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Other Kia Models
Vehicle Overview:
Vehicle Type: Van
ABS Brakes: Standard
Standard Airbags: 10
MPG: 17/25 (City/HWY)
Engine Offered:
3.8L V6 244HP
Consumer Ratings:
Performance: 4.0
Exterior: 4.2
Interior: 4.1
Overall: 3.7
Review Guide:
5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Subscribe to the latest reviews of Sedona 
2006 Kia Sedona
Consumer Car Review Summary
Top 5 Pros of 2006 Kia Sedona
1. Powerful engine performance
2. Roomy interior
3. Safety
4. Price
5. Warranty
Top 5 Cons of 2006 Kia Sedona
1. Blend exterior design
2. More functional controls on steering wheel
3. Make roof rack standard
4. Dealer service
5. Larger DVD screen
2006 Kia Sedona Reviews by Consumers
Displaying 10 Reviews - Read More
By mr.paul
Submitted 2011-04-24 15:52:24
Performance: 
Exterior:
Interior: 
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
Power.
Room.
Sound system.
Utility.
Safety rating.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Little more driver legroom, but I suppose the person sitting behind me wouldn't like that.
Mileage is just OK. 25 if I am really nice, 20mpg is usual. Into the teens if I start liking the power too much.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
So far, after 79k, I really like my, my, my, my Sedona (apologies to The Knack). Power enough and great room for its class. I bought it used in 2007 with 16k on it. A couple of minor problems that my dealer fixed well enough and otherwise no issues. It hauls whatever around, has gotten me through copious snow storms and has yet to let me down.
When I looked at buying a minivan, I decided I just couldn't pay the price for Toyota and Honda, both nice vans. I looked at the GM offering and found I had to scrunch to see under the top of the windshield (I am 6' 4"). The Dodge seemed to be where I was headed, but then a salesman asked me to try the 2006 Sedona.
I not only liked it better, but the Dodge had an annoying habit of making my head bounce off of the bump for the sliding door while I drove. With the Sedona, I could wear a hat and not hit anything. Power, great sound system, safety rating and included amenities all convinced me to go with the Sedona.
I had been watching Hyundai's rise in quality and decided to jump on board (KIA is owned by Hyundai and the Hyundai name is all over it). In fact, I went out and bought the wife a 2007 KIA Amanti shortly after that. It has been a very nice car and has 83k on it now. I hope this experiment goes well. So far, so good.
I suppose I could say this; in 2011, if I needed a new minivan, I would look at the Sedona again. Wether I would end up with it, I'll just cross that bridge when or if I get there. The other makers haven't been sitting still for this challenge from Korea.
By bobsprit
Submitted 2006-06-25 12:31:33
Performance:
Exterior: 
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
More power than Toyota/Honda, best interior and handling.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Ipod connection for EX, more driver legroom.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
Yes, you'll need to get past any stigma associated with the Kia name. Kia is climbing the ladder just like Honda and Audi did years ago and gaining respect as their cars improve. We checked out the Honda and Toyota entries and the Kia just seemed to do everything as well and in some cases better. The handling of the Kia is certainly up there with the Honda, perhaps a hair better. Power is excellent. This van is probably faster than it needs to be. I've read 0-60 reports of 7.1 and 7.3 seconds and even prior to break-in the van feels very quick. Build quality appears to be quite good with nice fit and finish.
Our fully loaded example has power sliding doors and a power rear hatch. If you have kids these come in really handy and are fun to show off as well. The doors will sense an obstruction and open if need be. They can also be operated manually. Locks prevent a child from opening them from inside.
Inside you get a full leather interior in gray or beige. Go with the gray as it will wear better. Front seats are 8 way and 4 way power. The driver's seat is a bit short on legroom for taller drivers. I'm 6.3 and would like another inch or two. There's no reason for a seat to be short on legroom on a large van. Passenger and rear seats have a LOT of room. Even the split bench fully aft is pretty good and the middle seats will also slide forward making this true 7 passenger vehicle. Make no mistake about it; this is a pretty luxurious interior by any standard. We found the Honda a bit more stark, but the Odyssey and Sienna are equally plush when fully loaded.
The rear seats tuck away into a storage well, but the procedure is a bit awkward and could use some refinement. Overall it works okay. When the seats are out the well is a great place combined with the cargo net, but some sort of retractable cover would really be nice to hide gear.
The loaded EX also comes with a killer Infinity stereo/DVD rear seat entertainment system. I know it's a cliche to refer to a sound system in a car as "killer" but you really need to hear the 13 speaker system in action to realize how much better it is than any other. The top of the line Honda and Toyota don't even come close. The flip down DVD screen is a mere 8 inches. I consider that size adequate, but others are larger. On the other hand, unlike the larger screens, the Kia's doesn't block as much of the rearview mirror so it's a better tradeoff for safety. The system also has IR remote control and IR fed headphones that work well and very comfortable. Popping in a copy of Star Wars III I was treated to true 7.1 Surround sound. The center channel is mounted in the middle of the dash, a bit away for the rear seats, but it works very well. The picture quality is typical for these systems, but many people will hear sound that is superior to their home systems. There is depth, clear highs and fairly impressive midrange that surprised me and I'm someone who's owned stereo systems costing 9K. It's that good. On the other hand, you can question the logic of such an elaborate system in a car. A lesser system like the ones from Toyota or Honda are still "just fine." But as long as Kia is giving them away, I'll keep mine!
On the port side of the cabin are jacks for plugging in a camcorder, or X-Box type game system. Amazingly Kia neglected a Ipod/Sat. radio jack up front and you'll need to correct that at your local stereo shop for aftermarket help. Also missing at this luxury level is integrated navigation/GPS, but expect that on the next year's model. Buy a Garmin I5 and you'll do just fine.
Unlike many other vans on the market, the large middle windows actually roll down! This is a very welcome feature to say the least. The rear windows also wing out with the press of a button. 2nd road passengers no longer have that bus window feeling.
The 3rd road is less comfortable than the 2nd of course. These are seats that fold down into the floor and the only seats to do so on board. Kia's research showed that most people never stowed or removed the second row, so they left those as fully comfortable chairs with armrests. The 3rd row, because it's stows in the floor, is inherently less comfortable, but they really aren't bad at all. 3rd row passengers get cup-holders, a small storage bin and the inputs for video game consoles.
Each row of seats has port and starboard AC/Heat vents and the second row has it's own dedicated controls for temp and fan speed. Shotgun gets dual AC/Heat controls so the driver and passenger don't compromise and heated seats with 5 way settings. Very nice.
There are really too many little extras in vans of this size and luxury level to list here. The fully loaded Kia Sedona for 2006 also gets memory seats/mirror/pedal, homelink controls for the garage, backup proximity sensor, power sunroof, 2 way adjustable headrests, fold away snack tray, and quite a bit more.
Back to Driving the Sedona....it is not quite like a car, but close enough that an hour or two of driving will have you pretty well acclimated. Acceleration is strong at almost all points of the powerband due to a healthy amount of torque. On the highway the ride is quiet and subdued. Wind noise is well controlled. I'm certain that the new Sedona is quieter than my Subaru Tribeca and that's quieter than a Lexus RX330. At cruising speeds above averages that most people would drive this van, the Sedona remains composed. Fast lane changes are not a problem, but steeper turns produce a bit more body roll than I'd like. There are moments when the Sedona will remind you that it's actually a 2 ton plus van and not a car. You must learn when those moments are likely to come up.
For the driver all of the controls are well laid out and we've come to expect this from most imports compared to the often terrible American made entries. Kia has essentially hit the nail on the head with the new Sedona for drivers, passengers and of course kids. When our two year old has a toy crisis, my wife can get to the 2nd row and take charge with ease. This is something our SUV could not do.
Parking the Sedona is something that will take practice if this is your first minivan. This is not a small van and the driver is well up front. Still, exhibit some confidence when you park and use the aft proximity sensor. When reversing it beeps faster and faster as you approach an obstacle. When it becomes a steady tone you're about 15 inches away. It works great.
Because I've not broken the engine in I can't report on the MPG yet.
If you have a small child, a fully loaded 2006 Sedona EX will make for a lot of smiles. I believe that the Honda and Toyota are also fine vans and you really can't go wrong with them either. I don't like ANY of the American entries or the Nissan Quest for whatever that's worth.
The warranty on the Sedona is 5 years overall and 10 for the engine/powertrain. That's good news so long as it doesn't have too many problems. Trips for dealer service are never any fun free or not. Only time will tell how well constructed Kia's first entry in maxed out minivan segment really is.
With Kia's current rebates and some aggressive shopping we got our fully loaded EX for $27'950. That included the 1000 rebate and a graduate rebate of 400 dollars as well. That's an amazing price when you look at a Sienna optioned out the same way which is around 5-6K more. Kia also threw in two years worth of free oil changes, free remote starter and a second remote for the DVD player. In a few months I'll update this and let folks know what "new car bugs" turned up (There are always a few) and how Kia service dealt with them here in NY. Cheers!
Capt RB
By GUEST
Submitted 2011-03-12 23:42:56
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
I like that it's very spacious and it drives very smoothly.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Fix the noise on the engine.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
This is the very first vehicle that I have purchased and at times I am happy and at times I am not. I lke the space, it's comfortable and gets me to where I got to go to. However, I have only had it for one month and it has spent half of that within the first week of purchase at the shop.
By August Russ
Submitted 2010-10-23 09:03:02
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
The power. I took it out to the drag strip & won the truck & van class. It ran 15.98 @ 87.25 mph.
I have gotten 26.5 mpg on the road. It is great.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Better seats.
Better brakes.
By Chris S
Submitted 2010-07-14 13:02:55
Performance: 
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
I like that the side rear windows go down for those riding in the second row.
It also has a good safety record and with a family and other passengers, that is important.
Otherwise it is a pretty standard minivan.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Numerous things:
AC does not blow cold continually and has been repaired several times.
Horn problems that have been fixed several times (Does not work properly when lock vehicle and it is to "chirp" when it locks). Also, security horn has had to be replaced.
Shifting / odd transmission type problem - the vehicle "bangs" when you come down a hill to a stop. Also, when slowing down to a stop light it actually has a surge or acceleration. Very scary and they say this is ok or they can not find a problem. Also as you are driving it accelerates or decelerates oddly.
Brakes - vehicle only has 62000 and have replaced brakes twice.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
I should know that you get what you pay for in a vehicle. This vehicle seems to have gremlins living in it.
From the Recurring A/C problems, to the recurring horn problems to the spontaneous acceleration or other odd occurrences, I would be very weary at ever buying another Kia Sedona no matter how cheap it is.
By GUEST
Submitted 2009-01-08 17:59:05
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
Interior size
Price
Warranty
Performance
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
The stereo controls on the steering wheel don't let you change channels, only mute, volume and change between fm/am.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
We test drove the Chrysler Town & Country, the Toyota Sienna, the Pontiac Montana, Honda, Dodge and Nissan vans. The Sedona had them all beat. This van has the most room and gives you the most options for the money. With a tall husband and two small children this van is easy for everyone to get into and tall passengers can sit in the front, middle, or rear with plenty of leg and head room. There is plenty of room for car seats (front and rear facing) and it's easy to get into the rear seating area. The safety rating is amazing and the engine is AWESOME! It also has a wonderful warranty - 10 year 100,000 miles.
By GUEST
Submitted 2007-09-15 19:52:19
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
The crash test proven safety results and all it's safety features, it's comfort, smooth driving and ease of handling, it's roominess and it's looks.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
Have a light in the vanity mirrors, offer 4-wheel drive option
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
I love my KIA Sedona
By jssilverton
Submitted 2007-06-01 12:39:44
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall: 
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
it runs ok
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
i would make air condition work all the time not just occasionally
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
the day i bought my kia I didnt even make it home before my first problem.gas tank problem they had my van 2 days that time. next problem was stripping around window.easy fix after ording part 2 times. next problem is my air condiontioning.its been almost a month begging salem service center to fix it. now i am driving a small loner car untill its fixed.if the air bags works likes the AC im in trouble.
By rwdimauro
Submitted 2007-04-10 06:46:22
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
I own a 2003 Kia Sedona and still drive it in 2007. The best minivan I've ever owned.
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
I would like to see the driver seat slide back further for additional leg room.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
This vehicle has the power I need for highway driving and I feel totally safe driving it. But I wish it had better fuel mileage in the city.
By bbeatty61
Submitted 2006-11-28 18:08:15
Performance:
Exterior:
Interior:
Overall:
Guide: 5=Perfect; 3=Good; 1=Poor
Pros: What do you like about 2006 Kia Sedona?
Powerplant and comfort on long trips
Cons: How would you improve 2006 Kia Sedona?
More sound deading material in doors,not bad but could be better, everything else is outstanding.
2006 Kia Sedona Review:
I currently have 6,125 miles on my Sedona EX and no problems to date. The auto/manual shifter is a great addition to this vehicle and extremely useful especially for hills on the back roads.
Displaying 10 Reviews - Read More
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