The Kia Carnival arrived last year as a replacement for the Sedona minivan. But don’t call the new 7- or 8-seat Carnival a minivan. Rather, Kia calls it an MPV, as in a multi-purpose vehicle. Fine by us; the Carnival does occupy a unique space somewhere between SUV and family hauler.
With V6 power and attractive styling, the 3-row Kia Carnival indeed looks more SUV than minivan, even with its sliding side doors. Now in its sophomore year, the spacious Korean-built family hauler continues to be offered in LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige (pictured above) trim levels.
In the Carnival’s first year of production, two trim levels stood out as sales leaders: the Carnival LX with Seat Package, and the EX. Each represented 35% of the mix, so together they accounted for a substantial 70% of all Kia Carnival sales.
Let’s take a look at these two Kia Carnivals, both of which start well below $40,000.
Kia Carnival LX with Seat Package
The entry-level Kia Carnival, the LX, is a 7-seat model with a 2+2+3 seating configuration. While the LX starts at a reasonable $32,300, most buyers step up to the Carnival LX with Seat Package.
This $2,000 package turns the 2022 Kia Carnival into an 8-seater with a 2+3+3 seating configuration. The additional seat is added in the middle of the Carnival’s sliding and removable second row. Called a Multi-function Free Mode Seat, it can be folded for use as a handy table with a tray and cupholders. Or, should you need to create some space between squabbling kids in the middle row, well, the seat can be removed to make that happen.
Basically, the Carnival with Seat Package represents the most affordable way for buyers to get Kia’s 3-row family hauler with eight seats. But the Seat Package includes more than just an extra seat in the middle row. It also features an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat (with lumbar support), synthetic leather seat trim, heated front seats, and leather trim on the steering wheel and shift knob.
Don’t think of the Carnival LX with Seat Package as a bare-bones model. Standard fare includes power-sliding rear doors and privacy glass, plus a rear defroster, power mirrors, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and air conditioning front and rear. What’s more, the LX with Seat Package has USB ports in all three rows, together with a thorough standard safety suite that includes a forward collision-avoidance system (with automatic emergency braking), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert (with braking), lane-keeping assist, and a handy parking distance warning that functions in forward and reverse directions.
Kia Carnival EX
Equally popular with buyers is the 2022 Kia Carnival EX, which has a richer repertoire of included equipment and comes standard with 8-passenger seating. At $37,800, the Kia Carnival EX is only $3,500 more than the LX with Seat Package.
While it’s clear that many Kia Carnival buyers like 8-passenger seating and a price below $40,000, the EX trim level sweetens the package considerably. Standard equipment on the 2022 Kia Carnival EX includes a 12.3-inch audio and navigation screen (replacing the 8-inch one in the LX), tri-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch alloy wheels (vs 17s on the LX), tinted solar glass on the front doors, an impressive grade of synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (with lumbar support).
EX trim also brings to the Kia Carnival second- and third-row sunshades, an 8-speaker audio system, a hands-free power liftgate, and a more thorough safety suite that includes a more advanced form of collision avoidance that senses pedestrians and cyclists in addition to other vehicles. The Carnival EX also has Highway Driving Assist, Kia’s semi-autonomous highway driving aid, plus navigation-based smart cruise control and a handy cabin intercom that projects the voices of those in the front seats through to the rear speakers.
Driving the Kia Carnival
In short, it’s satisfying. In LX or EX trim, the Kia Carnival driving experience is equally good, thanks to a solid chassis and a suspension that’s tuned for ride comfort without being floaty. The steering and brakes are similarly impressive, responding well with a natural level of effort.
It’s also quiet inside this large Kia, which boasts good room in all three rows, aided in part by the Carnival’s long 121.7-inch wheelbase. Also appreciated is the EX’s larger infotainment touchscreen, plus how all Carnivals have third-row seats that fold and stow flat into the load floor.
The naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 also does its part. This proven powerplant, which puts out 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm, never feels like a small engine working hard, even when there’s a full load of eight people aboard the Carnival.
With direct and port injection, the V6 gives the muti-purpose Carnival a relaxed nature on the highway, and the shifts of the 8-speed automatic transmission are both smooth and well-timed. Also notable: The Carnival’s conventional shift lever is much more pleasant to operate than the pushbuttons and dials used by some competitors.
Kia’s V6, which uses regular unleaded gasoline, gives the 2022 Carnival a max tow rating of 3,500 pounds, which is equal to that of the Honda Odyssey. Both of these vehicles, it’s worth noting, are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 and have the same EPA combined fuel economy rating of 22 mpg. Equipped with a 19.0-gallon fuel tank, the 2022 Kia Carnival has a maximum range well in excess of 400 miles.
In short, the 2022 Kia Carnival succeeds as a comfortable long-distance family hauler, a multi-purpose vehicle that’s as handy as a minivan but in some ways is only an all-wheel-drive system away from being considered a great 3-row SUV. One that’s about half a foot longer than the popular Kia Telluride.
So which Kia Carnival trim is best for us?
When considering the two most popular Kia Carnival models, is the EX really worth a $3,500 premium over the LX with Seat Package? We think it is.
It gets down to the details: You already know we’re partial to the Carnival EX’s larger infotainment screen, but we’re also taken by its power liftgate, its better safety suite, its navigation-based smart cruise control, and its upgraded audio system. And with those 19-inch alloy wheels, well, the 2022 Kia Carnival EX looks especially sharp.
