The 2024 Kia Carnival is the last of this generation before a styling refresh for 2025 that has already been previewed in South Korea, with North America and other markets around the world to follow. While its parent company might have been eager to continue to move the needle forward design-wise, the Carnival already stands out from the rest of the small minivan segment. Where the others carry traditional MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) design details, the Carnival very intentionally blends some three-row SUV styling into the recipe.
Beyond the sheet metal, Kia has made a number of interesting choices about the Carnival that both add to and take away from its desirability. The cabin gets some of the most advanced features we’ve seen in a vehicle of this class but also some that can diminish its versatility.
To find out about everything that the Carnival had to offer we took it on a multi-week road trip packed full of people and things. What we found out is that this Kia offers a lot of personality for the price. It might even be the confident person’s cure for the common SUV.
Quick Facts
Trim Levels
For 2024 the Carnival is available in four trim levels. They kick off with the LX which gets 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, cloth upholstery, an 8-inch infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seating for seven with two second-row captain’s chairs, USB ports in all three rows, and six speakers.
Above that is the EX which includes 19-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment system but wired Android and Apple connectivity, satellite radio, integrated navigation, wireless smartphone charging, eight speakers, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and front parking sensors.
The SX adds a 12.3-inch driver information display, ventilated front seats, LED fog lights, roof rails, a surround-view camera system, a 115-volt power outlet, rear automatic braking, and a blind-spot camera system.
Finally, the SX Prestige includes upgraded LED exterior lighting, LED interior lighting, dual power sunroofs, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and access to the Seat Package with reclining second-row lounge seats that also get heating and ventilation. This is the trim we were set up with for the duration of our trip.
Powering The Fun
Every Carnival regardless of trim or options ends up coming with the exact same powertrain setup. It includes a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive only. The engine is factory-rated at 290 hp (216 kW) and 262 lb-ft (354 Nm) of torque. That makes it the most powerful MPV on the market, even if just barely over the Chrysler Pacifica which makes 287 hp (214 kW) and 262 lb-ft of torque respectively.
In our testing, the Carnival was smooth and easy to pilot. Visibility out of the front is outstanding and that makes navigating tight parking lots easy. In addition, the V6 and automatic transmission provide ample passing power and quiet operation.
The pedals provide very straightforward feedback that’s direct but not overly sharp. The steering wheel is verbose though and that translates to a bit more confidence behind the wheel. There is some body roll but no more so than in any other minivan in the segment. In pouring rain the Carnival tracks well aside from brief disconnects with the pavement on the deepest puddles.
We bet it would do even better on a set of Michelin or Continental tires. The Goodyear set we rode on was great everywhere but in the extreme wet. Would we love to see Kia offer a hybrid or all-wheel drive or both? Absolutely, but there’s also something to be said for the simple no-nonsense approach here.
The EPA says that the Carnival will get up to 19 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway. When combined the rating is just 22 mpg or the same as the Honda Odyssey. Interestingly, we managed to achieve 25.2 mpg across the whole trip. Granted, the vast majority of those miles were on the highway. Even in town though the Carnival managed 21.4 which suggests that this MPV might be capable of better figures than its EPA numbers suggest.
The Cabin Package
The Carnival though isn’t solely focused on fuel economy, handling, or even SUV exterior looks. Where it’s personality really comes out is in the cabin. The SX Prestige model we drove had all of the bells and whistles, and we’ll get to that in a moment but even in the base LX, there’s a lot we like. We know because we happened upon a 2023 Carnival LX owner and took a quick peek around their interior too.
Both benefit from an upright seating position and a textured dash design. No matter where one sits there is both headroom and legroom for days in the Carnival and that’s coming from a guy who’s 6’6”. The steering wheel features excellent switchgear with multi-function buttons that look good and feel nice to use. The LX had physical climate control buttons and knobs that didn’t look as good as the SX Prestige but worked great.
The door cards feature a lot of plastic but some soft-touch surfaces mitigate that. Depending on trim buyers can end up with flat gray plastic or piano black plastic. The rear door cards feature multiple colors along with a cupholder near the front. A single rear-seat climate control panel sits above the second-row passenger door. Sure, kids might fight over that but they would if it were in the middle between the seats too, and this way the driver can see what it’s set at with just a quick glance.
More: We’re Driving The 2024 Kia Carnival, What Do You Want To Know About It?
Each front seat has a USB charging port in the backrest for second-row occupants. Carnivals with three-abreast seating in the second row also benefit from a middle seat that folds down into a table with two additional cupholders.
It was clear early on that comfort was a major part of the game plan in the Carnival. Our tester benefited from leather upholstery and contoured front seats that felt great. Those coming from a seriously high-end SUV might find a lack of adjustment compared to something in that segment but they worked great for me. The second row is where things get seriously posh but we’ll come back to those.
Passengers in the third row get a nice high seat cushion along with their own climate vents, lighting, USB charge ports, storage space, and cup holders. Some models also benefit from rear-seat sunshades and in our case, a second fully-functional sunroof. The third row also reclines and has extendable headrests.
It’s also a part of what makes the Carnival such a capable and practical vehicle. With the third row in place, there are 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the very back. Most of that storage is vertical in nature thanks to a super deep well where the seats stow when not in use. For a little perspective, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L has 44.2 cubic feet, and the normal Wagoneer has just 27.4 cubic feet. It’s also considerably more than you’ll get in the Odyssey (33 cu-ft), Sienna (34 cu-ft), and Pacifica (32 cu-ft).
Intuitive And Un-Intuitive Infotainment
The infotainment system is where the Carnival really aims high and for the most part, hits its mark. The dual widescreen setup we had in our test car looks fantastic and is quick to respond to touches. One long-time minivan owner specifically commented on how impressed he was with how fast the system was and how intuitive some features were. For example, a quiet mode moves all sound to the front speakers so that the rest of the family can nap quietly in the back.
An interior camera allows front passengers to actively see what’s going on in the second and third rows and it even works at night time. The digital gauge cluster is great too thanks to clear easy-to-read dials and a few snazzy features like blind-spot displays. When the driver activates the turn signal, the dial on that side of the car becomes an active camera view of the blind spot. It’s incredibly handy and very useful in a vehicle as long as the Carnival.
We also had a rear seat infotainment system which had its ups and downs. Firstly, the screens look great and come with a number of installable apps like Twitch, YouTube, and Netflix. There’s even a kid theme with Baby Shark Songs and Games. A USB port on the side allows users to simply plug in their own content and enjoy it that way without an internet connection.
The system loses its shine a little when it comes to screen sharing though. Over a number of tests with different internet connections and different streaming services, we noticed a consistent diminishing of video quality when sharing the content from one screen to the other. Notably, Kia specifically warns users that screen sharing could degrade video quality but we were surprised to see it happen in every instance for us. We’re not talking about 4k to 1080p either. Think more along the lines of 1080p to 240p.
One other slight frustration was the integrated navigation system. Once the correct destination was set, it was great. It’s easy to follow, makes well-timed suggestions, and never put us into a sticky situation. The trouble was getting the right destination input. While typing in the destination the system will auto-suggest a number of places it thinks you want to go. Sadly, it’s far from intuitive and almost exclusively set destinations that were in far-flung cities or states as opposed to something nearby.
Let’s Talk About Those Second-Row Seats
Most minivans come with a second-row bench seat or something similar. This Kia normally comes with three-abreast seating but there’s a special option one can select only on the SX Prestige called the “Seat Package.” It unlocks something that’s rare across the entire automotive market, not just the minivan segment.
That said, the Carnival is the only minivan on the American market available with anything like the luxury lounge seats we tested. These aren’t just second-row captain’s chairs, they’re exactly what they sound like. When fully engaged they lay almost flat and allow for most folks under 6’ to recline as if they were in a spa chair somewhere.
There are supportive multi-position armrests and fully extendable leg rests too. Did we mention that they’re also heated and ventilated? Of course, this isn’t a 30’-long vehicle so having this kind of second-row luxury comes with some tradeoffs.
Firstly, lounging in style means seriously diminishing if not altogether eliminating room for third-row passengers. Secondly, the seats aren’t removable so don’t get any ideas about removing the second and third rows to turn this into a huge cargo-hauling machine. Thirdly, they don’t slide all the way forward and out of the way quickly or easily so getting to the third row often requires going between the two lounge seats.
Finally, even when there’s room to use those second-row seats, their actual operation is somewhat clunky. Kia even included a special instruction card to clarify how to use them. Two pull handles on the outside of the seat allow the seat to slide forward and backward as well as left and right. They must be positioned toward the center to use the lounge feature. That eliminates the ability to travel between them to get to the third row.
Again, it’s worth noting that these seats aren’t standard, even on the SX Prestige. Instead, they’re available for those who specifically want them on the top-end Carnival, and in that light we think they’re great. They, like the rest of this MPV, aren’t perfect but they’re full of personality, offer something special, and feel great when in use.
Closing The Door On The Carnival
The Carnival is an interesting choice in its segment. It’s not the most fuel-efficient, it’s not the most innovative, and it’s not available with a hybrid engine or all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, it’s a strong contender. It offers exceptional value for money, the interior is attractive and engaging, and some of its features like blind-spot camera views, sharp handling, and even the luxury lounge seats make it stand out.
On top of that, Kia offers a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty on it. That’s much longer than what any other brand offers, though Honda and Toyota do offer up to two years of complimentary maintenance. Compare the Carnival to any three-row vehicle in the USA including SUVs and it’s a lot more compelling for the type of driving that the vast majority of folks do. No vehicle is perfect but at least the Carnival has personality for days.
