

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 |
Subaru Legacy Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD |
Subaru is a brand known for reliability see full Subaru Legacy review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
Subarus are known for their reliability and longevity. They are much less common than most makes and are known for being different. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 243hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Very reliable see full Subaru Legacy review |
2006 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
They are made to last. You see plenty of old Subarus still going strong, especially in cold weather regions like Canada and the US north East. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
I flagged brand and image here because I like how my LGT in distinct without calling attention to itself. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2005 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Subaru has a pretty good reputation and image...although it is a bit quircky as viewed by some. Reputation (a good one) usually has a major affect on resale value. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2002 | 4dr Sedan 165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
where I live in the country most people have Subarus and the dealer is nearby and has a good reputation. see full Subaru Legacy review |
Subaru Legacy Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 250hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
I flagged brand reputation & image as a dislike too because I see so many people asking questions like ‘LGT or G35 or 3 series?.’ These are great cars, but you don’t want to buy one if you want impress people. This is a plus or minus depending on who you see full Subaru Legacy review |