History/Overview
The Kia Carnival is the Korean brand’s most space-efficient people mover. Don’t be fooled by Kia’s marketing, which calls the Carnival a “life utility vehicle”; this is a minivan, albeit a rather stylish one.
What’s New/Key Changes From Last Year
The 2022 Kia Carnival is all new, and replaces the Sedona in the minivan segment.
Available Trims
Kia offers the Carnival in LX, LX+, EX, EX+, and SX trim levels. Shared by all is a 3.5L V6 engine, which is mated to an eight-speed transmission and front-wheel drive.
Standard Features
LX trim comes dressed in 17-inch alloy wheels, and includes LED low-beam headlights and daytime running lights, a heated windshield, and heated washer nozzles. Inside, there’s seating for eight, air conditioning, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
LX’s safety kit comprises automatic high beams, lane keep/follow assist, driver attention warning, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and rear parking sensors.
LX+ adds roof rails, heated front seats, power driver’s seat, heated/leather-trimmed steering wheel, three-zone automatic A/C, wireless phone charging, passive keyless entry, hands-free tailgate, and dual power sliding doors.
EX gains 19-inch wheels, LED taillights, power-folding side mirrors, leatherette upholstery, adaptive cruise control, two 110-volt outlets, auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind spot collision intervention, junction turning assist, front parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist.
EX+ gets LED high beams, LED fog lights, 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, passenger-view camera, a digital gauge display, blind spot camera, and surround-view cameras.
On SX models, the wheels turn black and second-row captain’s chairs add comfort but reduce seating capacity to seven. You gain a dual-panel sunroof, leather seating, ventilated front seats, heated/ventilated second-row seats, better stereo, and rear collision detection with automatic braking.
Fuel Economy
Kia’s fuel consumption estimates are 12.0/8.9 L/100 km (city/highway).
Competition
Minivans are not the big deal they once were, so the Carnival runs in a small field against the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler’s Grand Caravan and Pacifica.
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