The Sedona is one of the most interesting minivans on the US market. It not only offers a unique design but it is also the best car to drive in its class by a good margin. However, it is not perfect but it seems Kia could come much closer to perfection than ever before. Rumors suggest an update will be released with the upcoming 2018 Kia Sedona. This will be the mid-life facelift of the car so we don’t expect any massive changes. However, the design will definitely be revised while its powertrain and set of features could also be upgraded. The end result should easily become the best minivan on sale.
2018 Sedona Changes
The new Sedona will still share its chassis with the Sorento SUV. However, the car will be lower, wider and slightly longer than its sibling. Thanks to that it will also boast a lower center of gravity which will help it tremendously with on-road performance. Thanks to the improved rigidity the new Sedona will also boast lower NVH levels than its predecessor. Even though not clear just yet, it seems the car won’t get much lighter which is a shame as the Sedona could do with a lower weight or a more powerful engine.
2017 My Shown – Source: www.kia.com
The current model boasts a really smooth ride quality but it isn’t exactly as sporty as some would like. The upcoming 2018 Kia Sedona might change that. It seems Kia may add adaptive shocks for the higher end models of the minivan. These would benefit from all the comfort of the current model with the added benefit of having much better body-roll control than before. Thanks to this upgrade the car should get considerably better to drive.
2018 Kia Sedona Release date & Price
2018 Sedona was spied only recently, and this was the first spotting of this vehicle. This seeing might be that the engineers from Kia took it for a ride for the first time and that all of the cosmetic tweaks are already done. We can’t be sure, but there is a possibility that the testings have only just begun. Looking at competitors, Kia shouldn’t wait for too long, for the release of 2018 Kia Sedona. New Odyssey, refreshed Sienna, and all-new Pacifica are already on the roads. That’s why we expect that Sedona enters production before the year ends. Consequentially the first models for purchase would be available in the first months of 2018.
2017 My Shown – Source: www.kia.com
The price could go up compared top the current vehicle, but there’s no official news on the cost. The ongoing Sedona goes for $27,852 for entry-level L trim; $29,850 for LX trim; EX starts at $34,550; SX has starting price of $37,850; and finally SX-L reaches into mid-$40,000 with the price of $43,850. Expect for the base model to retain the price, while the rest of the lineup would go up for the figure in the region between $500 – $1000.
Kia Sedona 2018 Interior & Exterior
The upcoming Sedona won’t change much from the current model. Most of the design inside the cabin will remain roughly the same as before. However, it seems the car will receive a better set of features as well as better built quality. Things like a frontal collision warning and avoidance system and an active cruise control system will be standard across the range. The infotainment system is set to be improved as well while the previously optional 360-degree camera system will now be standard. The layout inside on the other hand won’t change much.
The 2018 Kia Sedona is still going to be available with 7 or 8 seats. The 7 seats model will offer 2 individual seats on the middle row which will recline, slide and this time around move from side to side. A 6 seats version has also been rumored but nothing has been confirmed up to this point.
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The Sedona has always been called the best looking minivan on the market and this is likely not going to change with the new model. The car will likely receive some of the design traits found on latest models of this Korean manufacturer. This means a new grille, slimmer swept-back headlights as well as a more aggressive front bumper. In the rear a dual-exhaust system and a new set of tail lights are likely going to be added as well. New wheels are expected across the range while the chrome is still going to be around on most models. A blacked-out version of the 2018 Kia Sedona has also been rumored which would further elevate the way it looks.
Under the hood of new Sedona
So far the minivan has only been available with a 3.3 liter naturally aspirated V6 good for 276 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. It seems that the 2018 model won’t change much either. The car is expected to get the same engine as before but with possibly slightly more power. Some suggested around 290 horsepower and little over 250 lb-ft of torque. The old 6 speed automatic on the other hand will be discontinued. In its place the Sedona is likely going to receive an 8 speed gearbox which should improve not only the performance but also its fuel consumption.
Front wheel drive will be the only option which is a slight drawback. Unfortunately a more powerful engine won’t be available either despite what the early rumors suggested. It seems that the successor of the Sedona might get a turbocharged powertrain but until then the ongoing V6 will have to suffice.
