Hello Kia Carnival MPV, so long Sedona. For 2022 Kia is dropping the Sedona nameplate and adapting their global name, Carnival, for their minivan- also known as the Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV). And Kia means it when they call their SUV-like minivan, a multi-purpose vehicle.
Carnival Trim Packages
The 2022 Carnival will be offered in four trim levels: LX, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige. Obviously, some options and packages are only available with the upgraded trim levels. But lots of those options are impressive, with a level of luxury not often associated with minivans.
More Room To Party
Since the Kia Carnival is adopting the SUV boxy look you’d expect more room and you get it. This MPV offers plenty of space in 7- or 8-passenger flexibility, comfort for long road trips, or junkets to the local big-box warehouse store.
How about best-in-class 168.2 cubic feet of passenger room? Plus best-in-class 145.1 cubic feet of cargo room (behind the first row) in LX, EX, SX trims. The second-row seats can be removed and the third row fold into the floor for this extra storage capacity.
Carnival Seating
If you get the 8-passenger seating with the Slide-Flex seating the second row can slide forward enough for the driver or front passenger to easily reach the occupants in the second row. Plus the seat could convert easily into a table.
Opt for the heated and ventilated second-row VIP Lounge Seating and you’ll be comforted with power controls, wing-out headrests, and leg extensions in upper trim level 7-passenger configuration.
Add in rear screen entertainment monitors that can mirror Apple or Android devices and it sounds like the rear seats will be in demand. No more fighting over the shotgun position.
To see the rear seating area, Kia offers a rearview camera with night vision along with an intercom to ensure the driver’s commands don’t get misunderstood. Up to nine USB ports and two 110 volt power inverters should keep all personal electronics in play for the occupants as well. The optional Bose 12 speaker sound system should keep the party going as well.
Plenty of Go Juice
Although the 2022 Kia Carnival offers the consumer a van full of options, the engine-drivetrain combo is not one of them. It comes equipped only with a 3.5L V6 engine with an 8-speed automatic, which makes a best-in-class 290 hp. This drivetrain is powerful enough to provide up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. The EPA estimate is 19 MPG in the city, and 26 MPG on the highway, which is respectable considering the big boxy shape going down the road.
Safety First
When hauling precious cargo you expect a wide offering of safety features and the Kia Carnival does not disappoint. It comes with these standard ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) items as standard:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCAA): Assists the driver when braking to help prevent a collision or lessen the effects in certain conditions if a pedestrian or vehicle is detected in front. Uses automatic braking to avoid or mitigate an impact.
- Blind-Spot Avoidance Assist (BCA): Under certain conditions, can detect vehicles traveling in the next lane. When a vehicle is “seen” in the blind spot, the vehicle brakes the outer wheel under certain conditions to help return the vehicle to its lane.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA): Helps detect most approaching cross-traffic when in reverse. When approaching cross-traffic is detected, the system alerts the driver and applies brakes.
- Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R): Detects certain objects behind the vehicle, issuing an audible warning when an obstruction is detected. The warning tone chimes faster as the vehicle gets closer to the detected object.
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) with Lane Following Assist (LFA): Follows lane markings that the system detects and provides steering inputs to help maintain the vehicle in the center of the lane and includes.
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW), which provides an audible warning when the vehicle drifts from its intended lane.
- High Beam Assist (HBA): Detects oncoming traffic and automatically switches off the high beam headlights then turns them on once traffic has passed.
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW): Senses inattentive driving patterns and sends an audible/visual warning to alert the driver.
Other safety options are also offered as options depending on the trim levels. This includes a rear occupant alert to sense and alert if you lock the Carnival with passengers or animals inside.
2022 Kia Carnival Minivan
The 2022 Kia Carnival will sell in the latter half of Spring 2021 as a 2022 model. Pricing starts at $32,100 for a Carnival LX, and quickly rises from there, to over $46,100 for a top-spec SX Prestige. Kia has always been proud of its vehicles and offers a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 5-years/60,000-mile limited warranty to back it up.
The Carnival will be competing with the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey for the important title of America’s “soccer mom” minivan, but with great seating options, a powerful engine, and nice-looking trim packages it looks to be a compelling challenger.
To find a local dealer and check out the Carnival for yourself click HERE.
