The Kia Sedona minivan has enjoyed a fair amount of consumer popularity due to its great looks, smooth V6, and extreme value. Handsomely styled and an ideal choice for a busy family, it has proven to be a solid-performing rival for the competition in the forms of the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. The base model offers a good amount of standard convenience features, and the top-of-the-line SX provides an upscale and very comfortable driving experience.
It has now been reported that in the States, the Sedona minivan will undergo a name change to Carnival, which is already used in other markets. The many ways that the vast internet provides answers for filings and patents has aided in brands being able to discover a model's future, and a VIN decoder filing with the NHTSA has clued us in here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis regarding the coming name change. On the SedonaForum.com it was officially confirmed over the last month that the Sedona name would not continue use in the US, and the 2022 model's arrival will be known going forward as the Carnival.
Now also dubbed as “The Grand Utility Vehicle”, styling on the incoming version is a bit more similar to what is found on an SUV. Checking out the current-model Sedona for a test drive will allow you to find the best value for your needs, which the Car and Driver staff decided was found for them in the middle-of-the-road EX. It adds roof rails, keyless entry, push-button start, 18-inch aluminum wheels, heated front seats, rear-window sunshades, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and leather upholstery. It also sees front and rear parking sensor, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert as standard safety equipment.
The soon-to-be-Carnival's V6 is well-matched to its duties of moving people and goods from A to B, and you won't notice much of a harsh ride finding its way into the confines of the cabin. The heft of the steering wheel is ideal for the types of driving anyone will encounter during the daily drive, and it is rated by the EPA at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The SX trim provides reclining captain's chairs where the second-row bench is situated on lower levels, and all models come with a two-tone color theme and above-average small-item storage.
For the journey's infotainment needs, a 7.0-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, with the upgrade to the SX providing an 8-inch screen and an update to real-time traffic and weather. All models come with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and you can upgrade the trip's appeal with the optional rear-seat entertainment system, which mounts two 10-inch touchscreens behind the front-seat headrests to keep passengers occupied with their choice of digital distractions. The current-model Sedona earned top marks from the National Traffic Safety Administration during crash testing, and some of the key safety features include automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
