Leanna Meadows

2021 Kia Sedona

••3.5

Posted On: May 28, 2024

This thing is huuuugggeee!

Pros
The space and 3rd row seats, The size of the seats much larger than normal

Cons
The fact there's no safety in the gas tank, The way the air vents look not to the radio display

Ok so This thing is gigantic and that's what we needed I bought this car for my mother who has seven adobtted children of all ages including two in car seats!! It was imperative she got a vehicle with a ton of seating and room. I am So happy I found this minivan yes its a minivan but does not look too vanny ( lol if you know what I mean) It almost looks like a van and a SUV in one. Her previous c... Read more

2021 Kia Sedona Review

Pros

Affordable starting price
Long warranty
User-friendly technology
Comfortable ride

Cons

Mediocre gas mileage
Less practical cabin than the rivals
No driver-assistance features offered as standard

The 2021 Kia Sedona is a minivan that is available for sale at a base MSRP of $31,575. Coming in with 3 trim configurations, the 2021 Sedona comes with no major changes from the outgoing 2020 model, and hence retains the same 3.3L naturally aspirated V6 motor putting out 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. Offered with the FWD drivetrain, the 2021 Sedona managed to do the 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds and offers a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The car also offers a combined gas mileage of 21 MPG.

Overview

The 2021 Kia Sedona is in the last year of production before being replaced by the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival, which is expected to launch soon. Available for sale in three trim configurations with MSRP starting at $31,575, the Kia Sedona 2021 sees no major changes from the outgoing 2020 model. The only changes include the Venetian red color palette and the discontinuation of the base L trim for the Kia van 2021.

The 2021 Sedona offers a long list of interior features as standard, like the 3-zone automatic climate control system, heated and powered seats, leather upholstery, cooled glove box, an 8-inch AVN touchscreen infotainment system, 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and many more. However, most of these features are only offered with the top-of-the-line SX trim, which still is far more affordable than the pricier Chrysler Pacifica, but isn't as fuel-efficient.

Buying Advice

While the top-end SX trim might feel way out of budget for most buyers, the 2021 Kia Sedona EX is well priced at an MSRP of $34,875. The added interior creature comforts, more safety aids, and larger alloy wheels, all add value to the minivan.

Pricing and Features
9.0/10

In advance of an all-new model Sedona, which we expect will debut for 2022, Kia has made only a couple changes to the model for the 2021 model year. - Edmunds

For this 2021 iteration of the Kia Sedona, Kia has managed to remove the base L trim from the lineup. As a result, the 2021 Kia Sedona is now offered with 3 trim configurations, namely LX, EX, and SX. Offered for sale at a base MSRP of $30,400 and going all the way to an MSRP of $41,500, the 2021 Sedona sees no major changes from the outgoing 2020 model and hence retains the same powertrain, which is a 3.3L naturally aspirated V6 motor putting out 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. All the exterior features like 18" alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights with LED DRLs, heat and powered side mirrors, 5 exterior colors, and many more are offered too.

The interior of the 2021 Kia Sedona also sees no changes from the outgoing 2020 model. Offered with 2 interior colors, the 2021 Sedona's top-of-the-line SX trim comes packed with features like 3-zone automatic climate control, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, leather upholstery, heated and powered seats, etc as standard. All the driver-assistance features like automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, etc are offered too. However, most of these safety features are optional extras, which is a bummer.

Model	LX	EX	SX
MSRP (FWD)	$31,525	$34,875	$42,675
Key Features	8-passenger seating with 3-passenger, 2nd-row seating	Features added to the LX trim:	Features added to the EX trim:
	Dual power sliding rear doors	Tri-zone front and rear automatic climate control	8" touchscreen infotainment system
	8-way power-adjustable driver's seat	Two-tone leather upholstery	Cooling Glove Box
	17-inch Alloy wheels	18-inch alloy wheels	Two-Tone Leather Trim with Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
	Spare steel wheel and tire	Roof rails	Surround-view monitor
	Projection headlamps with escort function	Blindspot collision warning	8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
	Auto light control	Rear-cross traffic collision warning	Lane departure warning
	LED Positioning lights	Parking distance warning	Driver attention warning
	LED fog lights	Heated front seats	Electronic parking brake

Engine and Performance
7.7/10

It’s hardly thrilling, but it is predictable and that’s the point. It’s a 5 for performance. - Thecarconnection

The 2021 Kia Sedona retains the same powertrain as the outgoing 2020 model, which is a 3.3L naturally aspirated GDI V6 motor mated to the 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission, putting out 276 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain comes mated to the FWD drivetrain, with no option to opt for the AWD drivetrain, which some of the rivals do offer. All of this also helps the minivan to give out a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs, which is on par with the rest of the rivals.

The 2021 Kia Sedona was also surprisingly competent around the corners. The direct steering setup coupled with a decent amount of feel and feedback on offer helps to inspire confidence in the driver. Around the corners, the 2021 Sedona feels planted and stable, even though it is not really fun to drive, due to the softer suspension setup and body roll on offer. However, we don't have much to complain about, as it is a minivan. The ride quality was also on par with the rest of the rivals. Even though the ride was one of the best during the slow city commute, it does bog down a bit while highway riding.

The 2021 Kia Sedona with its 3.3L naturally aspirated V6 motor under the hood helps it to propel from 0-60 MPH in 7.6 seconds. The car also managed to do the quarter-mile run in 15.8 seconds. However, the top speed hasn't been revealed by Kia yet. With 12.6-inch front rotors and 11.9-inch rear rotors, the 2021 Kia Sedona, which is offered for a base MSRP of $31,575, did the 60-0 MPH braking in 122 feet, making it one of the best of the segment. However, the 2022 Kia Carnival is expected to be even better in terms of acceleration and braking performance.

Models	2021 Kia Sedona	2021 Honda Odyssey	2021 Chrysler Pacifica	2021 Toyota Sienna
MSRP	$31,575	$31,790	$35,045	$34,460
Engine	3.3L, Naturally Aspirated V6	3.5L, Naturally Aspirated V6	3.6L, Naturally Aspirated V6	2.5L, Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
Drive train	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	8-speed automatic	10-speed automatic	9-speed automatic	CVT automatic
Power	276 hp @ 6,000 RPM	280 hp @ 5,000 RPM	287 hp @ 6,400 RPM	245 hp @ 6,000 RPM
Torque	248 lb-ft @ 5,200 RPM	262 lb-ft @ 4,700 RPM	262 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM	176 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM
0-60 MPH	7.6 secs	6.6 secs	8.3 secs	7.7 secs
Quarter Mile	15.8 secs	15.1 secs	15.6 secs	15.8 secs
Top Speed	120 MPH	111 MPH	120 MPH	116 MPH
Towing Capacity	3,500 lbs	3,500 lbs	3,600 lbs	3,500 lbs

Both the 2021 Honda Odyssey and the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica managed to come out with superior performance numbers from their naturally aspirated V6 motors. However, the 2021 Toyota Sienna turned out to be the worst of the lot in terms of performance, due to the 2.5L naturally aspirated inline-4 motor producing just 245 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. In the 0-60 mph front, the 2021 Odyssey topped the chart with a time of 6.6 seconds, which is followed by the 2021 Sedona and the 2021 Sienna. The 2021 Pacifica was the slowest of the segment, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

When compared with our long-term Chrysler Pacifica, which delivered 33 mpg, the Sedona's performance is disappointing. - Caranddriver

The 2021 Kia Sedona is thirsty even for a minivan, thanks to its massive curb weight of 4,411 lbs and the old-school naturally aspirated V6 motor under the hood. The EPA rates the 2021 Kia Sedona at 18 MPG city, 24 MPG highway, and 21 MPG combined. That puts the Sedona on par with its SUVs like the Sorento and Telluride.

Since the powertrain sees no changes from the outgoing 2020 model, the gas mileage also remains identical to the outgoing 2020 model. With a 21.1-gallon fuel tank on offer, the 2021 Sedona manages to give out a city range of 379.8 miles and a highway range of 506.4 miles. A combined range of 443.1 miles is offered too.

Models	2021 Kia Sedona	2021 Honda Odyssey	2021 Chrysler Pacifica	2021 Toyota Sienna
MPG (City)	18	19	19	36
MPG (Highway)	24	28	28	36
MPG (Combined)	21	22	22	36
Fuel Capacity (gallons)	21.1	19.5	19.0	18.0
Range (City/Highway/Combined) (miles)	380/506/443 miles	371/546/429	361/532/418	648/648/648

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is in a league of its own when it comes to the gas mileage and tank range on offer and hence completely annihilates the rivals. Both the 2021 Honda Odyssey and the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica also turned out to be slightly better than the 2021 Sedona, as both of them offered a slightly superior combined gas mileage of 22 MPG.

Interior
7.9/10

Kia's latest range of interiors has been sharpened up to compete with the best, and the brand has done a commendable job of it. - Carbuzz

With no changes from the outgoing 2020 model in the interior front, the 2021 Kia Sedona, which is offered for sale at a base MSRP of $30,400, manages to come out with a pretty luxurious and feature-packed interior, which turned out to be up there with the best of the rivals. Offered in 2 interior colors along with a plethora of standard features like 3-zone automatic climate control, heated and powered seats, leather upholstery, etc, the 2021 Sedona is one of the best options of the segment. The interior is also very ergonomic. When it comes to the interior space, the front row turned out to be quite decent with above-average legroom and shoulder room.

Being a 7-seater minivan, the 2021 Kia Sedona also offers spacious second-row and third-row seats, both of which are one of the most spacious of the segment. The second row of the 2021 Sedona offers the highest shoulder room and legroom of the segment, making it very comfortable for tall Americans. The third row is a comfortable place to be as well, due to the above-average headroom, legroom, and shoulder room on offer. The under-thigh support and lower back support on offer from the seats were also pretty good for all the 3 rows. To top it all off, the 2021 Sedona's 33.9 cu ft of cargo space is quite decent too.

Models	2021 Kia Sedona	2021 Honda Odyssey	2021 Chrysler Pacifica	2021 Toyota Sienna
Seating Capacity	7	7	7	7
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room)(in)	39.8/63.9/40.9	40.7/63.1/40.9	40.1/63.8/41.1	40.1/62.4/40.3
Second Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room)(in)	39.4/63.1/41.1	39.5/ 61.6/40.9	39.6/63.0/39.0	39.3/62.7/39.9
Third Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)(in)	38.9/59.4/38.4	38.3/ 60.0/38.1	38.7/59.2/36.5	37.4/58.5/38.7
Cargo Capacity (cu.ft.)	33.9	38.6	32.3	33.5

The 2021 Sedona turned out to be one of the most spacious offerings of the segment, as it offers great headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for all three rows. Even the rivals also gave out good interior space, with the 2021 Pacifica leading the chart for the front row seat space. The 2021 Sienna and the 2021 Odyssey also gave decent interior space for all three rows, however, the 2021 Sedona turned out to be superior. The cargo space was the best for the 2021 Odyssey, which is followed by the 2021 Sedona, 2021 Sienna, and the 2021 Pacifica. The entertainment duties of the Sedona are handled by the 8" touchscreen infotainment and an 8-speaker audio system.

The infotainment system provides a modern and stylish interface coupled with high-tech features. The system also turned out to be highly intuitive to use, with a neat menu layout and excellent touch sensitivity, and display quality. All the connectivity features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, AUX, USB, etc are standard too. We also like the audio quality through the 8-speaker audio system. However, the lower LX and EX trims of the 2021 Sedona only get a 7" touchscreen infotainment system and 6-speaker audio system. Some of the interior and infotainment features on offer with the 2021 Sedona are:

Leather upholstery
Heated and powered seats
Sunroof
3-zone automatic climate control system
Steering mounted audio controls
Split rear seat
Air filtration system
8" touchscreen infotainment system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
SiriusXM radio
Navigation
Wireless charging
8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

Exterior
7.0/10

The side profile gives away that this is a large people carrier, but the front and rear end both look comfortably SUV-like. - Edmunds

Even though the minivans are not expected to win any beauty contest, the 2021 Kia Sedona does look the part, especially in comparison to the other bland and boring-looking rivals of the segment. With no changes from the outgoing 2020 model, apart from the removal of the Venetian red color palette from the brochure, the 2021 Sedona retains the masculine front view, which is highlighted by the automatic LED headlights, LED DRLs, and the quintessential Kia grille and air dam, both of which adds to the road presence of this minivan. The best in class ground clearance of 6.7" makes it a versatile offering of the segment too.

The side view and rear view of the 2021 Kia Sedona, which is offered for sale at a base MSRP of $30,400, also look quite brilliant. The side view is highlighted by the 18" alloy wheels that come wrapped in the P235/60R18 tires, chrome window lining, blacked-out pillars, and subtle fender flares & character lines. The wheelbase of 120.5" makes it a capable family hauler too, as it translates to excellent interior space. The first thing that strikes you when you look at the rear of the 2021 Sedona is the large rear window and traditional LED taillights. The chrome lining, bulky bumpers, and integrated rear spoiler with shark fin antenna round off the design quite well.

Models	2021 Kia Sedona	2021 Honda Odyssey	2021 Chrysler Pacifica	2021 Toyota Sienna
Curb Weight (lbs)	4,411	4,354	4,330	4,610
Length (inches)	201.4	203.2	203.8	203.7
Width (inches)	78.1	78.5	79.6	78.5
Height (inches)	68.5	68.3	69.9	68.5
Ground Clearance (inches)	6.7	N/A	5.1	6.3
Wheelbase (inches)	120.5	118.1	121.6	120.5

When it comes to the exterior dimensions, the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica turned out to be the biggest of the lot. Even the 2021 Honda Odyssey and the 2021 Toyota Sienna also managed to punch out slightly bigger numbers, especially when it comes to length and width. In terms of curb weight, the 2021 Odyssey and the 2021 Pacifica turned out to be lighter than the 2021 Sedona by close to 80 lbs. However, the 2021 Sienna was the heaviest of the lot, with a curb weight of 4,610 lbs. Some of the exterior features on offer with the 2021 Kia Sedona are:

Heated and powered side mirrors
Automatic LED headlights with LED DRLs
Integrated rear spoiler
High rise LED stoplight
LED taillights
Shark fin antenna
Roof rails
Chrome lining
18" alloy wheels

Safety
9.0/10

The Sedona has good safety scores, but active safety features are reserved for top trims. - Thecarconnection

Similar to the outgoing 2020 model, the 2021 Kia Sedona, which is offered for a base MSRP of $30,400, turned out to be one of the safest offerings of the segment, as can be seen from the 5-star overall crash safety rating in the NHTSA crash test, with excellent ratings in frontal, side, and rollover crash test. The IIHS also gave it a good rating in most of the subsections. However, it wasn't considered as the top safety pick.

Along with that, the 2021 Kia Sedona also retains the same excellent build quality of the outgoing 2020 model, as it is constructed entirely in high tensile steel. The minivan also offers a decent list of features like automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, etc, all of which are optional extras. Some of the safety and driver-assistance features on offer with the 2021 Sedona are:

Automated emergency braking
Forward collision warning system
Adaptive cruise control
ABS with EBD
Driveline traction control
Stability control
Lane-keeping assist
Lane departure warning system
Blindspot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert

Competition
9.0/10

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is one of the best-selling minivans in the United States. Available for a base MSRP of $35,045, the 2021 Pacifica is more powerful, offers a decently spacious interior, and manages to give out a superior list of interior and safety features as standard. The gas mileage is better too. The driving dynamics and ride quality is a notch higher than the 2021 Sedona as well. However, the 2021 Sedona is cheaper, offers a slightly more spacious second and third row, and is a great looker, in comparison to the 2021 Pacifica.

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is also a capable minivan that ticks most of the boxes of the buyers. This minivan is decently spacious, offered the best in class gas mileage, and has the Toyota reliability and dependability to back it. However, the performance is lethargic, offers the worst acceleration times, and misses out on many features as standard. The base MSRP of $34,460 is also more expensive than the 2021 Sedona, making it the more value for money offering of the segment.

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey is the most fun-to-drive minivan of the segment. It is also very spacious, offers the best in class cargo capacity, and is packed with features too. We also like the punchy powertrain and lower curb weight, both of which are added advantages for the segment. Available for a base MSRP of $31,790, the 2021 Odyssey is only slightly more expensive than the 2021 Sedona. With the launch of the 2022 Carnival just around the corner, the 2021 Odyssey would be our pick.

Final Verdict

The 2021 Kia Sedona, which is offered for sale at a base MSRP of $30,400, has a lot of things going for it. This minivan is quite spacious and comfortable, making it a decent proposition for large families. The performance and acceleration are pretty decent too. We also liked the opulent interior quality and refinement along with the comfortable ride quality on offer. Hence, if you are alright with the mediocre gas mileage and average handling on offer, the 2021 Sedona should be on your watchlist. However, with the 2022 Carnival about to be launched, we would highly recommend you to wait for it.

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2021 Kia Sedona User Reviews

This thing is huuuugggeee!

ProsThe space and 3rd row seats, The size of the seats much larger than normal

Cons The fact there's no safety in the gas tank, The way the air vents look not to the radio display

2021 Kia Sedona Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Buying Advice

Pricing and Features9.0/10

Also Read:

Engine and Performance7.7/10

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Fuel Economy7.0/10

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Interior7.9/10

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Exterior7.0/10

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Safety9.0/10

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Competition9.0/10

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Toyota Sienna

2021 Kia Sedona vs. 2021 Honda Odyssey

Final Verdict

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Saved Cars

Pros
The space and 3rd row seats, The size of the seats much larger than normal

Cons
The fact there's no safety in the gas tank, The way the air vents look not to the radio display

Pricing and Features
9.0/10

Engine and Performance
7.7/10

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

Interior
7.9/10

Exterior
7.0/10

Safety
9.0/10

Competition
9.0/10