Kia Sedona reviews

2002 Kia Sedona Interior Features

Living with the Sedona is convenient and comfortable. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent. The view through the rearview mirror is hindered by headrests somewhat, though there's a clear view out the middle. Big power side mirrors offer a good view rearward.

All seating positions are roomy and comfortable. The cloth LX seats are supportive, better than the flat seats in the Ford Windstar, and the steering wheel is comfortable. The Sedona's cloth fabric feels like mouse fur, and may be a bit warm in the summer. Better are the leather-covered seats optional on the EX, which are firm and offer power lumbar adjustment. Sedona's seats seem smaller than those in a big SUV, which suited me, though I would have preferred more side bolstering. Adjustable-height shoulder belts come standard and enhance comfort. The front inside door handles are easy to find and operate, which isn't true of many SUVs.

The second row of seats is comfortable, particularly when ordered as captain's chairs. Second- and third-row occupants each have their own reading lights and cup holders.

Even the third row is a comfortable place for two adults, much more comfortable than the third row that's found in big sport-utility vehicles. There's lots of leg room and good hip room; headroom is a little more limited, but fine for an average size adult. Window switches allow third-row occupants to open and close the rear quarter windows.

Getting into and out of the third row is really easy, something that can't be said of any SUV, including the giant Suburban. To get out, simply press a foot lever and the seatback flips forward and the seat automatically slides forward. Manually operated side doors easily slide open and closed.

To make room for cargo, the third row flips forward, then tumbles, but you must remove the headrests. The rear seats are heavy, like those in other minivans, such as the Dodge Caravan. They have grab handles, but the seatback doesn't stay locked down, making them awkward to handle. The second-row seats are easy to pop in and pop out and are mounted on rollers, but, like most seats, they are heavy and awkward to handle.

Sedona's transmission lever comes out of the dash similar to the way the shifter is mounted in the Lexus RX300. Odd at first glance, this design takes up less space and offers the advantage of opening up interior space between the front seats. It's a good spot for tote bags, purses, or a couple of sacks of groceries, much nicer than having things roll around in the passenger-side footwell as they do in most vehicles. When equipped with second-row captain's chairs, this design creates an area down the center of the seats that's useful for carrying longer items.

Interior switchgear is functional, but not elegant to the touch. It does not impart a feeling of quality. Buttons for cruise control, rear defrost, and the audio system are mounted high for accessibility. But the buttons are small and fussy and lack sufficient tactile feedback. Nice details include visor extensions for early morning or late afternoon driving. Two glove boxes provide storage in the Sedona, along with a compartment on top of dash similar to that found in Subarus. There are more cup holders than seating positions. Interiors are available in beige or gray.