2003 Kia Sedona Interior Review at Automotive.com
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2003 Kia Sedona Review: Interior

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2003 Kia Sedona Review

Safety and standard features add up to a great value.
Interior
Living with the Sedona is convenient and comfortable. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent. The view through the rearview mirror is hindered somewhat by the headrests, though there's a clear view out the middle. Big power side mirrors offer a good view rearward.

All seating positions are roomy and comfortable. The cloth seats in the LX are supportive, better than the flat seats in the Ford Windstar, and the steering wheel is comfortable. The cloth fabric feels like mouse fur, and may be a bit warm in the summer. Better are the leather-covered seats optional on the EX, which are firm and offer power lumbar adjustment. Sedona's seats seem smaller than those in a big SUV, and they suited us, though we would have preferred more side bolstering. Adjustable-height shoulder belts come standard and enhance comfort. So make sure you use them as seatbelts are your best defense in a crash. The front-inside door handles are easy to find and operate, which isn't true in many SUVs.

The second row of seats is comfortable, particularly when ordered as captain's chairs. Second- and third-row occupants each have their own reading lights and cup holders.

Even the third row is a comfortable place for two adults, much more comfortable than the third row that's found in most sport-utility vehicles, even the big expensive ones. There's lots of leg room and good hip room. Headroom is a little more limited, but fine for an average size adult. Window switches allow third-row occupants to open and close the rear quarter windows.

Getting into and out of the third row is very easy, something that can't be said of any SUV, including the giant Suburban. To get out, simply press a foot lever, and the second-row seatback flips forward and then automatically slides forward. Manually operated side doors easily slide open and closed.

To make room for cargo, the third row flips forward, then tumbles, but you must first remove the headrests. The rear seats are heavy, like those in other minivans, such as the Dodge Caravan. They have grab handles, but the seatback doesn't stay locked down, making them awkward to handle. The second-row seats are easy to latch in or out and, like the rearmost seats, are mounted on rollers. But like most seats, when it comes time to lift them, they are still heavy and awkward.

Sedona's transmission lever comes out of the dash. Odd at first glance, this design takes up less space and offers the advantage of opening up interior space between the front seats. It's a good spot for tote bags, purses, or a couple of sacks of groceries, much nicer than having things roll around in the passenger-side footwell. When equipped with second-row captain's chairs, this design creates an area down the center of the seats that's useful for carrying longer items.

Interior switchgear is functional, but not elegant to the touch. It does not impart a feeling of quality. Buttons for cruise control, rear defrost, and the audio system are mounted high for accessibility. But the buttons are small and fussy and lack sufficient tactile feedback.

Nice details include visor extensions for early morning or late afternoon driving. Two glove boxes provide storage, along with a compartment on top of dash similar. There are more cup holders than seating positions. Interiors are available in beige or gray.

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2003 Kia Sedona