Used 2023 Kia Carnival

The 2023 Kia Carnival could be the ideal minivan for people who would rather not buy a minivan. Dubbed an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) by Kia, the Carnival looks more like an SUV but can still accommodate up to eight over three rows of seating and stow plenty of luggage behind them. Sure, a Chevy Suburban can do that, too, but it’ll be about 20 grand more.

Minivans are logical, and the Kia Carnival is a perfect example. It makes putting kids into child seats easy because it’s not as high off the ground as an SUV and it has sliding doors. The cabin can be full of smart details like an intercom and a passenger camera.

The Carnival doesn’t offer all-wheel drive, but how many people really, really need that feature? As opposed to those who have it, never use it, but pay the higher gasoline bills anyway?

Oh, but an SUV is really safe. So is the Carnival, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for scoring top marks in every major crashworthiness test. And like all other Kias, a new Carnival minivan comes with a class-leading 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Although Kia doesn’t yet offer a hybrid drivetrain in the 2023 Carnival, the 3.5-liter V6 has its own attractions. Developing 290 horsepower, it has all the muscle it needs and delivers it in a refined manner.

Everything else adds to this refinement. The automatic transmission shifts gears sweetly, the steering is easy yet precise, and the brakes feel confident without being too sharp. The suspension also performs the difficult task of keeping everyone comfortable while limiting body roll.

Given the Carnival’s size and duties, it’s good that Kia decided to fit blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert as standard. At the EX trim level and above, the forward collision warning system adds cyclist detection to its skillset.

At either end of the 2023 Carnival minivan lineup, the LX and SX Prestige models accommodate seven. The EX and SX trims have seating for eight as standard. Every version has sliding/removable second-row seats and reclining third-row seats that also fold into the floor.

The SX Prestige comes exclusively with second-row VIP lounge seats that slide and recline while also having leg extensions — all at the push of a button. Kia calls it relaxation mode.

From the EX level and up, the audio system has a Quiet Mode, piping sound through just the front speakers, which is great when little ones (or even big ones) are napping in the back. When the occasion arises to communicate with rear passengers, the cabin intercom (also standard in the EX) relays the driver’s voice to the back speakers.

Interior space is generous. A 6-footer could sit in any of the three rows, and accessing the third row doesn’t require major contortions. Luggage space behind the rearmost seats is 40.2 cubic feet. Remove the second row, fold down the third, and there’s 145.1 cubic feet. With the third row folded, there’s 86.9 cubic feet of rear storage.

An SUV flavor pervades the 2023 Carnival minivan’s exterior design, but that’s not a criticism. From Kia’s point of view, it’s a smart approach since SUVs are more popular than people movers.

It sure won’t look out of place in the Whole Foods parking lot. But one difference between this and an SUV is that it’s easier to get in and out of the Carnival.

The base LX trim runs on 17-inch alloy wheels, while the rest of the range gets 19-inch alloys. Roof rails are standard on the SX and SX Prestige. Premium paint finishes cost $495.

HANDS-FREE SLIDING DOORS
Powered sliding passenger doors on both sides are standard with every new Carnival. And they employ hands-free operation. Just be nearby with the Smart Key to make them open automatically.

SLIDE-FLEX SEATING
The 8-seater EX and SX models, and the LX with optional 8-passenger seating, have this feature. The center seat in the second row can slide forward, making it easier to reach a child sitting there from the front row. When not used to accommodate someone, this seat also can turn into a table for the second or third rows of seats.

At its entry level, the 2023 Carnival minivan comes with silver-finished 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated side mirrors, seating for seven, cloth upholstery, front and rear air conditioning, keyless entry/ignition, and rear parking sensors.

The infotainment system features an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, USB ports for all three rows, and six speakers.

Safety makes a strong showing thanks to forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Safe Exit Assist, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-following assistance.

As plentiful as all the standard equipment in the base LX trim is, the supplemental features in the EX rationalize the higher price. Things like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, 3-zone automatic climate control, cabin intercom, cabin camera, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite radio, eight speakers, wireless charging, front parking sensors, navigation-based smart cruise control, and a powered liftgate.

SX trim adds LED fog lights, acoustic glass for the front side windows, roof rails, 115-volt outlet, heated/ventilated front seats, rear-seat entertainment system, 360-degree camera system, and rear emergency braking.

SX Prestige is the most luxurious new Carnival. It gets a dual-pane powered sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital driver information display, self-dimming rearview mirror, a HomeLink garage door opener, leather seating surfaces, heated/ventilated second-row seats, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Safety upgrades include a blind-spot view monitor that uses the driver’s display to show a camera feed of vehicles in adjacent lanes.

Actual options are few. All four trims come with a towing setup; the base LX is eligible for heated front seats, 8-occupant seating, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

There isn’t a more muscular engine in the minivan class than the 3.5-liter V6 propelling the 2023 Carnival. It generates 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

This drives the front wheels (all-wheel drive is not offered) through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Kia Carnival is rated to tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.

Regular gasoline works fine. These fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2022, but 2023’s figures shouldn’t be any different.

3.5-liter V6
290 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA fuel economy city/highway (estimated): 19/26 mpg

Impressive Safety Ratings

The 2023 Kia Carnival earns the IIHS Top Safety Pick award for its perfect scores in every crashworthiness category. It’s safer when equipped with LED projector headlights in the SX Prestige trim.

Class-Leading Warranty

The Kia Carnival leads the minivan class with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Test Vehicle

We’ve tested several examples of the Kia Carnival since its introduction for the 2022 model year, including this range-topping 2023 Carnival SX Prestige in Astra Blue with a sticker price of $48,690 (view window sticker).