Kia Sedona

While three-row SUVs are very popular, you still can't beat a minivan for family hauling duties. Power-sliding rear doors make minivans a cinch for kids to get in and out, and a deep cargo well behind the third-row seat gives you space for securing and hauling extra cargo. The 2021 Kia Sedona builds on top of these traditional minivan strengths with expressive styling and a pleasant interior.

Even though this Sedona dates back a few years — it was last redesigned for 2015 — Kia's minivan stacks up well against newer rivals. The overall impression of the cabin is one of quality and comfort, with nicely textured plastics, soft leather and ample seat cushioning. The Sedona also has one of the most intuitive infotainment systems around, plus a full complement of advanced driving aids available on mid-trim models. Buyers on a budget should also be satisfied with its competitive pricing. While the Chrysler Voyager is less expensive overall, the price for the Sedona's mix of features can't be beat.

While the Sedona doesn't have any fatal flaws, it does have a slightly rougher ride and a little less cargo space than competitors. We also expect a fully redesigned Sedona to come out next year. If you're looking for the most up-to-date minivan, you might want to wait for Kia to pull the wraps off the redesigned version.

What's it like to live with?

This version of the Kia Sedona debuted in 2015. MatoCar added one to our fleet for a one-year test that covered more than 20,000 miles. We liked the Sedona, though it lagged behind competitors in some areas, especially fuel economy. Kia has since made some improvements, but most of our observations from that test still apply to the 2021 Sedona.

Which Sedona does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Kia Sedona minivan comes in three trim levels — LX, EX and SX — all of which come standard with eight-passenger seating. Under the hood is a 3.3-liter V6 engine (276 horsepower, 248 pound-feet of torque) that drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

LX Standard features for the base Sedona LX include:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic headlights
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• A 7-inch touchscreen
• A six-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

EX The EX adds a bunch of features and costs just a bit more than the LX. Its upgrades include:

• 18-inch wheels
• Roof rails
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Remote-controlled sliding rear doors
• Rear sunshades
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Three charge-only USB ports
• A wireless charging pad
• Front and rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking)
• Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane is in your blind spot)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

The EX Premium package bridges the gap between the EX and range-topping SX. Features on this package include:

• Heated and power-folding mirrors
• Chrome exterior trim
• A sunroof
• A hands-free liftgate
• An auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Driver memory settings
• Four-way power lumbar adjustment for driver's seat
• A power-adjustable passenger's seat
• A 110-volt household-style power outlet
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Sedona and the car in front)

SX The SX is the most luxe Sedona available. Starting with the EX's contents, it adds:

• EX Premium package
• LED headlights
• A noise-reducing windshield
• Selectable drive modes
• A heated steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats
• An 8-inch touchscreen
• Voice recognition
• A navigation system
• An eight-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sedona and its surroundings for tight parking situations)