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2021 Kia Sedona review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
7 photos

Kia Sedona highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • SUV-like styling in a minivan
  • Quiet cabin out on the highway
  • Standard V6 power

Cons

  • Not quite as large as other minivans
  • Small standard touchscreen
  • Some features you might want are optional

Mileage (EPA estimate)

18 city, 24 highway, 21 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

7 photos
Price
Year

Capable, comfortable, and impressive

If you need more from your daily driver, a modern minivan delivers your family in style while maintaining your curb credibility. The third generation 2021 Kia Sedona is an eight-seater minivan with refined road manners, classy interior touches, and plenty of power to match. Count on everything you'd want from a minivan to be in the 2021 Sedona, along with the family-minded conveniences that make journeys a breeze. Dual power sliding rear doors and a slide-and-stow, second row mean your passengers can jump in and out with ease. The interior cabin space of this 16.7 ft long vehicle is a pleasingly plush, upscale zone suitable for eight adults or little ones to get cozy in. No matter who you take along for the ride, the 2021 Kia Sedona has room for your crew.

All Kia Sedona years

What is new for the 2021 Kia Sedona?

  • The L trim has been discontinued for 2021.
  • The LX trim now comes with Rear View Camera and Quad Seats as standard equipment.
  • The EX trim now comes with Quad Seats as standard equipment.
  • The SX trim now comes with Quad Seats as standard equipment.

2021 Kia Sedona trims

Curious how Kia Sedona trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

LX:

  • Includes 17-inch alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry, automatic headlights, rear privacy glass, cloth upholstery, power-adjustable driver's seat, seven-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rearview camera, and more.

EX:

  • Adds 18-inch wheels, roof rails, keyless entry and ignition, remote-open sliding rear doors, leather upholstery, heated front seats, two further USB ports, wireless charging pad, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more, including access to the EX premium add-on package, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system.

SX:

  • Adds EX premium package, LED headlights, high beam assist, power sunroof, a noise-reducing windshield, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, eight-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, navigation system, eight-speaker Harmon Kardon® audio system, 360-degree camera system, forward collision warning, and more.

View all Kia Sedonas in stock

Kia Sedona photos

5 reasons to buy the 2021 Kia Sedona

1. Family comforts with a ton of conveniences

2021 Kia Sedona Review: Exterior | CarMax

If you want a minivan that works hard, the 2021 Kia Sedona has got you covered. Cargo storage is plentiful, with 78.4 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the second row. Settling in for a longer journey? The Sedona features rear privacy glass, front and rear door bottle holders, 12 cup holders, smartphone connectivity, and an easy-to-navigate entertainment system.

2. EX Premium option package

2021 Kia Sedona Review: Engine | CarMax

The EX Premium package is a smartly thought-out upgrade that's available for the mid EX trim and standard for the top of range SX trim. While not a whole trim class in itself, you get a good mix of luxury, tech, and driver-assistance aids. If you're after a sunroof, hands-free liftgate, driver memory settings, adaptive cruise control, and much more, it's worth looking for a Sedona with this package.

3. Driver-minded tech

2021 Kia Sedona Review: Dashboard | CarMax

Plentiful driver-assist features on the 2021 Sedona keep you firmly in control of every journey. On the EX trim, you'll find front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring. The top of range SX trim has built-in navigation and a 360-degree overhead camera, for those close parking spots you might find yourself in at the mall.

4. Everyone's entertained

2021 Kia Sedona Review: Cell | CarMax

It's nice to know you can slide into the 2021 Kia Sedona and find the latest entertainment and sound systems for your family to enjoy. All trims have smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth capability, USB ports, and an intuitive touchscreen display. Driving around with movie fans in the back rows? An available option (EX and SX trims) is Kia's rear-seat entertainment system: twin 10.1-inch display screens that come with wireless headphones and a remote control.

5. A capable powertrain

2021 Kia Sedona Review: Front seats | CarMax

Your sensible family minivan actually has as much acceleration oomph as some sporty two-door coupes! Under the hood of the 2021 Kia Sedona is a 3.3L V6 engine, driving power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. If you're regularly hauling family, friends, equipment, and groceries, the Kia Sedona has the power to back you up on both rugged mountain roads and city streets.

Similar vehicles

If you're interested in the 2021 Kia Sedona, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.

Image of Honda Odyssey

If you are looking to haul people and your gear, a minivan like the Honda Odyssey is a great option. With a maximum cargo capacity of 148.5 cu-ft for 2017 (up to 155.8 cu-ft for 2018+) with the second and third rows stowed, you can bring along quite a lot of gear. The Odyssey was completely redesigned for the 2018 model year and is powered by a 3.5L V6 putting out 280 horsepower.

Standard features on 2017–2022 Honda Odyssey base model include:

  • Cloth seating

  • Automatic headlights

  • Heated mirrors

  • Tri-zone automatic climate control



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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4
Above Average

RepairPal gave the Kia Sedona an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Kia Sedona 4th out of 14 among Minivans.

RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Kia Sedona is $467, compared to an average of $572 for Minivans and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

According to RepairPal, Kia Sedona owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.1 times per year, compared to an average of 1.6 times for Minivans and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 11% for the Kia Sedona, compared to an average of 14% for Minivans and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

Kia Sedona features and specs

LX 2WD 4D Pass Van

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Fold-Away Third Row
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Seat(s)
  • Power Sliding Door(s)
  • Power Windows
  • Quad Seats
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • Third Row Seat
  • Traction Control
  • Full Roof Rack
  • Rear Entertainment System
  • Running Boards
  • Tow Hitch

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

3.3L

Horsepower

276

Torque (ft-lbs)

248

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

21.1

Wheelbase

120.5"

Overall length

201.4"

Width

78.1"

Height

68.5"

Leg room

F 40.9"/M 41.1"/R 34.8"

Head room

F 39.8"/M 39.4"/R 38.9"

Front tires

P235/65TR17

Rear tires

P235/65TR17

Seating capacity

8

Max towing capacity

350/3500 lbs.

Transmission

Automatic

2021 Kia Sedona FAQ

More about the 2021 Kia Sedona

Color options

Exterior colors:

  • Aurora Black (available upgrade)

  • Celestial Blue

  • Panthera Metal

  • Silky Silver

  • Snow White Pearl (available upgrade)

Interior details

  • Seating for eight passengers

  • 33.9 cu-ft of cargo storage behind the third row

  • 78.4 cu-ft of cargo volume behind the second row

  • 12 cup holders

  • Slide and stow second-row seat function


* Price excludes taxes, title, registration, and fees. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

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