2023 Kia Carnival SX Prestige 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
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?
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