2012 & 2013 Kia Van Reviews & Ratings

South Korean automotive manufacturer KIA has been manufacturing vans since 1998. Since then, it has only released one model, which is the KIA Carvival. This car, in actuality a minivan, is in its second generation and has been marketed worldwide by various names, the most popular being KIA Sedona.

Although KIA is not really known for vans, the Sedona has ranked well compared to other minivans based on many reviews. This KIA van's newest installment, the 2012 KIA Sedona, features 16&... (full review continues below)

South Korean automotive manufacturer KIA has been manufacturing vans since 1998. Since then, it has only released one model, which is the KIA Carvival. This car, in actuality a minivan, is in its second generation and has been marketed worldwide by various names, the most popular being KIA Sedona.

Although KIA is not really known for vans, the Sedona has ranked well compared to other minivans based on many reviews. This KIA van's newest installment, the 2012 KIA Sedona, features 16" tire wheels, back-up warning system, privacy glass windows, roof rails for mounting accessories and rear window defroster for its exteriors. Sedona's interiors boast Bluetooth wireless technology with voice recognition, power door locks with override function, front and rear power outlets, steering-wheel mounted audio controls and keyless entry with panic and alarm function. This KIA van has a seating capacity of 7 people. It has the option of removing the second row captain's chair to seat 5 people for additional comfort, a feature which made it favored in reviews.

A lot of reviews compare the KIA van with other minivans like the Honda Odyssey or the Toyota Sienna. A good advantage of the KIA Sedona against its competition is its price. Reviews put the current marketing price of this KIA van at about $24,000 compared to the $28,000 Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna's $25,000 starting price. Surely for families who are more price-conscious, the KIA van is always more enticing than other rival vans in the market.

KIA is more known for its compact cars like the Rio, Forte and Soul. Its best-selling is the KIA Rio which is unrivalled when it comes to affordability and performance. Reviews for other types of cars like Sportage and Rio have been good, but although the Sedona has been a good sell for the company, there just hasn't been much demand to produce other models of KIA van.

The Sedona KIA van is primarily a family car. Its main market is people who often travel in groups of at least 4 people. That is why KIA has focused on making the Sedona a safe care for families. The key safety features of the KIA van based on reviews are the dual front and side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, four wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control and an advance traction control system. Reviews of various entities ranked the KIA Sedona a high safety standing especially when it comes to front, side and rear impact tests.

The KIA van, Sedona, has four packages available to suit your needs. The most popular in reviews is the EX or luxury package that includes leather seat trims, power adjustable pedals, driver's seat memory system, tri-zone automatic temperature control and a few other lavish features. The Sedona LX or power package also received some rave reviews for packing auto-dimming rear-view mirrors with Homelink technology and rear camera display, auto-light control, dual-power sliding doors and chrome garnish.

Based on an overall review of the KIA van, it is more a matter of your priorities when buying this car against other minivans. While Sedona is not as powerful and high-performing as other vans in the market, its price is really very appealing. It is mainly up to you and what you value more.