No matter how many directions our lives have taken us, for me and my family summer still always means one thing –it’s time for a family road trip! Even though I am currently living in Costa Rica, I was lucky to be able to squeeze in a road trip with my family this summer in our home state of California.

My grandma turned 90 at the end of June and we celebrated with a big party and a road trip from California’s Bay Area to Yosemite National Park in a 2015 Kia Sedona SX-L.

Introducing the 2015 Kia Sedona SX-L

Prior to heading out to our accommodations on a ranch outside Yosemite, our teenage family friend Paul joined us in the Kia Sedona for a quick visit to In-N-Out Burger.

“Whoa,” he exclaimed as he climbed into a leather seat in the third row.  “Is this a car from the future?”

Paul was onto something. With push-button start, dual sunroofs and a sleek brown exterior, the Kia Sedona is so far removed from the minivans my family drove on road trips during my childhood. It could indeed more adequately be described as a family vehicle from the future.

The Kia Sedona had a wealth of features that made our road trip a comfortable and exciting adventure for everyone in our family.

Safety Features

For my dad, the primary driver on our trip, the vehicle’s safety features made driving a more enjoyable experience. The Kia Sedona comes equipped with Rear-Camera display, a backup camera that helps the drivers see objects behind the vehicle. When combined with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, which warns of cross-traffic while the vehicle is in reverse, the vehicle’s systems made backing out of even the tightest of parking lots a safe and less stressful experience.

While tackling highways, the Forward Collision Warning System helped keep us safe by activating alerts when there are objects ahead that may cause a potential impact. The Lane Departure Warning System made sure my dad used the turn signal when changing lanes by sending a warning if the vehicle moved out of its lane without the turn signal on. The Blind-Spot Detection radar system also helped my dad detect vehicles in the driver’s blind spot.

Comfortable Seating

While my dad handled the driving, I got to relax like a princess in the second row. For me what stood out and made the road trip an above average experience was the comfort of the seats. The second row features two first-class lounge seats that slide both forward-and-backward and side-to-side. The leather seats recline and have footrests. With so many adjustable features, I was able to change around my seat to maximize my comfort.

Some things never change in my family, and one of the constants is this: while my brother Sean may almost be 21, he is still the youngest and therefore forced to sit in the backseat. Sorry, Sean – I’m not giving up the middle row!

With a lifetime of sitting in minivans back rows under his belt, Sean can give an expert opinion on such accommodations. He reported that the back row of the Kia Sedona has way more space than he has ever had in a minivan before. The 50/50 split-folding seats gave him plenty of space to spread out. Contoured head rests and reclining abilities also helped him be comfortable. The third-row windows also come equipped with sun-shades which Sean used to block the sunlight when he wanted to take a nap.

Dual Sunroof

My sister Emma enjoys soaking up California sunshine and thus it comes as no surprise that her favorite feature was the Dual Sunroof. The front and rear sunroofs filled the vehicle with air and sunlight and also helped us get some better views of the scenery at Yosemite National Park.

And yes, it was also really fun to peep out of the sunroofs and take some pictures (while we were safely stopped of course).

A Multi-Generational Vehicle

Traveling with my 90-year old grandma, we wanted to make sure the drive was as comfortable as possible for her. While the step up was a bit high for her, there were plenty of handholds for her to grab onto to help her safely and easily get into the vehicle. She was impressed by the number of places to store things in the interior of the vehicle. Indeed from backseat pockets to cup holders to strategically placed nooks, there were plenty of places to keep loose objects so that we didn’t lose any belongings during the trip.

With her children spread out across the globe what my mom loves best about family road trips is that we have the opportunity to all be together. So naturally, her favorite part of the Kia Sedona was that there was enough room for a multigenerational family. The vehicle has Spacious Eight-Passenger Seating and enough features to keep passengers, from age ten to 90, entertained.

Ultimate Summer Road Trip Vehicle

While my family may not have agreed upon where to stop for dinner or which radio station to listen to, on our road trip to Yosemite there were a few thing we all agreed upon. Luxury and roadtrip may not seem like synonymous terms but in the Kia Sedona they were. It’s just not summer without a family roadtrip, and the 2015 Kia Sedona SX-L is the ultimate summer road trip vehicle.

Note: I was provided with a Kia Sedona to test drive. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.