Is the 2022 Kia Carnival a Good Car? 5 Pros and 3 Cons

With its blocky new looks, the 2022 Kia Carnival wants to upstage minivan rivals and woo SUV shoppers who would normally never put a minivan on their shopping list. While it looks more like an SUV, the Carnival remains a minivan at heart and goes up against rivals such as the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.

Related: 2022 Kia Carnival Review: Almost Magic

The Carnival comes with a long roster of standard comfort and safety features along with an affordable base price. A 3.5-liter V-6 engine gives this Kia some unexpected oomph when you hit the gas pedal; on the other hand, it doesn’t have the powertrain choices offered by some competitors. Inside, the Carnival has clever features, such as a middle seat in the second row that slides forward and back or folds down as a table. Then there were items that left us wishing for more refinement: The available intercom system seems gimmicky, while the rear-seat infotainment screens appear destined to be snagged by a backpack strap or kicked by kid-size shoes.

Be sure to read our complete review of the 2022 Kia Carnival via the related link above — or for some of this Kia’s best, worst and occasionally weirdest attributes, keep scrolling down to find out more.

Things We Like

1. Powerful V-6 Engine

Don’t be fooled into thinking that because it’s a minivan the Carnival can’t get down the road quickly. Press the gas pedal and the 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 has no trouble moving this minivan swiftly, even when loaded with occupants. Coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, this is a punchy and responsive powertrain.

2. Slide-Flex Seats

This is a great idea. The Slide-Flex seating system consists of a second row that’s split into three distinct seats. The center one slides forward and back, something we think is invaluable for a parent who wants to reach a child seated there. The outboard ones can slide side to side. You can also fold down the center seat to turn it into a handy table with cupholders.

3. Tons of Family-Friendly Features

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn the Carnival has loads of items to keep occupants happy in all three rows. What did we like most? Well, we already singled out the Slide-Flex seating system, though it’s good enough to earn praise a second time. The Latch anchors in the second row also are easy to access for trouble-free car seat installations — a huge plus in any family vehicle.

Still, we have mixed feelings about the available second-row VIP Lounge Seating offered in the range-topping SX-Prestige trim; they absolutely spoil you in terms of sheer comfort, but their larger size limits access to the third row and some other functionality.

4. Loaded With Safety Features

The Carnival has a silly name, but it doesn’t joke around when it comes to safety. Even for such a family-friendly segment, the Carnival’s range of standard active-safety features is impressive. We’re particularly big fans of the available blind spot monitor, which springs into action when a turn signal is activated. Cameras offer a view of the adjacent lane in the driver’s instrument panel. This is a quick and ingenious way of knowing whether something (or someone) is next to you when you’re about to change lanes.

5. A Bargain Price

Although the 2022 Carnival starts at $1,700 more than the previous base version of the outgoing Kia Sedona, that’s only half the story. The new model offers a lot for the extra dollars. The Carnival is also slightly more expensive than the standard 2022 Honda Odyssey, but it comes with a longer list of standard features. At $33,275 (including destination), the 2022 Carnival is also thousands less than the base versions of the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.

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Things We Don’t

1. Body Lean and Numb Steering

The Carnival’s roly-poly ride and numb steering feel would make even a circus clown frown. We blame a soft suspension that gives it a floaty and uneven ride. During our test drive, we compared it to the stomach-churning dips of a roller coaster in how it coped with bumpy and uneven road surfaces.

2. No Hybrid or All-Wheel Drive

We enjoyed the performance of the 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine but would like more variety. The Pacifica is available as a plug-in hybrid, while the latest Sienna can only be had with a hybrid powertrain. The Carnival’s EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined isn’t bad, but it doesn’t come close to the efficiency of hybrid-powered minivan competitors. 

Also, unlike rivals like the Pacifica and Sienna, the 2022 Carnival doesn’t offer optional all-wheel drive. Granted, the popular Odyssey is also a front-wheel-drive-only minivan — but this could hinder the Carnival’s attempt to lure shoppers who cross-shop SUVs with its minivan.

3. Rivals Have More Creative Storage Solutions

During our time with it, we found the small items storage spaces lacking. This holds true no matter where you’re seated: The center console storage box isn’t particularly large. Cubbies in the first- or second-row door panels are limited. In the third row, there are cupholders but no device storage bins. These sound like small annoyances, but they add up quickly when you have lots of people to drive around, and the Pacifica and Odyssey do this better. 

Related Video:  2022 Kia Carnival First Look

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