Used 2023 Kia Carnival Minivan Consumer Reviews
Used Carnival for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Quietest and most comfortable vehicle ever owned!
Joe C, 01/30/2023
2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
101 of 103 people found this review helpful
I am 78 and have owned everything from a Chevy vega to a BMW M3 convertible. At last count, I believe we have owned 43 or 44 new vehicles over the years, Lexus, BMW, Infiniti, Honda, Toyota, etc. This time we wanted a minivan as they are the most practical when you get older. the seats are slightly higher, but the ground clearance is lower. We wanted the 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Platinum addition. But once we got to see one, and test drive it, the noise of the engine, the comfort, and the price at 54,110, it made sense to buy the KIA. Especially with an additional 6K upcharge and a 14-month wait!! We purchased a 2023 KIA Carnival SX Prestige in October at an MSRP of 48,612. We live in a retirement community where we take folks with wheelchairs and walkers. It is very roomy for these extra items and easy to get in and out of. The 3rd row comes in handy when our grandchildren visit. We drove to Florida and back in October and December. We average 27.6 MPG. The front seats are very comfortable with good electric adjustments. The adaptive cruise control works extremely well, and I can drive for 4 to 6 hours without stopping and have no pain, stiffness, or leg cramps! The middle row is comfortable, but it should have electric adjustments for moving forward, backward, and side to side. The prestige seats require you to slide in for you fully recline. We found the OEM tires on the Carnival were noisy, so I put Michelina snow tires on for the winter. The car is amazingly quiet, even at a cruising speed of 70 to 80 MPH. We have owned several SUVs We now realize they are impractical and overrated. I do wish Carnival was an all-wheel drive. Folks should get over the stigma of a minivan and be comfortable and safe. this is a great car. Give it a chance, neigh sayers?
Never saw me in a mini van
Bob never me in a mini van , 12/27/2022
2023 Kia Carnival LX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
23 of 24 people found this review helpful
After looking at the carnival and taking a ride we purchased a 2023 model. It is a base model and we are very happy with it so far have 7,000 miles on it already. Very comfortable very sporty and handles like a dream. Gas mileage is not bad for the size it is very roomy inside. So far nothing I don't like about it I would recommend it to friends and family
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2023 Kia Carnival for sale near you
3 of 27 listings
- EX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $34,988In-stock online
- LX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $32,998In-stock online
- SX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $37,998In-stock online
See all 27 listings
Upgraded from Soul EX
Kathryn M, 09/08/2023
updated 03/11/2025
2023 Kia Carnival LX Seat Package 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
I had owned 3 Souls since 2012 and since moving to Florida i needed more space for camping, fishing and kayak/paddleboard gear. I was looking at Bigger SUV's or even a Toyota Pickup but in the rain, nothing would be protected so I saw the Carnival in the dealer showroom and after looking at all the features and how much room it had i kinda fell for it! Everyone that see's it in my community loves it. It doesn't "look" like a minivan, but it looks real nice. I have camped inside with 2nd row seats forward with an air mattress in the rain and had plenty of room to stand up and move around. I had a hitch installed as well for a bike rack. I recently took a trip to Key Largo, about 700 miles total, i shockingly got 30 mpg both ways. I LOVE the added horsepower as well. The turning radius is awesome as well! I also had 5 adults going to the beach w/all our gear and coolers - plenty of room. Overall, no real issues except once the dash display lights would not go brighter ( fuses were ok but found a solution online ) I disconnected the battery and reconnected it then heard all the modules resetting... Voila! it worked! Eventually i'd like to tow a small teardrop trailer but for now tents and the SUV Tent work great with all the interior room i have. Update: i bought a Mini Max Trailer and it tows pretty well. Mpg towing 2000-2500 lbs is avg 13 depending on the drive. I have 26K miles now after 1.5 years and no issues. Update: 3/2025, 34K miles, brakes and tires are still good and original. No issues with the car with regular maintenance.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2023 Kia Carnival Issues
Irishwillow, 02/11/2025
2023 Kia Carnival EX 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have had nothing but problems with my 2023 Kia Carnival. Starting with 3 recalls, and fuel system issues. I also brought to the attention of Tobin Kia dealership the hair line crack in the panel under rear window, silver on handles bubbling off and the sliding door jerking when opened. I was told the faulty material and workmanship of the vehicle were not covered under warranty. They even suggested I might be at fault of causing the problems. WOW, and we are talking about a vehicle with only 13,500 miles with the same issue posted on the internet. In my opinion no one should ever buy a Kia.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Minivan for a base level model!!!
Fish, 02/16/2023
2023 Kia Carnival LX Seat Package 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I’ve always been a Toyota or Honda owner. I was skeptical about Kia. After research and making deals between Toyota and Honda dealerships, I gave up on looking to upgrade to a minivan. Fortunately, I came across Kia and took a chance on this Carnival base level. For an entry level and the functionality of minivan it was equipped nicely compare to other brands at a reasonable cost. Since my purchase, I think the handling, and the comfort is better than my Highlander. Furthermore, it’s roomy and serve the purpose for my family in a budget cost. If I had a better budget, I would get an EX or SX trim level. Only time will tell how reliable is Kia compare to Toyota or Honda!!! I’m sure down the road, Kia probably will offer AWD and or Hybrid version.