Kia Sedona 2 2.2 CRDi Auto 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The Sedona 2 2.2 CRDi comes with a large diesel engine which gives a maximum power output of 192 bhp at 3800 rpm and torque figures of 322 lb-ft at 1800-2500 rpm. This 2.2 litre engine is capable of acceleration which reaches 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds and has a top speed of 122 mph. Whilst these are not the most impressive power credentials they are more than adequate for a car of this class.

The EU5-compliant diesel engine drives the front wheels but unfortunately the handling is not stable. People carriers are not renowned for delivering the best ride and this is definitely the case with the Sedona. There is limited agility and the steering feedback is unresponsive.

The suspension also struggles to cushion imperfections and bumps in the road and corners can also feel unstable due to body roll. The efficiency of the engine is also fairly low and the car achieves just 37.7 mpg on a combined cycle. Green credentials are also poor as the car emits a staggering 199 g/km of carbon dioxide - putting it in one of the highest road tax bands, J.

The Sedona is a standard MPV so it is going to be big and boxy with a large interior to seat seven people. The body-coloured bumpers, door mirrors and handles, which come as standard, improve the appearance and add a sense of style to this large vehicle.

Kit wise you get: power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, rear parking camera, an immobiliser and an advanced stereo with CD player and MP3 connectivity fitted as standard.

Leather seats, an alarm and built-in sat nav are also available as additional options and those wanting to update their model to a metallic paint finish will need to pay an additional £475.

As a people carrier, the Sedona is designed with practicality in mind. Both of the rear seats can be folded down or removed completely to increase luggage space and the boot capacity is an impressive 1,083 litres with the full seven seats in place or a mammoth 1,770 litres with the rear seats folded down or taken out.

The car also comes with a number of additional storage spaces within the cabin and there are plenty of other features, such as multiple charge ports for electronic gadgets, to appeal to busy families. Room within the cabin is fairly spacious and this means there is plenty of space for all passengers and their luggage.

Safety and reliability is obviously a major concern for families and Kia's reputation for this is strong. This is helped by their standard seven year warranty for 100,000 miles which helps to give buyers all the assurances they need when it comes to safety.

The car also comes with a safety kit which includes anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution, driver, passenger and front side airbags, three-point safety belts plus Isofix child-seat anchor points on the two outer mid-row seats and two rear seats. An immobiliser is also a standard fitting to protect against theft but there is no alarm option with this model.

The car also faired well in the NCAP crash tests where it was rated four out of five for occupant safety.

The purchase price of £24,735 is far from the most expensive model on the market but is combined with moderately high running costs which mar the otherwise strong credentials of this model.

Of course, for a car of this size and calibre, the fuel efficiency of 37.7 mpg is fair, but uninspiring. Road tax is unfortunately high, falling under tax bracket J, thanks to high carbon emissions. The seven year guarantee makes an admirable attempt to boost the value of the car but unfortunately it is not quite enough to detract attention away from the mounting costs.