About the Kia Carnival

The Kia Carnival is one of four minivans left in the American marketplace. It debuted in the 2022 model year with a 3.5-liter 290hp V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. Kia had a minivan prior to the Carnival known as the Sedona, but this generation is the first to utilize Kia’s worldwide Carnival nameplate in the United States.

What are the advantages of the Kia Carnival?

• Inside and out, the Kia Carnival’s styling elevates the minivan experience
• Excellent V6 power
• Near-luxury ride quality

What is the best Kia Carnival model year?

Since the Kia Carnival has only been on the market long enough to just be coming off lease, mileage and condition are much more important than model year. There were essentially no major changes to the Carnival in its four model years.

What are the disadvantages of the Kia Carnival?

The biggest challenge the Kia Carnival has now is what it doesn’t have. It doesn’t have all-wheel drive (AWD), putting it at a disadvantage against the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. It doesn’t have a hybrid drivetrain, again a demerit versus the Sienna, and even more so against the Pacifica, which offers plug-in hybrid power and the prospect of a tax credit in the bargain. Finally, although incredibly comfortable, the second row seats with pop-up footrests aren’t removable, a major disadvantage against all its competitors, save the current-generation Sienna which suffers from the same issue.

Comparison: Is the Kia Carnival better than the Chrysler Pacifica?

The Pacifica is probably the most stylish minivan available next to the Carnival. It’s a little more conservatively styled than the Kia, but it’s an elegant minivan in a class of vehicles that haven’t put an emphasis on aesthetics. Fuel mileage versus the Pacifica is nearly identical in the V6 model, but obviously the PHEV version blows the Kia out of the water. The Kia beats the Pacifica on price, though, at about a $5,000 advantage regardless of trim level.

Is the Kia Carnival a reliable car?

At the time of this writing, the Carnival has been the subject of two recalls: The first found fault with the printed circuit board on factory or dealer-installed trailer hitch wiring which could short and start a fire. The second was more critical, involving an auto reverse feature on the sliding doors that didn’t always function. That recall impacted all Kia Carnivals from 2022 and some from 2023.

Is the Kia Carnival worth the cost?

The Carnival is cheaper than any minivan on the market, but it doesn’t tell the entire story. If you feel like you need AWD, the Kia doesn’t offer it and the Sienna and Pacifica both do. And the Sienna is more expensive by $5,000, but it’s also standard with a hybrid drivetrain, offering a 10 MPG advantage, which saves you about $5,500 over five years, making the price difference between the two a wash.