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This is the Kia Carnival. Yes, it’s a minivan or “multi-purpose vehicle” in Kia marketing speak. But it’s also kinda cool…in a minivan sort of way. Giving credit where credit is due, Kia has managed to partially obscure the Carnival’s vanly nature.

In profile the rocker panel, sculpted doors, conspicuous wheel arches, and this reverse wing thingy obscure the fact that this is just a box on wheels. In the rear a lower skid-plate-like element and full width light bar create visual width, again obscuring any unsightly chunkiness. It’s visual trickery but I say embrace the illusion. Weird, we just burned down precious seconds talking about style in a minivan review.

Now, onward to more practical concerns. The Carnival’s cabin includes 8 seats in the middle trims, though 7 seats are standard on the base LX trim and you can only get 7 seats on the swankiest, leather clad SX Prestige trim like we’re driving. You’ll note that the Prestige Trim includes a pair of non-removable 2nd row VIP lounge seats with long slide abilities, ottoman style leg supports and power adjustment. Is there anything classier than hiring someone to drive your minivan so you can luxuriate in its 2nd row? Without a doubt, yes there is.

These rear seats sure are swanky but there’s an issue. 3rd row access. There’s no good way to get back there with VIP lounge seats.

Once aboard the 3rd row, it is a workable space but not the roomiest 3rd row I’ve experienced. By comparison Honda Odyssey offers 2-and-a-half more inches of 3rd leg room than the Kia Carnival.

Getting back on the praise train, there is a relatively massive 40.2 cu-ft behind the 3rd row for luggage and such.

Assuming you skip the SX Prestige, the Carnival provides a max 145.1 cu-ft of space with the 2nd row removed. That’s a stellar number that essentially ties the Odyssey for best volume aft of the 1st row. Speaking of removable seats, I still prefer the Chrysler Pacifica’s clever Stow N Go 2nd row, which drops into the floor when not in use.

Mostly because I’m getting old and don’t want to risk a back injury pulling seats from a van. What a shameful story that’d be. Running down the Carnival’s many family-friendly features are standard power sliding side doors, seven standard USB ports spread across all 3 rows, and a center 2nd row seat that folds down revealing a small table or slides forward for easier access to a child from the front seats.

One strange element though is this traditional shifter. Perhaps with a pushbutton unit the Carnival might’ve offered a lower storage zone like pretty much all other minivans. From a power perspective, it’s good. Decent power and inconspicuous shifts.

The lone engine is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Here are the power figures. (290hp, 262 lb-ft) And here’s the fuel economy. (19city/26hwy).

Compared to the Honda Odyssey, the Carnival is slightly more powerful and slightly less efficient. (Honda Odyssey 280hp, 262 lb-ft 19city/28hwy) On an efficiency note, the Carnival does not currently offer a hybrid powertrain option.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Sienna is only offered as a hybrid (36 MPG combined) while the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is actually a plug-in hybrid offering a…. (Text: 30 MPG combined, 32-mile electric range)

Steering the Kia Carnival isn’t a deeply joyful affair, but it is precise and low effort. For a minivan, that is high praise.

As for ride quality, the Carnival is smooth and quiet, like Barry White at the library. I’m sorry I couldn’t think of a better metaphor.

Stay elemental and basic Carnival LX trim costs a hair above $32,000 not including destination charges. That amount buys you a minivan with LED headlights, smart key access, blind spot warning, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and Safe Exit Assist, which warns occupants if a vehicle is approaching from behind.

The standard infotainment screen is an 8-inch unit but everything above the base trim gets this 12.3-inch unit. It’s a bit of a reach from the driver seat but like the interface.

With higher trims buyers can enjoy 3-zone climate control, a hands-free power tailgate, hands free side doors, a 360-degree camera system, a cabin intercom that projects front occupant voices to rear seat passengers, a camera to observe those rear seat passengers, and a quiet mode so the audio system doesn’t disturb those same rear seat passengers.

Plus, you can add dual rear-seat entertainment screens for when you absolutely positively need to distract whoever is sitting in back. Just hush up and watch your Star Wars, kids. Daddy needs to contemplate the choices he’s made.

00:00 2022 Kia Carnival
0:26 Exterior
1:03 Interior
4:23 Driving Impressions
4:46 Engine
5:08 Competitors

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