lane departure warning system and a forward collision warning system (without automatic braking). The optional Uvo service includes automatic crash notification and special monitoring services for secondary drivers (including speed-, location- and curfew-limit alerts).

In government crash testing, the Sedona earned a top five-star rating for its overall crash protection, with five stars for total front-impact safety and five stars for total side-impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Sedona its highest rating of "Good" for both small- and moderate-overlap frontal-crash tests, as well as for side-impact, roof-strength and seats/head restraints design (whiplash protection).

During Edmunds testing, a Kia Sedona SX-L stopped from 60 mph in a short 119 feet, though a subsequent test of another SX-L resulted in a more typical-for-the-class 125 feet.

Acceleration from the 2016 Sedona's V6 engine is confident and refined, and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts promptly and unobtrusively. Among minivans, the Sedona is exceptionally quiet, as engine, road and wind noise are all held to reasonable levels. The ride quality is agreeable on most surfaces, though the SX-L's 19-inch wheels can make bumps a bit more vivid than they need to be. Around turns, the Sedona acquits itself well for a big people hauler. There's nothing particularly memorable about driving Kia's latest minivan, but its approachable character should endear it to potential buyers, and it's hard to say it's any less engaging or capable than the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna.

The 2016 Sedona has possibly the most memorable first row of any minivan, with classy-looking gauges and buttons on the dashboard and a full center console between the front seats. The console-mounted shift lever is easier to use than the dash-mounted shifters in other full-size minivans. That's the crossover feel that Kia was going for, and it certainly sets the Sedona apart. On the downside, though, you lose out on extra potential storage possibilities that you would get with a minivan with an open console area.

Seat comfort is good in all three rows, with adult-size space even in the way back. The available eight-passenger layout is achieved by the addition of a second-row middle seat that can "Slide-n-Stow" forward with the outboard chairs or be removed when not in use. This seat's backrest also folds forward to serve as a second-row armrest with two integrated cupholders.

The SX-L's lounge-style captain's chairs offer more maximum legroom than the Sienna's similar seats, allowing an average-size passenger to stretch out on the extendable leg rest; taller passengers, however, will find that the front seatback prevents such an indulgence. Notably, the SX-L seats lack Slide-n-Stow functionality, so this trim level is more about carrying people than stuff.

Second row captain's chairs feature adjustable headrests and an extendable leg rest.

The Sedona provides 33.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat and a healthy 78.4 cubes with the rear seats folded into the floor. Beware that the strap-actuated folding process requires a bit of muscle. It's a little easier to flip the Slide-n-Stow second-row seats into their collapsed forward position, opening up 142 cubic feet of space in every trim except the SX-L (which loses an unspecified but significant amount due to its fixed lounge chairs). The Sienna and Odyssey provide 150 and 148 cubes, respectively, but only if you remove the heavy second-row seats. Kia figured most minivan owners would trade 6-8 cubic feet for the added convenience.