Kia Sedona

Our verdict

The Kia Sedona is a big, honest seven-seat MPV that does its job. Not much to look at.

Comfort

Slovenly suspension helps the Sedona to slob around in plenty of comfort, even if you're fully seven-up and testing the bumpstops. There's proper space for seven too, so nobody should feel ill, unless they catch the car's reflection in a shop window.

Performance

Laughably there's a lovely smooth 2.7 V6 with 182bhp and a 0-62mph time of 14.5 seconds. Confusingly there's a 2.9-litre turbo diesel four with exactly the same 182bhp output that takes a second longer to get to 62mph. The automatic 'box makes hard work of the available power though, so best swap your own cogs.

Cool

Do you even have to ask that question? Seriously?

Quality

It doesn't matter how hard they try, until they make an interior as good as their own C'eed, then everything will feel cheap and grey in comparison. And not even interesting grey, but industrial, soul-sapping grey. The grey of nothing. The grey of incessant rain.(that's enough grey stuff - ed)

Handling

The Sedona would be as happy on an open seaway as it is on the road judging by the amount of bodyroll you can generate even with modest cornering effort. Won't be entered into the BTCC anytime soon.

Practicality

Aha! The reason for the Sedona's existence reveals itself. There's space for seven adults, and the boot is huge, and that's before you lift out the third row of seats and start folding. Taking the seats out is a bit of a hassle, but worth it for the van-like rear compartment with them stowed in the garage.

Running costs

This is probably one of the cheapest, biggest family buses in the business - you can pick one up brand new starting at around the £16k mark. The diesel gets 36.2mpg and at insurance Group 13, it shouldn't be too much bother to run.