KIA gives Grand Sedona a refresh and a range reshuffle

IN MARCH this year, KIA Motors showed of its facelifted Grand Sedona people carrier at the New York Auto Show. Last week, the car was launched in SA.

Offering an an upgraded exterior and interior, as well as enriched standard specification levels, the revised Grand Sedona line-up is poised to be the perfect companion to South African families, according to the Korean manufacturer. The van was designed jointly through KIA’s design centres in South Korea and California, under the direction of Peter Schreyer, who says they threw the stereotypical ‘minivan’ approach out the window and instead looked to create a vehicle that was not only practical, but also desirable.

“And desirable it is,” says Gary Scott, CEO of KIA Motors South Africa. “In 2015, the Grand Sedona won the Korean Car of the Year Award , while in South Africa it was a semi-finalist in the SAGMJ Car of the Year competition.”

So what’s new for the 2019 model year? Well, the Grand Sedona receives subtle updates to its exterior design. A revised front bumper is complemented by an updated grille at the front, flanked by new, re-configured headlamp clusters and a new LED Daytime Running Light on higher specification models. At the rear, the Grand Sedona also benefits from a new bumper design and a revised light cluster design, also with a new LED lighting signature on higher specification models.

Inside, the vehicle remains a comfortable and luxurious space, with subtle upgrades to its interior styling including a redesigned dashboard fascia and a new graphic cluster.

As part of the Grand Sedona’s midlife enhancement, KIA Motors South Africa has also revised the model line-up of the local range, discontinuing the SX specification grade and adding a new, feature-rich EX+ specification to the line-up. At the entry level, the Grand Sedona EX features a raft of standard specification that includes air-conditioning (manual), automatic headlamp control (incorporating ‘Welcome Home’ and ‘Follow Me Home’ lighting), a centre console armrest with large storage binnacle, electric heated side mirrors, electric windows front and rear, rear park distance control and rear USB ports.

The model also gains a new 17cm touch-screen multimedia system integrating audio controls and the rear-view (reverse) camera. You’ll also get Apple CarPlay (and the Grand Sedona is Android Auto ready). The steering wheel incorporates remote controls for audio and Bluetooth connectivity, with six speakers as standard.

Seats are upholstered in gray fabric and EX models ship as standard with a 7-seat configuration. SHould require more seating, an 11-seat option is available on special order for customers who require more seating capacity.

17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65 R17 tyres are standard.

The new, higher-spec EX+ model sees an upgrade to automatic dual zone air-conditioning and auto-folding and heated side mirrors with integrated side indicators, and also gains an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, front and rear park distance control, front fog lamps, glove box cooling, leather upholstery (as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift lever) and a wireless smartphone charger. This models multimedia system features a new 20cm colour touch screen with embedded Satellite Navigation, from which occupants can also control audio, whether it is a favourite radio station, via the USB/ Aux jacks, or through their mobile device via Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto, once officially released in South Africa). Six speakers are standard.

Finally, the Grand Sedona EX+ is only available with a new 8-seat configuration, allowing more flexibility when an extra seat is needed.

The range-topping Grand Sedona SXL is only available with a 7-seat configuration, and builds on the feature-rich EX+ grade by adding Smart Entry with Push Button Start, Blind Spot Detection, a dual sunroof, LED headlamps with automatic levelling, LED fog lamps, LED rear combination lights, a Smart Power Tailgate, dual electric sliding doors, electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats (adjustable eight ways, including memory function and 4-way lumbar adjustment), rear seat-warmers and an extra two speakers.

The Grand Sedona used to come with a powerful 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine, but KIA SA has retained only the popular 2,2-litre turbodiesel engine, renowned for its excellent mid- and lowrange torque. The oil-burner produces 147kW of power at 3 800rpm, with maximum torque of 440Nm available between 1 750 and 2 750rpm.

Featuring KIA’s fourth-generation fuel-injection system, the engine is said to deliver better fuel economy, sharper performance and improved engine response while reducing engine noise.

It reaches 100km/h from a standstill in 13,6 seconds, with a top speed of 190 km/h. The vehicle also features an exhaust gas recirculation cooler to promote recirculation of clean, cold, low-pressure exhaust gas that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and improves fuel efficiency. Finally, a newly adopted electronic swirl control valve in the intake manifold further reduces emissions by more carefully controlling the intake of oxygen to the combustion chamber.

The enhanced Grand Sedona is also fitted with KIA’s new eight-speed automatic transmission across the range. It’s been designed in-house by KIA, boasting 143 newly-patented technologies to deliver a slick-shifting, more decisive drive while reducing emissions. Compared to other automatic transmissions, KIA says its new eight-speed unit requires fewer control valves, enabling a more direct mechanical link to the engine, which allows the transmission to shift more quickly than the outgoing six-speed automatic transmission. EX+ and SXL models also gain an Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function, replacing the previous foot-brake.

To keep the family safe, you’ll get a full complement of safety and driver assistance systems, including ABS brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), six airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

The all-electric windows also have a safety function that automatically halts the window closing if an obstruction – like a child’s hand – is detected.

Drivers will also benefit from Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Hillstart Assist, while all models feature Park Distance Control at the rear, linked to a reverse camera. EX+ and SXL models also gain front parking distance control sensors.

All Grand Sedona models are sold with KIA’s leading unlimited kilometre, five year warranty, as well as a standard five-year/100 000km Service Plan. You also get get five years of roadside assistance thrown in.

PRICES KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 7-Seater - R599 995 KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 11-Seater* - R615 995 KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX+ 8-Seater - R629 995 KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI SXL 7-Seater - R782 995

*: The KIA Grand Sedona 2.2 CRDI EX 11-seater is only available on special order and requires four months lead time as it will be custom built for you.