2022 Kia Carnival Review

June 24, 2021

Kia has upped its game in the minivan category when it discontinued the aging Sedona and replaced it with the new 2022 Kia Carnival. The boxier almost SUV-like styling of the Carnival is a move to capitalize on the success of the new Telluride which also sports a boxier look than some of the other Kia models. All 2022 Carnival models come with a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine with FWD and 8-speed automatic transmission. As is customary with Kias, drivers will have a whole host of driver-assistance features standard including automated emergency braking. Your infotainment tech is getting an upgrade complete with an optional dual-display setup and digital gauges.

Check out this 2022 Kia Carnival review by Nik Miles:

Standout Features

• Attractive styling
• Distinguished powertrain
• Balanced chassis

Pricing

• LX: Starting at $33,275
• LXS: Starting at $35,275
• EX: Starting at $38,775
• SX: Starting at $42,275
• SX Prestige: Starting at $47,275

In terms of trim levels, the 2022 Kia Carnival’s best deal is its EX trim. The Carnival EX achieves a nice balance of convenience, tech and safety features for the price. If you’re looking for a good car for a good price the Carnival EX is the way to go.

Performance

The Kia Carnival puts out 290-horsepower, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 8-speed automatic transmission, all of which are standard across all trim levels. One drawback is the lack of all-wheel drive as even an option for buyers, the Carnival will only sport front-wheel drive for now. On the road, the minivan SUV crossover has a smooth and well-balanced ride even at highway cruising speeds. And according to Car and Driver’s test track, the Carnival’s V6 engine was able to achieve a time of 0 to 60 mph in just 7 seconds.

On the fuel efficiency front, the 2022 Carnival comes in with 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, with a combined 22 mpg average. Though not the best numbers we’ve seen, they are slightly better than the Kia Sedona.

Interior & Tech

Modern and accommodating are two words that sum up the 2022 Kia Carnival’s interior well. A luxury car-style dual-screen infotainment center is an option for those wanting top-of-the-line tech. Couple that with the digital gauge display and it is easy to see just how much the Carnival has risen above its predecessor, the Sedona, in terms of comfortability, entertainment, and technology.

If you are looking for all the bells and whistles, then the top-of-the-line Carnival SX-Prestige trim is a good place to start. The SX-Prestige trim comes with leather upholstery and reclining second-row seats which have footrests! Tell me that won’t help put the kids to sleep on those long drives.

Safety and Driver-Assistance

Kia has a lot more standard driver-assistance features for the 2022 Carnival, which includes lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto headlamps. While the Carnival’s crash-test results aren’t up on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s websites quite yet, we’ll be sure to update this blog once they are. Be sure to check back for those results.

Key Safety Features Include:

• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty

Kia’s warranty continues to outshine its rivals with its almost standard 10-year or 100k miles powertrain policy.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Conclusion

The 2022 Kia Carnival is more than a worthy successor to the discontinued Kia Sedona with its new more SUV-esq exterior styling and high-grade interior comfort and tech. If you are looking for an SUV with the capacity and functionality for the family of a minivan then look no further, the 2022 Kia Carnival is the van you’ll want to take home.

Check out the new 2022 Kia Carnival here or call us to set up your test drive.

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