Kia's new minivan moves up in price

12/07/2008 19:21. With a stronger engine, more features than ever and a roomier interior, the Kia Sedona is a much-improved minivan today compared with its first-generation model.

So, why isn't the second-generation Sedona -- with pleasing ride, attractive styling, comfortable seating for seven and top safety ratings -- selling as well as its predecessor?

Chalk it up to pricing changes, less than stellar reliability and quality ratings, consumer obsession with gasoline mileage and, of course, the lackluster image that all minivans bear as "mom mobiles."

When the seven-passenger Sedona originally debuted in the 2002 model year, it had the lowest starting price of any V-6-powered minivan on the U.S. market.

Today, while the 2008 Sedona is offered in a downsized version with short wheelbase that starts... // Belleville News Democrat