Set to replace the long-running Kia Sedona in the spring of 2021, the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival is a high-style, high-function, high-performing life utility vehicle.
The Carnival offers class-leading V6 horsepower: 290 horsepowerfrom a 3.5-liter hooked up to an 8-speed automatic. There are 7 and 8-seat configurations available. The new N3 platform is lighter, yet stronger. Quieter, yet safer. More stable and more aerodynamic. There are five different trim levels, from the nicely equipped entry-level LX (8-inch centre screen with Apple CarPlay, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, rearview camera plus rear parking sensors) all the way up to the top-spec Carnival SX, which is absolutely loaded and undercuts its rivals in price.
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We love the Carnival. Why? First, it looks amazing. Second, in a category where space is paramount, the Carnival has more of it than the outgoing Sedona. Third, there is an enormous amount of luxury treatment available throughout the range.
But what about the critics? We've surveyed the web to source verdicts from a wide variety of automotive experts, and here's what we found. (You can click any of the links to find full reviews: just remember, U.S. publications will be showing different specification and pricing.)
"The combination of relatively soft springs and tires with plenty of sidewall delivers a plushness that won't wake the baby in the back seat if you hit a pothole. More impressive, though, the Carnival exhibits next to no body roll and minimal secondary ride motions. It's genuinely fun to drive. And when you're just on a highway slog, Kia's lane centering and adaptive cruise control systems are among the best in the business." – MotorTrend
"The Carnival soaks up rough roads like a champ, the cabin barely registering even some speed bumps and wafting down the highway like you’re in a mobile living room. Doubling down on the serenity is the quiet factor; in addition to being superbly insulated, the Carnival can also reduce the volume in the rear seats while you can still listen at a comfortable volume, making the back a quiet zone (and dark if you have the second and third row sunshades in LX+ trims and above) if the little ones are sleeping." – Driving.ca
"The Carnival’s décor includes a chic bow of metal cabin trim embossed with a diamond pattern, same as the trim on the rearward roof pillar. Very nice. The cabin aesthetic is sophisticated, the materials premium-grade, the cordwaining and fit quite good. This Carnival’s interior takes a stick to a Toyota Sienna." – Wall Street Journal
"The driver's seat of the Carnival is the place to be, as this van rides and handles well. Its steering is properly weighted, and the suspension tuning strikes just the right ride balance, neither pillowy nor firm. We liked the brake-pedal feel much better than the hybrid Sienna's. The Carnival tops the Sienna, Pacifica, and Odyssey in both skidpad grip (0.82 g) and braking distance from 70 mph (173 feet)... Even better is the V-6's refined demeanor, as it's quiet and smooth yet makes a nice noise in the upper parts of the rev range when pushed. The eight-speed automatic transmission executes prompt downshifts, making the Carnival feel responsive when merging or passing on the highway." - Car And Driver
"With the third row folded flat, I can slide the VIP seats far enough back for a full recline and leg extension, even with the front seats in a comfortable driving position. Try doing that in an Escalade." - CNET
"Kia has gone to great lengths to ensure the Carnival's cabin is just as impressive as its interior. A number of visual elements, including the dashboard and arrangement of the center stack, are short and long, emphasizing the Carnival's width and, by extension, the sense of available space. The layout is an impressive combination of digital and analog. The digital instrument panel and central touchscreen are joined in a single large frame, not unlike what you'd find in a high-end Mercedes. At the same time, the climate controls are all physical, ensuring you can easily modify settings without taking your eyes off the wheel." – Edmunds
"Out on the road, the engine feels torquey, and is happy to spin the front wheels from a stop at full throttle. The engine sounds good, too, mostly quiet in normal running, but issuing a controlled growl under hard acceleration. The Carnival feels swift (especially after a recent drive in the Toyota Sienna), and never left me wanting when I needed to merge onto a busy expressway with a short on-ramp. I didn’t have this thing packed to the brim with passengers and cargo, but it’s easy to feel confident about this Kia’s ability to get underway with a full load, based on its accelerative alacrity." – Autoblog
