Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Design:
My wife is a conundrum. Especially about cars. Known for hating minivans – for all things “minivan” – she comes out of the house and says to my utter shock after I pull up to the house in the 2006 Kia Sedona: Hey, I could drive that thing. What is it?

Whatever. She and hundreds of other automotive journalists are clearly wrong when it comes to the Sedona: it’s the stylish equivalent of a moose wearing pajamas. The nose is too big. The sides need more definition. The back is relatively nondescript. It’s a minivan, alright, right down to the way it looks. Just because it happens to be an excellent minivan fails to give it beauty points. All that recorded, where Kia is taking the Sedona – now that could change some minds on the whole minivan-is-boring philosophy. With more aggressive shoulders and a little more drama in the lines, this could easily be the most attractive minivan on the planet. Inside, the mouse-fur seat covers and seventies-era patterns should go – really. The fabric clung to clothing and seemed destined for dirt. Design-wise, however, the Sedona is smartly configured inside, with plenty of storage spaces – all intelligently done. Knobs and buttons are easy to reach, and easily understood – a quick glance and you’ll know where the temperature adjustment is. Cargo-wise, the Sedona seems small compared to the competition, and removing the seats was a little difficult. In this age of Stow-N’-Go seating, there are better alternatives than grabbing a seat and flinging it out of the sliding door.

Mike Sullivan’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Design:
As an automaker, if you were going to make a gorgeous looking minivan, you would probably do everything possible to call it something other than a minivan. For instance, Mercedes-Benz has spent a great deal of effort trying to convince the public that the handsome R-Class is not a minivan, but rather a Grand Sports Tourer. Kia, on the other hand, is not afraid of using conventional terms when describing the Sedona. It’s proud to build a minivan, and with minivan pride comes a belief that function always outweighs form. So rather than debate the merits of its appearance, let’s just say its nice looking... for a minivan. Instead, let’s focus on utility and the thoughtfulness of the Sedona’s design.

Starting from the outside, two sliding doors allow for easy access to either side of the vehicle, whereupon entering, you are greeted by two captain’s chairs that are perfectly positioned for loading car seats. If you access the Sedona from the rear, a deep storage compartment accommodates plenty of cargo. When more space is necessary, the Sedona’s third-row seat folds neatly into the floor and the second-row captain’s chairs are easily removed. There are also plenty of useful stowage compartments, including a bi-level and segmented glove compartment, two center stack pull-out drawers, and a tray between the front seats that conveniently folds down to allow the front seat passenger to access the rear seats. Also, simple gadgets, like the passenger’s seat purse hook and the convex conversation mirror, really show that Kia was clearly focused on creating a very useful multi-passenger vehicle. In the Sedona’s case, utility easily trumps style.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Design:
Minivans have historically been boring in nature, both in terms of visual and driving appeal. However, models like the redesigned Honda Odyssey have shown that change is possible. That vehicle is marked by attractive styling and a, gulp, somewhat entertaining ride. In contrast, the 2006 Kia Sedona is an exercise in generic design – a bit of Ford Freestar in the front end, a body similar to 99 percent of its competitors, and a tail end that is upright rather than rakish, much like we expect from the upcoming Dodge Caravan redesign. To its benefit, there’s nothing about the Sedona’s exterior styling that should offend anyone.

Interior design carries on with the status-quo theme. It’s plain yet useful with clear gauges, smooth dash lines that wrap into the door panels, matching grain patterns, and a flat black material on the instrument panel. The third-row seat stows away into a deep cargo hold, but it’s a three step process ending with a good push down – handy, but not equal to the effortless systems of some competitors. The second-row buckets can be released and removed, provided you’ve got enough upper body strength.