Also called Carnival, this vehicle received its second reinvention in a very convenient time. Kia will really need to come up with a different strategy for the following years, in order to maintain the prestige earned by vehicles like Sportage, Sorento and Soul, but this is a future problem. Having that in mind, the Koreans must’ve delegated the role of starting any “conceptual” changes to more emotional cars, like crossovers or coupés. When it comes to minivans, you have to take a different path because their public is much more conservative. This is why the all-new Sedona presents a series of habitability improvements while relying on the proven success of Kia’s current design language without any deviation.
In other words, you won’t see any innovation on this minivan. But if you think that means Sedona looks boring or too discreet once again, these images will gladly prove you wrong. The front fascia combines the signature front grille to sleek headlights, a sporty lower grille and an overall shape which Kia claims to resemble a crossover’s: the truth is it doesn’t, but it’s always better to leave triangular designs to 1990s minivans, such as Pontiac Trans Sport or Seat Alhambra. The positive impressions are continued by the sides, which feature an Optima-inspired chrome strip started in front of the mirrors, only two strong creases, in order to juggle light and shadow without exaggeration, and all the pillars painted in black, making the car look longer.
What must be the main function of the last ones, though, is to provide Sedona the “floating roof” effect. It looks like as if it’s hovering over the cabin, being supported only by the A-pillars. And when it comes to the rear fascia, the attention is divided between a small roof spoiler, the full-width windshield, the horizontal LED lights, a very neat tailgate and, exclusively for the SXL trim, a sporty-ish bumper design. While it might not be awarded for its design, the new Sedona certainly looks as modern as Honda Odyssey or Mazda5, which also means way more than Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Caravan. Most of its potential buyers will still give priority to the aforementioned rational aspects, but this doesn’t mean they need to have an ugly wrapper.
Such design improvement brought minor dimension changes, once again following what other automakers have done in the past few years. Sedona’s dynamic style implied a longer and lower body, while the constant effort on having the most comfortable interior increased the wheelbase. Despite the most impressive news are restricted to the most expensive trim levels, the overall quality was upgraded in all of them. Two-tone coating with chrome inserts and contrasting stitching please the vision, while soft-touching materials and the available Nappa leather (borrowed from the bigger brother Quoris) pamper your fingers and make this vehicle classier than ever. Typical minivan equipments, like several storage areas and 60/40 third row seat, come as standard.
On the other hand, it’s interesting to notice Kia’s compromise with making Sedona capable of pleasing all kinds of large families. The wealthier ones will enjoy items such as the UVO infotainment system’s latest generation, with GPS navigation and full connectivity with mobile applications, and change the standard eight-seat setting for the brand new First Class option: the easy-to-fold second row is changed for two much more comfortable seats, with longitudinal sliding and a retractile leg rest. Whether taking seven or eight, Sedona’s safety is ensured by a stiffer body and the typical set of electronic active and passive systems. Kia also claims there were many efforts towards sound-deadening, which is one of the priorities on a minivan.
Sedona’s final improvements regard the driving dynamics, which rely on measures like new dampers and isolated subframe in order to make a better match for the new 3.3L V6 propeller – any father who can’t afford a sportier second car just for himself will certainly be thankful for that. The slight displacement decrease from the outgoing car’s engine is compensated by more technology, which manages to reach 276 hp and 248 lb-ft. There will only be a six-speed automatic transmission, as always. Kia’s brand new minivan will include the new SXL trim in North America, and had its official debut at this year’s New York Auto Show. That region is expected to receive it at this year’s third trimester.