2024 Kia Carnival Review, Pricing, and Specs

The Carnival is offered in four trim levels from the value-oriented LX to the luxurious SX Prestige, but the EX represents the sweet spot between features and price. The EX trim comes with a number of convenience features that help justify the cost of the upgrade, including a power-operated rear liftgate, an in-cabin intercom and a voice control system that allows rear-seat passengers to give commands to the Carnival infotainment system.

Engine, Transmission and Performance

The Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces a healthy 290 hp; an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. All-wheel drive is not on the menu, as the Carnival is offered as a front-wheel drive model only. The Pacifica has an optional plug-in-hybrid powertrain and Toyota Sienna comes as a hybrid by default, but no such setup is offered on the Carnival. We were impressed by the well-balanced ride and handling of the Carnival, which is smooth while cruising but still composed in the corners. The refined V-6 engine provides quick acceleration and propels the Carnival to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds on our test track.

Real World Fuel Economy and MPG

Fuel economy ratings from the EPA for the 2023 Carnival are 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. We tested the ’22 Carnival on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of the our extensive testing regimen, and it returns 28 mpg highway—2 mpg higher than its EPA rating. For more information on Carnival’s fuel savings, visit EPA website.

Interior, Comfort and Cargo

The Carnival’s dashboard and front seating area are modern and accommodating. The large center console offers plenty of storage for small items, while optional Mercedes-style A dual-screen infotainment system with digital gauge display gives you easy access to the van’s connectivity features. The upscale SX Prestige trim comes with leather upholstery and can be ordered with reclining second-row seats that have raised footrests. While these “VIP Seats” provide a relaxing way for passengers to pass the time on long road trips, unfortunately, they can’t be removed or stored on the floor like in rival minivans, which limits the Carnival’s maximum cargo space. The panoramic sunroof is optional and provides a large opening in the second row so the kids can breathe fresh air. In our tests, we fit 14 suitcases behind the third row of seats and 48 overall with all seats folded. That’s a ton of cargo space, but it should be noted that both the Pacifica and Odyssey prove to be slightly more spacious.

Infotainment and Connectivity

While a single 8.0-inch infotainment screen is standard, dual 12.3-inch displays spanning two-thirds of the Carnival’s dashboard are optional, with one serving as a digital gauge display and the other handling infotainment duties. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. Up to nine USB ports fill the Carnival cabin. A rear-seat entertainment system is optional starting on the SX trim, but a 12-speaker Bose stereo is limited to the top-spec SX Prestige trim.

Safety Features and Driver Assistance

Kia offers plenty of standard driver assistance featuresincludes lane keeping assist, automatic high beam headlights and blind spot monitoring, all of which help the Carnival compete with the Pacifica, Sienna and Honda Odyssey. For more information on Carnival crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Key safety features may include:

• Standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane departure warning with lane keeping assist
• Adaptive cruise control is available

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia’s warranty beats its competitors, with a powertrain policy that extends to 10 years or 100,000 miles. However, unlike the Sienna, the Carnival does not come with any free scheduled maintenance.

• The limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No free scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specifications