Monday, July 22, 2013
2006 Kia Sedona Review
The Sedona is Kia’s minivan and the new second generation Sedona debuts for 2006 with more horsepower and is substantially larger in both length and width to provide more passenger room and additional versatility over its predecessor. The 2006 Sedona includes six standard air bags including full-length side curtain air bags for all three seating rows. The Sedona was originally introduced in July 2001 as a 2002 model, adding to the Kia lineup of cars and SUVs. The Sedona offers a high level of standard equipment including front and rear air conditioning.
With its all-new 2006 Sedona, Kia is taking direct aim at the segment-leading Honda Odyssey. The new Sedona, which boasts a powerful new 3.8-liter, aluminum V-6, is larger than the outgoing model in virtually every dimension. Features like power-operated side doors and hatch match the competition. Exterior design is neither fresh nor creative, but the sales failure of Nissans out-there Quest minivan proved that minivan buyers prefer staid styling. While the original Sedona was a study in so-so packaging and atrocious chassis dynamics, Kia promises that this new Sedona is smarter and nimbler. Price will undercut Honda and Toyota when similarly equipped.
New for 2006
The 2006 Kia Sedona offers new features including a standard third-row seat that folds flat into the floor and available power-sliding doors and liftgate. The Sedona is powered by a new 240-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine with a 5-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes ABS with electronic brake force distribution, tire pressure monitoring system, Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and all-wheel independent suspension.
The LX trim level offers tri-zone air conditioning, sliding doors with power windows, power mirrors, power locks, cruise control, AM/FM/CD audio system, second-row captain’s chairs and keyless entry with alarm system. The EX adds a chrome grille, fog lights, eight-way power driver’s seat, heated mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette/CD/MP3/ audio system, auto leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power rear quarter glass, compass, roof rack and wood trim.
Model Lineup
The Sedona LX ($22,995) is well-equipped for that price, including seven-passenger seating: two rows of two captains chairs, and a bench in back. The first two rows get power windows, and theres also remote keyless entry, power locks, three 12-volt power outlets, intermittent wipers front and rear, privacy glass, eight-speaker CD sound system, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, overhead console. 16-inch tires on steel wheels, and more.
The EX ($25,595) adds quite a lot for the price difference: larger, 17-inch alloy wheels with wider profile tires, upgraded cloth interior, power front seats, MP3 audio system, auto headlamps, front foglights, self-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink, heated sideview mirrors, solar glass, roofrails with crossbars, trip computer with compass and illuminated vanity mirrors.
Options for the EX include the Power Package ($1000) with power sliding doors and liftgate; the Luxury Package ($2400), which includes primarily leather interior with heated front memory seats, sunroof and back-up beeper; the Premium Entertainment Package ($1700), which includes an Infinity 13-speaker surround-sound audio system and DVD player with an eight-inch monitor and wireless headsets. Theres also a First Aid kit ($20) and a trailer hitch ($375).
Safety equipment is extensive; the 05 Sedona earned a five-star crash rating from NHTSA, and the 06 should too.
The unibody construction provides rigidity, with side-impact door beams and energy-absorbing bumpers. In addition to the weight-sensing frontal airbags (the front passenger airbag turns itself off if a child is in the seat), there are front side airbags (for torso protection) and air curtains (for head protection) that cover all three rows of seats. Theres an energy-absorbing steering column, and anti-whiplash headrests in front. Theres electronic stability control with traction control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic balanced brake force distribution (ABS with EBD). A tire-pressure monitoring system is also standard.
Sedona Safety
With a new platform that gives the completely redesigned 2006 Kia Sedona an interior volume measurement on par with class leaders like the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna, this minivan fires on all six of its brand-new aluminum cylinders. A 3.8-liter V6 makes more than 240 horsepower while overall Sedona curb weight decreases, resulting in better acceleration than before and a lighter, more lively feel through the steering wheel. A five-speed automatic transmission drives the power to the front wheels, while a four-wheel-independent suspension soaks up road anomalies. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard on the 2006 Kia Sedona.
Additional safety technology includes six standard airbags - dual-stage front, side-impact, and side-curtain airbags that protect in all three rows of seats are included in the base price. A tire pressure monitor is also standard, while a stability and traction control system, a rear sonar parking system, and power adjustable pedals are available. The previous Kia Sedona received the highest government rating in crash tests, and Kia claims to have engineered this lighter, larger, and more powerful 2006 Sedona to exceed those already high standards.
Comfort and Utility
Every 2006 Kia Sedona comes with a 60/40 split-folding third-row seat that drops into the floor, power roll-down windows in the sliding side doors, triple-zone air conditioning, a CD player, and dark tinted glass. The vastly improved cabin design includes fake wood trim on the Sedona EX. The gear selector is mounted to the instrument panel but doesnt block controls, and the second-row captains chairs feature a one-handed flip-and-fold design. Based on our cursory examination, the primary shortcoming is that the second-row captains chairs must be lifted out of the Sedona - they dont fold into the floor like a Dodge Grand Caravan or Nissan Quest.
Available features include a power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a DVD entertainment system, and a premium sound system with 11 Infinity speakers. For added convenience, the 2006 Kia Sedona can be equipped with power sliding side doors and a power liftgate, both operated using the remote keyless entry fob.
2006 Kia Sedona Summary
On the outside, the 2006 Kia Sedona exhibits a clean and contemporary look that is almost sleek thanks to its tapering roofline. The side door handles are designed to integrate with one another to reduce clutter, and the only decoration on the Sedonas appealing flanks is a Kia logo in the grille and, on the EX trim level, a chrome license plate brow on the tailgate. The 2006 Kia Sedona EX wears handsome 16-inch, twin-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Energy tires, and is equipped with fog lights tucked into the front bumper beneath projector beam headlamps.
The 2006 Kia Sedona arrives around the first of the year, and final pricing has not been set just yet. But Kia promises a compelling value equation consistent with current marketing schemes, and given what weve seen first-hand, the 2006 Sedona looks like another home run for Kia.
