ArcaMax

Minivans have become kind of like timeshares. Not many people seem to want to buy in. Part of the problem is image. Minivans are the automotive equivalent of middle-aged ED. Or at least, likely to be associated with it.

A much bigger problem for minivans is the availability of crossovers - many of which have everything a traditional minivan has in the way of kid-carrying/stuff hauling functionality except the sliding doors. Along with other features - like all-wheel-drive - not generally available in traditional minivans (the Toyota Sienna is the only new van that still offers it). These alternatives to minivans have made it harder to sell traditional minivans.

Note that GM and Ford don't even try to sell them anymore. They've crossed over to crossovers 100 percent. But another problem, arguably, is price.

Most of the remaining minivans are pretty expensive. The Chrysler Town & Country, for instance,starts at just $5 under thirty-thousand bucks ($29,995). That's before taxes and tags.

Its lower-rent sibling, the Dodge Caravan, is still affordable (base price $21,795). But it is a long way from being the smaller-scale luxury RV that the T&C is. Then there's the Kia Sedona. It splits the difference.

Much nicer than the Motel 6-ish Caravan - but not nearly as expensive as the Town & Country (or the Sienna or the Honda Odyssey). It's also less minivan-y than they are. And that is priceless.

WHAT IT IS

The Sedona is a full-size minivan available in seven and eight-passenger configurations. Like the models it targets - the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and the Chrysler Town & Country - the Sedona is as much about luxury and technology as it is about utility and practicality.

But its price range - $26,400 to start, $39,900 loaded to the roof rails - is an easier swallow than the Sienna's ($28,700 to start, $46,250 loaded) and the T&C's five bucks shy of $30k to start.

WHAT'S NEW

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