For families needing a roomy, versatile vehicle, it’s hard to beat the value of a spacious minivan – when it’s a Kia Sedona. The 2012 Kia Sedona offers rock-solid value with room for seven, a powerful V6 engine and some features you can’t even get on the Toyota Sienna.

 

Minivan shoppers have some good choices, to be sure. But when you focus on value, some of those choices don’t look nearly as compelling as the Kia Sedona. The 2012 Kia Sedona (MSRP $24,900) with popular equipment and a powerful, yet efficient V6 engine, costs little more than a well-equipped midsize sedan. A quick comparison with the Toyota Sienna sheds some light. At first glance, the $25,060 MSRP of a 2011 Sienna seems pretty close to the MSRP of the Kia Sedona LX, just $160 more. A closer look, however, reveals major Sedona features that a Sienna does not offer, even though it costs a bit more.

 

For one, the 2012 Kia Sedona – in LX and EX trims – comes standard with a 271-hp 3.5-liter V6 matched to a six-speed electronically controlled Sportmatic^® automatic transmission. You don’t get a V6 engine in the base Sienna; you get a 187-hp four-cylinder. The lowest-price V6 Sienna (with 266-hp) jumps $1,300 over the Kia Sedona LX. Perhaps more surprisingly, the four-cylinder Sienna offers a 24 mpg fuel economy rating while the much more powerful Sedona V6 achieves 25 mpg.

 

To handle the bumps you encounter along the way, you might prefer the smooth-riding character of the multi-link independent rear suspension in the Kia Sedona to the solid beam axle in the Toyota Sienna. That’s a feature you cannot get in the Sienna at any price. Count on the Kia Sedona for safety, too. This minivan is an eight-time recipient of a five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for front and rear seating positions.

 

The 2012 Kia Sedona lives up to the brand’s penchant for outstanding value in both the LX and EX models. Both feature standard captains’ chair seating in the second row, and the seats are removable to provide maximum cargo room of up to 141.5 cubic feet. That’s 33 cubic feet more than in a Nissan Quest. The flip-and-fold second-row seats in the Sedona provide easy access to the three-across third-row seat, which splits 60/40 and folds into the floor.

 

The standard back-up warning system, a family-friendly feature, can detect and warn drivers of objects that are close to the rear of the vehicle when reversing. Upgrade the LX with the available Power Package to gain the rearview mirror camera display, along with the convenience of dual power sliding doors and automatic light controls, and the upscale look of 16-inch alloy wheels.

 

The 2012 Kia Sedona provides the infotainment connectivity families on the go want today. The standard AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM^™ Satellite Radio audio system includes both 3.5mm auxiliary and USB/MP3 input jacks, and the SiriusXM Satellite Radio comes with three months of complimentary service, letting you sample the offerings before committing to a subscription. Bluetooth^® wireless technology helps you get more convenience out of your smartphone. The available rear-seat entertainment system includes a flip-down eight-inch LCD screen, Infinity surround speakers, two wireless headsets and a remote control.

 

The 2012 Sedona EX includes the rearview mirror camera display and also offers a standard six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, four-way power passenger's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, power rear quarter windows, an eight-speaker audio system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink^® universal remote, a trip computer with compass and a roofrack.

 

Even adding the EX Luxury Package – which includes all of the LX options plus a sunroof, leather seat trim, heated front seats, driver's memory seat, mirrors and power-adjustable pedals and tri-zone automatic temperature control – the MSRP comes in at under $35,000. Compare that to fully optioned competitive minivans costing over $45,000 and Kia value comes through loud and clear. The Sedona EX also offers an available navigation system.

 

Wrap it up with the comprehensive standard Kia warranty program, which includes a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty and roadside assistance plan for that period, plus a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and five-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty.

 

Bring the family in for a test-fit-and-drive of the 2012 Kia Sedona. It’s the minivan that makes value a top priority.