Sedona EX Still Going Strong and Loving It!!!!!!!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Great value, loaded with features, comfortable, stylish and above all very safe and solid.

Cons: Heavy weight, lower MPG, wide turning circle.

The Bottom Line: 
Fantastic value, unbeatable warranty, safety and comfort. A true pleasure to own and drive making it worth it to write that payment check every month.And under warranty untill paid for!

Author's Review
I purchased my Sedona new in 2003. At that time I wrote a review http://www.epinions.com/content_101811588740 Now, 5 years and 35,000 miles later I will aim this review towards someone considering buying a used Sedona of the same vintage.
First, the basics: EX model,with leather interior, sunroof ABS and the spoiler as added options.At the time of purchase I read all I could find on the internet and test drove the competition before completing the deal.There was no reason NOT to buy the Kia as the Sedona was the hands down winner in feature offered and overall package for the money. The products from Honda and Toyota were the only models in the same league but $10-$15K higher in price.I went with the leather seating for durability as I have 3 sons who are very hard on anything upholstered, treating seating as playground equipment! This has proven to be a wise choice as the interior still looks almost brand new after 5 years, with only a few self-inflicted wounds showing after hard use. The exterior of the vehicle has held up equally as well with the plastic body cladding absorbing most parking lot dings and scrapes with ease. The
paint has also been superb with the exception of a few areas that Mother Nature's winged rats (pigeons) had decorated that I did not remove in time and the paint was etched. Other than that the car looks brand new!!
Mechanically the only failure the I have experienced was the alternator dying at about 18K miles/2 years which was resolved with 1 phone call to the Kia roadside service line-the car was picked up, my family got a ride home and the car was returned to me the following day washed and repaired. An inconvenience but far from the end of the world. I have replaced the tires at 27K miles and the battery twice, but in the Arizona heat you can only expect 2 years of life out of a battery anyway, so just buy a battery with 3 year free replacement period and it's not an issue. I never expect much from OEM tires anyway but one thing I did appreciate was having a matching full size alloy wheel as a spare, allowing for 5 tire rotations and the peace of mind (and the cosmetic value) of not having one of those ridiculous ugly doughnut spares to rely on.
From a safety standpoint, in 2004 I went up on a Sunday morning to get a paper luckily with only myself in the car.
A woman more interested in talking on her cell phone than driving ran the red light and struck me going 45+ MPH on the right rear wheel and passenger side sliding door. After spinning around twice I came to a halt facing the opposite direction of travel, but I was OK. The door exterior was caved in and the rear axle bent putting the wheel on a 45 degree angle but no penetration to the interior cabin! This is where some of that heavy weight comes in, this thing is built like a tank. The door still operated and I drove the car back to my house after the wreck. Her car, a 1996 Nissan Maxima was totaled-stopped dead in it's tracks. My Wife and kids would have been fine had they been with me, a testament to the 5 star crash rating.
Any minor little problems with this car have been fixed by the dealer under warranty-no charge. From loose or broken plastic in the interior, the sunroof, air conditioning, lamps, switches...you name it..they fixed it. I have a 5 year old vehicle with a few cosmetic blemishes caused by myself that looks and drives like new.
Bottom line, if you are looking for a used Sedona if you find one like mine that has been well maintained and the owner took advantage of the warranty then by all means buy it! You will be happy with your purchase for years to come.
If you are thinking of buying a new or newer Sedona they are even nicer than mine with more power, 17" wheels, optional power sliding doors and a killer entertainment system but the price gap has narrowed a bit vs. Honda and Toyota. One note about the sliding doors: the manual doors on my 2003 have always been almost effortless to open and close, even for my smallest child now turning 9 years old in July. Power doors would be nice but are they worth the extra money? Some of the other makes available at the time I bought mine had doors that were really a pain to use, heavy and hard to slide. Look for the EX model for the center row Captain's chair seating arrangement. This alone is worth the difference in price between the LX and EX models. It is much more comfortable, people are not squashed together on the middle bench seat and access to the third row seat is a snap. When hauling bulky items the option to fold or remove selected seats and still carry passengers in the back is a real plus. Those of you who travel off paved roads or enjoy camping will appreciate the exceptional ground clearance afforded by the seats not folding into the floor. Another thing to consider is the seats are substantial, supportive and well padded allowing great comfort even for adults on long trips. Each seat can adjust fore and aft as well as recline to accommodate the head and leg room needs of a mixed passenger load. I am 6'5" tall and weigh about 245 lbs and can comfortably ride in the back without room issues. I have no experience pulling a trailer with this minivan but loaded up for a weekend trip just set the cruise for 85-90MPH and she'll just go...pulling long grades it might drop from 5th to 4th but hums right along. Rides solid with a nice smooth feeling of control, not very susceptible to road surface changes or wind buffeting. Doesn't turn on a dime but steering is tight and responsive. Overall I have been very happy with this car.