LOOKS
The Sedona has a traditional minivan look, though the update has improved the look somewhat. It’s not flashy, but I’d still call it attractive -- as much as minivan can be. Inside, the materials used in the Sedona are sturdy enough, but there’s lots of hard plastic and it definitely isn’t as luxurious feeling as some minivan competitors. Seats can get leather trim if you opt for it.

Where this vehicle wins on the interior is versatility and comfortable feel, a key for a minivan to be successful. The back row of the Sedona is one of the most comfy in terms of leg room that I’ve seen in any minivan.

There is plenty of room in the vehicle to stand up and adjust car seats and cargo, activities which will no doubt be involved in regular family trips around town and far away.

The third row also folds into the floor to increase cargo space if needed (though cargo space overall is slightly less than some of the competition).

The biggest hit for me on the Sedona’s interior design was the optional super-comfy captain’s chairs in the middle row that allow you to literally lounge -- as in lay back and put your feet up (as long as nobody is in the back row). This “First class lounge seating” aims to emulate a relaxed setup like you’d find in an airplane in first class, and while it’s not quite that comfortable it’s still pretty cozy.

Also, the vehicle has well-placed buttons on each interior side that open and closing the sliding side doors from the inside, and there is also a power tailgate.

ENGINE, RIDE QUALITY
The Kia Sedona features a 3.3-liter, V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 276 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque.

Having recently driven some of the minivan competition, I was curious to see how the Kia Sedona held up. In the end, I was very pleasantly surprised. Despite having numbers a bit down from some competition, it actually performed better at times in terms of power and getting moving -- both from a stop and when I was already moving. The motor in this minivan is nothing to sneeze at, and did more than I expected.

Handling was not a standout feature, but for a vehicle this large the experience was about what I expected.

The biggest downside of the overall ride quality on the Sedona is noise -- as in too much of it. The ride was generally bumpy and loud, something that will turn off many potential buyers. When you hit a bumpy road, some vehicles perform well and others struggle -- the Sedona struggled.
(Side note on the theme of loudness; I found the heating system in the Sedona to be quite loud too. It was literally difficult to even have a conversation from the middle row to the front while the vehicle was being heated).

TECHNOLOGY
I was impressed with the latest version of Kia’s UVO Infotainment and Connectivity platform, both in terms of how it reacts to voice commands well as well as the way the buttons are set up on the dashboard. It’s a very wide setup, with all buttons clearly labeled for what they are controlling.

Connecting your phone via Bluetooth is a breeze, and there are apps embedded such as Pandora and Yelp. You get multiple USB ports for physical connections to your devices.

You also can get Sirius/XM satellite radio with 3-month subscription, a center console mounted 110V power converter, a remote keyless entry system, and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.

With the exception of some odd placement of the controls on the steering wheel that makes them a bit tricky to execute at times, the overall tech setup in the Sedona is one of the best you’ll find in any minivan.

SAFETY
The 2015 Kia Sedona SXL features a bevy of safety features, including: Parking Assist, dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags for all 3 rows, LATCH system for car seats, anti-lock braking, brake assist system, traction control and electronic stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The optional SXL technology package, which is very helpful, includes: Xenon HID headlights; Lane Departure Warning System; Forward Collision Warning System; Surround View monitor and Smart Cruise Control.

MPG
Official numbers are 17 city/22 highway/19 combined.; I averaged about 20 so I was slightly above average. These are so-so numbers, as some competitors edge out the Sedona by a few mpg.

PRICE
The Sedona’s base price starts at $26,100, and my decked-out version came in at $43,295. Features will go away as you down in trim levels. Trim levels include L, LX, EX, SX and SX-L. Seating for up to 8 is standard on EX model, but can be chosen for the LX and SX models. L and SX-L models only offer seven seats.

BOTTOM LINE
What the Sedona lacks in exterior styling and ride quality, it makes up for in other areas such as a strong motor, excellent seat flexibility and strong tech availability. It won’t be at the top of all minivan buyers’ lists, as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town & County are all very competitive and will draw their own share of the market, but the Sedona has enough going for it that it will continue to play a part in this segment and perhaps grow a bit with the 2015 redesign.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.