What Is the 2023 Kia Carnival?
The Kia Carnival is a roomy and highly practical minivan with seating for seven or eight people. Performance is robust thanks to the Carnival’s 290-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, which is coupled to a refined eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard features are plentiful on the Carnival, and the infotainment system is notable for its ease of use. The Carnival’s balance between ride and handling, however, is less than ideal; we found the steering to be overly light and the suspension too floaty. Direct competitors to the Carnival include the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
What’s New on the 2023 Kia Carnival?
The Kia Carnival receives only modest changes for 2023. The SX trim now comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display to go alongside the 12.3-inch infotainment screen. On the range-topping SX Prestige trim, the second-row lounge-style captain’s chairs have been dropped from the standard equipment list, replaced by a three-seat bench. The lounge chairs are now optional.
What Features in the 2023 Kia Carnival Are Most Important?
Standard features include:
- Cloth upholstery
- Hands-free powered side doors
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Seven USB ports
- Remote start
- Parallel park assist
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure steering assist
- Rear-seat reminder
- Safe exit warning
Available features include:
- Wireless device charging
- Second-row captain’s chairs
- Rear-seat entertainment system
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Dual sunroofs
- Leather seating surfaces
- Second-row reclining lounge seats with heating and cooling
- Dual-screen rear entertainment system
- 12-speaker Bose audio system
Should I Buy the 2023 Kia Carnival?
The 2023 Kia Carnival is a strong and sensible alternative to many SUVs, not to mention other minivans. We love the power provided by the 290-hp V-6 engine, though we wish the steering and suspension were more refined to match the powertrain. A customizable cabin with three rows of adult-friendly seating is great when you need to bring lots of people along for the ride. The optional second-row lounge seats have built-in footrests, a recline function, and heating and cooling, but keep in mind that they’re not removable, putting a serious dent in the Carnival’s maximum cargo capacity.
