2023 Kia Carnival

The 2023 Kia Carnival is a recently added SUV in the Kia lineup, featuring plenty of space for a crew. It combines the functionality of a minivan with the styling of a three-row SUV, showing off sporty front-end elements and power-sliding rear doors. It's available in four main trim levels: LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. Additional exterior features on the base trim include 17-inch alloy wheels, black and silver accents, and LED headlights.

The EX tacks on a power-operated tailgate with hands-free functionality and larger 19-inch wheels. With the SX and SX Prestige, standard equipment includes power-folding side mirrors, LED fog lights, roof rails, and 19-inch black wheels.

Beneath the hood of the Carnival is a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission powers the front wheels. All-wheel drive isn't an option offered on this SUV.

Thanks to the capable engine, the Carnival is quite speedy for a vehicle of its size. In speed testing, it went from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, which puts it in line with other models in the minivan segment. The brake system is highly responsive, bringing the vehicle to a rapid stop, while the handling is precise in all driving conditions.

The cabin is a serious selling point of the 2023 Carnival, as it's designed for a large crew. The interior has seating for up to eight, along with high-end features that allow passengers to remain comfortable and connected. The base trim has captain's chairs in the second row, which decreases the seating capacity to seven. It also comes with manual climate control with rear vents, manual front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and cloth upholstery. With the LX trim, you get a six-speaker audio system, USB ports in all three rows, an 8-inch touchscreen, and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.
/br> If you opt for the EX trim, upgraded features include a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, an eight-speaker audio system, tri-zone automatic climate control, and wireless charging. The SX has driver's seat memory settings, ventilated front seats, and a 115-volt outlet. With the top SX Prestige, features include a Bose audio system, a heated steering wheel, and full leather upholstery. You can also add the SX Prestige Seat package, which replaces the second-row bench with reclining, heated, and ventilated captain's chairs.

Every 2023 Carnival boasts an impressive suite of active driver aids. It includes forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane-departure mitigation, rear parking sensors, a safe-exit assist system, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, a driver attention warning system with rear-seat reminder comes standard. The EX tacks on lane-keeping assist, front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and cyclist detection, while the upper two trims have a blind-spot camera, rear automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system.