2023 Kia Carnival
Overview
When you see the 2023 Kia Carnival out of the corner of your eye, your brain probably registers it at as a mid-size SUV. That means its design—and Kia’s marketing—is working. Nonetheless, the Carnival is 100 percent minivan. Don’t believe me? Peep those rear doors, my friend. They slide. Inside, the Carnival’s boxy body and low floor provide more cargo stowage space than your average crossover, too. All Carnivals come with a smooth-running 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia puts a bunch of driver-assistance features on as standard; upscale models have even more tech goodies. But don’t let the Carnival’s distinct minivan-ness turn you off. Embrace its refined road manners, added practicality, and spacious cabin. Let’s face it, you probably don’t need high ground clearance and all-wheel drive anyway.
What’s New for 2023?
Uplevel SX and SX Prestige models of the Carnival are the only trims that see any changes for 2023. The SX now comes with the 12.3-inch infotainment display and a matching 12.3-inch digital gauge display. The top-spec SX Prestige no longer comes standard with the reclining captain’s chairs in the second row (they’ve become optional). Instead, a reconfigurable three-place bench is now the default offering. The value-oriented LXS trim has been dropped from the lineup.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Carnival will be offered in four trim levels ranging from the value-oriented LX to the deluxe SX Prestige, but it appears as though the EX represents the sweet spot between features and price. The EX trim comes with several convenience features that help to justify the cost of upgrading, including a power-operated rear liftgate, an in-cabin intercom, and a voice-control system that allows rear-seat passengers to provide commands to the Carnival’s infotainment system.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2023 Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 churning out a healthy 290 hp; an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. All-wheel drive is not on the menu; the Carnival is offered only as a front-wheel-drive model. The Chrysler Pacifica has an optional plug-in-hybrid powertrain and the Toyota Sienna comes only as a hybrid, but we don’t expect Kia to offer such a setup on the Carnival, at least not right away. Kia says the Carnival can tow up to 3500 pounds. We’re impressed by the Carnival’s well-balanced ride and handling, which is smooth when cruising but still composed in corners. The refined V-6 engine provides sprightly acceleration and powered the Carnival to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds at our test track.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel-economy ratings from the EPA for the 2023 Carnival are 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. We tested a ’22 Carnival on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it returned 28 mpg highway—2 mpg higher than its EPA rating. For more information about the Carnival’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Carnival’s dashboard and front-seat area are both modern and accommodating. A large center console offers plenty of small-item storage, while an optional Mercedes-style dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display gives you easy access to the van’s connectivity features. The upscale SX Prestige trim comes with leather upholstery and can be ordered with reclining second-row seats that have pop-up footrests. While these “VIP Seats” provide a relaxing way for passengers to while away the hours on a long road trip, they unfortunately cannot be removed or stowed in the floor as in rival minivans, which limits the Carnival’s maximum cargo space. A panoramic sunroof is optional and provides a large opening over the second row so the kids can get some fresh air. In our testing, we fit 14 carry-on suitcases behind the third row of seats and a whopping 48 in total with all seats folded. That’s a ton of cargo space, but it should be noted that both the Pacifica and Odyssey proved slightly more spacious.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
While a single 8.0-inch infotainment screen is standard, dual 12.3-inch displays that stretch across two-thirds of the Carnival’s dashboard are optional, with one serving as a digital gauge display and the other performing infotainment duties. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. Up to nine USB ports dot the Carnival’s cabin. A rear-seat entertainment system is optional starting on the SX trim, but a 12-speaker Bose stereo is limited to the top-spec SX Prestige trim.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Kia offers many standard driver-assistance features, including lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, and blind-spot monitoring, all of which help the Carnival compete with the Pacifica, the Sienna, and the Honda Odyssey. For more information about the Carnival’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Kia’s warranty trumps its rivals’, with a powertrain policy that spans 10 years or 100,000 miles. Unlike the Sienna, though, the Carnival doesn’t come with any complimentary scheduled maintenance.
Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Kia Carnival
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door van
PRICE AS TESTED
$42,770 (base price: $33,275)
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement
212 in3, 3470 cm3
Power
290 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque
262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 12.8-in vented disc/12.8-inch disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact RX, 235/55R-19 101H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 121.7 in
Length: 203.0 in
Width: 78.5 in
Height: 68.5 in
Passenger volume: 167 ft3
Cargo volume: 40 ft3
Curb weight: 4644 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.0 sec
100 mph: 17.8 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.4 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.0 sec
1/4 mile: 15.3 sec @ 93 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 118 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 173 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 22/19/26 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
