Minivans are slowly fading away into the oblivion, yet there are a few trying hard to delay the inevitable. The Kia Sedona is one of the renegades. With its contemporary styling, unparalleled utility and comfortable interiors, it tries hard to sway the folks towards the minivan segment, again.
Spacious and comfortable cabin
Distinctive styling
An impressive list of standard safety features
A rich list of quirks and features
Thirsty powertrain
Dull driving dynamics
Sluggish Acceleration
No option for AWD
No mechanical or design change over its predecessor
$8,000 / 21 mpg
Mountain Lake, MN
$9,699 / 21 mpg
Stone Mountain, GA
$5,000
Boerne, TX
$10,990 / 21 mpg
Watchung, NJ
$12,500 / 21 mpg
Farmville, VA
$8,995 / 21 mpg
Milton, FL
$9,995 / 21 mpg
Dallas, TX
$9,950 / 21 mpg
Pensacola, FL
$27400
4dr Minivan
8
FWD
204 cu.in.
276 hp @ 6000 rpm
248 lbs.-ft. @ 5200 rpm
8 speed automatic
Unibody
Strut
Multi-Link
120.5 in.
201.4 in.
78.1 in.
68.5 in.
4411 lbs.
6.7 in.
142 cu ft.
3500 lbs.
1674 lbs.
7.7 sec.
18/21/24 mpg
379.8 mi.
506.4 mi.
5 yr./ 60000 mi.
10 yr./ 100000 mi.
5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
6.2
OVERALL RATING
$27,600
| Style | Prices | MPG | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Seats | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) | Starting at $27,600 MSRP | (18/21/24) | 276 hp @ 6000 rpm, 3.3 L, V-6, regular unleaded | 8-speed shiftable automatic | front wheel drive | 7 |
$30,400
| Style | Prices | MPG | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Seats | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) | Starting at $30,400 MSRP | (18/21/24) | 276 hp @ 6000 rpm, 3.3 L, V-6, regular unleaded | 8-speed shiftable automatic | front wheel drive | 8 |
$33,700
| Style | Prices | MPG | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Seats | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) | Starting at $33,700 MSRP | (18/21/24) | 276 hp @ 6000 rpm, 3.3 L, V-6, regular unleaded | 8-speed shiftable automatic | front wheel drive | 8 |
$41,500
| Style | Prices | MPG | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Seats | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A) | Starting at $41,500 MSRP | (18/21/24) | 276 hp @ 6000 rpm, 3.3 L, V-6, regular unleaded | 8-speed shiftable automatic | front wheel drive | 8 |
Overall Rating
The Sedona received a refresh in 2018 and for the year 2020, this minivan largely remains unchanged. Powered by the same competent V6 of the yesteryear, the Sedona is capable of cranking out 276 horses and 248 lb/ft of peak torque. The minivan segment might be not as relevant as it was a decade ago, but the competition is still fierce. Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey are arguably the flagbearers of the minivan segment. However, the Sedona, with a plush and upscale interior, spacious cabin and a ton of convenience features makes a strong case for itself. Is the Sedona a worthy contender in the segment? Well, let’s find out.
5.0/10
Features
9.0/10
Engine and Performance
4.0/10
Fuel Economy
8.0/10
Interior
5.0/10
Safety
The 2020 Kia Sedona is segregated into four well-defined trim levels, namely L, LX, EX and SX. The sticker price of the base L trim is $27,400 and goes all the way to $41,300 for the top of the line SX trim.
The standard list of features is very impressive for the 2020 Sedona, yet as you move up the trim ladder the list gets more and more additions.
|
Trims |
L |
LX |
EX |
SX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$27,400 |
$30,200 |
$33,500 |
$41,300 |
|
Key Features |
Tricot Fabric Seats w/ YES EssentialsFabric Treatment |
Features of L plus |
Features of LX plus |
Features of EX plus |
|
Front and Rear Passenger Air Conditioning |
Dual Power Sliding Rear Doors, Privacy Glass |
18-inch Alloy Wheels |
Two-Tone Leather Trim with Heated and Ventilated Front Seats |
|
|
Bluetooth Wireless Technology |
8-Passenger Seating w/ 3-Passenger, 2nd-row seating |
Two-Tone Leather Trim with Heated Front Seats |
Cooling Glove Box |
|
|
7-inch Color Touch-Screen Display, AM/FM/MP3 Audio System |
8-Way Power-Adjustable Driver's Seat |
Dual Power Sliding Rear Doors, Roof Rails |
Surround View Monitor (SVM) |
|
|
Rear-Camera Display |
Integrated 2nd and 3rd Row Window Sunshades |
Smart Cruise Control (SCC) w/ Stop & Go |
||
|
Slide-n-Stow 2nd-Row Seats |
UVO eServices w/ 7-inch Color Touch-Screen Display, AM/FM/MP3 Audio System |
UVO eServices w/ Navigation, 8-inch Color Touch-Screen Display, SiriusXM Traffic and HD Radio, AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM Audio System |
||
|
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
Wireless Phone Charger, Rapid-Charge USB 2.1 Charger Ports |
Harman Kardon Premium Surround Sound w/ Clari-Fi, External Amplifier & Subwoofer |
||
|
Conversation Mirror |
Tri-Zone Front and Rear Automatic Climate Control |
110V Power Outlet, Center Console |
Which trim do we recommend?
As impressive the SX trim looks on paper, we would recommend you opt for the EX trim as it’s the best VFM trim. You won’t miss out on many features from the SX trim, but add a lot compared to the LX trim, such as leather upholstery, heated front seats, tri-zone auto-climate control and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The 2020 Kia Sedona is powered by the same 3.3L V6 unit that powered its predecessor. The motor is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that transfers the power to the front wheels. The option for AWD would have been an excellent addition and the folks over in the northeast would have loved it, maybe next year!
The competent V6 motor churns out 276 horses at 6000 rpm and produces a maximum pulling force of 248 lb/ft at 5200 rpm. Power delivery is linear and the transmission does its job well. However, at lower revs, the engine is very dull. Only after crossing the 5k mark does this minivan feel lively. Also, be prepared for a ride that lacks engagement on the highway. Yes, you have the power of almost 280 horses, but there is no excitement at all. It settles down after a certain speed and just cruises along the highway. Then again, it’s a minivan and not an SUV, and that’s how minivans are supposed to behave, right?
|
Models |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$27,400 |
$30,690 |
$33,495 |
$31,415 |
|
Engine |
3.3L Regular V6 |
3.5L Regular V6 |
3.6L Regular V6 |
3.5L Regular V6 |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
|
Transmission |
8-Speed Automatic |
10-Speed Automatic |
9-Speed Automatic |
8-Speed Automatic |
|
Power |
276hp@6,000rpm | 280hp@6,000rpm | 287hp@6,400rpm | 296hp@6,600rpm |
|
Torque |
248lb-ft@5,200rpm | 262lb-ft@4,700rpm | 262lb-ft@4,000rpm | 263lb-ft@4,700rpm |
Talking about raw power, Toyota Sienna leads the pack with 296 hp followed by the Chrysler Pacifica with the power of 287 horses. The Sedona is the least powerful of the chosen minivans.
The V6 under the hood does a great job moving this minivan fast enough as it sprints to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. If you decide to compete in a drag race, which will be a very bad idea, you will complete it in just under 16 seconds.
As mentioned earlier, the engine only gets lively past the 5000 rpm mark, which explains Sedona’s sluggish acceleration.
|
Models |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0-60 MPH |
7.6 sec |
7.6 sec |
7.4 sec |
6.9 sec |
|
Quarter Mile |
15.8 sec |
15.9 sec |
15.6 sec |
15.3 sec |
| Top Speed | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
|
Engine |
3.3L Regular V6 |
3.5L Regular V6 |
3.6L Regular V6 |
3.5L Regular V6 |
Also, not to forget its curb weight which clocks in at 4411 lbs, making it one of the heaviest minivans in the states.
The Sedona ships out of the factory with ventilated disk brakes and ABS on all the four wheels. The rotor size on the front wheels has a diameter of 12.6 inches while the rear ones have 11.9-inch rotors.
|
Model |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brake Rotors Front |
12.6" |
12.6" |
13" |
12.9" |
|
Brake Rotors Rear |
11.9" |
13" |
13" |
12.2" |
|
Curb Weight |
4411 lbs |
4354 lbs |
4330 lbs |
4430 lbs |
|
60-0 MPH |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Stopping this mammoth takes some serious effort and the braking system onboard does a great job at it. The application of the pedal is fairly easy and the bite kicks in instantaneously. There is no noticeable nosedive under the regular application. However, when applied under emergency situations, the nosedive is fairly prominent.
The overall ride quality of the Sedona is fairly smooth and composed. However, it not as smooth as that of the Pacifica or the Odyssey. Minor road imperfections are well masked, however, bigger bumps will make its way into the cabin. What will not make its way to the cabin, are the road and engine noise that have been very well cut-off on the inside. The cabin is very silent, even when cruising on the highway.
The steering is neither very hard nor feather-light. It’s perfectly weighted and maneuvering it through the city streets will not be an issue. However, the body roll is very evident and cornering at high speeds will definitely make you nervous.
Fuel economy is one department where the Sedona lags behind its competitors. One would be lead to believe that Kia has opted for a detuned engine in order to squeeze out more gas mileage. However, Sedona delivers only 18 mpg in the city while all other cars in the chosen pack deliver 19 mpg inside the city.
|
Model |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
18 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
24 |
28 |
28 |
26 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
21 |
22 |
22 |
21 |
| Fuel Capacity | 21.1 gallons | 19.5 gallons | 19.0 gallons | 19.0 gallons |
| Range (City/Hwy/Combined) | 380/506/443 miles |
371/546/429 miles |
361/532/418 miles | 380/520/399 miles |
|
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr) |
8.4 |
8.0 |
8.0 |
N/A |
On the highway too, Sedona manages to travel 24 miles for a gallon while the Odyssey manages 28 miles for the same amount of gas. Hence, if fuel economy is high on your list of priorities, we suggest you skip the Sedona.
While not as stylish as some of the latest offerings from Kia, 2020 Sedona’s interior is minimalist and perfectly suited for the car it is, a family minivan. With 3 rows of seats that offer ample room, the overall build of the interiors is sturdy with high-quality plastic conveniently covered with soft-touch materials.
Staying true to the segment, the 2020 Kia Sedona’s cabin is huge and offers ample space, especially in the 2nd-row seats. The front seats are well contoured and very well-cushioned and provide ample support to the driver and the co-passenger during longer drives. Higher trims also have 3 level heating capabilities for the front seats and 3 fan settings to cool you down. The 2nd row of seats, which is a pair of captains chairs, is the trump card for the Kia Sedona. It offers more room than most of the rivals. The legroom is huge. Apart from the base trim, the middle seat of the 2nd row is foldable, which makes for a makeshift armrest.
|
Models |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
First Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.8/63.9/40.9 |
40.7/63.1/40.9 |
40.1/63.8/41.1 |
41.0/65.0/40.5 |
|
Second Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.4/63.1/41.1 |
39.5/61.6/40.9 |
39.6/63.0/39.0 |
39.7/64.6/37.6 |
|
Third Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.9/59.4/38.4 |
38.4/59.2/38.1 |
38.7/59.2/36.5 |
38.3/61.1/36.3 |
3rd row of seats of the Sedona can fit 3 adults, but they won’t be very comfortable over a long drive. The space offered by the seats is on par with the competition. Lower trims have cloth upholstery, designed by Yes Essentials, and is stain and odor resistant. The higher trims come with leather upholstery and feel very premium.
All trims of the 2020 Kia Sedona come equipped with a 7’’ LCD touch screen that is color accurate and vibrant. However, the top two trims, ES and SX come with Sirius XM satellite radio.
The base trim comes with only 4 speakers, which to be honest, are not sufficient for the Sedona. LX and ES trim come with 6 speakers that produce well-balanced sound output. SX trim comes with Harman Kordon speakers with a subwoofer.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trim along with Siri Eyes free. There is no inbuilt navigation and you’ll have to rely on your smartphone to show you the way around.
The default cargo space for Sedona is 33.9 cubic feet. But don’t let that discourage you because there are a whole lot of folding options for the 2nd and 3rd-row seats.
|
Models |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cargo Capacity |
33.9 cu.ft. |
38.6 cu.ft. |
32.3 cu.ft. |
39.1 cu.ft. |
With the 3rd-row seats folded, the cargo space increases to 78.4 cubic feet. That’s not all of it, with the 2nd-row seats at the forward-most position, the total cargo space is maxed out at 142 cubic feet. You can literally carry anything you want and still will be left with space for more.
The Sedona has no dearth of interior features. Some of them are
The exterior shell of the 2020 Sedona stays unchanged from its predecessor. While it is not the ugliest looking car on the road, it won’t win any beauty pageant either. When compared to its rivals such as the Pacifica and the Odyssey, the exterior styling does look dated.
The boxy design has polarizing reception among the masses. While some despise it, for others, it can be the reason they buy the Sedona over the dynamic design of its rivals.
|
Model |
Kia Sedona L |
Honda Odyssey LX |
Chrysler Pacifica Touring |
Toyota Sienna L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight |
4411 lbs |
4354 lbs |
4330 lbs |
4430 lbs |
|
Length |
201.4" |
203.2" |
203.8" |
200.6" |
|
Width |
78.1" |
78.5" |
79.6" |
78.1" |
|
Height |
68.5" |
68.3" |
69.9" |
68.9" |
|
Ground Clearance |
6.7" |
N/A |
5.1" |
6.5" |
|
Wheelbase |
120.5" |
118.1" |
121.6" |
119.3" |
The bumper to bumper length of this minivan measures up to be 201.4 inches. The 120.5-inch wheelbase makes sure that the cabin can accommodate up to 7 passengers.
The 2020 Sedona, unchanged since its refresh in 2018, carries the redesigned head and tail lamps along with the new ‘tiger-nose’ grille. Some of the other highlights are
The safety of a car is a major factor that can make or break a deal. Kia knows this all too well. Irrespective of the price, all of Kia’s cars are packed with a bunch of active and passive features. The build quality is also very sturdy and Kia uses High Strength Steel Chassis that absorbs most of the impact in the event of a crash.
Some of the safety features of the 2020 Sedona are
The Sedona and the Odyssey are similar, yet very different from each other. Similar because both of these cars offer spacious cabins, comfortable seats, and great utility. Moving on to the differences, the Honda in question has a better fuel economy than the Kia. Also, the Odyssey is more fun to drive car among the two. Thus, it will be a wiser option to spend your money on the Odyssey.
The Pacifica is one of the top-selling minivans in the States. Now you have to be doing something right if you’re selling well in a segment that’s fast fading out. The contemporary design of the Pacifica along with its upscale interiors and great ride quality are some of the reasons behind its sales figures. It’s really hard to recommend the Sedona over the Pacifica.
With the Sienna, you get the reliability of Toyota. The Sienna is also powered by one of the most powerful engines in the segment. Otherwise, there’s very little separating the two. The design can be a deciding factor here. Sienna adheres to the recent design language of Toyota, which is most evident in its front grille. The Sedona, on the other hand, sticks with a boxy design, which you’ll either love or hate.
When all is said and done, the question that needs to be answered now is if you should get the Sedona over its rivals. To put it bluntly, no. The Sedona has a great cabin with lots of quirks and features. However, the dull driving dynamics along with the below-average fuel efficiency are some aspects of this car you just cannot oversee. Thus, we suggest you put your money on the Odyssey or the Pacifica.
Christopher L. Schley 2020 Kia Sedona LX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A)
User Overall Rating
Posted On: June 9, 2020
Overview Rating
Had it had better fuel mileage it would have been the best minivan
Features
Interior
Design
Safety
Reliability
Deal Value
Dealer Review
Erik C. Gordon 2020 Kia Sedona EX 4dr Minivan (3.3L 6cyl 8A)
User Overall Rating
Posted On: June 9, 2020
Overview Rating
I would be recommending Sedona to everyone
Features
Interior
Design
Safety
Reliability
Deal Value
Dealer Review
User Overall Rating
User Overall Rating
