Kia Sedona Minivan

[becka]

We would like to get a minivan in the next year or so. I really love my parents Honda Odessey and everyone I know who has them loves them but they are pretty expensive. DH has been seeing the commercials for the Kia and had me look at them on line. They don't look too bad and are a cheaper option than Honda.

Does anyone have one? Any opinions?

 

[mrsv98]

We would like to get a minivan in the next year or so. I really love my parents Honda Odessey and everyone I know who has them loves them but they are pretty expensive. DH has been seeing the commercials for the Kia and had me look at them on line. They don't look too bad and are a cheaper option than Honda.

Does anyone have one? Any opinions?

I have looked at the Sedona also for the same reasons, however, I rejected it because it does not have the side curtain air bags and the engine is small. The Ford Freestar has a 4.2L engine and the side-curtain air bags. Also, things like ABS are optional which then jack the price up in the end.

Our minivan is 6 years and I am holding out with the hope that Ford or Toyota come out with a hybrid van. Otherwise, I will probably look at a 2008 Freestar. I really want the second row fold in the floor seats but I refuse to buy a Chrysler.

Ah well, not one van has everything! Good luck on your search.

 

[4greatboys]

I rented a minivan at MCO once and got a KIA. Tiny is the word for it. It was so small. I think it defeats the purpose of having a van because there was no extra room
Back when I had a minivan I had a Grand Voyager SE (same as Caravan) and we had a decent amount of space in there. I would not get a KIA.

 

[Heather Smith]

My parents have one and love it. When they got theirs, the Kia was one of the top rated for crash safety. I just saw a commercial for the new model and it definately has the side curtain airbags.

 

[Disney_1derland]

My parents bought one last year. There is just about zero headroom, I'm only 5'4 but I feel like I'm going to bang my head and if I go over any good size bump I have hit my head. I hate it. Of course, I drive a vehicle with LOTS of headroom so it could just be that I need to get used to it. The seats sit too high in it for my liking.

Also, it is tiny, there is very little room between the middle and back seat and even less between the back seat and the trunk door. Nowhere convenient to put groceries, though I hear the new model has the stow and go type back seat which would be a big plus.

 

[RC Fan]

I do believe the Sedona has been redone for the 2006 version. It now has a 3.8 L V6 that produces 244 hp. It also has dual side curtain airbags.

Kia and Hyundai are rapidly improving. I think the Sedona would certainly be worth a look.

 

[cepmom]

we looked into them last year, but they weren't rated very high on Consumer Reports. That being said, I do think they have been redesigned for 2006 (like another poster already pointed out) It seems they have some better features to compete with the big guys...it might be worth a look.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We are a family of six-footers plus and won't even look at Hondas or Kias, etc. There is just not enough room in them.

Also I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for in vehicles. Cheaper is not always a better deal.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[cruisnfamily]

We are a family of six-footers plus and won't even look at Hondas or Kias, etc.

That's interesting. My husband is 6'5" and when we bought our first ever brand new vehicle we went from dealer to dealer and had DH sit in all the cars......the only ones with appropriate leg and head room were the Hondas. I can't imagine why you feel they're too small.

The Kia, I don't know about as far as headroom/leg room. We bought my Mil one(a sedan) and she loves it. Great warranty covers everything, no problems. She's also almost 6' and never complained about it being small.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

we looked into them last year, but they weren't rated very high on Consumer Reports. That being said, I do think they have been redesigned for 2006 (like another poster already pointed out) It seems they have some better features to compete with the big guys...it might be worth a look.

I was helping my friend search for a new minivan just a couple of months ago. We also looked at Consumers and found that the Kia's were not highly rated. She wound up spending the extra money and got a Toyota Sienna. I have a '98 Sienna which, to this day, has not had any manufacturer's problems whatsoever :::knocking on wood:::

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

That's interesting. My husband is 6'5" and when we bought our first ever brand new vehicle we went from dealer to dealer and had DH sit in all the cars......the only ones with appropriate leg and head room were the Hondas. I can't imagine why you feel they're too small.

That's amazing to me. I have never ridden in a Honda where I did not feel like I needed to fold up my legs and stash them in the trunk. In fact I always volunteer to drive if we are traveling any distance.... to prevent having to ride in a Honda. We are a family of athletes so not petite.... I guess that might make a difference.

 

[mom2boys]

That's amazing to me. I have never ridden in a Honda where I did not feel like I needed to fold up my legs and stash them in the trunk. In fact I always volunteer to drive if we are traveling any distance.... to prevent having to ride in a Honda. We are a family of athletes so not petite.... I guess that might make a difference.

I'm curious. What model of hondas are you so uncomfortable in? Are you talking about the Odysessy mini van.

 

[cruisnfamily]

That's amazing to me. I have never ridden in a Honda where I did not feel like I needed to fold up my legs and stash them in the trunk. In fact I always volunteer to drive if we are traveling any distance.... to prevent having to ride in a Honda. We are a family of athletes so not petite.... I guess that might make a difference.

We bought a Honda Accord 4 door sedan. We didn't try any of the smaller models. DH drives it every day and loves it!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Sorry Becka Didn't mean to hijack your thread to post the pros and cons of Hondas!

Back to Kia Sedona Minivans now.

Unfortunately my only experience is with a Kia sedan but MIL has been happy with it.