The 2023 Kia Carnival looks like a mid-size SUV when you catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of your eye. That means that the way it looks and how Kia markets it are working. Still, the Carnival is a minivan through and through. Not convinced? Look behind you, my friend.
They go down. Inside, the Carnival has more room for cargo than the average crossover because of its boxy shape and low floor. All Carnivals have a 290-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an automatic gearbox with eight speeds. Kia comes with a lot of driver-helping features as standard, and higher-end models have even more tech goodies.
But don’t let the fact that the Carnival looks like a minivan put you off. Enjoy its smooth driving, extra functionality, and roomy cabin. Let’s face it, you probably don’t need high ground clearance and all-wheel drive.
Another top-rated Minivan is the 2023 Kia Carnival. Car and Driver Ranking Reports say that after the Chrysler Pacifica, the Kia Carnival is in second place. Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna come after the Kia Carnival. So you can guess how many features and good quality it will have. Here is the best 2014 Buick Verano you can check it now!
What’s New 2023 kia Carnival Configurations
For 2023, only the higher-end SX and SX Prestige models of the Carnival get any changes. The SX now comes with a 12.3-inch navigation screen and a digital gauge screen with the same size. The captain’s chairs in the second row that can be reclined are no longer a normal feature of the top-of-the-line SX Prestige.
Instead, they are now an extra feature. Instead, the usual option is now a three-seat bench that can be moved around. The low-cost LXS trim level has been taken off the list. The Carnival will come in four trim levels, from the basic LX to the high-end SX Prestige. However, it looks like the EX is the best compromise between price and features.
The EX trim comes with a power-operated rear liftgate, an in-cabin intercom and a voice-control system that lets riders in the back seat tell the Carnival’s infotainment system what to do. These features help make the cost of upgrading worth it. Here is the best 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander you can check it now!
Engine, Specs Transmission, and Performance
A 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 290 horsepower powers the 2023 kia Carnival specs. An eight-speed automatic gearbox comes standard. The Carnival doesn’t have all-wheel drive; it only comes with front-wheel drive.
The Chrysler Pacifica has a plug-in hybrid engine as an option, and the Toyota Sienna is only available as a hybrid, but we don’t think Kia will offer one on the Carnival, at least not right away. The Carnival can pull up to 3500 pounds, according to Kia.
We’re surprised by how well-balanced the Carnival’s ride and handling are. It’s smooth when you’re cruising but still stable when you turn. The improved V-6 engine gives the Carnival quick acceleration. At our test track, the Carnival went from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds.
2023 kia Carnival Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA says that the 2023 kia Carnival gets 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg all together. We tested a ’22 Carnival on our 75 mph highway fuel-economy route, and it got 28 mpg highway, which is 2 mpg better than its EPA figure. Go to the EPA’s website to find out more about how much gas the Carnival uses. Here is the 2024 Honda Odyssey you can check it now!
2023 kia Carnival Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The dashboard and front seat area of the Carnival are both current and roomy. There is a lot of space for small items in the van’s big centre console, and you can get an optional dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display that looks like it came from a Mercedes.
This makes it easy to use the van’s connectivity features. The high-end SX Prestige trim has leather seats and can be ordered with second-row seats that recline and have footrests that pop up.
Even though these ‘VIP Seats’ are a comfortable way for people to pass the time on a long drive, they can’t be taken out or stored in the floor like they can in other minivans. This means that the Carnival can’t carry as much cargo as it could.
A panoramic sunroof is available and has a big opening over the second row so that the kids can get some fresh air. In our tests, we were able to fit 14 carry-on bags behind the third row of seats and a whopping 48 with all seats folded. That’s a lot of room, but it’s important to note that both the Pacifica and the Odyssey were a little bigger. Here is the best 2024 Honda Pilot hybrid you can check now!
Infotainment and Connectivity
Standard is a single 8.0-inch entertainment screen, but you can get two 12.3-inch displays that take up two-thirds of the dashboard. One of these displays is a digital gauge, and the other is an infotainment screen. Standard features include both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are up to nine USB ports in the cabins of the Carnival. Starting with the SX trim, you can add an entertainment system for the back seats, but you can only get a 12-speaker Bose stereo with the SX Prestige model. Here is the best 2024 Chevy Chevelle you can check it!
Features for Safety and Helping the Driver
2023 kia Carnival usual driver-assistance features, such as lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, and blind-spot monitoring, help the Carnival compete with the Pacifica, the Sienna, and the Honda Odyssey.
Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to learn more about how the Carnival did in crash tests. Most likely, the most important safety measures will be:
- Automatic emergency stopping with pedestrian detection comes as standard.
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping help
- Adaptive speed control is available
Coverage for Warranty and Maintenance
Kia’s warranty is better than its competitors’ because it covers the engine for 10 years or 100,000 miles. The Carnival, on the other hand, doesn’t come with any free scheduled repair like the Sienna does.
- Five years or 60,000 miles are covered by the limited guarantee.
- The guarantee on the powertrain lasts for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
- No planned maintenance for free
