2024 Kia Carnival Evaluation, Pricing, and Specs

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

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 churning out 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 the Toyota Sienna comes as a hybrid by default, but no such setup is offered on the Carnival. We’re impressed by the Carnival’s well-balanced ride and handling, which is smooth when cruising but still composed in corners. The refined V-6 engine provides sprightly acceleration and powered the Carnival to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds at our test track.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

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

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Carnival’s dashboard and front-seat area are both modern and accommodating. A large center console offers plenty of small-item storage, while an optional Mercedes-style dual-screen infotainment system with a 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 pop-up footrests. While these “VIP Seats” provide a relaxing way for passengers to while away the hours on a long road trip, they, unfortunately, cannot be removed or stowed in the floor as in rival minivans, which limits the Carnival’s maximum cargo space. A panoramic sunroof is optional and provides a large opening over the second row so the kids can get some fresh air. In our testing, we fit 14 carry-on suitcases behind the third row of seats and a whopping 48 in total with all seats folded. That’s a ton of cargo space, but it should be noted that both the Pacifica and Odyssey proved slightly more spacious.

Infotainment and Connectivity

While a single 8.0-inch infotainment screen is standard, dual 12.3-inch displays that stretch across two-thirds of the Carnival’s dashboard are optional, with one serving as a digital gauge display and the other performing infotainment duties. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. Up to nine USB ports dot the Carnival’s 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 and Driver-Assistance Features

Kia offers many standard driver-assistance features, including lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, and blind-spot monitoring, all of which help the Carnival compete with the Pacifica, the Sienna, and the Honda Odyssey. For more information about the Carnival’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia’s warranty trumps its rivals, with a powertrain policy that spans 10 years or 100,000 miles. Unlike the Sienna, though, the Carnival doesn’t come with any complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs