10 Reasons a Minivan is the Ultimate Family Vacation Car: 2016 Kia Sedona SXL

by Andy Bornhop

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September 9, 2016

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6 min. Reading Time

Kia Sedona on road by Andy Bornhop

Minivans have a bad rap. Young mothers avoid them because, well, the last thing they seem to want is a vehicle that shouts, “Hey, I’m a mom!” Big crossovers or SUVs are acceptable for some reason, but a minivan? No thanks. Remember the TV commercials in which the “cool moms” all bought Ford Flexes instead of minivans? They made me cringe, but Ford clearly was onto something.

Our message: Forget stereotypes, be comfortable with who you are, and get the type of vehicle you need. For the Bornhop family’s recent trip to Lake Tahoe for a wedding, that meant a minivan. In our particular case, a 2016 Kia Sedona, a luxurious 7-seater that accommodated the five of us (mom, dad, two sons and a girlfriend) with ease as we motored our way up and down California’s scenic Highway 395.

Here’s our take after driving Kia’s minivan for one week and approximately 1100 miles.

1) The road is long and comfort is king.

Our 2016 Kia Sedona test vehicle was a flagship SXL, a Snow White Pearl model fitted with every comfort, convenience, and technology available. As such, this front-wheel-drive Sedona was pricey. While base Sedonas start at $26,400, our SXL left the lot at $44,690, including an $895 destination fee. Ouch. But for that sum, you’re getting a solid and spacious van that rivals luxury sedans in opulence and content. Besides a handsome leather interior with air-conditioned and heated front seats, you get a heated steering wheel, satellite radio, GPS navigation, dual sunroofs and captain’s chairs in the middle row. Upping the safety quotient are stability control, six airbags, a backup camera (with a handy Surround View Monitor), a blind-spot warning system, lane-departure warning, a forward-collision monitor, and even smart cruise control that keeps the Sedona a set distance from the vehicle ahead on the highway.

Maybe more important are the interior conveniences. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, the 2016 Sedona is blessed with Kia’s highly regarded UVO infotainment system, a powerful Infinity stereo (with CD player, two USB ports and an AUX jack), rear climate controls, cupholders galore, and even a split 3-person rear bench that folds into the floor and creates a flat load surface.

We, however, needed the Sedona’s rear bench for seating. Would there be enough space in the far back to accept all of our weekend gear?

2) Roominess is a must and minivans have plenty of it.

Turns out there was plenty of room. Kia says there’s a generous 33.9 cubic feet of cargo room behind the bench, and most of it is vertical. A deep well in the floor was perfect for our case of water and other heavy items; on top of that we stacked our soft bags, snacks and other odds and ends that even included an iron to help us be wrinkle-free at the wedding. Although I thought our gear might stack higher than the rear seatback (and be dangerous in panic braking), it lined up almost perfectly with the top of the seat. This meant that Amy, son John’s 5-foot-7 girlfriend, would have the rear bench all to herself, with no bags or coolers impinging on her comfort.

All told, the Sedona accommodated us with ease. We are a tall family and head room was never in short supply, in spite of the Kia’s front and rear sunroofs. And the middle captain’s chairs, aided by long rails, are able to slide all the way back to the rear bench, at which point they offer better-than-first-class leg room. Although they don’t swivel (wouldn’t that be nice?), they each can be adjusted a few inches laterally, and each has an extendable footrest. With its top-quality materials, beautiful design, and generous space, the Sedona interior wowed each of us. It’s so nice inside that we could almost be fooled into believing Kia is Hyundai’s new luxury brand.

3) Minivans care about how you feel.

Loaded with passengers and gear but still comfortably below its GVWR of 6085 lb., the 2016 Kia Sedona was a great travel companion. The direct injected 3.3-liter V6, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, made quick work of the Cajon Pass climb, and it kept the Sedona sailing along at a relaxed 70-75 mph all day without issue, occasionally downshifting on grades to keep the aluminum-block engine in the thick of its powerband. Apart from a hint of wind noise coming from the driver’s side A-pillar (an issue likely specific to this vehicle), the Sedona was quiet, and despite the low-profile 55-series tires on tall 19-inch chrome rims, the ride felt smooth, even on the dirt road at the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery. Some of this comfort may be related to the pre-loaded linear-valve dampers found only in upmarket Sedonas.

Other findings: The 6-speed gearbox shifted smoothly, the electric-assist steering felt natural, and the Sedona proved easy to park, aided by a good turning radius. Structurally, this Kia minivan felt tight, and although the view forward is good, you can’t see the Sedona’s nose from the driver’s seat. In tight parking lots, the beeping of the parking-assist program helped. And speaking of beeps, the lane-departure warning chimed in so often during our trip that we eventually shut it off. Patty says I wander too much in my lane; I say I make use of the entire available lane, especially on mountain curves. (How long have we been married?)

4) Second row seats are the best.

Our two giants, 6-foot-4 John and 6-foot-5 Andrew, fit better than expected in the Sedona’s middle-row captain’s chairs, in part because they slid the leather-covered buckets so far rearward (but not to the point of scrunching Amy in back). They both liked how the Sedona’s tinted side windows could be rolled down, and how their respective sunshades could be pulled up to block the morning or afternoon sun. What’s more, ingress/egress was a cinch with the power doors, and they enjoyed having control of the rear air conditioning while having access to the USB port and 120-volt power outlet on the back of the center console. Two small complaints: The fold-up foot supports, although fun to show your neighbors, are usable only when there’s space for your legs to stretch out in front of you without contacting the back of the front seat. Moreover, there are four levers on the side of each seat, and it’s hard to remember which controls what without getting out of the seat and looking. Minor concerns, admittedly, in an otherwise comfortable cabin with more than ample room.

5) The back-back is not as tight as in an SUV.

While the rear bench of the Sedona isn’t quite as roomy as the Toyota Sienna’s, Amy, at 5-foot-7, said she was totally comfortable back there. The bench, reported Amy, is wide enough for two adults with a kid between, not three adults. Of note, when offered the chance to ride up front, Amy respectfully declined, preferring instead to have her own private space in which to snooze unnoticed or enjoy movies on her iPhone without John or Andrew making wise cracks from behind. Our one critique regarding the split rear bench: We like how it folds and tucks into the floor, but the process is a bit clunky, not as seamless and easy as it should be.

6) Gas mileage is better than you'd expect.

According to the EPA, the 2016 Kia Sedona is rated at 17 MPG city/22 MPG highway/19 MPG combined. Not great. Remember, though, that this is a heavy 4720-lb. van shaped like a brick. On our 1100-mile trip of mixed but mostly highway driving, the 2016 Sedona returned 23 MPG, beating the EPA highway figure by 1 MPG. That’s laudable, much better than a traditional full-size van would do, for sure. And with its 21.1-gallon fuel tank, the Kia Sedona goes over 400 miles between fill-ups, far beyond bladder range.

7) Safety scores are perfect.

Given its role as a family hauler, the 2016 Kia Sedona is built with safety in mind. Some impact loads, of note, are distributed into special tubes in the A-pillars that are made of high-strength steel. Efforts like these help the Sedona score a perfect 5-star Overall Vehicle Score in National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration testing. In the Frontal Crash and Side Crash NHTSA tests, the 2016 Kia Sedona nets perfect 5-star scores. Sedona safety (and versatility) is further enhanced by Lower Anchors and Tethers for child safety seats, plus six standard airbags, anti-rollover protection and a forward collision alert system, which along with smart cruise control and the handy Surround View Monitor is part of the $2800 Technology Package.

8) The minivan wars are fierce.

Most people think the 2016 Kia Sedona is handsome, and given its wide track and low stance, it’s fair to say it looks a bit like a sporty crossover from behind. At the same time, though, the Sedona has an uncanny similarity in shape to the popular Toyota Sienna. This Toyota, along with the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica, are each natural competitors for the Kia, as is the Nissan Quest. And if you’re willing to think out of the box, you should also consider the Metris, a new rear-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz van that seats up to eight.

9) Bottom line: Kia could aid in getting over the minivan stigma.

In today’s crop of minivans, Kia’s Sedona holds its head high. It impressed the Bornhop family with its extraordinary build quality, its refinement, its surprising opulence, and its dependable-appliance nature. It may not have an onboard vacuum like the Honda, or clever Stow N Go middle seats like the Chrysler, but it’s a good vehicle at its core, and it has a handy power rear hatch that will automatically open when you stand behind the Sedona with the key fob in your pocket or purse. Sure, our particular SXL cost a lot, but there are several lesser Sedonas out there with the same great structure, the same willing powertrain, the same extraordinary versatility. We could buy one of them, and still have enough left over to purchase a Kia Soul.

In Europe, minivans are called MPVs, short for multi-purpose vehicles. If minivans were called MPVs here in the US, just think: Maybe they’d lose the housewife stigma and sell better, so more people would get to appreciate these truly handy vehicles. Jay, a photographer/videographer friend, always has a minivan. He needs a work vehicle that’s small enough to drive around town with ease, yet is able to carry lots of gear and still get reasonably good fuel economy. Does Jay care what his vehicle says about him? Nor should you.