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The
minivan game doesn't see too many new players, so we were all excited when Kia
decided to apply its mantra of good value and fresh design to the North American
market for 2002. And the good news is that good value it brought, undercutting
all but its most utilitarian competitors in price by a large margin. And if you
consider the comparably equipped price, the Sedona is the hands-down victor. Bottom
line: if price is your first priority, look no further.
The fresh design
part is where the Sedona falls a bit short of its past record. Looking for all
the world like a last-generation Ford Windstar with the nose of the Chevrolet
Windstar, there's precious little originality to the banal design. But then, looks
aren't what most minivan shoppers are looking for. Utility and features are closer
to the cause, and the Sedona offers that in droves.
Consider the base LX model's list of standard goodies: dual sliding doors, dual-zone
air conditioning, cruise control, power accessories and a 3.5-liter (195-hp) V-6
mated to a 5-speed automatic. Add a bit more for the EX, which has keyless entry,
alloy wheels and power seats, among other things. You can even get a loaded Sedona
EX with leather for less than $25K! And all of this is covered by a powertrain
warranty to last til your fourth grader is out of high school! Can you say value?
Thought so.
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