With budgets tighter than ever, given the goings-on in the world at the moment, you could be forgiven for wanting to spend as little money as possible on your next practical family car. Sometimes life comes at you fast, and before you know it, you've got three or four kids, as well as their luggage, to try and squeeze into your five-seater sedan or wagon. This is where seven-seaters come in, but new ones can cost a pretty penny.Even if your budget's a little more restrictive than you'd like, don't fear. There are some ultra-cheap, and ultra-practical, three-row minivans lurking on the used market waiting to be snapped up. You could get away with spending less than $5,000 on Kia's first-gen Sedona, which should hopefully get you out of a hole. Kia's Sedona Is The Cheapest Three-Row Minivan On The Used Market Kia When it comes to giving away the least amount of money for a practical and usable minivan, the Sedona is impossible to beat at the moment. With an average price of just $4,676, you'll be able to net yourself a first-generation model, which was sold in the US between 2002 and 2005. The Sedona's impressive value shouldn't come as a great surprise, as it was properly cheap when it was shiny new over 20 years ago. The base LX variant was offered for just $18,995, which is equivalent to just over $34k in today's money. The more luxurious EX demanded a couple of grand more at $20,995, which translates to a shade over $38k in 2026. Used Listings Throw Up A Range Of Solid Options For Low Budgets Kia It is possible to get a decent Sedona for less than $5k, we found a few via the CarBuzz Marketplace, though you'll likely have to deal with a machine that has seen better days. A good example is a white 2003 Sedona LX offered through TrueCar, which comes with a sticker price of $3,995 and a clean title. With 115,000 miles on the clock, the minivan is provided in good working order, though its exterior is a little faded from years of hard graft. If you can stretch your budget a little further though, there are some excellent bargains out there for you to find.A great illustration of this is a higher-end 2004 EX model, which is presented in excellent condition inside and out with only 46,000 miles on the odometer. It's in a solid state mechanically too, and will set you back only $6,350 via TrueCar. You'll do well to find more convenience and practicality in such good condition for less than that. Kia's Family-Friendly Minivan Offers Plenty Of Versatility Kia Aside from providing seven seats for your many passengers, the third row can also be folded down to open up some extra storage space. You get a solid 21.8 cubic feet of space with all three rows in place, and 70.6 cubic feet when the third row is lowered. Rid yourself of both rear rows of seating, and you'll have 127.5 cubic feet of room at your disposal. There's a fair bit of wriggle room for passengers too, with front passengers getting over 40 inches of legroom, while the second and third row occupants get 37 and 32 inches of space, respectively.It fares well in terms of headroom too, as it offers more for front passengers than period rivals like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. That said, the Sienna has it beaten when it comes to middle row headspace, and its lower rear roofline leaves it nearly two inches down on the Odyssey as far as the third row is concerned.Both Japanese rivals also provide more cargo space. Still, the Sedona performs solidly when it comes to interior size, and it certainly provides ample room if you're transporting children in the rear seats. The Sedona Offers Equipment To Keep The Family Comfortable Kia Don't expect the Sedona to be a Rolls-Royce when it comes to its cabin, though even base LX versions come with front and rear air conditioning, cruise control, as well as dual sliding doors that make for easier access to the rear compartment. There's also a full child seat anchoring system as standard, which is a crucial addition for a family bus such as this. If you can stretch your budget and find a tidy EX, you'll have some extra goodies like power front seats, wood grain trim, and keyless entry.It lacks options that its period rivals boasted, such as a power tailgate and satellite navigation, but it's got all the basic functionality that'll keep everyone comfortable on the daily commute. The Sedona Isn't The Most Frugal Minivan On The Market Kia One thing to bear in mind with the Sedona is that, while it's ultra-cheap to buy in the first place, it isn't the most fuel-efficient machine on the market. It comes with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that sends 195 horsepower to the front wheels thanks to the assistance of a five-speed automatic gearbox. The trouble is, the Sedona tips the scales at a hefty 4,779 pounds, which results in it only achieving an average MPG of 17. This puts it well down on the Sienna and Odyssey, which are notably lighter too. It's lucky then that the Sedona has proven to be a dependable workhorse through its life. Kia's Seven-Seater Shouldn't Cost You A Fortune To Maintain Kia According to RepairPal, a first-gen Sedona should only demand around $495 a year to keep running at its peak. As far as regular problems go, the most widely reported is a faulty anti-theft control module, which prevents the vehicle from firing when the key is turned. The module will need replacing before the car will work properly, and it's a fairly widespread issue considering 376 owners have reported suffering from the ailment. Timing chain tensioners also have the tendency to go on higher mileage examples, while the clutch for the AC compressor is also more vulnerable.Both these issues are more related to age and mileage than the car being unreliable though. Do your homework properly, and you'll be able to find a tidy Sedona that'll reliably transport you and your family around in comfort, but for a ridiculously modest outlay. An Old Pontiac Minivan Also Offers Good Value Pontiac Should you fancy something a little closer to home, then you can pick up an American-built Pontiac Montana for around the same price as a Sedona. At an average value of $4,734, you could get a facelifted first-gen Montana on your driveway, which would be better suited for buyers who have the urge to be more patriotic. It comes with an NA 3.4-liter V6 engine that sends 185 hp to either the front wheels or all four, depending on the spec you opt for.You get a similar amount of standard equipment to the Sedona too, though all examples get keyless entry as a little bonus. It'll also be better suited to those looking to save a bit of money at the pumps, as the Montana's less powerful V6 averages around 22.5 MPG, a far superior figure than that of the Sedona's 17 MPG. Even the heavier AWD version can still muster a 21 MPG average.It's a little smaller overall than its Kia rival, with 119.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the two rear rows of seating removed, though there is seating for a total of eight people. The thing to note with the Montana, though, is that it came with plenty of scope for optional extras, so shop around, and you'll have a good chance of finding a better-equipped car for the money than the Sedona can offer. Either way, both of these ultra-affordable minivans are excellent ways of securing a vehicle that can effectively serve your family, but for minimal financial outlay.