2022 Kia Carnival Review

Kia Carnival SX Prestige Passenger Minivan Exterior Shown

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The all-new Kia Carnival has some very attractive qualities. It boasts distinctive styling, a ton of standard features, comfortable seats and a great warranty. However, an underwhelming driving experience and some unrefined technology features keep it from being a home-run hit.

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2022 Kia Carnival Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

Pros

Lots of tech and convenience features for the price
Easy to see out of
Comfortable front seats
Great warranty

Cons

Ride can be a little uncomfortable over bumps
Some controls require too much driver attention
Unrefined operation of some advanced driver aids

What's new

All-new minivan that replaces the Kia Sedona
SUV-like styling
290-horsepower V6
Kicks off the first Carnival generation

Overview

Following its successful launch of its new Telluride and updated Sorento SUVs, Kia is turning its disruptive attention to one of the most unfairly maligned segments: the family-friendly minivan. So for 2022, the old Sedona is out. The Carnival is in, and it presents an interesting alternative to minivan mainstays such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$198/mo

$225/mo

Avg. Large Minivan

Calculate my fuel costs

This people mover has a fresh look similar to that of the Sorento (if the Sorento was stretched and given a set of sliding rear doors, of course). At the same time, the Carnival retains typical minivan strengths, including massive interior space for people and cargo, and gains a few distinctive upgrades. One notable one is the option for reclining lounge-style second-row seats complete with heating, ventilation and extendable leg rests.

For large families with an eye for aesthetics, the Carnival is a solid pick for a minivan. You could even consider it an alternative to run-of-the-mill three-row SUVs. Read our Expert Rating below for our full evaluation.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Carnival drive? The Carnival's V6 engine makes a stout 290 hp, but in our testing we found the Carnival to be no quicker than the average minivan. Our test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds. The gas pedal is a little slow to respond in stop-and-go traffic, and the brake pedal is overly sensitive at first touch. But you'll likely adjust to both over time.

The Carnival's steering has some vagueness off-center, so driving down a long straight highway requires a bit more attention to keep it in line. Drivability in most situations is on par for minivans. The eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly but isn't especially quick. If the minivan segment has a van built for the driving experience, it's the Honda Odyssey. All others, including the Carnival, sit together in the drives-like-a-minivan zone.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Carnival? The Carnival may well have the most comfortable front seats in the minivan segment. They are well suited for long drives and the heating and cooling functions worked just as expected.

The optional second-row lounge-style seats have some flashy features, but try them before buying because we think they're a bit gimmicky. You can only fully recline and extend the leg rests if you slide the seats fully toward the center and rear of the van. Even then, adults will not be able to fully extend the leg rests without having their feet touch the front-row seats. The third row isn't quite as spacious as in other minivans, but kids won't mind.

Our test Carnival managed to smooth out most bumps, but a few bad sections of freeway made our van shudder significantly more than any other we've driven through the same stretch. This minivan just doesn't feel quite as smooth or car-like as some other rivals. The climate control system heats and cools the cabin effectively, but the system's touch-sensitive controls offer no haptic feedback, which makes them cumbersome to interact with on the move.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The Carnival has quintessential minivan interior qualities. It's spacious, versatile, and easy to get in and out of. The Carnival's exterior design makes the rear sliding doors look smaller than those on other vans, but functionally the openings are just as big. Another advantage is the highly adjustable driver's seat; drivers of all sizes should find a comfortable spot. Outward visibility is excellent. The big windows and available surround-view camera system make it easy to know what's around you.

We're less impressed by the Carnival's smudge-prone piano black surfaces and lack of haptic response from some of the main cabin controls. Also note that the optional lounge-style seats can't be removed. We think the second-row bench seating will be the way to go for most.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Technology should be a highlight for the Carnival. On the upside, the optional 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display is huge and has crisp-looking graphics. The multitude of parking cameras erase all guesswork for those with spatial concerns, too. If it's USB ports you're after, Kia supplies almost two per passenger. Many of these features are included at lower prices than for the rest of the class.

But it's not all as rosy as it appears on the spec sheet. Yes, Kia sets the bar with this bevy of tech options, but not all of them are as polished as we expect. The voice control system is less intuitive and helpful than other systems we've tested, and many of the advanced driver aids don't perform as crisply as those in other recent Kia vehicles we've tested. Oftentimes the lane-keeping and traffic-adaptive cruise control systems seemed to be a hindrance rather than helpful.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Naturally, the Carnival does cargo space well. In the more parent-friendly, eight-passenger configuration, the second-row bench is divided into three sections that slide independently for flexibility. They can also be removed, though it's necessary to store them someplace. The third-row seats conveniently fold flat into the floor. There is 40.2 cubic feet behind the third-row seat and up to 145.1 cubic feet with the third row down and the second-row bench seat removed. Both figures are among the best in the class.

The Carnival cabin has plenty of nooks and pockets for storing things, but you can find more clever solutions in other vans. Are you transporting children at the car seat or booster age? There's plenty of room for installing safety seats, but the Carnival's lower LATCH anchors are a little difficult to access.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Carnival at 22 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway). Compared to other V6-equipped minivans, official EPA fuel economy estimates are average. But it can't touch the hybrid competitors capable of 30 mpg and higher. On Edmunds' real-world evaluation route, the Carnival returned 26.2 mpg, which suggests the van may exceed the EPA's estimates in some driving situations.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Carnival a good value? Kia continues to offer vehicles with strong value propositions. The Carnival has a competitive entry price in the low $30,000 range and each trim level upgrade seems to sneak in a feature that either the other guys don't have or only offer at a higher price point. Build quality is very good and the interior materials are impressive. Another bonus is Kia's excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Wildcard

8.0/10

Kia is pushing the not-a-minivan marketing angle, and you might find the Carnival has a bit of counterculture personality. But in the end, everything substantive about the vehicle is straight out of the minivan playbook. Where the Carnival does stand out is with its technology features and value.

Which Carnival does Edmunds recommend?

This is a relatively easy call: The EX trim comes with a smorgasbord of standard features from the two lower trims, and adds outstanding equipment that would feel at home in a luxury SUV. In particular, the upgraded technology and safety features turn the Carnival into a rolling smart van, and the 19-inch wheels are a better fit for the aggressive exterior look. We suggest avoiding the SX Prestige because its lounge-style second-row seats limit the van's practicality.

2022 Kia Carnival models

The 2022 Kia Carnival minivan comes in four main trim levels: LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige. Depending on the trim and configuration, the Carnival can seat seven or eight people. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (290 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) and an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel drive. Standout features include:

LX
The base trim has no shortage of standard features, including:

LED headlights
17-inch wheels
Power-sliding rear doors
Seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs
Proximity entry and push-button start
8-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
USB ports (3 front, 2 middle, 2 rear)
Six-speaker stereo

Standard driver aids on the LX include:

Safe exit assist (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
Rear occupant alert (alerts you to check the rear seat before exiting the vehicle)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (steers the Carnival back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Optional for the LX is the LX Seat package. It adds:

Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Simulated leather upholstery
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Second-row bench seat (seating for eight people)

EX
Boosts the Carnival's feature content with:

19-inch wheels
Hands-free power tailgate
12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation
Eight-speaker stereo
Three-zone automatic climate control
Wireless smartphone charging station
Rear cabin intercom (projects voice of front occupants to rear speakers)
Rear camera monitoring system (shows camera view of rear seating on the center touchscreen)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Carnival and the vehicle in front)
Upgraded forward collision mitigation system

SX
Gets you more convenience and tech features, such as:

LED foglights
Power-folding side mirrors
19-inch black-painted wheels
Roof rails
Ventilated front seats
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Rear entertainment system
Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the Carnival and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Parking collision avoidance assist (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

SX Prestige
The full slate of tech and comfort features includes the following:

Heated steering wheel
12.3-inch driver information display
12-speaker premium stereo system
LED interior lighting
Leather upholstery
Second-row reclining lounge-style captain's chairs with heating and ventilation
Dual sunroofs
Blind-spot monitor (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal)

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Kia Carnival.

5 (50%)

4 (17%)

3 (12%)

2 (7%)

1 (14%)

3.9

40 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Pretty Sweet Ride

Kayla , 04/17/2021

2022 Kia Carnival SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

I said I would never drive a minivan but really needed the space of a van and then boom Kia comes out with this MPV Carnival. If you ask why they decided to call it that its because the kids are the circus thats my thought anyways. This Carnival has lots of leg room for all passengers in the second and third row. The seats will actually slide up and back for more or less room as well. It …

New car with recalls and Kia dropped the ball

Cac, 12/19/2021

2022 Kia Carnival SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

In July, I put down a deposit for a new 2022 Kia Carnival. 4 months later on October 27, I picked it up at Safford Kia of Fredericksburg. On November 16, I dropped off our daughter at school, and as I drove out of the parking lot, the side door slid open by itself. It took 2 hours before I could actually get the door to shut and latch. I drove it to Kia of Woodbridge (the closest Kia) so … they could look at it. A couple of hours later a service tech says “we were able to replicate what happened and see that the door doesn’t latch. We put in a part order and see that there is a nation wide back order for the part.” I called the dealership I bought it from - left multiple messages. Got a call back from the sales man telling me it wasn’t his fault and he wanted to be sure I knew. I called and emailed Kia headquarters and executives - nothing. Kept calling and emailing- finally heard from Kia that because it was a safety issue, “we’ve escalated it to Jeff”. Not sure who Jeff is because we haven’t heard a word from Jeff and it certainly wasn’t escalated. After another week of reaching out, I got a call from someone who kept telling me she “understood” my concern about the safety of a brand new car that I drove with our 7 year old in, with a door that didn’t secure And could just open. She just kept saying I understand but nothing has really happened. We checked our lemon law and told Kia we wanted them to buy the car back. Safety didn’t seem to be a priority, communication was horrible, and the entire experience has been beyond disappointing. “I understand” is all we have heard for weeks. The lemon law essentially says if a car sits for 30 days unusable that is a reason a car can be bought back by the company. Well surprise - on December 15 (29 days after the door slid open) it’s now a safety recall for the Carnival and fixed. What a miracle - that it can be fixed - 1 day shy of the 30 days. How so very convenient for Kia. We joke now that our problems will just be escalated to Jeff. They won’t get solved but they are escalated so - we’re good. I write this sitting in Kia of Woodbridge as they prepare a check to buy my car for a few hundred dollars less than I paid for it. I know they will flip it today and sell it for $5000 more at least. It’s a rare SX version with a tow hitch - I order exactly what I wanted. This entire process has me tired, sad, and disappointed. Kia didn’t care about safety - if they did they would have owned up right away. Kia didn’t care about us - if they did they would have returned an email or voicemail message. At the least - “Jeff” would have called since it was “escalated to him”. They got their money at one dealership and will manage to get even more at another one. I’m not done with Kia - they still owe me money, but the car is back in their hands and I don’t have to worry about whether a door will open or not when it shouldn’t. The only good out of this was the service department at Kia of Woodbridge who was handed a lemon and did the best they could to make things right - it wasn’t their problem. I will never set foot in a Kia again and I’m still waiting for Kia and “Jeff” to do what is right. I’m sure it will happen soon, it was after all escalated to Jeff.

Attractive Junk

brig, 05/04/2021

2022 Kia Carnival SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

This vehicle has some issues, but it's biggest issue is Kia Customer Care. It's brand new and already subject to two recalls. The outlets don't work (minor issue) and there's a faulty fuel pump which makes it a safety hazard to drive. It could have been a simple fix but there are no parts available. Kia blames the dealership. The dealership blames Kia. No one from Kia will call back …

A great family vehicle with a few shortcomings

Adam Adams, 08/15/2021

2022 Kia Carnival SX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

Bought ours 3 weeks ago and took it for a 7600 miles coast-to-coast-coast family road trip. I wanted an SUV but my wife prefers a minivan, so this is a great compromise! To keep things in perspective, we've had our Sienna for 15 years with over 200,000 miles so this is a huge upgrade for us. Overall a great vehicle, many great features but there are a few annoying ones. To start with … the positives - looks really nice with useful features (the many cameras, safety features etc). - Engine is decent, we got an average of about (per onboard computer: 24 mpg) with mostly highway driving. - Seats are, generally, comfortable for long trips. It fits the 4 adults + 2 teens comfortably. - wish they had an AWD version. On the negative side - They could have done a better job with the touch buttons under the media center that are too sensitive to accidental touches. The app cluster panel seems disorganized. For sure these take time to get used to, I wish it were more intuitive. - The entertainment system sucks big time unless you use Android devices. And why this system isn't made as a stand alone without requiring a wifi connection is difficult to comprehend. - No wireless Apple Carplay!??? Incomprehensible. - The second row seat mechanics are poorly engineered making getting into the 3rd row more difficult than it needs to be. I have had the backrest slammed in my face trying to adjust the seats. - The wireless access through the app (UVO) is nice but I don't understand the delay in command execution. It takes 1-2 minutes for the remote start to execute, lock/unlock etc. - I wish for more door/side storage pockets. I love the Odyssey side storage and shelves and on the sliding doors and I especially love the new Sienna's center console storage. MAJOR GRIPES!! I found these really non-logical trim decisions - No roof rails (only on the SX). And even for SXs with roof rails, no crossbars!! We had to opt for aftermarket products. - The rear bumper could have been made an inch wider to allow for safe stepping onto when we need to reach for the rooftop cargos. It's only about an inch wide when the liftgate is closed so stepping on it can be precarious. - The tow hitch is only 6-7 inches above ground, I've had a few incidents of it grazing the streets on steep bumps. In summary, the car looks good for a minivan that looks and feels like an SUV but it does have a number of shortcomings. Overall, we've been happy with the purchase.

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2022 Kia Carnival video

Best Minivan Comparison: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey vs. Chrysler Pacifica

Mark Twain may or may not have once said, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." We feel the same about the minivan. Once the go-to for expanding families, the minivan has taken a back seat to the midsize SUV over the last couple decades. However, we are here to tell you…

2022 Carnival Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$32,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$198/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	40.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Carnival models:

Blind-spot monitor: Displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal.
Surround view monitor: Gives you a top-down view of the Carnival and its surroundings for tight parking situations.
Highway driving assist: Combines adaptive cruise control with automated steering to keep the Carnival in its lane, and can operate down to stop-and-start speeds.

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2022 Kia Carnival Review

2022 Kia Carnival Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Carnival does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Kia Carnival models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Kia Carnival.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Pretty Sweet Ride

New car with recalls and Kia dropped the ball

Attractive Junk

A great family vehicle with a few shortcomings

2022 Kia Carnival video

Best Minivan Comparison: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey vs. Chrysler Pacifica

2022 Carnival Highlights

Safety

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2022 Kia Carnival Review

2022 Kia Carnival Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Carnival does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Kia Carnival models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Pretty Sweet Ride

New car with recalls and Kia dropped the ball

Attractive Junk

A great family vehicle with a few shortcomings

2022 Kia Carnival video

Best Minivan Comparison: Kia Carnival vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Honda Odyssey vs. Chrysler Pacifica

2022 Carnival Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2022 Kia Carnival info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Kia

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}