2012 Kia Sedona Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Kia Sedona review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Sedona, and includes Kia Sedona safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Kia Sedona is a minivan that competes with newer models from Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota. Though it is the oldest minivan design for sale, first appearing in current format way back in 2006, the Sedona represents real value and remains worthy of consideration.

The Kia Sedona rolls into its seventh year on the market with nothing more notable than a few new exterior colors, a new auto-dimming interior rearview mirror with a reversing camera display and a HomeLink universal remote, and the expanded availability of an optional rear-seat entertainment to the base LX model.

Kia likes to keep things simple when it comes to the Sedona minivan. You can choose between LX and EX models, and options are grouped into a handful of packages.

The Sedona LX has front and rear air conditioning, power windows, power side mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, floor mats, and a stereo with a CD/MP3 player, satellite ratio, an auxiliary audio input jack, and a USB port. Bluetooth connectivity is standard, and the Sedona LX is also equipped with cloth seats, dark tinted rear privacy glass, roof rails, reversing sensors in the rear bumpers, and a curved overhead secondary mirror that allows the driver to see every occupant in the second- and third-row seats. The LX has 16-inch steel wheels with plastic wheel covers as standard, but if you get the optional Power Package alloy wheels replace those. The Power Package also includes power sliding side doors, automatic headlights, a reversing camera with the display in the auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a HomeLink universal remote control.

The Sedona EX includes all of these features, and more. It has upgraded cloth as standard equipment, plus 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exterior trim, headlights, fog lights, and heated side mirrors. A power tailgate is included on this model, along with a six-way power driver’s seat, a four-way power front passenger’s seat, and power rear quarter vent windows. The Sedona EX has fake wood interior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a trip computer, a compass, and illuminated front vanity mirrors. Options include the Luxury Package (leather, heated front seats, triple-zone automatic climate control, power adjustable pedals, memory settings for the driver’s preferences, and a power sunroof), the Premium Entertainment Package (rear DVD entertainment system, Infinity sound system), and the Navigation Package (navigation system, Infinity sound system).

A 2012 Kia Sedona EX with all the trimmings stickers for less than $35,000, and Kia frequently offers rebates on this model. All Sedonas come standard with Kia’s generous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and roadside assistance warranty.

Again, Kia keeps it simple when it comes to the Sedona’s powertrain. A 271-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 is standard, driving the front wheels through a six-speed Sportmatic automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. Properly equipped, the Sedona can tow 3,500 pounds. The EPA says fuel economy should be 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Every 2012 Kia Sedona comes standard with six airbags including side curtains that protect outboard occupants in all three rows of seats. Additionally, the Sedona’s four-wheel-disc antilock braking system has electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and the minivan is equipped with traction and stability control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not rated the 2012 Kia Sedona, except to bestow upon it a 4-Star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Sedona its highest rating of Good in frontal-, side- and rear-impact evaluations. The van has not been tested for roof crush strength, and so it cannot be called a Top Safety Pick.

Where Kia needs to improve the Sedona is dependability. Consumer Reports predicts below average reliability for the Sedona, and J.D. Power and Associates predicts that the Sedona’s dependability will be slightly below average over time. Good thing the Sedona comes with a class-leading warranty.

Minivans are purchased for their utility, and today that means a big cargo space that can be used without removing the third-row seats. To that end, the Sedona contains a third-row seat that drops into the floor, just like its primary competition from Chrysler, Dodge, Honda and Toyota. With the third-row seat raised, the Sedona has 32.2 cubic-feet of cargo space. Drop the third-row, and enjoy 80.1 cubes of space. Take the second-row captain’s chairs out and toss them into the garage, and you’ve got a whopping 141.5 cu-ft of space to work with.

The Kia Sedona, despite its age, is an oft-overlooked yet viable contender in the minivan class, especially from a value standpoint. Below average predictions for reliability mean we cannot recommend this model, but the substantial warranty coverage and big discounts off the sticker price might be worth the trade-off for buyers unwilling, or unable, to pay a premium for a Honda or Toyota.

By Christian Wardlaw