Used 2019 Kia Sedona Minivan

Although SUVs and pickup trucks rule the sales charts these days, the venerable box-on-wheels-with-sliding-doors — aka the minivan — remains an ideal choice for families or anyone needing massive amounts of cargo space. And among the handful of minivans available, the 2019 Kia Sedona stands out with its combination of style and value.

Certainly, the Sedona does all the standard minivan stuff well. A strong V6 engine, generous cabin accommodations and impressive seat comfort help move seven or eight passengers effortlessly. In addition, the Sedona boasts a chiseled exterior look (for a minivan) and a dashboard and center console that have SUV-like design cues. If you don't normally like minivans, Kia's approach with its Sedona could very well satisfy.

For 2019, Kia also addressed one of our earlier disappointments: uncompetitive fuel economy. While the Sedona still trails the Honda Odyssey by 4 mpg in highway driving, the new eight-speed automatic transmission helps close what was an even wider gap. But we still wish that the Sedona's ride quality was smoother and less prone to harsh impacts when driving on rough roads.

It's fair to say the Odyssey and the Chrysler Pacifica are slightly better minivans overall. Yet the Sedona has its own particular appeal. It's worth checking out, especially if you want your box on wheels to be a little different than the norm.

What's it like to live with?

This version of the Kia Sedona debuted in 2015, when Edmunds 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 addressed that for 2019 by switching from a six-speed automatic transmission to an eight-speed. The front and rear styling are also slightly different. But otherwise our notes on storage space, ride comfort and everyday usability stand. Is this the right minivan for you? Dive in to find out.

The 2019 Kia Sedona is a seven- or eight-passenger minivan sold in four trim levels: L, LX, EX and SX. All Sedona trims are powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine (276 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque) that sends power to the front wheels through a new-for-2019 eight-speed automatic transmission.

Standard feature highlights of the L trim include 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, Slide-N-Stow forward-collapsing second-row captain's chairs (seven-passenger configuration), stain-resistant cloth upholstery, a 60/40-split reclining and folding third-row bench seat, dual-zone climate control (with front and rear controls), Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a four-speaker sound system with USB and auxiliary audio input jacks.

The LX adds power-folding mirrors, power-sliding doors, rear privacy glass, a second-row bench seat (increasing passenger capacity to eight), a power-adjustable driver's seat and a six-speaker audio system.

Moving up to the EX you'll find 18-inch wheels, roof rails, keyless entry and push-button ignition, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a driver information display, leather upholstery, heated front seats, second- and third-row sunshades, a wireless phone charger, Kia's Uvo3 eServices communications, and rapid USB charge ports. Driver aids include front and rear parking sensors and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.

The optional EX Premium package takes its namesake trim up a notch with upgraded shock absorbers, foglights, heated and power-folding side mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, a sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable passenger seat, driver-seat memory functions, one-touch power-folding rear seats, a cooled glovebox, a 110-volt power outlet, a third-row USB charge port, and additional driver aids that include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

The SX bundles the features from the EX Premium package and adds LED foglights, a sound-reducing windshield, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a second 110-volt power outlet in the cargo area, an 8-inch touchscreen, a surround-view camera, a navigation system, voice-controlled infotainment, and a premium Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

A rear-seat entertainment system is also offered on EX and SX trims.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Kia Sedona SX Limited (3.3L V6 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2015, the current Sedona has received some revisions, including a new eight-speed transmission, more standard and optional features, and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Sedona, however.