2023 Kia Carnival Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Can you imagine if the Carnival did have some kind of an off-road or overlanding package? Think all-wheel drive (AWD), a two-inch suspension lift to increase ground clearance to 8.8 inches, and some all-terrain tires. Maybe they could even call it the Sedona, conjuring red-rock country imagery in the process. (Most likely, if such a model became reality, Kia would call it the Carnival X-Pro.)

We think a factory overlanding Carnival would be compelling, especially given trends in the full-size van category. But, for now, the Carnival relies on a distinctive sense of style, unique interior fittings, and impressive technology in order to differentiate itself from the typical minivan.

For the 2023 model year, the Kia Carnival comes in LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trim. Base prices range from $33,100 to $46,200, plus a destination charge of $1,365. Our test vehicle arrived in SX Prestige trim with extra-cost Astra Blue paint, floor mats, the SX Prestige Seating Package, and a Rear Seat Entertainment Package. It had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $49,285, including destination.

In its second year in the U.S. market, the Carnival gets a few changes. The SX trim level adds a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard equipment, as well as Kia’s camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor system. The SX Prestige trim now comes with eight-passenger seating as standard equipment, making the second-row VIP Lounge Seats part of a no-cost seating package. In addition, the rear-seat entertainment system is now optional instead of standard with SX Prestige trim.

With the Carnival SX Prestige, Kia has pulled off a remarkable trick. This minivan looks good while simultaneously conveying an upscale image. It’s no wonder people ask what it is. From its high-tech front and rear lighting to its intricate grille and fancy decorative roof pillar trim, our test vehicle was attractive. Even the pedestal-style roof rails, which add to observer confusion over what they’re looking at, have a sense of style. However, the black alloy wheels are boring and unimaginative.

Inside, the Carnival’s dual instrumentation and infotainment screens add sophistication, the dual power sunroofs supply plenty of natural light, and the flashy dashboard trim mirrors the appearance of the exterior trim. The Carnival SX Prestige’s interior materials are nice enough to prevent the minivan from looking or feeling cheap, and the robust transmission shifter’s solid and fluid action imparts a sense of quality every time you use it.

Kia fortifies the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Carnival with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain supplies 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, is EPA-rated to get 22 mpg in combined driving, and provides up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. Drivers can choose between Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes.

Unlike two of its three rivals, the Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna, the Carnival is unavailable with AWD or a hybrid powertrain. Given the wet weather conditions during our week with the Carnival, AWD would’ve come in handy to limit wheelspin. Undoubtedly, it would be helpful in winter driving conditions, too. In addition, since our test vehicle averaged 21.1 mpg on the evaluation loop while driving in Normal mode, better fuel economy from a hybrid powertrain would benefit the Carnival.

Nevertheless, the V6 engine sounds good and supplies plenty of power even with all three rows of seats filled with passengers. The transmission operates flawlessly, too. We tried Sport mode when climbing a steep mountain road, and it kept the drivetrain in the thick of its power band while preventing the transmission from hunting between gears.

Coming back down the mountain with just the driver aboard, the Carnival’s brakes proved disappointing. They began to fade but did not convey this developing condition with the usual rumbling sound or vibration coming through the brake pedal. Instead, a need to push harder on the pedal indicated the developing problem, and, of course, the smell of baking brake pads.

That braking issue was a one-time-only event. In all other driving situations over the course of nearly 500 miles of holiday travel, the brakes performed well. However, on the freeway at higher speeds, there is more wind noise than is preferable.

With only a driver inside the Carnival, the minivan has a firm, sporty ride quality and blazes over speed humps and speed bumps without losing any composure or transmitting impact shock into the cabin through the suspension or structure. Load up all three rows with your favorite people, and the ride quality is softer and smoother. However, on west L.A.’s 405 freeway, bridge transitions produced a bouncy ride for people in the third row.

Overall, the Carnival is satisfying to drive. The Honda Odyssey feels a little more athletic and rewarding from behind the steering wheel (as most Hondas do), but this Kia is better to drive than a Pacifica or Sienna.

The 2023 Kia Carnival doesn’t look like a typical minivan, and from the driver’s seat, it doesn’t feel like one, either. For example, you can see the hood, just like in an SUV. Also, the driving position is lower, and the center console is arranged like those found in SUVs. If you got into the Carnival’s driver’s seat while wearing a blindfold and then removed it, you wouldn’t guess you were sitting in a minivan.

Kia offers three types of upholstery for the 2023 Carnival. The Kia Carnival LX has cloth seats, and an optional Seat Package adds the same artificial leather that is standard in the Carnival EX and SX trim levels. The SX Prestige has standard genuine leather upholstery, but it feels stiff and dry instead of soft and supple.

Our test vehicle had a three-zone automatic climate control system, and the Carnival SX Prestige includes heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Kia supplies soft places to rest your elbows, but if you prefer a higher driving position, the center console armrest is too low to use.

In addition, using the seat heat, seat ventilation, and steering wheel heat controls is distracting. They’re located on the center console, and you must look well away from the road ahead in order to use them. Furthermore, the metallic finish on the controls doesn’t help you to quickly discern the icons while driving.

Kia says the Carnival offers smart sliding doors that can open as you approach and close as you walk away. When they open, you’ll find two outboard seats (LX) or three individually sliding seats (all other trims). Our test vehicle had the SX Prestige Seat Package, which installs power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated VIP Lounge Seats in this location.

These VIP Lounge Seats are great if you have a family of four and rarely need to carry more people or significant amounts of cargo. Otherwise, they are a hassle.

First, you cannot remove them from the Carnival, so they limit the maximum cargo volume to 86.9 cubic feet. Second, your kids are going to use the “Relaxation Mode” and fully recline them with the leg rests deployed—and they’re going to leave the seats in that position. So, when Grandma and Grandpa come along for the ride, it takes what seems like ages to reposition them as traditional captain’s chairs. Third, so configured, the only way to access the third row is by squeezing between them.

Don’t get us wrong. These heated, ventilated, and fully reclining automotive Barcaloungers are great for road trips, and you cannot get anything like them in another vehicle sold at the Carnival’s price point. But they do come with compromises, which is why they’re now a no-cost option with SX Prestige trim.

Like other minivans, the Carnival’s third-row seat is habitable for adults thanks to its adequate legroom. As is true for front-seat and second-row passengers, people assigned to the third row get USB ports and a set of cupholders separated by a smartphone storage slot. Kia even provides third-row side window sunshades with SX Prestige trim.

Better yet, there is plenty of cargo capacity behind the third row. The smart power liftgate can recognize the key fob’s presence and will automatically open to reveal a deep well and 40.2 cubic feet of cargo volume. This well is especially helpful if you carry sports equipment like bats and balls that can roll out of a typical SUV when you open the tailgate. Kia also offers two storage compartments on the left side of the cargo area.

It is easy to tumble the third-row seats into the storage well to expand cargo space. However, the resulting load floor has numerous cracks and crevices, and we can imagine how easy it is to lose items in them. Oddly, Kia does not provide a maximum cargo volume number for the space behind the second-row seats. However, since the measurement for the SX Prestige with the VIP Lounge Seats is 86.9 cubic feet, that’s good guidance for all Carnival trims.

If your Carnival doesn’t have the VIP Lounge Seats, you can remove the second-row seats to create a maximum cargo space measuring 145.1 cubic feet. To give you an idea of how much that is, a Chevrolet Suburban offers 144.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume.

Our Kia Carnival SX Prestige test vehicle had 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens mounted side-by-side under a single piece of glass. The presentation is similar to a Mercedes-Benz and helps to elevate this Kia’s interior.

The digital instrumentation is especially impressive, featuring lush graphics and brilliant use of imagery and color. It even changes its appearance depending on the time of day, going from a blue sky with puffy white clouds to a blazingly beautiful sunset. At night, wispy clouds filter moonlight onto a faintly blue landscape. We adore this perfect example of a surprise-and-delight feature.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system impresses in its own right, and it comes with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a complimentary one-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate connected services. Highlights include remote engine starting, a Find My Car function, and access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, among others. If anything about this infotainment package is disappointing, it’s the test vehicle’s 12-speaker Bose audio system. Audiophiles will deem it mediocre at best.

Unfortunately, the test vehicle’s Kia Connect subscription was inactive, so the Carnival’s native voice recognition system was only partly successful at helping to find points of interest and specific addresses. A request to change the climate system from 68 degrees to 70 degrees resulted in a full-court press from the heating system, including the steering wheel and front seats. That was aggravating.

Additional tech includes Quiet Mode, which silences the rear speakers for late-night trips home; Passenger Talk to communicate with rear passengers through the speakers; and Passenger View with Night Vision to check on second- and third-row passengers via a ceiling-mounted camera.

Our test vehicle had the optional dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. It is sophisticated, offering the ability to stream content from Netflix, for instance. Also, there is a Baby Shark game for youngsters. However, teenagers riding in the Carnival showed no interest in this technology and did not use the screens at all. Instead, they used their own hand-held devices and their family’s Wi-Fi plan.

Kia equips the 2023 Carnival with a stair-step collection of driver assistance and collision avoidance systems, adding features as you go from LX to EX to SX trim. However, the most common safety features related to collision warnings and avoidance are standard on all Carnivals. They include forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.

Among the more unusual standard features, the Carnival’s rear-seat reminder system uses ultrasonic sensors that can detect movement in the minivan for up to 24 hours after you lock and leave it. If you’ve forgotten a child or pet inside the Carnival, their motion will activate the horn and lights to get the attention of passersby and will initiate text messages to the owner regarding the detected movement.

In addition, the Carnival has a standard Safe Exit System. If you park on a busy street, the minivan’s rear radar can detect approaching vehicles and warn occupants that it is unsafe to open a door and exit the Carnival.

Starting with EX trim, the Carnival has a Junction Turning Detection system that can bring the minivan to a stop in order to prevent an unsafe turn. The Carnival EX also adds Highway Driving Assist, which pairs the adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering assist system to provide semi-autonomous driving assistance on highways.

With SX trim, the Carnival adds a surround-view camera and a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Blind-Spot View Monitor supplements the blind-spot monitoring system, showing the driver a camera view of the minivan’s blind spots when they use the turn signal to indicate a lane change. The surround-view camera offers multiple viewing modes and came in handy during our travels around L.A., assisting with tight parking situations. There’s even a front camera view to help drivers judge the distance ahead.

We made good use of all of the Carnival’s safety features and kept everything turned on and active most of the time. The lane-keeping assist system proved accurate but bothersome on winding roads, prompting us to shut it off on a couple of occasions. Otherwise, the Kia Drive Wise collection of driving aids worked in the background to help keep us safe.

Deserving special mention, the Highway Driving Assist technology is excellent, proving accurate, smooth, predictable, and trustworthy at all times. It is so good that it encourages its regular and continued use by the driver. Even when traveling busy L.A. freeways, which often pose a challenge to these driving-assist systems, Highway Driving Assist excelled whether other motorists merged into the gap in front of the Carnival or we changed lanes to pass slower vehicles. In addition, the tech was unfazed by rural two-lane roads where dirt and mud sometimes obscured the painted lines.

Better yet, when Highway Driving Assist was unable to operate, the hand-off from the technology to the driver was smooth, natural, and effortless. In short, this instance of Highway Driving Assist proved nearly flawless. Just remember that you must keep your hands on the steering wheel and pay attention to your surroundings in order for it to work.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the 2023 Carnival a Top Safety Pick for the 2022 calendar year. As this review is written, the rating has not carried over for 2023. Note that the standard headlights on all but the SX Prestige get a Poor rating for their performance.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not performed crash tests on the Kia Carnival as this review was written.

When you have plenty of people to carry or lots of cargo to transport, minivans are hard to beat, especially at their prices. Typically, they are roomier and more comfortable than pricier crossover SUVs and offer cargo volumes similar to substantially more expensive full-size SUVs. In addition, minivans get better gas mileage, especially the hybrid models.

Among the four remaining traditional minivans, the Kia Carnival does the best job of hiding what it really is. In addition, it offers the longest warranty in its class. And if you upgrade to the SX Prestige with the VIP Lounge Seats, the evident style, the impressive technology, and the unbeatable second-row comfort put this Kia into a league of its own. All that’s missing here is an AWD option and a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain.

And we’re serious about the overlanding thing. With a suspension lift, all-terrain tires, and other modifications, a Carnival X-Pro (or Sedona) could potentially steal some Ford Transit Trail and Mercedes Sprinter customers.