The brand new Carnival seems much more rugged than the Sedona it replaces. 

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Kia is out of the minivan enterprise — properly, relying on who you ask. The unpopular Sedona family-hauler is gone, supplanted by the colorfully named 2022 Kia Carnival, which is billed as a multipurpose car, or MPV for brief. The South Korean automaker is attempting to fill a vaguely outlined white house with this product, which occurs to be a tall and boxy machine with three rows of seats, cavernous inside house and a sliding door on all sides. What kind of car does that describe? Come on, Kia: Embrace the minivan, particularly for the reason that Carnival is so good.

No matter you are feeling like calling it, the 2022 Carnival is constructed on Kia’s third-generation N3 platform, which underpins different automobiles just like the good-looking Sorento SUV and avant-garde K5 sedan. Giving it noticeably sturdier styling than the outdated Sedona, which was rounded compared, the Carnival incorporates a modernized model of the model’s signature tiger-nose grille, full with distinctive sculpting and tasteful brightwork. For a extra rugged look, the wheel arches are accentuated, plus the hood is greater and flatter than what you will discover on different minivans. That is additionally the primary Kia in America to characteristic the model’s revamped emblem, which is fashionable and angular, or as Roadshow opinions editor Antuan Goodwin described it in a photograph caption, “Ok-backwards-N.” What has been seen can’t be unseen.

Thanks to those design attributes, the Carnival seems extra sturdy than its rivals, significantly the billowy Chrysler Pacifica. However there’s solely a lot you are able to do with visible sleight-of-hand. This Kia continues to be undeniably a minivan, as evinced by its imposing two-box type. Dimension-wise, the Carnival is in lockstep with opponents — its 121.7-inch wheelbase could be the longest of the bunch, however it’s simply 0.1 inches better than the Chrysler’s. At 203 inches from grille to liftgate, it is an inch or two shorter than its rivals, with the Honda Odyssey being the longest of the group (if solely simply).

That beneficiant measurement offers the Carnival loads of inside house. Behind its 60/40-split third-row seat, which manually folds into the ground with the pull of a pair handles and an enormous downward shove, you get 40.2 cubic ft of space for storing. Behind the second-row chairs it supplies 86.9 cubic ft so that you rise up to 145.1 cubes to play with, greater than in all however the voluminous Odyssey.

Except for capaciousness, consolation is one other one of many Carnival’s robust fits on this midrange EX mannequin. The Slide-Flex second-row chairs are loads snug and supportive, plus they simply transfer fore and aft by a big quantity, although they don’t fold into the ground like Chrysler’s ingenious Stow ‘n Go system. For max cargo house, you have to take away them and hope you do not pull a muscle in your again. Making certain passengers have entry to energy, USB ports are built-in into the entrance seatbacks. Mirroring the Toyota Sienna, the range-topping SX Status mannequin options twin VIP lounge seats, which slide, recline and have built-in ottomans for added luxurious. In addition they provide energy controls in addition to heating and air flow for all-season consolation. The Carnival’s third-row seat is accommodating with loads of house too, even for lanky adults. As with the second row, passengers in steering have entry to a pair of USB ports. Regardless of the place you are sitting, there’s virtually sufficient headroom on this car for Shaquille O’Neal to bolt upright whereas sporting a prime hat.

What do you consider Kia’s new emblem?

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Spacious and cozy, the Carnival’s inside is fashionable and properly constructed. The dashboard is straightforward and cleanly laid out. The local weather controls, that are partly comprised of bodily switches and touch-sensitive buttons, are clearly labeled and simple to function. Except for there being a bit an excessive amount of piano-black trim (a magnet for mud and fingerprints) on this EX mannequin, the supplies used are of top of the range, all the pieces is assembled with painstaking precision and nothing is unfastened or in any other case low cost feeling.

An 8-inch touchscreen is normal gear within the base LX mannequin, full with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. EX and better fashions, nevertheless, include a a lot bigger 12.3-inch show, which is residence to a swanky infotainment system. This multimedia array is extremely snappy, responding to finger inputs virtually instantaneously, plus it is a cakewalk to make use of, with virtually zero studying curve. This makes the Carnival a type of automobiles you possibly can leap proper in and begin utilizing with out having to thumb by the proprietor’s handbook or waste time determining how issues work. This infotainment system additionally seems cool. Icons on the house display screen resemble little neon indicators and the radio tuner is styled like nixie tubes, a playful contact. EX and better fashions additionally come normal with a wi-fi charging plate and each cabin digital camera and intercom methods — so the driving force can maintain tabs on and talk with passengers within the again seats.

The Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that belts out 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This Kia has a number of extra horses in its secure than the Pacifica and Odyssey, however unexpectedly, all three of those minivans have an equivalent quantity of torque. The Carnival’s engine is quiet and easy, the little tingles produced by all V6s are properly attenuated, with little vibration being felt inside. Acceleration is nice, the van pulling properly once you punch it, a efficiency aided by the super-responsive eight-speed computerized transmission. As gearboxes go, this one is ideal: imperceptibly easy, quick-witted and desperate to downshift once you want extra oomph. What extra may you ask for?

The Carnival’s cabin is roomy, properly constructed and very snug. 

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Gas economic system is true consistent with the Carnival’s main opponents. The Kia stickers at 19 mpg metropolis and 26 mpg freeway. Mixed, it is rated at 22 mpg, equivalent to a front-wheel drive, non-plug-in Pacifica or the Honda Odyssey. Naturally, the hybrid-only Sienna blows this Kia away like topsoil in the course of the Mud Bowl with its across-the-board score of as much as 36 mpg (as does the pricier Pacifica plug-in hybrid, which returns 82 MPGe when operating solely on electrical energy). If most gas economic system issues, get the Toyota. If towing prowess tops your chart, nab the Chrysler, because it’s rated to pull as much as 3,600 kilos, 100 greater than the Carnival, Odyssey or Sienna.

The Carnival’s steering is mild and fairly fast, which helps this minivan really feel nimble and a bit smaller than it’s. The usual lane-keeping help know-how is exceptionally good, by no means sawing on the wheel or darting for the ditch when a line will get interrupted. The out there adaptive cruise management works a deal with, too. Customary driver aids embody blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping help and reverse parking sensors.

Dynamic downsides are few, however the Carnival’s largest weak spot is its unsettled journey. Uneven, noisy and on the floaty facet, this family-hauler can really feel a bit uneasy at instances. A full load of kiddies and cargo would most likely settle issues down, however the unladen tuning wants a bit extra work to actually get issues dialed in. Commotion from the tires and wind can be noticeable at velocity, doubtless exacerbated by the cavernous inside.  

Minivan or MPV, it actually does not matter what you name the 2022 Kia Carnival as a result of it is an awesome car.

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A horny and well-rounded providing, the 2022 Kia Carnival is out there in 4 trim ranges: LX, EX, SX and SX Status. Base value for this not-so-mini van is 33 massive ones and alter, together with $1,175 in supply charges. Because it sits, the EX mannequin proven right here checks out for a not-unreasonable $38,775.

Should you’re searching for a minivan, thanks! Extra drivers can be sensible to contemplate considered one of these versatility all-stars over the SUVs everyone seems to be obsessive about lately. Making the choice even simpler (or maybe tougher), you possibly can’t purchase a nasty minivan. All the key gamers are nice in their very own method. The fuel-sipping Toyota Sienna is arms down probably the most economical mannequin and not using a plug; Chrysler’s Pacifica seems the nicest as Stow ‘n Go nonetheless blows the competitors away; and the Honda Odyssey is probably the most well-rounded of the bunch and certain the most effective to drive. As for the Carnival, it is as glorious an possibility as any, and has no bother going toe-to-toe not simply with different minivans, however with three-row SUVs, too.