<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="12905671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-carnival" source="Orion">Kia Carnival</keyword> is the replacement for the old Sedona <keyword id="12905674" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="minivan" source="Orion">minivan</keyword>. It starts at $32,100.</li><li>We drove the most expensive version of the Carnival, the SX Prestige, for a week. It costs $47,770.</li></ul><p>In life, at least two things are true: style is cyclical and empires fall. The same goes for cars. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/history-rise-fall-of-the-minivan-led-by-dodge-caravan-2020-4">Minivans</a>, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/07/the-last-great-gasp-of-the-american-station-wagon/373776/">station wagons</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/suv-sales-best-sellers.html">sedans</a>: All once had their heydays in the US and then fell from popularity, deemed out of style by the masses as other vehicles replaced them. <keyword id="12905673" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="minivans" source="Orion">Minivans</keyword> boomed between the 1980s and 2000s before becoming uncool, as most things eventually do, while crossovers and SUVs rose to popularity in their place. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2534" width="4414" msid="88763102" hostid="261"></div><p>But the 2022 <keyword id="6372046" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia" source="Orion">Kia</keyword> Carnival minivan is a reminder that style is subjective, and if your silly "soccer parent" stereotypes cause you to overlook it, you may miss out on the best vehicle you'll ever own.</p><h2><strong>The 2022 Carnival: A modern chariot </strong></h2><p>There are only four new minivans still sold in America: the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica, and the Carnival. </p><div type="image" title="The Kia Carnival's brown and black interior." height="4128" width="6192" msid="88763104" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival arrived for the 2022 model year as <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/2022-kia-carnival-minivan-name-change-sedona/">Kia's replacement for the Sedona</a>, complete with new looks and offerings. Kia gave it a boxy, SUV-style appearance and decided to call it a "multipurpose vehicle" instead of a minivan, but included the staple sliding minivan doors and optional captain's chairs in the middle row.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="5122" width="3415" msid="88763106" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival starts at $32,100, and every model features a 290-horsepower V6 engine, front-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and seating for either seven or eight passengers. Its five trims run as such:</p><ul><li><strong>Kia Carnival LX ($32,100):</strong> comes with manual-folding side mirrors, LED headlights, power-sliding rear doors, daytime-running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, a six-speaker audio system, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, a four-way adjustable passenger seat, and driver-assistance technology</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival LX Seat Package ($34,100):</strong> adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather wrapped shift knob</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival EX ($37,600):</strong> adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, an eight-speaker audio system, and more driver-assistance features</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival SX ($41,100):</strong> adds power-folding side mirrors, roof rails, a rear-seat entertainment system, additional USB outlets in the second row, ventilated front seats, and a surround-view camera to show all 360 degrees around the vehicle</li><li><strong>Kia Carnival SX Prestige ($46,100):</strong> adds full LED headlights, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, genuine leather seat trim, a heated steering wheel, a blind-view monitor, and second-row "VIP" captain's chairs</li></ul><p>There was only one option added to my SX Prestige Carnival: Astra Blue paint for $495. With that and standard purchasing fees, the final price came to $47,770.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2397" width="4290" msid="88763107" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick rating — one spot below the highest title, Top Safety Pick Plus — with top crash ratings in every category. But only the $46,100 SX Prestige trim got the organization's best headlight-safety rating; every other trim got its worst headlight rating <a href="https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/kia/carnival-minivan/2022#headlights">due to inadequate visibility</a>. </p><h2><strong>What stands out: affordable luxury</strong></h2><p>My husband and I spent an evening in the Carnival's VIP second-row seats, where we leaned them all the way flat as he watched YouTube videos on the van's video screens and I attempted to see how good its child-safety precautions were by closing my limbs in the windows and doors. (They were good. I only hurt myself a little.) </p><p>When we got out, we looked at each other.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Alanis King  (@alanisnking) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1428535897004388357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote><p>"Is this the greatest <keyword id="11897278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="car" source="Orion">car</keyword> ever made?" I asked.</p><p>"This might be the greatest car ever made," he said.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2246" width="4210" msid="88763108" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kia Carnival makes you want to spend all day in it. It makes you want to sleep in it. It makes you wonder how a family could ever dream of having a road-trip fight in it. </p><p>It might be a family van, but it makes you wonder why luxury chauffeur cars even exist. They're flashy and expensive, sure, but the value proposition? As you sit in the Carnival's second-row seats — laid out, phone charging in the USB port next to you, gazing out of its two sunroofs with an air vent on your face, and adjusting your personal climate controls — you realize that you don't need more than this $50,000 family van. You'd be silly to think you did.</p><p><em>This, </em>you think, <em>This is where I want to be.</em></p><p><em></em></p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="3333" width="5137" msid="88763111" hostid="261"></div><p>There are cup holders everywhere, including four in the center console for the driver and front passenger. The black-and-caramel interior scheme on our loaner — including two-tone leather, two-tone interior door panels, and a shiny black-and-silver dashboard — looks upscale. The exterior looks just as sleek. The speaker sound is good for everyone, from the front row to the third. </p><p>The van is so big that, if only for a moment, you think you could live out of it. It might even be fun.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="4670" width="3456" msid="88763113" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia also made sure the Carnival's top-trim interior is cohesive, even if it switches from supple accent leathers and door materials in the front seats to harder, more durable ones to handle kids riding in the back. You don't notice the change unless you're looking for it, and the van's owners still get to reap all of the benefits.</p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="4670" width="3456" msid="88763113" hostid="261"></div><p>Outside of a $360,000 McLaren 720S, the Carnival is perhaps the most popular review loaner I've ever had. Friends and family saw the photos of the VIP seats online and would rush out to see the car when I was driving it, each hopping in the second row, reclining the chairs for themselves, and letting the air vents blow the summer heat off of their faces. </p><p>They checked out the 360-degree parking camera and the one that monitors rear passenger activity. They marveled at how, if the Carnival didn't have sliding doors, you'd think it was an SUV. They sat and soaked it up, just as we had before them. </p><p>If that's any indication of how others feel, the Carnival is exactly the slam dunk Kia intended it to be.</p><h2><strong>What falls short: susceptible to stains and grime</strong></h2><p>The Carnival has few flaws.</p><p><em></em></p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="3168" width="5160" msid="88763115" hostid="261"></div><p>The van's light-gray headliner — a feature that often appears on cheaper cars in place of color-matched material, which felt especially odd in a vehicle as nice as the Carnival — distracts from the beauty of its caramel and black interior. If the headliner were black instead, it would accomplish two goals: making the interior even prettier and avoiding stains.</p><p><em>Stains?</em> you think. <em>Gravity exists. No one's going to stain the roof of their car.</em></p><p>I've seen roof stains, dear reader. You're not immune, and roof stains aren't cute. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2253" width="4313" msid="88763116" hostid="261"></div><p>The van also suffers from something many other new cars do: piano-black accents and a shiny, grime-magnet of a touchscreen. Piano black is a loathsome material that modern automakers love to use, despite the fact that it looks good for 12 seconds before it needs to be fully wiped down (or ripped out and replaced). </p><p>There's a ton of piano black surrounding the Carnival's front seats, and it will attract all of your dust particles and finger grease. I'm sorry in advance. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Alanis King  (@alanisnking) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1431295912773574666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2021</a></blockquote><p>The Carnival's steering is dull, it's slow to accelerate, and its front-wheel-drive system struggles to put the van's power down if you need to floor it. Your front wheels will wiggle back and forth just slightly, but other than making you feel a little silly, it's not an issue. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2876" width="4348" msid="88763117" hostid="261"></div><p>There's dull road noise on rough surfaces and slight wind noise on highways, but that can be washed out by a low radio volume (or the existential peace that comes from being reclined all the way back in those second-row seats).</p><p>But the most glaring issue isn't about comfort or road noise. It's that the Carnival doesn't have a hybrid option like other minivans on the market, meaning buyers are doomed to get 22 mpg combined unless one comes around. Whether that's worth it is up to you.</p><h2><strong>Our impressions: perfection in minivan form</strong></h2><p>Kia might want you to think of the Carnival as a "multipurpose vehicle" instead of a minivan, since minivans ceased to be "cool" a couple of decades ago. But the Carnival is a minivan, and it's a damn good one. </p><p>It's also a three-row chariot that sells for less than $50,000 in its highest trim, which is incredible in a car market where the average new vehicle <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/used-new-car-prices-surging-chip-shortage-2021-10">costs $45,000</a>. </p><div type="image" title="A team Kia Carnival minivan." height="2833" width="5112" msid="88763119" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carnival doesn't just challenge your long-held stereotypes about the things people drive — it asks you why you'd care to spend thousands more on a lesser car for the sake of what others think. If someone who didn't bother to figure that out sees you driving one and makes a worn-out joke about soccer practice, go ahead and laugh.</p><p>Just know you're laughing at them, not with them.</p>

Review: The Kia Carnival proves that if you don't love minivans, you just haven't come to your senses yet

The new Kia Carnival minivan features rugged looks and reclining seats like a private jet - see inside

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The new and upcoming <keyword id="3524852" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kia-Sedona">Kia Sedona</keyword> is now in its fourth generation.</li><li>It's been completely redesigned to have an SUV-like design.</li><li>No further specifications or pricing was announced at this time.</li></ul><p>You might think <keyword id="554903" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="minivans">minivans</keyword> are "lame" and "uncool." Well, perhaps the 2022 <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword> Sedona is your much-needed spoonful of sugar that'll make the minivan medicine go down easier. </p><p>Minivans are highly versatile, spacious, and the new, fourth-generation Sedona just made the package look a whole lot better. Kia published the first images of the new minivan on Wednesday and it looks sharp — way more SUV than minivan.</p><p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Sedona3" height="1185" width="2000" msid="76577756" hostid="261"></div></p><p>In fact, Kia calls it a "Grand Utility Vehicle." It's been designed to look more like Kia's current offerings and has "highly detailed, futuristic details and SUV-inspired design elements," according to a <a href="https://www.kianewscenter.com/news/all/fourth-generation-kia-carnival-revealed/s/6f519eaa-4d6a-47ab-b4e0-da9377786da4">company press release</a>. Yes, this can be interpreted as Kia admitting that SUV-looking things are just more popular — but if we get another cool-looking van out of it, then ultimately everyone wins.</p><p>The new Kia Sedona wears a new front end that Kia refers to as a "tiger face," which integrates with Kia's "tiger-nose grille." Designers pushed the A-pillar further back to make the hood longer. The wheelbase has also been lengthened for more cabin space.</p><p><strong><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Sedona4" height="1200" width="2000" msid="76577763" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>The blacked-out A- and B-pillars give the greenhouse a more cohesive look. The C-Pillar has sort of a chrome fin design next to it and is finished with a "subtle diamond pattern."</p><p>From the back, the Sedona uses full-width lines to emphasize how wide it is. It definitely has SUV looks from the rear.</p><p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Sedona2" height="1241" width="2000" msid="76577772" hostid="261"></div></p><p>These are all the details Kia has released at the moment, however.</p><p>The Sedona is marketed as the Carnival in other countries, such as Kia's domestic market of Korea, where it is coming later in 2020 as a 2021 model. The US, among other countries, will see the new Sedona sometime in 2021 as a 2022 model year, <a href="https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a32951664/2022-kia-sedona-revealed/">according to Car and Driver</a>.</p><p>The new minivan's specifications and pricing are still to be announced.</p>

Kia redesigned its minivan to make it look like an SUV and now calls it a 'Grand Utility Vehicle' — take a look at the new Sedona

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6372046" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia" source="Orion">Kia</keyword> is recalling over 410,000 vehicles over <keyword id="6423490" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="airbags" source="Orion">airbags</keyword> that may not deploy correctly.</li><li>The <keyword id="11939303" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recall" source="Orion">recall</keyword> affects several Kia vehicles, including Sedona, Soul, Forte, and Koup models from 2017 to 2019.</li></ul><p>Kia is recalling 410,000 vehicles over concern of possible faulty airbags in select <keyword id="20632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cars" source="Orion">cars</keyword>. </p><p>The recall affects the 2017 Kia Forte Koup, as well as models including 2017-2018 Kia Fortes, 2017-2019 Kia Sedonas, 2017-2019 Kia Souls, and 2017-2019 Kia Soul EVs.</p><p>According to the <a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V031-6787.PDF">company's recall report,</a> filed earlier this week, contact between a control unit and a memory chip on the circuit board in these vehicles has the potential to damage electrical units that operate airbag deployment.</p><p>An illuminated warning light will alert drivers impacted by the faulty condition, notifying them that the airbag unit may be hindered from activating during a crash and increasing risk of injury, the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/KIA/FORTE%252520KOUP/2%252520DR/FWD#recalls">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> said in a statement. </p><p>Kia did not immediately respond to Insider's request to comment on the recall. </p><p>Vehicle owners can take their cars to their local Kia dealerships to have the airbag system inspected, updated, and replaced at no cost. The company is expected to mail out letters notifying owners on March 21.</p>

Kia is recalling 410,000 vehicles due to faulty airbags that may not activate in select car models

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Telluride is <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword>’s three-row SUV that competes with the Hyundai Palisade, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Traverse.</li><li>It’s enormously popular, no doubt thanks to the fact that its starting price is lower than a lot of the competition.</li><li>With the Telluride, you get a comfortable ride and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-kia-telluride-interior-features-review-three-row-suv-tech-2020-9">an interior</a> that feels like it belongs in a far more expensive vehicle.</li><li>My top-trim loaner started at $43,490 — but after options, it came out to a $47,310 MSRP.</li></ul><p>If you're in the market for a big, cushy, three-row SUV, you have a lot to choose from. You've got options from Ford, Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Chevrolet — and Kia. Hell yeah, <em>Kia! </em></p><p>"Kia?" you might think, and rightfully so. The company <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/news/report-kia-borrego-dead-in-us-for-2010-7076/#:~:text=UPDATE%3A%20We%20have%20confirmed%20with,a%20later%20point%20in%20time.">hasn't had the brightest history</a> with three-row family haulers in the US, but it's here to set that reputation straight — and everyone else better watch out.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_21" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127073" hostid="261"></div><p>It wasn't that long ago that the South Korean company was the underdog, its reputation roughly in the same hole that <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/adventure/red-line/the-rise-of-japan-how-the-car-industry-was-won/article27100187/">Japanese automakers were forced to live in during the 1950s and 1960s</a>: its products distrusted and dismissed as shoddy junk. </p><p>But now it's 2020 and the Telluride is so popular that <a href="https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1128765_kia-has-a-problem-it-can-t-build-the-telluride-fast-enough?fbclid=IwAR0hJ0EQ8p7HKtB4GSnhXan_-pc-X32-Z89-4IXE93DcbSyyRnBiVakyzbo">Kia can't build them fast enough to meet demand</a>. In my testing of the SUV, there was a clear reason for that: The Telluride is not only comfortable enough for the whole family, but it's also punching way above its weight in terms of value.</p><p>No wonder people love these things. </p><h2><strong>The <keyword id="9943547" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="2020-kia-telluride">2020 Kia Telluride</keyword>: It doesn't look like any other SUV on the road </strong></h2><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_25" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127076" hostid="261"></div><p>The Telluride is Kia's new midsize SUV that debuted last year as a 2020 model. With a third row that can fit three passengers, the car can be configured to seat either seven or eight in total. Aside from the Sedona minivan, it is the biggest car Kia currently offers. </p><p>Visually, the Telluride is perhaps the most striking Kia this side of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2021-kia-k5-specs-features-photos-release-date">the new K5 sedan</a>. With vertically focused design language and square, orange daytime running lights, the Telluride has a face that doesn't just blur into the rest of the crowd. It gets your attention. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_10" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127084" hostid="261"></div><p>The styling gets a little busy around back, but the Telluride still doesn't look like any other SUV on the road. And it certainly doesn't look bargain-bin.</p><h2><strong>Details and safety ratings: Only one powertrain to choose from </strong></h2><p>The Telluride, mechanically, is a twin to the Hyundai Palisade. The two <a href="https://www.motortrend.com/cars/kia/telluride/2020/2020-hyundai-palisade-vs-2020-kia-telluride-comparison-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">share a platform, engine, and transmission</a>. The big difference comes in the exterior looks — and the fact that the Palisade's <a href="https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/palisade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">starting price is slightly higher</a> at $32,525.</p><p>Only one powertrain is offered on the Telluride: a 3.8-liter, naturally aspirated V6 that produces a <a href="https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/models/telluride/2021/specifications">claimed</a> 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That's hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Telluride comes with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_15" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127087" hostid="261"></div><p>You can get the SUV in either front- or all-wheel drive, and curb weights range from about 4,100 pounds to about 4,500 pounds. </p><p>Behind the third row, the trunk has a cargo capacity of 21 cubic feet, which is more than the <a href="https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-6c8f365baeb2f83cfe863e5284001b4f-2021-honda-pilot-specifications-features">Honda Pilot's 18.5 cubic feet</a>. With the third row folded down, the Telluride's cargo capacity behind the second row grows to 46 cubic feet, whereas the Pilot's is a slightly bigger 55.9 cubic feet.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_36" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127095" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_37" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127101" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_38" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127105" hostid="261"></div>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Telluride <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/KIA/TELLURIDE/SUV/AWD">an overall five-star safety rating</a>.<p>The car earned four stars for the overall front crash rating, five stars for the overall side crash rating, and four stars for the rollover safety rating. The agency noted that the Telluride has a 14.3% rollover risk. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_3" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127112" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>What stands out: Upmarket interior </strong></h2><p>The last time I was in a Kia, it was early 2018 and it was the <a href="https://jalopnik.com/the-2018-kia-stinger-gt-is-the-real-deal-1822643041">Stinger GT</a>. The car looked great from the outside, but the inside still had a little bit of that economy, plasticky-feel. </p><p>The Telluride does not. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_43" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127115" hostid="261"></div><p>Obviously, Kia gave me the most optioned out Telluride it could muster (the top-of-the-line SX AWD version with Nappa leather seat trim), but the things that the automaker couldn't option up were quite nice to the touch. </p><p>There's some nice wood — or wood-like — trim throughout the cabin, all the metals have the appearance of brushed aluminum, and the buttons and switches all feel nice and solid to the touch.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_42" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127119" hostid="261"></div><p>Because, yes! There are buttons and switches. And dials. Obviously, there's a screen for the infotainment, but there are buttons for the climate so you can rely on your muscle memory to change it. This is great and I hope it never goes away, because putting every control onto a touchscreen isn't for everyone. </p><p>There's also plenty of room to stretch out, even in the third row. The Kia doesn't suffer from the same streamlined (see also: pinched) design ailment that plagues cars such as the <a href="https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-bmw-x7-is-huge-but-so-great-at-high-speed-crui-1837447918">BMW X7 SUV</a>, which despite its massive girth, only seats two in its third row. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_39" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127126" hostid="261"></div><p>The second-row captain's chairs offer ample legroom and device-charging capabilities: USB ports can be found conveniently within reach on the backs of the front seats. The floors for the second and third row are flat and make it easy to move around the cabin, and the second row folds down quickly to ease access to the third row.</p><p>It's an airy and upscale interior, without a doubt. So it was no surprise to me when I learned that the Telluride landed itself on <a href="https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/16332/kia-telluride-named-to-2020-wards-10-best-interiors-list">WardsAuto's "10 Best Interiors List" of 2020</a>.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_40" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127129" hostid="261"></div><p>Despite being similar in size to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-lincoln-aviator-review-hybrid-specs-three-row-suv-luxury-2020-7">Lincoln Aviator</a>, the Telluride handles more solidly during driving. There's less bounce in the suspension, less lean when you're in the corners, and the steering overall is heavier, which gives you a bit more confidence as to where the car's nose is pointing. Visibility out of the big windows is great.</p><p>Highway cruising is smooth and quiet. The engine is adequate for what is required of it, which is occasional bursts of speed for passing and merging. Otherwise, it settles into a quiet murmur while the eight-speed transmission keeps the revs low during cruising.</p><p>This is not an engine that'll blow your hair back with its awesome acceleration; but then again, is that what you'd look for in a Telluride?</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_24" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127132" hostid="261"></div><p>This is a car you could drive across the country effortlessly with — well, if the estimated gas mileage was better.</p><h2><strong>What falls short: The estimated gas mileage is meh </strong></h2><p>The Telluride's estimated gas mileage returns aren't stellar. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&amp;id=41229&amp;id=41232id=41232">Environmental Protection Agency</a> estimates the front-drive Telluride to return 20 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 23 combined. The all-wheel drive Telluride is estimated to return 19 mpg in the city, 24 on the highway, and 21 combined. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_26" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127136" hostid="261"></div><p>Compared to the non-hybrid Toyota Highlander models, these estimates are pretty evenly matched, but the Highlander also comes as a hybrid. The Telluride does not. This was one of the times where I wished there were a turbocharged four-cylinder or a hybrid option in addition to the naturally aspirated V6. </p><p>But! Estimates are estimates for a reason. In the days I had the car, the trip counter reported that I was getting an average of 27.4 mpg.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_34" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127141" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia thoughtfully provided lane-changing assists in the form of rear-facing cameras that peer down the length of the car. They are activated by flipping on the turn signal. </p><p>It's a useful feature, but slightly distracting because the image is brought up on the driver's instrument cluster. You're not supposed to be looking so far down when you're about to make a turn or change lanes, you're supposed to be looking up out the windows. Having the image down that low encourages you to take your eyes off the road. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_50" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127143" hostid="261"></div><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_49" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127145" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>How the Telluride compares to its competitors: The best bang-for-your-buck option </strong></h2><p>With a starting price of $31,990, the Telluride gives you a lot of car for the money. A lot. And it's cheaper than most of its competition. </p><p>Close competitors include the Ford Explorer (starting price of $32,765), Subaru Ascent (starting price of $32,295), Toyota Highlander (starting price of $34,600), Honda Pilot (starting price of $32,250), and Chevrolet Traverse (starting price of $29,800).</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_47" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127150" hostid="261"></div><p>The Kia is so popular, in fact, <a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2020-kia-telluride-sales-selluride/">Automobile Magazine</a> reported that the SUV had been internally nicknamed it the Kia "Sell-u-ride." The story noted that in March 2019 — the first full month of Telluride sales — Kia sold 5,080 of the things. In January 2020, Kia sold 4,919 Tellurides. </p><p>After also reporting that Toyota sold 17,009 Highlanders in January 2020, Automobile reminds us that Kia is still a relatively small automaker. But it also said that Kia has increased annual Telluride production to 100,000 units in order to meet demand.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_16" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127152" hostid="261"></div><p>While I docked the Telluride for not offering a hybrid, it seems like a lot of folks aren't doing the same. </p><h2><strong>Our impressions: Luxury automakers have another thing coming</strong></h2><p>In terms of getting the best bang for your buck, I can't really see how you can go wrong with the Telluride. It's got an interior that not only blows the unfair Kia reputation out of the water, but also one that feels far more upmarket than it is. It's spacious, roomy, and quiet.</p><p>Aside from my wishing that it came as a hybrid and getting better gas mileage, I really couldn't find anything glaringly at fault.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_30" height="3750" width="2500" msid="78127156" hostid="261"></div><p>My loaner had a starting price of $43,490, but after its Prestige Package, some interior lighting, and carpeted floor mats, the total price came to $47,310 MSRP. That's basically a fully loaded, AWD, three-row SUV for under $50,000. That should make the luxury automakers <em>very</em> nervous. </p><p>During a conversation on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-car-during-covid-19-pandemic-tips-advice-2020-7">how to buy a car during the COVID-19 pandemic</a> with car-buying expert Tom McParland, who owns a company called <a href="https://automatchconsulting.com/">Automatch Consulting</a> that helps folks buy cars, he said the Telluride is "Kia's hottest seller right now. Availability is low and deals are minimal."</p><p>If you're thinking about buying a Telluride right now, the search for one might not be the easiest thing.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_33" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127161" hostid="261"></div><p>Inventory stresses aside, Kia is clearly doing something right here. It's given people a midsize SUV option that's handsome, has a great interior, and is aggressively priced. </p><p>To those of you feeling hesitant merely because the Telluride wears a Kia badge, put that aside. Go sit in a Telluride. Nothing in there would indicate it's the Kia you once turned up your nose at — whether fairly or not. </p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_9" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78127164" hostid="261"></div><p>Kia is carving out a permanent space for itself in the market. And it brought a giant, Telluride-sized shovel for the job.</p>

REVIEW: The $47,000 Kia Telluride is perfect for buyers craving a luxurious 3-row SUV without the luxury price tag

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The upscale <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-kia-telluride-review-price-specs-suv-horsepower-three-row-2020-9">Kia Telluride</a> is evidence that <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword> not only can, but will, build a good car that people actually want to buy.</li><li>Kia, along with <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword> and <keyword id="9952" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Genesis">Genesis</keyword>, are offering stylish, sporty, quality cars at good prices. It's a trend worth watching.</li><li>It's also a trend the South Korean automakers need to stick with if they want to surpass industry giants like Honda and Toyota.</li></ul><p>It wasn't that long ago that cars from Korean sister brands Hyundai and Kia had a reputation for being cheaply built and horribly unreliable. Buyers conflated their economy pricing with sub-par quality to the detriment of the automakers. But that is no more.</p><p>Within the last 15 years or so, Hyundai and Kia shed their crap-can reputations and instead focused on making cars that people actually wanted to buy - quality cars that looked good and were good to drive, too.</p><p>Perhaps the most shining example of that is the new <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/kia-telluride">Kia Telluride</a>, a midsize three-row SUV named after a posh ski town in Colorado. Kia started selling it in the spring of 2019, and you people went nuts for it.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_13" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78334253" hostid="261"></div><p>SUVs in general have enjoyed strong sales here in the US for years. But when it came to the Telluride, things felt different. It felt lavish. Unlike its competitors. Like it belonged in at a higher price point than Kia gave it. The Telluride felt like a crowning moment of just how far Hyundai and Kia have come. </p><p>It, plus the other offerings out of South Korea, hopefully symbolize a willingness to commit to what it takes to challenge current industry giants like Honda and Toyota - and if Hyundai and Kia do commit, those giants will be in for a fight.</p><h2>Selling like hotcakes</h2><p>Much of the Telluride's initial coverage focused on how popular it was. It's called the Kia "Sell-u-ride" internally, <a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2020-kia-telluride-sales-selluride/">Automobile Magazine</a> reported. Dealers couldn't keep them on their lots because demand was so high, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/success/kia-telluride-suv-demand/index.html">CNN said</a>. Kia couldn't build the Telluride fast enough to meet the need, <a href="https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1128765_kia-has-a-problem-it-can-t-build-the-telluride-fast-enough">The Car Connection</a> wrote.</p><p>The best-selling Telluride, <a href="https://carbuzz.com/news/buyers-are-spending-big-on-hot-selling-kia-telluride">CarBuzz</a> discovered, is the top-tier SX trim with the Premium Package. That one runs you at <a href="https://www.kia.com/us/en/telluride/build?chid=sem&amp;CID=20253636&amp;SID=4132975&amp;PID=204339314&amp;AID=404123698&amp;CRD=0&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwtZH7BRDzARIsAGjbK2YpMT2PWxvj1oQKvJr9Tso6FWAPmEjRtE4phd7bYa-ZeNH36UujxZMaAhqrEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;model=J4482&amp;exterior=Everlasting+Silver&amp;interior=Black+Nappa+Leather+Seat+Trim&amp;packages=GSJ&amp;trim=SXa+Leather+Seat+Trim&amp;packages=GSJ&amp;trim=SX">a starting MSRP of $46,390</a> - or a little more than a base Mercedes-Benz GLC.</p><div type="image" title="2020 Kia Telluride_25" height="1667" width="2500" msid="78334256" hostid="261"></div><p>When the Telluride came out, I'd never seen such astonished headlines about one particular SUV before. There must have been something different about this Kia that was causing buyers to flock to it, so <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2020-kia-telluride-review-price-specs-suv-horsepower-three-row-2020-9">I went and reviewed one to see what all the fuss is about</a>.</p><p>And you know what? I get it. </p><p>The outside of the Telluride is striking. With its big, wide grille, its own name - T E L L U R I D E - stamped in silver lettering across its nose, its stacked headlights and square, orange daytime running lights, the Telluride's face is not one that blends in with the rather bland SUVs it competes with. The perennially popular Toyota Highlander, conversely, is rolling anonymity. </p><p>The Telluride is bold. It demands attention. And it doesn't look like anything Kia has ever made or currently makes. If you covered up the badge, I probably wouldn't have even thought it was a Kia at all. </p><div type="image" title="2020 kia telluride" height="1671" width="2500" msid="78334258" hostid="261"></div><p>Inside, it's the same story. High-quality leathers, wood-appearing trim, simulated brushed metal switches and dials. Refinement, spaciousness. Upscale.</p><p>Rap on the dash with your knuckles and it doesn't respond with that cheap, clacky, plasticky response. Toggle the air vents and they slide smoothly in their sockets. Close the doors and they return a satisfying thump. </p><p>Fully loaded, my review Telluride came to just under $50,000. It was an incredible amount of car for the price, punching far above its weight and infringing dangerously close to luxury automaker territory.</p><h2>Building the good cars</h2><p>This upward trend with South Korean automakers started a few years ago and it might just give them a fighting chance against the Japanese ones - provided they keep investing the time, money, and resources required for maintaining that momentum. Because, so far, the cars have been good.</p><div type="image" title="The new Genesis G70." height="1429" width="2500" msid="78334261" hostid="261"></div><p>The Telluride's biggest draw is that it offers an upmarket product that's priced lower than many of its competitors.</p><p>There still might be a struggle with <a href="https://jalopnik.com/what-hyundai-plans-to-do-to-make-genesis-the-next-lexus-1795666983">brand recognition issues</a> over at Hyundai's new luxury arm, Genesis, but the quality of its cars is undeniable. The <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/2020-genesis-g90-a-full-model-change-at-mid-cycle-1028706249">G90</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2021-genesis-g80-has-stunning-looks-and-375-horsepower-v6-2020-3">G80</a> sedans are executive and just as comfortable to ride in as they are <a href="https://jalopnik.com/what-hyundai-plans-to-do-to-make-genesis-the-next-lexus-1795666983">to drive</a>. The G70 sport sedan is <a href="https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-genesis-g70-should-make-german-automakers-very-1827584004">light-footed and fun</a>, especially when paired with a manual transmission.</p><p>The <a href="https://jalopnik.com/five-things-we-loved-about-the-2020-hyundai-santa-fe-li-1840132801">Hyundai Sante Fe I tested in 2019</a> was tastefully upholstered inside. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2022-hyundai-tucson-debut-suv-specs-info-availability-2020-9">new Tucson</a> and <a href="https://jalopnik.com/i-got-one-thing-to-say-about-the-2020-hyundai-sonata-d-1834173700">Sonata</a> are dazzling to look at. The <a href="https://jalopnik.com/how-the-hyundai-veloster-n-became-the-new-office-favori-1837611130">Hyundai Veloster N</a> remains one of the best and most fun cars I've ever driven, and it starts at about $30,000.</p><p>You know about the <keyword id="7213277" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia-telluride">Kia Telluride</keyword>. But before that, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kia-stinger-review-business-insider-car-of-the-year-2018-11">Kia Stinger</a> sport sedan came bursting out of the gates with a hatch-style trunk and sharp looks, winning Business Insider's 2018 Car of the Year award. </p><div type="image" title="2019 Hyundai Veloster N." height="1667" width="2500" msid="78334268" hostid="261"></div><p>The new, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-kia-sedona-minivan-looks-an-suv-2020-6">2022 Sedona's redesign</a> could very well make minivans cool again. And <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2021-kia-k5-specs-features-photos-release-date">the new K5 sedan</a>, which will replace the Optima, is a sporty and handsome thing <a href="https://www.kia.com/us/en/k5">that starts at $23,590</a>.</p><p>These cars are proof that style doesn't always have to command top dollar. In fact, it shouldn't.</p><h2>Humble beginnings</h2><p>The ascent of South Korean automakers in the US public consciousness only started happening within the last 15 years or so.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/29/business/hyundai-near-top-of-a-quality-ranking.html">2004 story in The New York Times</a> reported that new-car buyers ranked Hyundai above any domestic or European automaker in J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. It was the first time this had ever happened. </p><p>The story quoted the agency's then executive director of quality and customer satisfaction, Joe Ivers, as saying: "A decade ago, as Korean manufacturers struggled with a universally poor reputation for vehicle quality, no one would have predicted they could not only keep the pace, but actually pass domestics and other imports in terms of initial quality."</p><div type="image" title="Hyundai 39788 2020SonataSEL" height="1334" width="2000" msid="78334278" hostid="261"></div><p>That wasn't the whole story, though. The outlet pointed out that Kia continued to be a "subpar performer in the initial-quality rankings."</p><p>"And in J.D. Power's most recent study of long-term reliability, which many in the industry consider to be a more important barometer, the Hyundai brand ranks near the bottom of the industry and Kia is dead last," The New York Times wrote. </p><p>This is no longer the case.</p><h2>Ascension</h2><p>In 2018, <a href="https://jalopnik.com/genesis-hyundai-and-kia-topped-even-porsche-in-the-201-1827016493">the three highest-ranked brands on J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study</a> were Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai. That same year, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-22/korean-cars-pull-ahead-of-german-brands-consumer-reports-says?sref=P6Q0mxvj">Consumer Reports named Genesis the top brand in the US</a>. This past February, <a href="https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1127099_genesis-tops-2020-j-d-power-vehicle-dependability-study">Genesis was ranked first</a> on J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study.  </p><p>In a matter of a few years, the results have almost completely reversed themselves.</p><div type="image" title="2022 Kia Sedona1" height="1252" width="2000" msid="78334284" hostid="261"></div><p>Gone are the days when you'd reject a Kia simply because it was a Korean car. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipb3VBpDvis">Han's casual dismissal of Hyundai</a> in "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" doesn't hold the same type of punch-down humor it once did.</p><p>You do get the sense that Hyundai and Kia are still figuring out a cohesive design strategy - all BMWs look like BMWs, but not all Kias and Hyundais look like Kias and Hyundais yet - but as for what's underneath? They've got that on lock. Based on what I've seen in just the past few years, what's to come can only get better.</p><p>There's still a long road ahead if the brands want to displace industry titans like Toyota and Honda - and even Nissan - of course. Hyundai and Kia account for just 8.1% of the market share in the US, <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2020/02/129_270276.html">The Korea Times</a> reported in 2019. That was despite the greatly improved products. </p><div type="image" title="2021 Kia K5 GT." height="1333" width="2000" msid="78334290" hostid="261"></div><p>That modest market share is also comprised of weak segments - hatchbacks and compact sedans, as well as low-margin cars - so Kia and Hyundai must build up numbers there, too. Headline-grabbing Stingers and Tellurides can't net all of the sales, after all. </p><p>But it's an optimistic spot to be in all the same. The crap-can reputation is a thing of the past, and that accounts very powerfully for public perception. With the Telluride especially, Kia has shown that it not only can, but will, build, execute, and sell a quality car that people actually want to buy.</p><p>The trick is to carry that same energy over to everything else.</p>

The Telluride SUV proves Hyundai and Kia are no longer underdogs in the US. But they still have work to do.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Based on trends from 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a buyer's market for <keyword id="20632" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Cars">cars</keyword> right now.</li><li>The used-car market is currently much stronger than the new-car market because <keyword id="71298" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="used-cars">used cars</keyword> typically offer better prices during an economic downturn.</li><li>Business Insider spoke with analysts and a car-buying expert to determine the best used cars for under $15,000.</li></ul><p>For those currently shopping for a car, it's definitely <a href="https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a32619514/buy-a-car/">a buyer's market right now</a>. Despite <a href="https://www.automobilemag.com/news/q1-20-us-auto-sales/">a general downturn of new-car sales so far this year</a>, the used-car market actually appears to be on the rebound. </p><p>In fact, used-car sales are surpassing new-vehicle deliveries, reports <a href="https://www.wardsauto.com/dealers/car-dealers-stop-freaking-out-about-used-vehicle-sales">WardsAuto</a>. </p><p>"'Used-vehicle sales in May were only 5% below pre-virus forecast' as compared with 20% for retailed new vehicles," Larry Dixon, J.D. Power's senior director-valuation services, told the outlet. "This is a stark improvement from April, and evidence that the used-vehicle market is in recovery."</p><p>Tyson Jominy, J.D. Power's vice president-data and analytics, said that a surge in used-car demand tracks with situations of economic duress. He said that new cars don't always come with the best incentives; therefore, buyers turn to pre-owned vehicles.</p><p>Tom Carney, a consultant for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said that it's mostly millennials in their 20s who are the "prime candidates" for buying a used car. "They are in the market for an $8,000 to $15,000 vehicle. It's a first car for many of them. They need <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword>."</p><p>But whether or not you are a 20-something millennial, you might be thinking about buying a car, too. And a used car that's $15,000 or under is an attractive idea, as <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/274927/new-vehicle-average-selling-price-in-the-united-states/">the average price of a new car in the US is $36,000</a>.</p><p>Business Insider spoke with car-buying expert Tom McParland, who runs a service called <a href="https://automatchconsulting.com/">Automatch Consulting</a> that helps people buy cars, to find out which are the best ones.</p><p>"Obviously, there are a ton of used cars in this price range," McParland says. "But I wanted to focus on vehicles that were less than four years old and can be found fairly easily with under 60,000 miles."</p><p>McParland's key objective here was to focus on cars that may or may not be on the radar for buyers who are simply looking for "a used Honda or <keyword id="6374528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="toyota">Toyota</keyword>." </p><p>There are many quality cars out there with steeper depreciation curves — something that's good for you, the buyer — that would make for a better value instead of older, higher-mile cars.</p><p>Keep reading to see McParland's recommendations.</p><h2><strong>Hatchback: Toyota Corolla/Scion iM</strong></h2><p><div type="image" title="2018_Toyota_Corolla_iM_23_BA88AEF94D8EFFABC9305FFD0CE1AFAEB4C15F06" height="1333" width="2000" msid="76518879" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Hatchbacks are popular with those who like a bit more utility from their vehicles. Because of its design, a hatchback tends to be able to fit more cargo in its trunk while also maintaining the size of a sedan. </p><p>McParland recommends the Toyota Corolla iM or the Scion iM — which are the same car, save for the badging. Scion was Toyota's now-defunct, youth-oriented brand and the Scion iM was based off the Corolla's platform. The Corolla is known for its reliability and the hatchback aspect of the iM only makes it all the more useful.</p><p>At this price, you can look at lightly used 2017 to 2018 Toyota Corolla iMs and 2016 Scion iMs.</p><h2><strong>Pickup truck: <keyword id="46283" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nissan">Nissan</keyword> Frontier</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="2017_nissan_frontier_01 source (1)" height="1500" width="2000" msid="76518882" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>"Buying a truck for cheap is never easy," says McParland, "but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-drove-a-pickup-truck-for-first-time-understand-popularity-2020-6">if you are honest with yourself as to what you actually need a truck for</a>, a basic Frontier will likely get the job done." </p><p>The Nissan Frontier is a great alternative to the Toyota Tacoma. A comparable Tacoma in the same price range will likely be much older and have higher miles. </p><p>For under $15,000, your options of Nissan Frontiers range between 2010 to 2018. The price also depends on how many doors you want, trim, mileage, etc. </p><h2><strong>Sedan: Chevrolet Impala</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="2015 Chevrolet Impala 023" height="1335" width="2000" msid="76518885" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Yes, most peoples' go-to sedan choices are the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. Those are very good and fine cars! But another car you might want to consider is the Chevrolet Impala. </p><p>An Impala might remind you of the rental car parking lot outside of the airport, but there's a good reason why they're such popular fleet vehicles. Impalas are roomy, comfortable, and — most importantly — durable. </p><p>"Previous generations of the Impala have been used by police departments and taxi fleets," says McParland. "These cars can withstand years of tough driving, provided they are well-maintained." He's right; <a href="https://jalopnik.com/car-reliability-is-a-myth-1650400172">good maintenance is the secret to reliability</a>. </p><p>Impalas that fall within this price range typically range from 2012 models to 2017 models.</p><h2><strong>Hybrid: Ford Fusion Hybrid</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="2016 Ford Fusion Energi" height="1443" width="2000" msid="76518889" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Most people think Toyota Prius when they think of a hybrid car, but there's also the Ford Fusion Hybrid to consider. </p><p>Admittedly, the Fusion Hybrid's mpg estimates aren't as good as the Prius's. But there are certainly more of them around. "Inventory is plentiful for lower-mile examples and some within this price range are also being sold with a Ford Certified PreOwned warranty," McParland says. </p><p>A certified pre-owned deal is one worth investigating. Most certified pre-owned cars are sold with a manufacturer-backed warranty and other benefits, are gently used, and have been inspected, according to <a href="https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/what-are-the-advantages-of-certified-preowned-cars#:~:text=Other%20CPO%20Benefits,is%20ever%20in%20the%20shop.">U.S. News &amp; World Report</a>.</p><p>The Fusion Hybrid is also larger than the Toyota Prius. Being a mid-size sedan, it might be more practical for the buyer who wants something bigger that can also keep the fuel costs down. </p><p>2016 to 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrids, depending on the trim, are available in this price range.</p><h2><strong>Minivan: <keyword id="6372046" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kia">Kia</keyword> Sedona</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="2017 Kia Sedona" height="1333" width="2000" msid="76518891" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Minivans might not be as en vogue now as they used to be, but their utilitarian aspects are undeniable. McParland recommends the Kia Sedona to people interested in the classic family hauler. </p><p>Don't turn your nose up at the Kia, either; Korean cars are fast shedding their reputation as cheap and flimsy things. Cars today from Kia, <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword>, and Genesis can all solidly compete with the likes of the Europeans and Japanese.</p><p>The good news is that you can actually get the current-generation Kia Sedona at this price range — Sedonas from 2016 to 2017, that is. The new Sedona is a sharp-looking, stylish van, with must-have features like leather seats and power sliding doors even at lower trim levels. </p><h2><strong>Crossover/SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe Sport</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport" height="1333" width="2000" msid="76518895" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Behind pickup trucks, US buyers are throwing their money most at crossovers and SUVs. It's easy to simply reach for the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but there's more out there to consider. McParland recommends the Hyundai Santa Fe in the Sport trim. </p><p>"It's easy to find a 'lifted hatchback' masquerading as a crossover within this price range, but if you need something that is comfortable for four [or five] people and their stuff, the Santa Fe Sport is a mid-size, two-row offering," he says. </p><p>You can get a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport for about $15,000, which McParland notes is a solid pick, especially if you can find yourself a Hyundai-certified example. That can balance out to a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. </p>

Here are the best used cars you can get for under $15,000, as the pandemic turns auto sales into a buyer's market

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c4f158c2bdd7f3a42686356-2400/minivan-1.png" border="0" alt="minivan kia sedona" data-mce-source="Mike LeMoine" data-mce-caption="The LeMoine family." /><p class="source"><span>Mike LeMoine</span></p><p class="caption">The LeMoine family.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>When it came time to get a bigger vehicle, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/minivan-history-ford-mustang-2017-8">minivan</a> seemed to make sense for Mike LeMoine and his family of six.</li><li>However, they said they had to overcome a <a href="https://www.cars.com/articles/2014/05/minivan-stigma-is-alive-and-well/">stigma</a> that minivans weren't "cool" enough.</li><li>Here, LeMoine shares his perspective on becoming a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/say-happy-birthday-the-van-that-changed-america-2016-4">minivan</a> convert.</li></ul><p> </p><p><em>Mike LeMoine and his family resisted getting a minivan for several years, especially after a bad experience with a used one. But, finally, they relented to getting one again - and would never look back.</em></p><p><em>Below, LeMoine explains how he went from believing in a minivan stigma to letting go of it and embracing owning one as told to Business Insider contributor Natalia Lusinski. </em></p><p>My wife and I are in our late 30s with four kids, aged three to 17. We live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and resisted getting a minivan for many years. We actually bought a slightly used Buick Enclave in 2014 instead of a minivan. The Buick was a great SUV for the most part.</p><p>However, every time we traveled, we ended up with huge space issues: With luggage, computer bags, the family dog, food for the road, and the necessary blankets and pillows the kids just "had to have," it made for a very tight and uncomfortable fit. Plus, the leg room in the far back seating was not great either.</p><p>We've also owned many other vehicles, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota Camry, Jeep Wrangler, and even a very old beat-up minivan that we'd paid just $5,000 for. We got that minivan when we needed a vehicle after one broke down, but we didn't like it. This, too, played into my former feelings about minivans.</p><h2>The minivan stigma</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c535714e43f40027b73442c-960/5c4f1b9a2bdd7f4bbf6649b8-960-720.jpg" border="0" alt="minivan" data-mce-source="Mike LeMoine." data-mce-caption="LeMoine's son in their Kia Sedona." /><p class="source"><span>Mike LeMoine.</span></p><p class="caption">LeMoine's son in their Kia Sedona.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The stigma of owning a minivan is that we were officially not cool - that we needed an SUV to be cool and keep up with the Joneses. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It seemed to us (more me than my wife) that getting a minivan again was basically like waving a red flag that said, "We are officially moving toward middle age; we can't afford a nice SUV so we are settling on a minivan." I felt that if we owned a minivan, I may as well go get tube socks and a fanny pack, too; it is just not something I considered modern for someone who lives in a rural area. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, we own a digital marketing company </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and felt that a minivan was not high-tech - so we were initially worried about the stigma of potential clients finding out we had a minivan.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em><strong>Read more:</strong></em> <em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-worst-commute-us-cities-2019-1">The 5 best US cities to commute from - and the 5 worst</a></em></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our kids all voted to stay with an SUV - they are big and look great, inside and out. Their previous experience with the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">horrible</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> used minivan and the "coolness" factor of pulling up in an SUV versus a minivan made it easy for them to vote on the SUV, so we settled on a slightly used Buick Enclave. </span></p><h2>How we chose the Kia Sedona</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5357310d15f5033c567d71-960/5c4f1c312bdd7f450e62859c-960-720.jpg" border="0" alt="minivan" data-mce-source="Mike LeMoine" data-mce-caption="LeMoine's Kia Sedona." /><p class="source"><span>Mike LeMoine</span></p><p class="caption">LeMoine's Kia Sedona.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When our Enclave started to give us problems (like losing power, making weird noises, and feeling like it always needed a tune-up to run correctly), we began car shopping again, and the minivan became a reality. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The price of a new SUV was so high, between $60,000 and $75,000 for what we wanted, and used SUVs were the same price of a new minivan, around $40,000 - but without a warranty and with high mileage. In some cases, they had over 100,000 miles. So, we decided to go with a brand new minivan because it would be far safer for the family and had a great warranty.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We chose the 2018 </span><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/save-over-10-000-on-a-luxuriously-trimmed-kia-sedona-at-friendly-kia-1027595299"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kia Sedona</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> after </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-reliable-cars-of-2018-consumer-reports-2018-10"><span style="font-weight: 400;">comparing many types of minivans</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (including Honda and Chrysler ones), and the price for what we were getting seemed right: It had an amazing amount of room (much more than the Enclave!); bucket seats in the back that we can fold down; great high-tech packages - for instance, I was blown away when I saw that the Kia Sedona had 360-degree outside cameras, just like a friend of mine with a Mercedes SUV has, and this certainly made me feel better about the vehicle; and it has many safety features, such as tons of airbags and a smart cruise control, which monitors vehicles in front of us and keeps a safe following distance.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, the sliding doors are electric, which is very nice for the kids to be able to open and close them. And we now use the minivan to transport items for our business, too, when we are holding seminars at different places in the city. Plus, we were impressed with Kia's warranty for the vehicle, which was a five-year/60,000 mile basic package and 10- year/100,000 mile powertrain. The final price tag was just under $40,000.</span></p><h2><strong>The vehicle has a lot of space</strong></h2><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5357c3b3573302e7578fce-960/5c4f1ced2bdd7f426031ef86-960-721.jpg" border="0" alt="5c4f1ced2bdd7f426031ef86 960 721" data-mce-source="Mike LeMoine" data-mce-caption="The LeMoines in their Sedona." /><p class="source"><span>Mike LeMoine</span></p><p class="caption">The LeMoines in their Sedona.</p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Space-wise, normally, we can seat seven people, though we're able to fit in eight if we keep the center console/seat for the middle row (we typically keep that out; we love that it is removable).</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've also gone on several </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-states-summer-road-trip-destinations-ranked-2018-6"><span style="font-weight: 400;">road trips</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with it. We took a long summer trip with it last year, driving 12 hours to Port Aransas, Texas, and it was great: lots of room, safe, and plenty of space for luggage and beach toys. The kids were comfortable the entire trip, and my wife and I were comfortable, too. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We were even able to bring a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">ton</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of stuff with us, between the storage in back and the luggage rack; we would never have been able to do that in our Enclave. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, the front seats recline and are very comfortable to rest in.</span></p><h2><strong>My family and I no longer care about the minivan stigma</strong></h2><p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5357d9dfa1e7031931e1a0-960/5c4f1cb72bdd7f3160131aa4-960-720.jpg" border="0" alt="5c4f1cb72bdd7f3160131aa4 960 720" data-mce-source="Mike LeMoine" /><p class="source"><span>Mike LeMoine</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because we have used it so much and it's much better for our family, we no longer care about the minivan stigma or what other people think. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friends, family, and coworkers have all said how nice the minivan is - and it really is. We've brought them around town with us, and it's much easier to load everyone into the minivan versus separate cars. They love the room and the amount of people it holds. Probably the biggest surprise is that the clients that have seen it or who know about it have shared that when they had young kids, they loved their minivan and that it provided tons of room. They totally understand why we got it and there is no stigma at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are very happy with our Kia Sedona and actually look forward to taking more road trips with the kids. Ultimately, the stigma we avoided for many years was just a story in our heads and not reality. Unfortunately, that story prevented us from having much more room when going on big family trips. I can't believe we missed out on many years of comfortable travel just because we "wanted to be cool," but better late than never.</span></p><p class="tagline"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/the-self-driving-car-race?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_content=transportation_ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_campaign=transportation_ctgr_leadgen_self-driving-car-race"><img width="640" src="https://media-bii-originals.businessinsider.com/5bb4bfb749aa852b2f4f5ba8" alt="Exclusive FREE Report: The Self-Driving Car Race by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="display: block !important; margin: 0 auto !important; max-width: 640px !important; width: 100% !important" /></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/government-shutdown-us-airports-lines-tsa-workers-pay-wages-2019-1">Airports are dealing with massive lines during the government shutdown as TSA employees are working without pay</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/NtmyhT7X-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

You Searched For "Kia Sedona" and got 8 results

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REVIEW: The $47,000 Kia Telluride is perfect for buyers craving a luxurious 3-row SUV without the luxury price tag

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The Telluride SUV proves Hyundai and Kia are no longer underdogs in the US. But they still have work to do.

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Here are the best used cars you can get for under $15,000, as the pandemic turns auto sales into a buyer's market

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After 5 years of resisting, I finally bought a minivan - and I can't believe I lived without it

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