Kia Sedona Wins Best MPV Title in Practical Caravan-What Car? Towcar Awards

WEYBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM – June 16, 2010: Long-time caravanners’ favourite, the Kia Sedona has added the Practical caravan-What Car? Towcar wards best MPV title to its list of accolades – winning over the judges with its prodigious towing capability thanks to its new 2.2 litre diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Regarded as the toughest towcar competition, the Practical Caravan-WhatCar? awards put contenders through the most thorough testing and the Sedona 2.2CRDi won praise for its outright ability.

Towcar Editor David Motton said: “The Sedona with its new, more powerful engine mated to a six-speed gearbox represents a lot of car for the money and there is little it cannot tow.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Donnelly, Practical Caravan’s Editor added: “It was clear from our tests that when towing the Sedona sticks doggedly to the driver’s intended course – vital for every caravan owner.”

The Sedona features an all-new four cylinder 2.2 litre 16 valve engine with a variable geometry turbocharger and common-rail injection. That develops 192bhp at 3,800rpm and in the six-speed automatic version toque is upped to 436Nm or 322lb ft between 1800 and 2500rpm delivering exceptional flexibility just where caravanners want it – in the middle of the cruising range.

The new engine and auto-box also delivers outstanding refinement and economy with reduced CO2 emissions.

That prompted What Car? Editor In Chief, Steve Fowler to comment: “A strong engine, a stable towcar and a spacious cabin. Our favourite MPV in this year’s tests.”

Michael Cole, Managing Director of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd., said: “We at Kia and our customers have always known what a good workhorse the Sedona is – without compromising comfort – so we are delighted that Practical Caravan and What Car? have endorsed that view! It is a particular honour for us to get this award – I know just how demanding these guys are and this award is real recognition for the development work that has gone in to this version of Sedona.”

Sedona is renowned for its huge interior that gives seven full size seats without compromising leg, knee or elbow room and the latest Sedona comes equipped with a standard specification that looks like the option list on some competitors. The Sedona 3, for example, has electrically powered sliding side door as well as an electrically powered tailgate – a reversing camera with screen in the rear view mirror and all the interior features any family on the move could want including iPod compatibility, climate control with both front and rear adjustment and of course an extensive safety feature list including front, side and full curtain airbags.

And for those who want to see if Practical Caravan and What Car? are right in their judgement then it is reassuring to know the Sedona can tow up to 2,000kgs behind it.

Sedona prices start at £20,095 on the road and the Sedona 3 Automatic is priced at £25,995 on the road. For more information on the Sedona go to www.kia.co.uk