2015 KIA Sedona receives J.D. Power APEAL award

• All-new Sedona scores highest in Large MPV segment amid record-setting sales year in the United States of America
• KIA’s combination of sporty CUV-like design, advanced safety features and technology scores big with customers

Arriving with a design intended to shake up the large MPV segment, the stylish, multipurpose 2015 KIA Sedona (known as ‘Grand Sedona’ in some markets) followed its debut in the U.S.A. with a record first-half sales performance and high praise from media and consumers alike. This trend continues as the Sedona has received the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) award in the Minivan, or Large MPV, segment.

This individual model accolade follows on the heels of KIA’s ascension in the 2015 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS), in which the brand placed second among all brands and received the highest score among non-luxury nameplates.  All new for the 2015 model year, the KIA Sedona is setting a blistering sales pace with a 476% increase from mid-year reporting in 2014.

“The redesign of Sedona, which completes KIA’s design-led transformation under the direction of chief design officer Peter Schreyer, is an extraordinary success story for the KIA brand,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, Kia Motors America (KMA).  “Customers want vehicles they’re proud to drive, and the Sedona’s superior combination of a strong, confident design, advanced safety features, and premium amenities, is revolutionizing the large MPV segment. Earning top honours in the J.D. Power APEAL study is affirmation from our customers of the new Sedona’s appeal and desirability.”

The J.D. Power APEAL study measures new-vehicle owners’ overall satisfaction with their vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. The results are divided into 10 categories and weighted accordingly: exterior, interior, storage, audio, seats, heating and ventilation, driving dynamics, powertrain, visibility, and fuel economy.

The J.D. Power APEAL award is the third accolade for the all-new KIA Sedona in the U.S.A in as many months: in April 2015, the new Sedona received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA (the U.S.A’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), followed a week later by its inclusion on the authoritative Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list due to its impressive interior style, comfort and overall execution. The all-new KIA Sedona makes its South African debut at the end of July 2015.