Background
There aren't many teenagers out there with a big poster of their favourite MPV on their bedroom walls, so you might find it a bit hard to be particularly enthusiastic about purchasing your own later in life when an ever-expanding family necessitates this practical type of vehicle.
Having said that, having kids brings new forms of excitement and if you're particularly keen to save money on your motoring then the used Kia Sedona could be a great choice.
This seven seater MPV first arrived in 1999 and although it may be lesser known than many of its peers, it has plenty of features that make it very competitive, combined with a used price that allows it to undercut almost everything else on the market.
In its first generation you could choose either a 2.5 litre V6 petrol engined Kia Sedona for sale, or the 2.9 litre turbodiesel. Four different trim levels and the choice between manual or automatic gearboxes gave the range plenty of variety.
A couple of years into its lifecycle, Kia introduced a new diesel engine option and a refreshed exterior look.
In 2006 the second-gen approved used Kia Sedona for sale was launched, with a powerful 2.7 litre V6 petrol engine giving you 182bhp, or the 2.9 litre diesel matching it for power and blowing it away when it comes to fuel economy.
The second Kia Sedona is considerably larger than its older sibling, which means there is much more room on the inside for luggage and passengers can enjoy a greater degree of comfort.
A 2010 update brought Kia's cross-platform 'tiger nose' design to the grill of the Sedona.
Bang for your buck
It may have a bargain price, but the second hand Kia Sedona does not skimp when it comes to equipment and design. The interior is its most impressive aspect, because even the base model has seven seats and twin sliding doors at the rear to make family life that little bit easier.
All of the seating is impressively flexible and you can march about the cabin with ease, which means getting in and out or dealing with the kids in the back is never a chore.
The first generation benefits from dual airbags at the front, along with electric windows and mirrors. There are even 11 cup holders, which sounds like overkill.
The SX trim adds in air con and alloys, as well as ABS, while the range-topping Executive gives you leather upholstery and lots of other gadgets, which for the price would be tough to find on an equivalent MPV built by a European manufacturer.
For the second generation, Kia added more room in the Sedona, which when you remove the two rear rows of seats has a whopping 3440 litres of capacity for all your transport needs.
Safety gets a significant bump this time around, with every model including front and side air bags, as well as the all-important curtain airbags. ABS and intelligent brake distribution technology is also a standard feature across the range.
What you'll pay
Depreciation is a bit of an annoyance for those who buy a new Kia, but used purchasers will have allowed someone else to take the initial hit and can reap the rewards further down the line.
You'll find plenty of bargain basement first-gen Sedonas from prior to the turn of the new millennium that set you back under £1000, although there is also plenty of value if you look at more recent iterations.
A second generation used Kia Sedona can cost anywhere from £4000 to £16,000 depending on its age, but in general you will find that the trim and equipment will mean that you won't find better value under any other badge.
What to check
The Sedona's interior tends to get bashed about a bit and the slightly cheap plastics used in the first generation models won't necessarily stand up to the wear and tear as well as you would like them to, so always give this some consideration.
Mechanically, the Kia Sedona for sale is a very sound model, but you should always make sure that the service history is up to scratch before you commit.
Parts
Front brake pads cost between £55 and £70 for the Sedona, with a starter motor costing just £60. The most expensive part will probably be the exhaust system, which will cost £500 if you need to replace it.
How it drives
The diesel Kia Sedona is probably the best choice if you want modest performance combined with fuel efficiency, although with a 0-60mph time of 15 seconds it is not going to excite you with off the line speed.
