Overview

The Kia Sedona is all-new for 2006 and, based on the time we've spent with it, it appears to be a compelling value among minivans, offering convenience, comfort, style and performance. The front-wheel-drive Sedona has just about everything the Honda Odyssey has, except the reputation, for a lot less money.

The 2006 Kia Sedona was designed by studying every other minivan in the class, choosing the best features, and improving them. It uses a new high-tech V6 engine that more than matches the Odyssey in power, a responsive new five-speed automatic transmission, and a sophisticated and steady suspension.

From the outside, the all-new Sedona looks classy and stylish. Inside, there's seven-passenger seating with seats that easily collapse to create a vast cargo space. Every cabin convenience known to man is either standard or available; there are storage spaces everywhere you turn, and no fewer than 14 cupholders. And the Sedona achieves five-star crash certification, all for a base price of $22,995.

Model Lineup

The Sedona LX ($22,995) is well-equipped for that price, including seven-passenger seating: two rows of two captain's chairs, and a bench in back. The first two rows get power windows, and there's also remote keyless entry, power locks, three 12-volt power outlets, intermittent wipers front and rear, privacy glass, eight-speaker CD sound system, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, overhead console. 16-inch tires on steel wheels, and more.

The EX ($25,595) adds quite a lot for the price difference: larger, 17-inch alloy wheels with wider profile tires, upgraded cloth interior, power front seats, MP3 audio system, auto headlamps, front foglights, self-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink, heated sideview mirrors, solar glass, roofrails with crossbars, trip computer with compass and illuminated vanity mirrors.

Options for the EX include the Power Package ($1000) with power sliding doors and liftgate; the Luxury Package ($2400), which includes primarily leather interior with heated front memory seats, sunroof and back-up beeper; the Premium Entertainment Package ($1700), which includes an Infinity 13-speaker surround-sound audio system and DVD player with an eight-inch monitor and wireless headsets. There's also a First Aid kit ($20) and a trailer hitch ($375).

Safety equipment is extensive; the '05 Sedona earned a five-star crash rating from NHTSA, and the '06 should too. The unibody construction provides rigidity, with side-impact door beams and energy-absorbing bumpers. In addition to the weight-sensing frontal airbags (the front passenger airbag turns itself off if a child is in the seat), there are front side airbags (for torso protection) and air curtains (for head protection) that cover all three rows of seats. There's an energy-absorbing steering column, and anti-whiplash headrests in front. There's electronic stability control with traction control, and anti-lock brakes with electronic balanced brake force distribution (ABS with EBD). A tire-pressure monitoring system is also standard.

Walkaround

It's not easy for any minivan to be distinctive, and if the Sedona styling isn't unique, it is clean and crisp, and says "classy." You might even look twice, and wonder, "What's that good-looking minivan?" You might be surprised to discover it's Korean. But its heart is European, and that influence spreads to its skin.

The sheetmetal has been carefully sculpted. A crease tapers down from the steeply sloping windshield to the grille, falling between the big wedge-shaped headlights and the small sharp corners of two horizontal grille openings, long black slots with a single chrome strip in each, and Kia badge in center. The fascia/bumper under the grille is thick, with an air intake having cage-like slats to keep out the stones and slow buzzards. Tidy foglamps surround the intake, inside cavities that sweep up at the corners to match the lines of the headlamps.

The wheelwell flares are especially nicely done. They don't go out of their way to be noticed, by being bigger than they need to be; they carry just the right squared-off but smooth edges. They're sculpted by the same knife that carved the beltline running from the headlamps to taillights. The six-spoke 16-inch wheels are nothing special, but the optional 17-inch wheels, beautiful in brushed alloy with 12 spokes, send a message that this minivan has style.

The sides of the Sedona aren't too busy, given all they have to do; dings are caught by a low, thick, body-colored horizontal strip, and there's a necessary gash under each third window for the sliding rear doors. The trailing edge of that third window matches the modest slope of the roofline.

From the rear, the Sedona loses some style; it could be any minivan. It's simply functional, with a big rear window and taillights whose shape matches the lines of the rest of the vehicle.