A drive from Ventura County to Sonoma County in our long-term Kia Sedona produced only a few whines between vineyard visits. For the most part this van accomplishes the mission of comfortable and capable family transportation. Our EX model has the rear entertainment DVD system with wireless headphones, which means the digital ritalin is always in ready-fire mode for quelling second-row disturbances. The wife, a former 2000 Honda Odyssey owner, was quick to note the Sedona's "floatier" ride and handling, and after four hours both of us noticed a posterior ache from the somewhat squishy seats. After long drives in the aforementioned Odyssey, plus a cross-country jaunt in a 2003 Honda Pilot, we were both somewhat disappointed in the four-hour limit on Sedona seat comfort.
The only other complaint worth noting involved some rather scary brake pedal sensations whenever moderate to severe braking was necessary. Though easily forgotten under most driving conditions, the few times I applied heavy/repeated brake pedal pressure (i.e. coming down a long hill) there was a consistent rumble and vibration that didn't make me happy. We'll have this checked out soon, but otherwise the van proved powerful, relatively fuel efficient (you can get 400 miles on a tank, if you're light on the throttle), and properly equipped. A satellite radio system would have been nice, but the audio system can handle MP3s, so a single CD filled with bad '80s tracks kept me going for the entire 900-mile trip (much to the chagrin of my wife and kids).
vvk says:
08:17 PM, 05/ 8/07
Well, at least it did not break down and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. You know, like Honda did...
sddoc07 says:
11:06 PM, 05/ 8/07
Hmmm...I'm going to have to put in my 2 cents on my own experience with a 2003 Honda Pilot. I know that after driving around 3-4 hours, your butt is seriously hurting thanks to the firm, but under-cushioned seats on the Pilot. Couple that with the classic trademark Honda road-noise effect and fatigue REALLy kicks in at 5 hours. There is NO WAY you can sustain driving for more than 6 hours regardless because the Pilot's mileage doesn't really impress and tops out at about 370 miles max per tank with mostly freeway driving. Obviously I don't know how the Kia is but the Pilot is not exactly the gold standard! (for instance, my previous Tahoe was way more comfortable for the long-hauls)
editor_karl says:
01:26 PM, 05/ 9/07
I can't dispute your experience in the Pilot's seats, but I know we spent several 10-12 hour days when we drove it across the country (and back!) and butt-pain was never an issue.
Unless you want to talk about being stranded in the middle of Utah with a busted timing belt at 14,000 miles. That was a major pain in the butt!!
ateixeira says:
01:49 PM, 05/ 9/07
Range like that sounds good...
harrychezt says:
11:33 PM, 05/ 9/07
The brakes, same thing happens on rare occasions on my 04 GLS V6 Sonata. 42K miles, and still runs, though. No problems, so far, just needed rear window gaskets last year replace under warranty, they kind of were keeping the windows from rolling up 100%(nothing major like what you said about the Honda).
14K and the timing belt broke on a Honda!?!?!?!
Surprised me hearing that!
My major gripe about Kia ? MSRP's have went up a lot since 2004-05( due to currency exchange rates?) on their Optima, other vehicles, too.
take care/not offense.
bergoes says:
11:07 AM, 05/10/07
I just rented a 2006 Sedona for a week and drove it on a family trip (1500 miles) with 5 adults and a 3 year old in a child seat. I used to sell new Sienna vans and looked at the honda minivan. The Sedona is not the odyssey van but the its not typically loud like a honda either. I had the occasional brake vibration in the steering wheel also even at normal to strong stops. The trunk is big and practical and the suspension handled the weight of us and our luggage great. Only in fast curves it felt like the rear did not follow as quickly as the front suspension with the result that you would steer and suddenly you felt the van lean a little bit in an abrupt way when the rear suspension started following. This feels less secure but was never a problem. D'ont think this sedona is hard to handle just remember its not a ford focus (that drives like a go kart threw curves).Its a family vehicle that costs less then the Sienna, Odyssey and delivers a lot off feature included already in the LX verzion that i drove. I will buy one in the fall. The only drawback is that it depreciates quickly in its first year ( i have seen a used 06 sedona at a dealer for only $12995 with 16 K miles) So i will buy a used one.The seats where never a problem for me I am 5 ft 8 150 pounds. One thing was not right when i picked up the van from the car rental agency the red airbag light on the dash stayed on continualy. It never did that again ( on the whole trip) after i shut the engine down and restarted. One more thing I went and looked at the sedona at the dealer ship before this trip and the driver door would not shut the lever inside the lock would not pivot by itself we pushed it with the car key and it did not do it again ( i think the lubrication grease was to thick and did not reach everywhere where it should have.So if you are a critical car buff with a sense of reality ( not an absolute nit picker) then I think you will be verry happy with this van and get unsurpassed quality for the price of the van + a great warranty. I had a focus with a 100k miles warranty that was more in the shop then any other car i ever owned + the engine blew a rod at 103 K miles so even with a great warranty you might be out of luck in time spent at the dealer and after it expires.Thank god for edmunds consumer reviews always read them before buying any car ( my wife says i am a practical guy).
jerome178 says:
11:10 AM, 02/25/08
Did you ever find out what the brake noise/vibration was? I have one and I took it in and they said that all the other ones do that too and there is nothing they can do about it. I have never had a car do that before and I have driven vans before. Just trying to figure this out, I feel like someone's not telling me the whole story.