2019 KIA Grand Sedona: Be sure to check these features out

By Ané Theron

About two years ago I spent a few hours in the second row of the Kia Grand Sedona, en route to our starting point for the 7000 kays in Seven Days charity drive. I remember how impressed I was with the Sedona in general, even though dawn hadn't even broken yet. For 2019, the new Sedona has multiple tricks up its sleeve...

After driving it for a week, there are many reasons why the new Kia Grand Sedona is my favourite car of the year so far:

1. It's the ultimate family / celebrity tour van...

Who's riding in the back of the Kia Grand Sedona, behind those tinted windows? Jay-Z and 50 Cent? The Sedona looks decidedly gangster, especially in this dark grey/amethyst paint job. When Peter Schreyer and his team designed the Sedona, they wanted to do away with the stereotypical minivan approach, and followed SUV/Crossover design cues instead. I still think it looks more like a minivan, though, albeit a handsome one. And comfort wise, you'll be hard pressed to be feel as cosseted in any other van as you would in the Sedona.

2. Automatic sliding doors on both sides!

Both sliding doors of the Grand Sedona SXL slide open automatically when you press a button on the outer door handle. Once passengers have clambered inside, they can close the doors by means of the inside door handle buttons, buttons on the inside B-pillar, or Mom and Dad can close them from the buttons in the 'cockpit'. The kids were mighty impressed.

Other family-friendly features are the large door cards that can fit books and snacks, or tablets and laptops. There's even a little secret drawer at the back of the centre armrest where second-row passengers can store smaller items.

3. 4 out of 7 passengers get an independent seat...

The seven-seater Sedonas boast second row seats with two armrests each that are completely independent from each other, and they are as comfortable as the driver/front passenger seats themselves. in the range-topping SXL variant tested here, all four of these aforementioned seats have a warming/cooling function, and all seven seats are covered in high-quality dual-toned leather (from EX+ upwards). The windows situated next to these second-row seats are also remarkably wide, and even the windows right at the back have sun visors. This is the way to travel! Who needs a private jet?

4. The boot is huge, plus the tailgate is automatic 

So many seven-seater SUVs have zero space once the third row is up, but in the Sedona there are copious amounts of space, and the 'boot' floor is sunken so that you can fit even more of your 'necessities' into it, plus it's easier to load heavy stuff. J-Lo can rest assured that none of her red-soled Louboutin stilettos will get squashed, and neither will her leather Luis Vuitton luggage. And she won't break a nail either as the tailgate opens automatically at the push of a button (SXL-variants).

5. Multiple USB ports and sockets for the connected life...

Trust the 11-year-olds to point out the USB socket in the rearmost row, as well as the one at the back of the centre armrest for the second row passengers' devices. There are more USB sockets in the driver/passenger area and also a wireless charger! EX+ models upwards also get the 8-inch colour touchscreen with embedded Satnav, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is available from entry-level EX-variants (which have a 7-inch touchscreen as standard). 

More to love?

There's much more to adore in the Kia Grand Sedona, such as the frugal but peppy diesel engine, the smooth 8-speed gearbox, and just the way you would much rather laze about in the Sedona instead of your living rom. Take a look on the AutoTrader website for new and used Sedonas here.

The Kia Sedona offers value by the bucketload. If you're going to buy a family van, maybe you should put that pricey German mini-bus on the back burner and go test drive the Kia Grand Sedona instead.

Pricing

• KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 7-seater:  R610 995
• KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 11-seater:  R626 995
• KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX+ 8-seater: R639 995
• KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI SXL 7-Seater: R782 995 (tested)