2025 Kia Carnival Consumer Reviews

We moved from a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica to a Carnival SX Prestige. It is more comfortable than the Pacifica. However, I miss the flexibility of the Pacifica. We had thought about a new one but we couldn't get a new one in the model we wanted. So we bought this. Obviously, I was going to compare this to my old van, and although this Carnival had great features, there are somethings about it that are annoying. First of all, in order to use the remote starter, you have to press the lock button. Which is on the side of the key fob. i don't like this feature at all. When looking out my window, I see the orange indicator lights flash three times to let me know it got the signal to start...then nothing. On the Pacifica, the DRLs come on to let you know it's running. I can't even tell if the Carnival is running. The rear entertainment system is useless. One tester on YouTube asked KIA why there is no wi-fi hotspot. He was told it's coming. Why not put it in right now? If my wife has been driving the car, I open it with my fob. I hit the memory button. My seat moves and I start the engine. The entertainment screen comes up with her name. I hit my name on the screen and confirm, then the seat moves forward! I have to hit the memory seat button again! My wife is shorter than me so i have my seat way back. The car should recognize what key is being used. This is annoying, being scooted forward. There is a lack of cubby holes for putting stuff in. I could keep a lug nut wrench in the back cubby of the Pacifica, but it now lives in my glovebox. I had the middle row seats all the way back and tried folding the third row seats. They wouldn't go all the way down until I moved each second row seat forward. The camera view that comes on the digital dash when putting on the indicators is a gimmick. I found myself taking my eyes off the road to look at it. I don't bother with it now, although it might come in handy on a highway. I also have to take my eyes off the road to put on the cooled seats and hit the camera button behind the gearlever. It would be better positioned in front of the driver below the screen. And being painted silver, it is harder to see those buttons. White graphics on black buttons are so much easier to read. In the dark, the buttons to press for the driver or passenger lights are not illuminated! You need a light to find the button to push to bring the light on. The last time I had a car that non-illuminated light buttons was on my 2011 Toyota Avalon! In the Pacifica, the buttons for opening the door were above the rear view mirror. The Carnival's are down to the left of the steering column. Not handy if the front passenger needs to open one of the back doors. The smart sliding doors are not so smart. The tailgate works all the time, but the smart sliding doors will look at you and think, sorry pal, I don't want to play today. Toss a coin to see if they're going to open or not. And yes, the feature is set to on in the set up screen. My wife has problems with her knees and there is a grab handle on the A pillar on the Pacifica to help her get in and out. There isn't one on the Carnival. I bought this for my wife without her being there and now she feels the difference. After sitting in my old Pacifica then sitting in the Carnival, the Pacifica seems like it's more wrapped round the driver, more snug and safe. maybe just my perception, but it feels a lot stronger than the carnival. So the Carnival may have a lot of new technology, but the designers need to go back to the drawing board to sort out some of the problems. Me? I'm getting rid of it and ordering a '22 Pacifica when they become available. The Carnival is a good car, but not without its flaws.