The front seating positions, as with most minivans, provide panoramic views of the road and surrounding environs. In the Sedona the driver's seat is cushiony yet supportive and infinitely adjustable, not to mention heated in the EX model. Surrounded in comfort, it doesn't take long for occupants to realize that the Sedona offers more than comfy seats as a means of wooing its passengers. In the Sedona, Kia has achieved a level of refinement that meets and in many cases beats the competition. Top-notch engineering has effectively dampened engine noise and vibration. This is a major achievement when considering that the Sedona is one of the less expensive, if not the least expensive, minivans on the market today.

The Sedona is one of the least expensive minivans, yet Kia has achieved a level of refinement that meets and in many cases beats the competition. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Navigating choppy uneven surfaces such as bumpy laneways, however, will send a fair bit of vibration through the steering column to the steering wheel. This isn't unusual for minivans, although it seems a little more pronounced in the Sedona than in others I have driven. That being said, the structure and chassis of the Sedona is solid and as tight as they come.

Although the Sedona has been designed in favor of ride-comfort, handling is composed, predictable and progressive. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

Kia's van rides on an independent MacPherson strut front suspension and five-link coil spring rear suspension. This setup achieves a nice balance between handling and smoothness. Road irregularities and bumps are absorbed without excessive jostling or body shudder, which has historically haunted passenger vans. Although the scale tips in favor of ride-comfort, handling is composed, predictable and progressive. I found the Sedona to be a nimble vehicle given its size and significant curb weight of 2,136 kg (4,709 lbs), which exceeds the girth of most its competitors.