Kia Sedona Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
There aren't any strong reasons not to buy the Sedona. Yet when a friend recently bought a minivan his wife wouldn't even look at the Kia. Why not? Because it's a Kia. Some bases for this prejudice remain. Past Sedonas haven't been nearly as reliable as a Sienna or an Odyssey. Plus many Kia dealers have been with the company since its less illustrious days. Their showrooms can be small and shabby (though some newer ones are anything but), and they developed a culture that focused on buyers most other auto makers would not loan money to. I recently stopped into a Kia dealer to research how the seats operate in a lower level Sedona--and was kicked out. I'd folded and unfolded the seats a couple of times, and was in the driver seat when the sales manager informed me: "We're going to be showing this van soon, and can't have you slamming stuff around in here. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave." I've been visiting car dealers to gather information for my reviews for over 15 years. The great majority have been very helpful. This is the first time I've been bounced from one. Maybe the manager didn't have faith that the seat mechanisms could withstand a couple of folding and unfolding cycles? Whatever the manager's motivation--I still can't believe it happened--that dealer isn't doing much to improve Kia's image. see full Kia Sedona review |
Kia Sedona Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 250-horsepower 3.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
It says "Kia" on it, and people still think that Kia means "unreliable" - Wife and I love driving the thing. see full Kia Sedona review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 244-horsepower 3.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Sedona and Kia have a reputation for low cost but also low brand image for quality. I think they have made great strides on the quality side and in improving the overall designs in the latest models see full Kia Sedona review |
Chrysler Town & Country Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 283-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This is our third Town & Country, over 170,000 miles, over the last 10 years. No major problems. I looked at Honda and Toyota first, came back to Chrysler. see full Chrysler Town & Country review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 180-horsepower 3.3L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
I bought one cause they have been building them for so long that they must have it perfected by now. see full Chrysler Town & Country review |
2003 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 215-horsepower 3.8L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Chrysler remains among the leaders in minivan producers. see full Chrysler Town & Country review |
Chrysler Town & Country Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 251-horsepower 4.0L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
bad perception by non-Chrysler owning public see full Chrysler Town & Country review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 175-horsepower 3.3L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Obviously, the Japanese have spent more into R&D and have spent more on quality and standard features. see full Chrysler Town & Country review |
2007 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 200-horsepower 3.8L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
you hear about poor Chrysler quality and reliability, and a late-model low-miles used car like the one I drove proves that they fall apart too fast, or were never buttoned up well to begin with see full Chrysler Town & Country review |