Fresh off the successful launch of the Telluride SUV, Kia is readying its other three-row people mover—the Sedona minivan—for a redesign. Kia has already shown images of the next generation Sedona, which could adopt the name Carnival. We expect the Sedona will go on sale in 2021 as a 2022 model. From images released by Kia, we can see that the Sedona’s square-jawed styling is updated, giving it a very SUV-like appearance.
It’s even more handsome than the current model year. Large wheels, a floating roof, and signature daytime running lights that flow into the grille give the van an upscale vibe that somehow reminds us of the modern Range Rover. We expect the new Sedona to be powered by a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. We’ll know more closer to the 2022 model’s on-sale date.
What’s New for 2022?
The Sedona will be all-new for 2022, with updated styling, features, and technology to help it better compete with the likes of the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and newly redesigned Toyota Sienna minivans.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Kia hasn’t released a full list of the 2022 Sedona’s standard or optional features, but we know that a wider range of technology and driver assistance features will be available for the fourth generation minivan. Pricing is speculative at this time as well, but we’ll update this story when Kia reveals more details.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The current Sedona is powered by a 3.3-liter V-6 engine and drives the front-wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. We suspect that the 2022 Sedona will graduate to a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 churning out a healthy 290 horsepower.
All-wheel drive, unfortunately, is not on the menu, as the new Sedona will remain a front-wheel drive model. The Pacifica has an optional plug-in-hybrid powertrain and the new-for-2021 Sienna comes only as a hybrid, but we don’t expect Kia to offer such a setup on the Sedona, at least not right away.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel economy ratings from the EPA haven’t been published for the 2022 Sedona, but we expect big gains in the efficiency department over the outgoing model. The 2021 Sedona is rated at only 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, which puts it at a disadvantage compared with other minivans.
When we get a 2022 Sedona in for testing, we’ll subject it to our 200-mile highway fuel economy test to see how it stacks up against the Pacifica, Odyssey, and Sienna. For more information about the Sedona’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
From photos of the Sedona’s interior, we can see the new Sedona’s dashboard and front seats. From the look of things, it’s receiving a new rotary shift knob, a large center console, and a Mercedes style dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display. The photo is likely of an upscale SX trim, so it’s shown with leather upholstery; cloth seats are likely to be standard.
Kia will likely offer a panoramic sunroof and lounge-like reclining second-row seats with pop-up footrests as additional options. Kia has said that interior spaciousness has been improved on the new Sedona; both the van’s wheelbase and overall length have been stretched to provide more room for people and cargo.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Interior technology and infotainment is expected to take a big leap forward in the 2022 Sedona. We can see from the interior photo that a large dual-screen infotainment setup will be offered, and we now know that the large displays will be optional. The current van offers either a 7.0-inch or 8.0-inch touchscreen but more modern Kias come with larger free-standing displays and modern software.
Onboard Wi-Fi will likely be a standard feature, and we expect to see Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and perhaps even Amazon Alexa integration. More details will be available closer to the van’s launch.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
We expect Kia will offer more driver assistance features this time around and make several items standard to help the Sedona compete with the Pacifica, Odyssey, and Sienna. For more information about the MODEL’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Kia’s warranty trumps its rivals’, with a powertrain policy that spans 10 years or 100,000 miles. Unlike the Sienna, though, the Sedona isn’t likely to come with any standard included scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
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