Carnival MPV
2023 Kia Carnival in Peoria, AZ
- 4.11 (9 Reviews) - Edmunds.com
MSRP
$33,100
MPG
19 City
26 Highway
2023 Kia Carnival Review: New Family Minivan
A minivan has a big job. It must take care of up to 8 people, make the family driver feel confident, and provide the kind of technology that today’s buyer expects. The 2023 Kia Carnival works hard to hit all these marks.
In this review, we’ve gathered the specs, stats, trim levels, and any differences from the 2022 Kia Carnival. Keep scrolling to get the information that is most important to the way your family lives.
From the Ground Up
The 2023 Carnival was a complete redesign when the new generation was introduced. This allowed designers to step away from the more box-like design that’s familiar to 3-row SUV shoppers.
Carnival engineers were able to work from the ground up, making every cubic foot count. These Kia minivans wear a distinctive grille, two-tone mirrors, large wheels, LED headlights, and skid plate garnish.
The resulting interior is bigger than its main competitors, including the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. In fact, Carnival passenger space measures 168 cubic feet.
To understand how spacious that is, it helps to know the legroom. Second-row passengers get 40.5 inches. Third-row passengers get 35.6 inches. All in all, this is one of the most spacious 3-row SUVs or minivans ever.
MPV Explained
The Carnival MPV is truly a multi-purpose vehicle. It certainly seats many people, but when needed, it can be an excellent cargo hauler. Parents can fold the seats to claim a massive 145 cubic feet that can help you move a kid to or from college.
Even more important, the standard cargo hold measures 40.2 cubic feet. You’ll find that it is larger than the typical minivan. It’s as much as double the area in a typical 3-row SUV cargo hold. When you fold the third row into the floor, the cargo space measures 89 cubic feet.
Driver-Friendly Performance
In order to keep the family driver happy, a 3-row vehicle needs to have handling that inspires confidence. A busy parent doesn’t have time to worry about whether or not the family taxi can move in and out of traffic safely.
Kia utilizes a serious 3.5-liter V6 engine. This produces an ample 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can be sure when they hit the accelerator that the Carnival will have the power to hold its own.
Further evidence of its strength is in its 3,500-pound tow rating. The minican has an extra-strong build to ensure it can pull a load. This adds to its ability to serve the family’s needs.
Comfortable, Versatile Seating Choices
The Carnival comes in 7-person and 8-person models. LX models have a 7-seat layout while the 8-person layout is standard with the LX Seat Package.
The driver’s seat can be a memory-enabled chair with power adjustments, power heat and power ventilation, the favorite feature in Phoenix AZ. The front passenger can also enjoy a power-heated, power-ventilated, and power-adjustable seat.
With the SlideFlex 8-person layout, the second-row middle seat can slide forward. This brings an installed car seat closer to the parents in the front seat. This seat can be folded to act as a table when it isn’t needed for seating.
New for 2023, the Carnival offers unique very-important-person VIP lounge seats. These center-row captain’s chairs have special wing-out headrests. These power-adjustable seats also have leg extensions for extra comfort.
Carnival Trim Levels
Shoppers choose from the LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige trims. There’s also the LX Seat Package and other subtrim choices.
The LX base edition comes packed with the 8-inch touchscreen, driver aids, and the Smart Key. Families will appreciate that this entry level model has power-slide doors with the hands-free feature. Ensuring a quiet ride quality, the acoustic windshield blocks road noise. Sound-deadening materials are used throughout the cabin including the ceiling, floor and walls.
EX models have a driver’s power chair, faux-leather upholstery, and an in-cabin intercom. This feature allows parents to speak with the kids in the rear seat.
New for 2023
SX models have added a second large screen behind the steering wheel. This digital instrumentation is a 12.3-inch display, creating a panoramic view with the 12.3 touch screen. Kia has added the blind spot monitor as well. This system uses cameras to reveal what’s in the blind spot, and it sends it to the digital screen in real time.
At the top of the trim ladder, the SX Prestige has the Kia dual pane sunroof and pure leather upholstery. The SX Prestige has ventilated front seats and the option of second-row ventilated seats. It has a 12-speaker Bose audio system. This is the first year that this model has standard 8-person Slide Flex seating, and it’s the first time it is being offered with second-row VIP lounge seats.
Infotainment and Connectivity
This modern family ride has 7 USB ports and an available WiFi hotspot. This way everyone can utilize their smart devices as needed. The intelligent audio system has a quiet mode. This can allow parents to listen to music, news or turn-by-turn directions without disturbing a sleeping child.
The standard touchscreen is an 8-inch display while the larger display is a giant 12.3 inch screen.
These systems have expanded voice capability. Plus, with the larger model, the system can recognize second-row users as well as front-row users.
Connectivity includes UVO, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The UVO Link app allows you to use your Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa system from your car. New for 2023 on the SX and SX Prestige options list, the rear entertainment system can utilize streaming media.
Parent-Friendly Safety
The 2023 Kia Carnival MPV seems to have all angles of safety covered. The 2022 model year was a Top Safety Pick, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The van received the coveted 5-star NHTSA safety rating. Parents will find LATCH attachments to allow for one or more children in carseats or infant carriers.
There is a special rear occupant alert that uses ultrasonic technology. It seeks the attention of the driver upon exit and may reach out to the owner via the UVO Link app. To avoid stepping out into traffic, a Safe Exit Assist tries to keep the kids from opening the door at the wrong time.
Extensive driver assistance is perhaps the most important part of the van’s standard systems. There is a forward collision avoidance assist. The related autobrake may be triggered by pedestrian detection as well as a stopping car. A more advanced system on the EX trim level adds cyclists and junction dangers.
To avoid side crashes, the Carnival has a blind spot monitor and a lane warning. Steering assists reduce the chances of veering into the path of a neighboring vehicle. In the parking lot, the rear cross traffic alert may trigger an autobrake. The SX trim level has a rear distance sensor that can signal the autobrake as well.
Adaptive cruise control - curve works with the navigation system to provide the most efficient travel. Lane following assist helps with pacing. For a semi-automated experience, there’s Highway Driving Assist.
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APR based on Kia Motors Financing.