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Most manufacturers departed from the minivan segment long ago. Kia is one of only five automakers that have decided to stay in the game. With the introduction of the 2015 Kia Sedona MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), we’re glad they did. Minivan sales have been decimated by crossovers and SUVs, coming down from a high of 1.2 million a decade ago to around 400,000 last year. But while these vans may no longer be the hot commodity they once were, plenty of people still prefer them over anything else.


Why? Because they offer a comfortable ride, lots of storage space for people and things, and drive more like a car than a truck.

We are a minivan family, even though there are only two adults in that family. This may seem odd, but couples without kids are the second biggest minivan buyer demographic next to young families. Our last minivan was an Oldsmobile Silhouette, which we used for everything from moving households to carrying landscaping materials for the front yard. Which is why a long-term van made sense. Over the coming year, we’ll be posting regular updates here on where we’ve gone, all the things we like, and dislike, about the Sedona, and if we’d recommend it for your family.

The Sedona has been completely redesigned for 2015, and is working hard to steal sales from Chrysler, Honda, Toyota and Nissan. The MPV was designed by Peter Schreyer, Kia’s chief designer, who has been responsible for the styling transformation of the brand. And a fine job he has done, judging by the Kia Soul, the Sorento crossover, and the recently introduced 2016 Kia Optima sedan.

The idea was to bring crossover SUV flavor to the van, and the result is successful. The Sedona’s nose is long and angular, and the rake of the windshield definitely delivers that CUV feel.

Dual sliding power side doors and a power rear liftgate making loading people and cargo easy. The Sedona has a lot of smart features, and we mean that literally. The Smart Welcome illuminates the door handles at night and unfolds the sideview mirrors when you approach the vehicle with the keyfob. And the hands-free Smart Power Liftgate opens the rear cargo door automatically if the keyfob is present for three seconds. You also can program the height position as well.

Inside, the CUV theme carries on with a center console that divides the front-row driver and passenger seats — something no other minivan does. At first we lamented the missing space because that’s where we put purses and bags for easy reach. But just like we do in an SUV, when we’re alone, things can go on the passenger seat. An easy adjustment. Speaking of seats the leather seats in the Sedona are comfortable and supportive, including good thigh support, which is usually missing in all but luxury vehicles.

The EX trim level we ordered comes with myriad convenience features like dual gloveboxes (the lower one can be cooled for beverages), Bluetooth connectivity, tilt and telescoping steering column, pushbutton start, tri-zone automatic climate control, cupholders galore, and integrated second- and third-row window shades. The Sedona features the next-gen UVO connectivity system, and we added navigation to that. It’s going to take a while to learn all the features, but we’ve got time. Although we’ve yet to take an extended trip (a drive to Tacoma, Washington, is on the books in the next few weeks), we’re happy with all the features and functions.

We’re especially happy with the ride, handling, and power of the new Sedona. All trims are equipped with the same 3.3-liter direct-injection V6 powerplant also found in the Sorento CUV and Cadenza sedan. It makes 276 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. We have never once yet wished for more. Merging in traffic and getting on freeway on ramps are non-issues. The V6 is mated to a 6-speed transmission with a manual shift mode. Is the manual shift mode necessary? Probably not, but still fun to have.

And speaking of fun, driving the Kia Sedona is a pleasure. The all-new chassis is built to last, with 76-percent high-strength steel for safety, durability, and rigidity. Add to that a torsional stiffness almost 40 percent greater than the other vans, and you’re going to get a vehicle that lasts. Ours so far has been quiet, rattle free, and more fun to drive than we expected. The Sedona is so well tuned that it just won a comparison test in Motor Trend magazine.

We’ve got about 750 miles on the odometer, and have just begun what we hope will be a long and happy relationship with the Kia Sedona. We’ll let you know how the road trip to the Northwest went at the next update soon. —BJ Killeen

Specifications

• Model: 2015 Kia Sedona EX five door multi-purpose vehicle.
• Engine: 3.3-liter V6, 276 hp, 248 lb-ft torque.
• Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manual shift mode.
• Overall length: 16 feet 8 inches.
• EPA passenger/cargo volume: 141/78.4/33.9 cubic feet.
• Weight: 4,539 pounds.
• EPA city/highway/combined fuel consumption: 18/25/21 mpg. Regular fuel required.
• Base price, including destination charge: $36,300.
• Price as tested: $37,595.