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Professionals: Fashionable; nice tech; trick second-row seat choices
Cons: No hybrid or all-wheel-drive choice; comparatively small third row
The 2023 Kia Carnival is assured to wow you within the minivan section. And no, Kia doesn’t name it a minivan — it makes use of “MPV,” which is principally the European phrase for minivan — however all the things concerning the Carnival’s really feel, journey and drives screams minivan. And that’s OK! Minivan are cool, and don’t let anybody inform you in any other case. Not solely are they cool, however the Carnival is the good with wild options just like the VIP Lounge second row seats. Present as much as the college drop-off line in a single outfitted just like the Carnival within the pictures above, and also you’re positive to show just a few curious heads.
In fact, utility continues to be king in the case of the Carnival. Its box-like form leaves you with a plethora of cargo area and rear seat legroom that’s much like or greater than a lot of its opponents. If you happen to don’t need the flamboyant VIP seats, Kia provides the distinctive “Captain Kirk” seat in the eight-passenger Carnival. Go for the highest trims, and the inside is slathered in eye-catching trim, large screens and tons of tech.
We’re dissatisfied that the Carnival doesn’t provide powertrain choices to compete with alternate options just like the hybrid-only Sienna and Pacifica PHEV, although. They’ve a huge fuel economy benefit that could possibly be cause sufficient to selected a type of fairly than the large Kia. Moreover, the Carnival does not provide all-wheel drive because the Toyota and Chrysler do. Nonetheless, if gasoline economic system and AWD should not priorities, the Carnival is nicely deserving of a spot in your shortlist. It might even look sufficient like an SUV to persuade minivan detractors to present it an opportunity, too.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s new for 2023?
Kia doesn’t change quite a bit for 2023, and all of the minor modifications happen inside. The SX trim snags the 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster that was beforehand unique to the SX Status. Moreover, the SX Status will get a brand new commonplace seat configuration. As an alternative of the reclining VIP Lounge seats coming commonplace, the common mannequin’s 8-seat configuration is the usual setup. You’ll be able to optionally add the VIP seats if you’d like these as a substitute now.
What are the Carnival’s inside and in-car expertise like?
The Carnivals pictured on this web page symbolize the nicest you are going to discover. Each the SX and SX Status (pictured above) are the range-topping fashions, and with them you get improved supplies high quality and much more tools. Maintain this in thoughts earlier than anticipating to see a number of large screens and VIP Lounge seats in a $33,000 base van — you may’t even get these on the common SX, they’re optionally available on the Status solely. Nonetheless, there’s not as a lot of a drop-off when it comes to high quality and ambiance as you will discover in varied Toyota Sienna trim ranges, and each Carnival has a extra upscale feel and look than the appliance-like Honda Odyssey. We also needs to notice that though many of the Carnival’s “wow” options can be found in different minivans, none provide the identical variety of them in the identical place.
The usual infotainment set-up consists of conventional analog gauges and a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen that does look a bit low cost in a housing clearly meant for one thing larger. That will be the 12.3-inch infotainment display that arrives with the EX trim. The gauges get swapped out for the all-digital instrument panel within the SX and SX Status solely. Each SX trims can be found with seatback touchscreens (very similar to the Chrysler Pacifica) that features Netflix and YouTube apps, plus Kia’s Sounds of Nature white noise packages (mother and father of small youngsters will know why this can be a large deal). Carnivals with the 8-inch display embody wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however these with the 12.3-inch display require a wired connection. Each trim however the base LX has have entry to a wi-fi charger, whereas each trim has a number of USB ports per seating row. The SX and SX Status have 115-volt inverters — one on the again of the middle console and one within the rear cargo space — for equipment with an ordinary two- or three-prong plug.
How large is the Carnival?
Consumers select between seven-seat or eight-seat configurations like all the opposite minivans, however that is the place the comparisons cease. The eight-passenger configuration we review in more depth here (pictured above, backside left and proper) includes a distinctive heart seat that slides far ahead and all the best way again to the third row and past. This may be useful when making an attempt to stuff as many automobile seats as potential aboard, or simply to create distinctive seating and cargo configurations. There are then two seven-seat configurations. The primary one principally removes the eight-passenger’s center seat and provides in-board armrests to the remaining captain’s chairs. The second, unique to and optionally available on the SX Status (pictured above, prime left and proper), are dubbed VIP Lounge seats resulting from their large recline and pop-up footrests. This could be an excellent selection for households with older youngsters.
The Carnival has a smaller third row than its rivals. Legroom is simply 35.6 inches, which is about 2 inches lower than the subsequent smallest, the Toyota Sienna, and three inches lower than the Pacifica, which is the clear winner for full-house consolation. That third row continues to be loads acceptable, and though the others are roomier, you might not really discover.
Kia quotes the perfect cargo capability within the enterprise at 40.2 cubic ft behind the third row. Kia additionally (simply barely) boasts essentially the most total inside area at 145.1 cubic ft, however the Odyssey is almost tied. Sadly, you may’t have the VIP seats and all that cargo room, since these seats don’t fold flat, they usually’re not detachable both. Slide them ahead, and you continue to have a big, flat area, nevertheless it’s an actual utility downer in comparison with different minivans with extra flexibility. If you happen to want the area, skip the VIP seats on the SX Status. The eight-passenger SX is pictured under with its distinctive center seat pushed all the best way again.
What are the Carnival’s gasoline economic system and efficiency specs?
Kia retains it easy with the Carnival and solely provides one powertrain configuration. It comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That is despatched by means of an eight-speed automated transmission to the entrance wheels. The Carnival has extra horsepower than different minivans, however not by a large margin. All-wheel drive just isn’t accessible.
Gas economic system is respectable at 19 mpg metropolis, 26 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed. That’s proper on par with the remainder of the V6-powered minivans on the market, however you may be burning considerably extra fuel than for those who selected the hybrid-only Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid. Kia has a terrific hybrid powertrain accessible within the Sportage and Sorento. It is a disgrace Kia cannot make one thing related work within the Carnival.
What is the Carnival prefer to drive?
Out on the highway, the engine feels torquey, and is pleased to spin the entrance wheels from a cease at full throttle. The engine sounds good, too, principally quiet in regular working, however issuing a managed growl beneath exhausting acceleration. The Carnival feels swift and by no means left us wanting when merging onto a busy freeway with a brief on-ramp.
It steers confidently, with a pleasant weight build up within the wheel by means of corners. The suspension is barely on the taut facet, giving an excellent really feel of the highway, with the draw back of transmitting extra highway noise into the cabin — it’s a giant field, and it feels like one. You’ll be able to have extra enjoyable swinging it round than a comparable SUV, however the Sienna continues to be the best-handling minivan. Lengthy freeway journeys are nice because of the Highway Drive Assist doing most the be just right for you, and the Bose audio system is nice for masking the highway noise that intrudes into the cabin. The Carnival will go away you feeling refreshed after protecting a ton of floor, which is simply what a minivan must do.
What different Kia Carnival opinions can I learn?
2022 Kia Carnival First Drive Review | The stylish one
Our first expertise behind the wheel. We offer preliminary impressions and all the main points concerning the van you would possibly need to know.
The Eight-Passenger 2022 Kia Carnival has a ‘Captain Kirk chair’
An in-depth evaluate of the eight-passenger Kia Carnival and it is distinctive, second-row sliding center seat we dub the “Captain Kirk chair.”
2022 Kia Carnival vs the other minivans | How they compare on paper
If you happen to like specs, right here’s the place you’ll discover the Kia Carnival in comparison with all the opposite minivans.
What’s the 2023 Carnival’s value?
Pricing for the 2023 Kia Carnival may be discovered under, damaged down into the accessible trim ranges of LX, EX, SX and SX Status. All embody the $1,335 vacation spot cost.
- LX: $34,235
- EX: $39,735
- SX: $42,935
- SX-Status: $47,335
For household obligation hauling plenty of people round, each the LX and EX are nice values. The LX consists of many necessities, and the luxuries added by the EX are value the additional coin. Notable options for the EX embody 19-inch alloy wheels, rear sunglasses, eight-passenger seating, leatherette seats, long-sliding rails for the rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, an influence liftgate, tri-zone local weather management, and most necessary of all, a lot of Kia’s neat in-cabin tech options. These embody the Cabin Digicam (view of rear rows within the display), Cabin Intercom, Quiet Mode (turns off rear audio system for sleeping occupants) and adaptive cruise management with Kia’s elegant Freeway Drive Help.
The SX Status provides all the high-class luxurious options — the VIP seats are a free choice for those who’d fairly have them over the 8-passenger format. The one pay-for bundle on the SX Status is the accessible rear seat leisure bundle for $1,000.
You’ll find a full breakdown of options, specs and native pricing here on Autoblog.
What are the Carnival’s security scores and driver help options?
Many of the necessary options come commonplace on the 2023 Carnival. Driver help options on the bottom LX embody ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping help, blind spot warning w/collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert w/collision avoidance, rear parking sensors, rear occupant alert, and a “secure exit help” characteristic that watches for vehicles approaching from the rear when exiting right into a road. Stepping as much as greater trims unlocks options equivalent to ahead collision avoidance for cyclists, rear automated emergency braking, 360-degree digicam, entrance parking sensors and Freeway Driving Help. The SX and SX-Status will get the improved blind-spot warning system that includes a dwell digicam feed that received our 2020 Technology of the Year Award.
The 2022 Carnival (2023 scores not accessible at time of publishing) was named a Prime Security Decide by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security. It acquired prime marks for its crash worthiness and ahead collision avoidance tech. Its commonplace headlights acquired a “Poor” score, although, whereas the SX Status acquired the best-possible “Good” score. Rankings from the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Administration should not but accessible.
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