SECOND-HAND SENSE: The fact of having a relatively strange Korean name for your range of cars can be a distinct disadvantage for some manufacturers, it seems. A Dublin dealer recently told me a customer had steadfastly refused to consider buying a Daewoo but when the company changed its name to Chevrolet the customer was equally determined to have one, it being an "American car". There you have it.
Other Korean companies, such as Hyundai, have managed to retain their names and broaden their appeal. Kia, on the other hand, has had quite a low profile in this country because of distribution problems. The strength of some cars in its line-up, such as the four-wheel-drive Sportage model, and a new distributor organisation has seen sales surge in the past year. Kia may have come a long way but it is not quite there yet though.
Its Sedona MPV, for instance, has not been one of its most impressive models but its not the worst either. One has to remember that the Korean marketing philosophy is to give you something that looks like it came from some mainstream manufacturer, give it plenty of extras and sell it cheaper than the mainstream manufacturer. Thus the Sedona looks a bit like a Chrysler Voyager but it most certainly does not drive like one and is not appointed like one, but it does not leave you feeling cheated.
It is a big MPV with lots of space, big engines of 2.5 petrol (not really a realistic purchase here) and 2.9 diesel units respectively, lots of extras and a reasonable design. However, it feels like a cheaper version of other competitors in this segment. There is a lot of plastic and it tends to overpower a little. The seats are big and comfortable, but they feel softer and less solidly built than one might like. Neither is rear storage space anything to write home about. The drive is soft and ride can be choppy. Neither the petrol or diesel engines are sparkling performers, but they are adequate and the 2.9 diesel is relatively economical.
The latest EuroNCAP crash tests on the Sedona in 2003 do not make for good reading. It scored only two stars out of a possible five. The driver risked damage to his "head, chest and legs, while the front passenger risked chest injuries too". The car was badly damaged in the frontal impact and became unstable and the driver's head and chest hit the steering wheel. The footwell ruptured and the pedals were pushed backward by the impact. That is quite enough for me, I'm afraid.
The Sedona only has one recall for problems with an ABS fault in some cars.
A 2003 model with a 2.9 diesel engine and 60,000 kilometres on the clock has an asking price of €23,000. For that you get lots of extras like air conditioning, multiple airbags and all electrics. A 2.9 petrol of the same year and with 42,000 on the clock has an asking price of €20,000, while a 2001 model with a 2.9 diesel engine and 100,000 on the clock will cost around €15,000.
FOR: Relatively cheap for a car of its size. Lots of room
AGAINST: Result of crash tests pretty much sum it up