2019 Kia Sedona

Is the Kia Sedona a Good Minivan?

Yes, the Kia Sedona is a good minivan. It offers plenty of intuitive technology in a comfortable interior. This van fares well for daily driving and road trips thanks to a soft ride and a good amount of cargo space. We named the Sedona a finalist for our 2019 Best Minivan for the Money award because of its solid combination of quality and value.

There aren't many glaring weaknesses with the Sedona, but it ranks in the middle of the class because some competitors surpass it in a few areas. For example, despite its roominess, the Sedona doesn't have as much passenger or cargo space as some rivals, and several minivans offer more family-oriented features.

Should I Buy the Kia Sedona?

The Sedona has one of the lowest prices in the class, which makes it attractive as a value proposition. Still, you should see how this Kia stacks up against the cream of the crop. Be sure to check out highly ranked competitors such as the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.

Compare the Sedona, Odyssey, and Pacifica »

Should I Buy a New or Used Kia Sedona?

The 2019 Sedona belongs to a generation that began with the 2015 model year. The 2019 model gets a streamlined trim lineup, an eight-speed automatic transmission (previous models have a six-speed), and a larger standard infotainment touch screen. Features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, after being options in previous years. Wireless phone charging and driver drowsiness monitoring are newly available for 2019.

For 2017, the Sedona gained optional automatic emergency braking and an updated available infotainment system with connectivity features. The 2018 Sedona was practically unchanged from the 2017 model.

You can potentially save thousands of dollars by shopping used, though you'll miss out on any recent updates. To find out if a used model is right for you, visit our overviews of the 2017 and 2018 Sedona. Also, check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles.

Compare the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Sedona »

We Did the Research for You: 36 Reviews Analyzed

Our car reviews include everything you need to know before heading to the dealership. We combine the opinions of the automotive press with quantifiable data like crash test results and reliability ratings to form a complete picture of every vehicle we rank.

This review uses applicable research and data from all model years of the current Sedona generation, which runs from 2015 to 2019.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking vehicles since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry. Our car reviews are objective. To keep them that way, our editorial staff doesn’t accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and a third party handles all the advertising on our site.

How Much Does the Kia Sedona Cost?

The Sedona carries a base price of $27,200. That's on the low end of the spectrum for this class. The top Sedona trim, the SX, starts at just north of $41,000. Most fully loaded rivals cost more.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Kia dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Kia deals page.

Kia Sedona Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Kia Sedona or Honda Odyssey?

The Honda Odyssey is an annual contender for the top spot in our minivan rankings, and it has won our Best Minivan for Families award several times. The Odyssey has more cargo and passenger space than the Sedona, and it offers some family-friendly features that the Kia doesn't, such as an intercom system for the driver to talk to rear-seat passengers. The Honda is more agile than the Sedona, it gets better gas mileage, and it delivers a smooth ride. The Sedona’s main advantage over the Odyssey is its lower starting price. Simply put, Kia makes a good minivan, but Honda makes a better one.

Which Is Better: Kia Sedona or Chrysler Pacifica?

The Chrysler Pacifica costs about the same as the Sedona, but it bests the Kia in our rankings. It has arguably the nicest interior in the class, and it comes standard with driver assistance features – like blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert – that cost extra in the Sedona. These vans have similar amounts of passenger and cargo space, but the Chrysler's second-row Stow 'n Go seats are superior to the Kia's Slide-N-Stow seats for versatility. Both minivans have poised handling and smooth rides, but the Pacifica gets better gas mileage. There's even a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, whereas the Sedona offers no powertrain options besides its V6 engine. There's not much of a reason to choose the Kia over the Chrysler.

Compare the Sedona, Odyssey, and Pacifica »

Sedona Interior

How Many People Does the Sedona Seat?

This Kia seats up to eight people. The seats are comfortable and supportive on drives of any length, making this a solid vehicle for road trips. The back seats aren't quite as spacious as those in competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. They’re best suited for small children.

Sedona and Car Seats

This minivan provides three full sets of LATCH connectors for installing car seats. The Sedona's LATCH system earned the second-highest rating of Acceptable for ease of use from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Sedona Interior Quality

Though you won't mistake it for a luxury vehicle, the Sedona looks and feels well-built inside. There are plenty of quality materials throughout the cabin, and it's stylish, at least by minivan standards.

Sedona Cargo Space

The Sedona is on par with several other minivans when it comes to cargo space, though not quite at the top of the class. Behind the rear seats, you get just under 34 cubic feet of space, which is enough room for all your beach gear or luggage for a weekend getaway. This Kia's maximum cargo capacity is 142 cubic feet. The Slide-N-Stow second-row seats are easy to maneuver, but a removable second row would offer more flexibility for hauling especially large items.

Sedona Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

Standard features include the UVO infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, a four-speaker audio system, a USB port, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

Available features include a sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system, wireless phone charging, and an upgraded UVO system with an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, satellite radio, and additional USB ports.

The center stack controls are smartly arranged to be within an easy reach from the driver's seat. The touch-screen infotainment system features user-friendly menus and controls. The large on-screen buttons and brightly lit display further add to its appeal.

Read more about interior »

Sedona Performance

Sedona Engine: Plenty of Power

There’s a 276-horsepower V6 engine under the hood of this Kia. It never feels underpowered, even if you have a van full of people and cargo, making it a suitable engine whether you're driving around town or on a long road trip. It's mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is new for 2019.

Sedona Gas Mileage: About Average

Many minivans, including the Sedona, earn similar fuel economy ratings. This Kia gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. While those are decent ratings, the most fuel-efficient minivans (that aren't hybrids), such as the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica, will save you about $50 per year in gas money compared to the Sedona.

Sedona Ride and Handling: Nothing to Complain About

While it lacks the sporty feel of the Honda Odyssey, the Sedona does just fine as a daily driver. It's poised on winding roads, and the ride remains comfortable unless the pavement quality gets bad.

Read more about performance »

Sedona Reliability

Is the Kia Sedona Reliable?

The 2019 Sedona has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power.

Kia Sedona Warranty

Kia covers the Sedona with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Sedona Safety

Sedona Crash Test Results

The 2019 Sedona earned an overall crash test rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Sedona the highest rating of Good in five of six categories and the second-highest rating of Acceptable rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test.

Sedona Safety Features

A rearview camera comes standard. Available driver assistance features include a 360-degree camera, driver drowsiness monitoring, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors.

Read more about safety »

Which Kia Sedona Model Is Right for Me?

The Sedona comes in four trims: L, LX, EX, and SX. All models feature a 276-horsepower V6 engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. The best bet for most drivers is the EX trim. It comes with a lot of standard features not found in lower trims, and you can add an option package that leaves the EX nearly as well-equipped as the highest trim.

Kia Sedona L

The Sedona L sports a base price of $27,200. Standard features include cloth upholstery, Slide-N-Stow second-row seats, a rearview camera, and the UVO infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, a four-speaker audio system, a USB port, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

Kia Sedona LX

The Sedona LX starts at $30,000. In addition to the base trim's features, the LX comes with seating for eight, power-sliding rear doors, a six-speaker audio system, and a power-adjustable driver's seat.

Kia Sedona EX

The Sedona EX carries a starting price of $33,300. In addition to the lower trims' features, the EX comes with front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, leather upholstery, heated front seats, wireless phone charging, satellite radio, and additional USB ports.

While there aren't any option packages for lower trims, with the EX you can add the EX Premium package for $4,800. It includes a sunroof, a hands-free power liftgate, a cooled glove box, tri-zone automatic climate control, driver drowsiness monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Kia Sedona SX

The range-topping Sedona SX starts at $41,100. It adds a sunroof, a hands-free power liftgate, a cooled glove box, tri-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an upgraded UVO system with an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and HD Radio.

The SX also comes standard with active safety features like a 360-degree camera, driver drowsiness monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Kia dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Kia deals page.

See 2019 Kia Sedona specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2019 Kia Sedona offers the space and tech features that most families are looking for in a minivan. A reasonable starting price and a stylish cabin make the Sedona a solid value as well and worth a serious look from minivan shoppers. That said, some rivals offer even more interior space and family-friendly features. Before settling on the Sedona, be sure to shop around.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "… 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. … 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." -- Edmunds
• "For families seeking the ultimate do-it-all vehicle, the minivan is still hard to beat, which is why the 2019 Kia Sedona is hard to ignore." -- Kelley Blue Book
• Even though crossovers and SUVs are all the rage right now, there are still plenty of families who prefer the tried-and-true functionality of a minivan. (Sliding doors FTW.) Kia is one of the few automakers still playing in this segment, and its lovely Sedona minivan gets a handful of updates for the 2019 model year." -- CNET