Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Comfort:
It’s a minivan. Of course it’s comfortable. Maybe…but maybe not so much. Yes, there is plenty of room for families growing up and out, so to speak, but for the driver, the 2006 Kia Sedona’s front seat was decidedly uncomfortable. The padding felt tilted downward, for example, and no attempts to ratchet up or adjust the seat made a difference. Call it the Sedona Slide, right into the dashboard, and while it is, of course, only a feeling – you’re not actually sliding into the steering wheel – it makes for a fidgety trip. It’s nice that there are armrests, but they flop around like Goofy ears on a baseball hat, with no ratcheting mechanism to keep them in place. Legroom, for the driver, is also peculiar, as the well feels a little too shallow. In back, the second-row seats are nicely upholstered and very easy to sit in, with plenty of room for legs. I preferred sitting back there during my drive, but the wife didn’t want people to think she was chauffeuring me around. In the way-back, back where the little people live, there’s scant room for toes or heads – but that’s a bit to be expected. If you’re out to lunch and riding in your boss’s minivan, and he asks you – Hey Charlie, do you mind sitting in the way-back? – get your resume updated.

Mike Sullivan’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Comfort:
As a new father, my wife and I are considering what to buy for our next car. We would like something safe, easy to drive, and large enough to accommodate the family as well as all of the “baby baggage” we’ll be toting around for the next few years. So I was genuinely excited when I got the chance to take the family on a Palm Springs weekend getaway in the new 2006 Kia Sedona. My wife, on the other hand, did not share my enthusiasm. When she heard the words “Kia,” “minivan,” and “Cool!” come out my mouth in the same sentence, she was predictably underwhelmed.

Oh, but experience makes the heart grow fonder. We strapped the baby in, loaded the rear storage area with luggage, a stroller, a play pen, a cooler, and a bunch other junk and still had the entire third-row available. And, speaking of junk, we had plenty of convenient pockets and storage bins in which to stow our snacks, sun glasses, and hats. And for our beverages, one of the 13 cupholders was always within arms reach. The two-hour ride also allowed my wife to watch, thankfully wearing headphones, the latest romantic comedy on the rear DVD entertainment system. It’s fair to say that by the time we reached our destination, her outlook on the Sedona was as sunny as the Palm Springs sky.

So from a passenger’s point of view, the Sedona makes for a pleasant transport. As for the driver, the comfortable seat with well-placed armrests made the trip easy. Also, while trying out the back seats for myself, it was easy to find legroom when sitting in the sliding second-row, and it was easy to get comfortable by reclining, even in the third row. Also worth noting is the commendable performance of the air conditioning system thoughout the vehicle. The Sedona was pleasantly clement even in the 100-degree Palm Springs heat.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Kia Sedona’s Comfort:
Despite the stigma that goes with minivans, few people will argue that these versatile haulers are impractical and uncomfortable. The 2006 Kia Sedona offers seating for seven passengers, all of whom get generous amounts of head, knee, and foot room. Even those seated in the third row enjoy plenty of leg and foot room thanks to second-row buckets that slide forward. Technically, that last row is designed for three bodies, but because of its narrow width, we’d suggest only two adults or three smaller kids. The front buckets feature soft cushions, fold-down center armrests, padded door armrests, and the driver gets a tilt steering wheel. Bolsters are lacking and the bottom section of the seat is too short, but otherwise there’s plenty to like here. Second-row passengers get the same buckets as those up front while the third row gets a reclining backrest, three adjustable headrests, and dedicated heat and air conditioning vents overhead.

Getting in and out of the front- and second-row seats is a non issue. Accessing the third row requires a simple pull of the second-row bucket’s handle, whereupon the seat folds and tumbles forward for relatively easy passing to the rear bench. The sliding doors on each side include a power window button that lowers the glass almost completely.