By Dave Abrahams
Johannesburg - Kia's big MPV (“It's a bus, but it's a very nice bus”, according to She Who Has the Casting Vote) has changed its nameplate with every succeeding generation.
First released in 1998 as the Carnival, it became the Sedona in 2006, got a new face with Peter Schreyer's 'tiger nose' grille in 2011, and now the third generation has landed in South Africa as the Grand Sedona.
And Grand it certainly is, even though overall length has shrunk 15mm to a still-impressive 5115mm and the roof is 20mm lower at 1740mm; overall width (1985mm) is the same as the previous version, while the wheelbase has been pushed out 40mm to 3060mm.
Kia's Namyang design studio has made the most of that extra volume with a wider, more upright grille and wrap-around headlight clusters leading to a smoother, more sweptback silhouette than the second-generation Sedona, but without that model's tapered roofline, so as to provide comfortable headroom for the third and fourth rows of seats.
Yes, we said fourth: the Grand Sedona is available either in seven-seat configuration with two front seats, two individual second-row seats and a three-seat bench, or as an 11-seater with two front seats and three three-seater benches.
‘STAND UP’
High-specification models have a 12-way power-assisted driver's seat - including four-way lumbar support - and an eight-way power adjustable front passenger seat, each with heating and ventilation.
The power-operated sliding rear doors are operated either by buttons on the driver's overhead console or remotely from the key.
The heated second-row seats in the seven-seater have a 'stand-up' function that allows the base to fold forward and the rest of the seat to slide forward and 'stand up straight' for easier access top the third row of seats.
Reducing the roof taper has increased storage behind the third row by 77 litres to 960 litres, increasing to 2220 litres with the 60:40-split peanut gallery folded completely flat, and a cavernous 4022 litres with the second row 'standing up'.
And, despite the 20mm lower overall height of the roof, the reduced taper and redesigned tailgate also make it possible to load a taller box than in the previous version. The power-operated tailgate also opens automatically when it senses the key in close proximity - no need for foot-waggling manoeuvres under the rear bumper!
MEASURABLY QUIETER
The second and third rows in the 11-seater can slide fore and aft to allow greater legroom, and the third-row seat backs also flip forward for more cargo space. The fourth-row seats pops up from the cargo bay but leave a flat floor when stowed.
The interior, styled by the Irvine, California studio, is all about full-width horizontals, with the fascia angled slightly towards the driver and a big storage box under the front centre armrest. It's finished in light grey and black with lots of soft-touch surfaces and trimmed in either fabric or leather trim depending on the model.
Extra sound-deadening material on the wheel-arches, engine bay wall and under the floor, makes the Grand Sedona measurably quieter inside than its predecessor, says Kia.
The driver gets a new seven-inch colour screen for the digital instrument cluster, displaying trip information controlled from the multifunction steering wheel, while the standard audio system has its own 4.3 inch touchscreen display that includes a rear parking camera, MP3/CD player, multimedia ports for USB and Auxiliary connections and six speakers around the cabin.
High specification models have an external amplifier driving eight Infinity speakers spread around the cabin.
Depending on the model, you also get a cooled glove compartment, cruise control, front and rear parking assistance, tilting and telescopic steering-wheel adjustment, a foot parking brake, a dual sunroof and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
NUTS AND BOLTS
The Grand Sedona is propelled by your choice of either the 3.3-litre Lambda II petrol V6 - tweaked with low-friction seals and cam-chain guides as well as a new three-stage variable intake system to deliver a quoted 199kW at 6400 revs and 3.8Nm at 5200rpm - or Kia's proven 2.2-litre 'R' turbodiesel four, with a claimed 147kW and 440Nm from 1750-2750Nm.
Each drives the front wheels via a six-speed auto transmission with manual sequential and 'Active Eco' options, which latter recalibrates the shift points and limits the power consumption of the heating and ventilation systems to maximise fuel-efficiency.
The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension is carried over from the previous model, with the addition of a hydraulic rebound spring on the front axle, upgraded front dampers and stiffer suspension bars and cross-member bush mountings on the rear
Safety kit includes an electronic stability programme, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist to warn you about vehicles coming up from behind, and rear cross-traffic alert.
PRICES
The South African Grand Sedona line-up comprises seven derivatives with a mix-and-match selection of petrol and diesel power, and seven or 11-seat layouts, in three trim levels:
2.2 CRDi EX 7-Seat - R499 995
2.2 CRDi EX 11-Seat - R515 995
2.2 CRDi SX 7-Seat - R625 995
2.2 CRDi SXL 7-Seat - R669 995
3.3 V6 SX 7-Seat - R605 995
3.3 V6 SXL 7-seat - R649 995
3.3 V6 SXL 11-Seat - TBC
Each comes with a five-year or 150 000km warranty, a five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan and three years unlimited roadside assistance.