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TESTDRIVE
'06 Kia Sedona minivan blends style, practicality - Top-rated on safety, vehicle also performs
If you think it's hard to be smooth in a minivan, think again. The 2006 Kia Sedona is a smooth operator, at least when it comes to how well it drives.
Maybe it won't be a babe magnet and will be more likely to be seen hauling around a youth soccer squad.
But that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy being behind the wheel of this vehicle.
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2006 Kia Sedona
(click on photo to enlarge)
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The 3.8-liter V-6 engine kicks out an impressive 244 horsepower and 253 pounds-feet of torque. There's a five-speed automatic transmission that is quite efficient.
Gas mileage? Not bad, for such a roomy vehicle: 18 mpg-city, 25 highway, according to EPA figures.
Brisk acceleration and precise handling, two qualities you might not associate with minivan driving, were present here.
Not really much engine noise to speak of, either, which surely would be nice if you've already got to deal with the noise from the aforementioned youth soccer squad.
The quiet interior is complemented by some pleasant amenities, such as captain's chairs in the second row of seats and a comfortable bench in the third row of seats that can fold flat into the floor.
The tester, an EX model, came with leather seats as an option, as well as power sliding doors and a power liftgate that responded to the touch of a button.
Although the passenger-side sliding door was a little balky on the test model, it's still a good feature to have if your hands are full of groceries.
Another convenient touch was the large center console that had cup holders and a spacious tray for storingsmall items. The interior seemed to be designed with comfort in mind.
All seating areas were easy to adjust to, with plenty of headroom and legroom and other things that can make the ride enjoyable. For instance, the audio system's speakers were positioned so that everyone could hear well, without anyone being blasted away.
Additionally, the second row of seating had its own climate- control system.
Not surprisingly, the Sedona is pretty strong on safety features. It came with full-length side-curtain air bags for all three rows, as well as front-seat mounted side air bags.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently rated the Sedona the safest minivan.
Kia, which plans to break ground on a manufacturing facility in West Point this year, is known for affordable vehicles.
This Sedona, despite all its features, is no exception.
The sticker price on the test model, which had the luxury package of options including a sunroof and the items listed above, came in at $29,665.
That's very competitive with some of the more popular players in the field, such as the Chrysler Town & Country and the Honda Odyssey.
Soccer moms and dads of the world, rejoice --- Kia's got a vehicle you need that can also be fun.
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