2002 Kia Sedona LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Gearbox grinds when engaging first gear.

Keylock holds onto ignition key.

Trim panels in cockpit squeak and rattle.

Cupholder snapped off when first used.

Seat lumbar support too low.

Tyres squeal all the time.

Seat foam very unsupportive.

Steering vague with no road feedback.

Engine noisy and unrefined.

Gearchange stiff and harsh.

Electric window switches flimsy.

Wood effect dashboard (plastic)-

Handbrake feels like it will snap off anytime soon.

Door panels rattle when door closed.

Rear windows do not open.

Rear quarterlights can be forced open without effort when the vehicle is locked.

Handling is nervous and tyres squeal at even moderate cornering speeds.

Armrest on drivers seat interferes with gear change.

Lumbar adjust lever snags driver seat belt which is very dangerous.

Rear hedrests badly obscure rear visibility.

Electric aerial in driver field of view and covered in grease.

All cabin plastics are cheap and tacky.

No exterior temperature gauge.

This is the worst vehicle I have driven in about 17 years. I cannot believe it sells against competitors regardless of how cheap it is.

Noisy, unrefined, sloppy handling, harsh and difficult gear-change, vague steering.

Seats look nice and are comfortable for about 20 minutes, then lack of support and cheap build combined with harsh suspension make them almost unbearable.

Air conditioning excellent! the only good feature of this otherwise abysmal vehicle.

I am always surpised by people who buy a used vehicle and expect it to be brand new. I just dumped my Chrysler mini-van, I bought it used (I knew the original owner), it was great for the first month. After repairing the A/C twice, several electrical/electronic faults, and finally sticky valves (a $2500 CAN repair). The Chrysler was worth 10% of its original purchase price when new after only 5 years.

This time a new KIA Sedona was purchased, I've had it one month and 3000kms and no issues.

A piece of advice for your next car purchase, someone selling a car that is less than 2 years old is dropping a lemon.

Virtually all of the points raised in the review are valid.

I considered the Sedona - especially having read the many glowing tributes that are on the 'net. However, seeing the car 'in the flesh' was quite a shock!

Although a large vehicle, it has a very insubstantial feel about it. 'Tinny' would be the best description.

The engine (new vehicle) had a most unpleasant 'growl' - and, when one considers that it's a 2.9 turbo diesel, the power output figures are really quite low!. Volkswagen, for example, get the same amount of torque from a 1.9, and Mazda's 2.0 litre TD not only matches the Kia torque figure, but almost equals the BHP too!

That doesn't say much for Kia technology - *and* the Kia engine is noisy and harsh.

The Kia paintwork is vastly inferior to, say, a Hyundai (to compare with another Korean car). It has an 'orange peel' effect that shouts 'Cheap'!

Kia couldn't even be bothered to use a rubber surround on the tailgate window! - just a cheap piece of (very thin) glass, bonded to the steel, with a gap all the way round.

Similarly, the radiator is very prone to damage - large front air vents with no stone protection. Neither is there a plastic guard fitted under the engine sump (pan, for Yanks) as on virtually all new cars these days.

For those seeking a cheap MPV in the UK, some Hyundai dealers are selling the Trajet 2.0 TD for less than £14,000!! - that's 2.5k less than a Sedona LX, and with higher spec, better looks, and much better build quality PLUS a 5 year warranty.

Bye, Bye, Kia.

All I can say is that I run a Sedona as a taxi and do about 70,000 miles a year with no problem must be that you lot either can't drive or you just don't look after your vehicle!

Umm, if you wanted a bmw, then why the heck did you buy a kia? oh please! picky! picky! picky!