2019 Kia Sedona Review

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.

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.