You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the driving experience most of today’s vans offer if you haven’t looked into minivans in a while. Kia, though, has excelled itself. The strongest engine available in a 2022 minivan is the 290 horsepower standard V6 found in the Carnival.
In This Article...
Do Kia’s minivans still exist?
In actuality, Kia’s 2022 Kia Carnival is a cutting-edge minivan dressed as an SUV, despite the company’s claims that it is a multipurpose vehicle. The spacious third-row seating, which so many SUVs lack, and the traditional sliding side door are what identify it as a minivan. Additionally, the Carnival only has front-wheel drive while the majority of SUVs have all-wheel drive.
Nevertheless, the Kia Carnival is a fantastic people mover that can accommodate up to eight passengers comfortably. Additionally, each model is loaded with cutting-edge driver aid safety features and technology. When parents pull up to drop off a group of kids and their equipment at the sports field, its sleeker-than-most-minivan design might even help them avoid the outdated soccer mom and dad reputation.
The second row of the top-of-the-line Kia Carnival Prestige SX boasts seats that resemble those in business class; they are the most comfortable way to travel in any car under $50,000. The fit and finish of the cockpit is also on par with the level of luxury found inside high-end automobiles from manufacturers like Audi, BMW, and Lexus. More importantly, even the cheapest Carnival has a comprehensive selection of safety technology. It satisfies every requirement that the recently retired Kia Sedona minivan could not quite meet.
The Chrysler Pacifica, the minivan segment’s current best-selling vehicle with sales accounting for 40% of the segment through April 2021, will be closely followed by the 2022 Kia Carnival. The Toyota Sienna (32%) and Honda Odyssey follow in its wake (24 percent ). Since buyers abandoned the market in favor of SUVs five years ago, every top-selling minivan has undergone a redesign to stay competitive. But together, their sales have decreased from 1.1 million in 2005 to slightly over 270,000 in 2020.
What name does Kia’s minivan go by?
Since 1998, Kia has been producing a minivan called the Carnival (Korean). It is heavily promoted throughout the world as the Kia Sedona, a moniker that is no longer in use in favor of the Carnival.
A single, short wheelbase version of the first-generation Carnival was marketed when it was unveiled in September 1998[1]. Models of the second generation were sold in short and long wheelbase versions (20062014). In North America, a rebadged version of the second generation was sold under the name Hyundai Entourage (20072009). [2] Peter Schreyer, Kia’s then-new design leader, debuted the company’s Tiger Nose grille in 2010 as part of the second generation model’s improved equipment. In 2014, Kia debuted their third-generation minivan in only a long wheelbase configuration. In 2020, the fourth generation was released, and Kia also started utilizing the Carnival brand internationally.
A Kia Carnival van costs what?
The Kia Carnival LX, the entry-level model for 2022, costs $33,275. The LX Seat Package, which has a starting price of $35,275 and is the most popular Carnival model, is also an option. The 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers the 2022 Carnival as standard produces 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are paired with this.
Additionally, the Carnival LX has power sliding rear doors, 17-inch wheels, and LED lighting, all of which are very helpful when trying to load kids and groceries into your car. The Kia minivan has second-row captain’s chairs that can accommodate up to seven passengers. Additionally, it has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A six-speaker sound system and USB ports are features of the 2022 Kia Carnival LX.
Is the Kia Sedona’s replacement?
In February, Kia unveiled the 2022 Carnival, claiming that it will be more rigid and durable than the outgoing Sedona it will replace.
The three-row Carnival “Multi-Purpose Vehicle” is designed to fill what Kia refers to as “the vacant gap between SUV and family hauler.” The Sorento and K5 both use the third-generation “N3 platform, which is a unibody SUV.
According to a news release from Kia on February 23, “Kia’s engineers made sure it was lighter, stronger, and quieter than the departing architecture.
According to the OEM, it used more “hot-stamped components and ultra-high-strength steel for enhanced average tensile strength and torsional stiffness that lead to superior driving dynamics.
James Hope, national manager of Kia Product Communications, claimed on Friday that the Carnival employed hot-stamped steel in 14 locations, two more than the Sedona.
He listed the following hot-stamped steel locations:
- all the way around the driver’s and passenger’s front doors
- Along the header of the windshield
- Crash channels in the firewall’s lowest section
- channels in the rear chassis that extend longitudinally from the back of the vehicle toward the second row of seats. (Slight formatting changes.)
Hope claimed that he was not given any information regarding the use of aluminum in the massive truck.
When the Carnival reaches dealers this quarter, in addition to all of the higher-strength steels, repairers will run into extra “sound absorbent and insulating elements to minimize road, wind, and engine noise,” according to Kia.
Other bodily and technical information that may be of interest is:
- For better gas mileage, Kia claimed to have made aerodynamic adjustments to the wheels, mirrors, and front bumper.
- According to the OEM, the wheel arches are “(b)rawny,” the headlights and taillights are united by “(a) bold cutline,” and the hood has “(d)ramatic body lines.”
- There is a two-tone color scheme on the mirrors. Wheels in gloss black are an option.
- Skid plate garnish and “black/chrome rocker panel moldings” are examples of trim. The Carnival is additionally the first automobile to sport Kia’s new emblem.
- Although it’s not clear if the taillights are LEDs, the headlights are.
- Nearly all trims come included with an intercom and a camera that can see in the dark to see what’s in the backseat.
- There is UVO telematics available, which enables the Carnival to dial 911 in the event of an airbag activation.
- The SUV was equipped with “12 standard Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features, the most complete standard ADAS suite in the sector, and available segment-exclusive Blind-Spot View Monitor,” according to a claim made by Kia. Although Kia did not list all 12, the highlights included autobraking, blind-spot monitoring and autobraking, rear cross-traffic autobraking, parking distance alerts, lane centering, automatic high beams, and alerts to drivers who the vehicle’s movement may cause them to perceive as being potentially inattentive.
How are Kia minivans?
It offers a soft ride, balanced handling, and an above-average expected dependability score. You also receive a lengthy warranty when you buy a new Kia Sedona. Although not extraordinary, both the cargo capacity and engine power are respectable for a van.
The Kia Sedona: a reliable minivan.
Many respectable websites have rated the Kia Sedona as trustworthy, especially the most recent models. A dependability score of 4.5 out of 5 from U.S. News indicates that they believe it to be significantly better than average and on the verge of becoming exceptional.
Data from CarComplaints also revealed that the Sedona had seen a significant decrease in complaints over the past few years. That provides very compelling evidence for its dependability.
The Sedona is ranked #2 among the top 4 minivans by J.D. Power, which gives it a quality and reliability score of 81 out of 100.
On the basis of the aforementioned, it would be accurate to conclude that the Kia Sedona is a very dependable car.
Is the Kia Sedona the same as the Carnival?
In America, there aren’t many minivan options, but Kia just made the brave decision to introduce its own minivan model. Kia has discontinued the Sedona and replaced it with the Kia Carnival for the 2022 model year.
What distinguishes the Kia Carnival from the Sedona?
Compared to the Sedona, the Kia Carnival has a marginally higher price range. On the other hand, its extensive onboard equipment and more potent engine make it well worth the price.
- Price range for the 2022 Kia Carnival: $36,460 to $50,260, 5 models
- Price range for the 2021 Kia Sedona: $34,205 to $44,705, 4 variations
In terms of engines, the 2022 Kia Carnival defeats the Sedona thanks to its 3.5 L V6 engine’s 290 horsepower. That outperforms the 276 horsepower, 3.3 L V6 engine of its predecessor. Their combined towing capacities, which are 3500 pounds for both models, are unchanged.
The Carnival nevertheless offers higher fuel economy than the Sedona despite having greater power, with city/highway ratings of 12.0/8.9 L/100 km compared to 12.7/10.0 for the Sedona.
Although the size of their exteriors is quite comparable, the Carnival once again has the advantage. The Carnival’s load volume, which varies from 1,139 to 4,110 L depending on whether the rear seats are folded down or not, is its strongest asset. This measurement for the Sedona spans from 960 to 4,022 L.
Does Kia make vans?
Even though many customers are thrilled about the brand-new Carnival, some may object to the stylistic alterations. Fortunately, the Kia vans from 2020 and 2021 are still available, but with a Sedona moniker. Consequently, the Kia family hauler is currently offered in the following configurations:
- The Kia Sedona, which is towards the end of its lifespan, is nevertheless attractive and useful. It has a roomy cabin with room for up to eight passengers and 33.9 cubic feet of cargo. In a market dominated by brand-new SUVs, it may have all the newest amenities, but it is beginning to age. It has an eight-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive, and a 3.3-liter gas V6 engine that produces 276 horsepower. Under mixed driving situations, it has respectable fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg.
- The Carnival, a newcomer to the market, seeks to talk the talk of an SUV while yet acting like a minivan. To do this, it offers customers the full utility of the body type while eschewing the unattractive boxy look. The V6 engine is still the same as in the previous Sedona, but the cabin has much more room for passengers and their belongings. To top it all off, the new generation van comes standard with a ton of cutting-edge driver assistance features, including rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision avoidance technology.
Is buying a Kia Carnival worthwhile?
The Kia Carnival is a reliable minivan, yes. It offers a comfortable ride and assured handling, has a strong V6 engine, and gets good gas mileage. With three rows of roomy seats and high-end materials, the interior is gorgeous. Lots of cargo space is available, including a class-leading amount behind the third row of seats.
What does a 2022 Kia Carnival van cost?
- Starting at $33,275, the new 2022 Kia Carnival is $1700 more expensive than the Kia Sedona it replaces.
- Broad internal and exterior improvements were made to the Carnival, including a design that gives it more SUV-like dimensions.
- The Carnival continues to offer lower prices than its rivals despite the increase in the starting price. By the second quarter of this year, it will get to American dealers.
The 2022 Kia Carnival, formerly the Sedona, underwent extensive modifications for this model year, which came with a $1700 price hike. The Carnival now has an entry-level LX trim level with a starting price of $33,275 and an SX-Prestige trim level with a starting price of $47,275.
How reliable is the Kia Grand Carnival?
The 2011 Kia Carnival (SLi) has been a dependable family vehicle ever since it was purchased used. With all the modern conveniences, the automobile is incredibly comfortable to drive and has enough space for a big family. The vehicle has excellent handling and enough power to accommodate all passengers.