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2006 Kia Sedona Preview
David Takes on Goliath
Every family needs a minivan. Problem is, nobody wants one. They exude practicality rather than adventure, and signal that life is on hold rather than actively pursued. But anyone who has twisted a back muscle in a crowded parking lot while wrestling a toddler into and out of a child safety seat through the rear door of an SUV can instantly understand the appeal of a minivan's sliding side doors. And once a parent overcomes vanity in favor of sensibility and actually lives with a minivan, it becomes indispensable. Families growing tired of strained muscles, lousy fuel economy, and the potential for rollover in high-profile SUVs might be ready for the redesigned 2006 Kia Sedona. With few exceptions, the new Sedona appears poised to tackle the best minivans on the market through a compelling combination of safety, utility, design, performance, and craftsmanship. With a new platform that gives the completely redesigned 2006 Kia Sedona an interior volume measurement on par with class leaders like the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna, this minivan fires on all six of its brand-new aluminum cylinders. A 3.8-liter V6 makes more than 240 horsepower while overall Sedona curb weight decreases, resulting in better acceleration than before and a lighter, more lively feel through the steering wheel. A five-speed automatic transmission drives the power to the front wheels, while a four-wheel-independent suspension soaks up road anomalies. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard on the 2006 Kia Sedona. Additional safety technology includes six standard airbags - dual-stage front, side-impact, and side-curtain airbags that protect in all three rows of seats are included in the base price. A tire pressure monitor is also standard, while a stability and traction control system, a rear sonar parking system, and power adjustable pedals are available. The previous Kia Sedona received the highest government rating in crash tests, and Kia claims to have engineered this lighter, larger, and more powerful 2006 Sedona to exceed those already high standards. Every 2006 Kia Sedona comes with a 60/40 split-folding third-row seat that drops into the floor, power roll-down windows in the sliding side doors, triple-zone air conditioning, a CD player, and dark tinted glass. The vastly improved cabin design includes fake wood trim on the Sedona EX. The gear selector is mounted to the instrument panel but doesn't block controls, and the second-row captain's chairs feature a one-handed flip-and-fold design. Based on our cursory examination, the primary shortcoming is that the second-row captain's chairs must be lifted out of the Sedona - they don't fold into the floor like a Dodge Grand Caravan or Nissan Quest. Available features include a power sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a DVD entertainment system, and a premium sound system with 11 Infinity speakers. For added convenience, the 2006 Kia Sedona can be equipped with power sliding side doors and a power liftgate, both operated using the remote keyless entry fob. On the outside, the 2006 Kia Sedona exhibits a clean and contemporary look that is almost sleek thanks to its tapering roofline. The side door handles are designed to integrate with one another to reduce clutter, and the only decoration on the Sedona's appealing flanks is a Kia logo in the grille and, on the EX trim level, a chrome license plate brow on the tailgate. The 2006 Kia Sedona EX wears handsome 16-inch, twin-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Energy tires, and is equipped with fog lights tucked into the front bumper beneath projector beam headlamps. The 2006 Kia Sedona arrives around the first of the year, and final pricing has not been set just yet. But Kia promises a compelling value equation consistent with current marketing schemes, and given what we've seen first-hand, the 2006 Sedona looks like another home run for Kia. By Staff Continue to 2006 Kia Sedona Preview from MyRide.com © 2007 Autobytel Inc. All rights reserved.
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