2003 Kia Sedona

"We wanted to make sure we had mainstream styling along with ample storage," said Randy Maurstad, Kia's Product Planning Director. Basic appearance is reminiscent of the Ford Windstar with standard dual sliding doors and pull-type door handles. The grille is available either chrome-finished or body-colored. Dark-tint privacy glass is standard.


Front occupants reside in captain's chairs, and the gearshift lever is mounted atop the console. A second-row bench in the LX minivan can slide, recline, and be removed. In the EX, the second row contains removable captain's chairs and front occupants benefit from power seats. A quick-release 50/50 split bench goes into the third row of both models.

Whether captain's chairs or a bench, second-row seats are removable, as is the third-row bench.

Under the front seat is a lockable slide-out tray, and the dashboard contains a tray, with a lid. Yet another storage tray, with a fold-up structure, goes between the front seats in an EX minivan. An overhead console is standard in both versions. If that's not enough interior storage space, the Sedona also contains not just one but two gloveboxes. Rear quarter windows may be opened and are power-operated on the EX. Leather upholstery costs $850 extra in the EX, and a sunroof adds $575. Antilock braking is a $595 safety option, while $170 buys a rear spoiler. New for 2003 is a rear combination taillight design and on the EX an all-chrome rear garnish with 2-tone body-side cladding.


Even if it doesn't leap ahead of the competition, the shapely Sedona functions capably in every significant area for the minivan market. Suitably refined overall, it yields a smooth, comfortable ride on nearly all pavement surfaces. Unusually quiet running, it also delivers strong, eager—indeed, effortless—performance from the 195-hp engine and easy-shifting transmission. That 5-speed unit suffers just a touch of hesitation, but then changes gears smoothly to pass or merge. The engine runs on regular gasoline, with an EPA gas-mileage estimate of 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway (which is markedly below the figures for the Sedona's primary competitors).


Steering with relatively light effort, the Sedona drives easily with precise, fully predictable control. Standard front and rear anti-sway bars appear to make a positive difference. Construction quality appears to be tight and solid. In the functional and handsome interior, gauges are basic but easy to read at a glance. One of the Sedona's few obstacles (beyond marginal gas mileage) turned out to be difficulty squeezing into the driver's seat when it's positioned in the forward portion of its fore/aft range.