All-new 2022 Kia Carnival Debuts

If the cavernous cargo space and seating for a starting lineup are a transportation need, but you’re just not sold on the minivan aesthetic, Kia may just have a solution to your problem. The 2022 Kia Carnival has just debuted and it is quite the handsome van.

Replacing the Sedona, the new Carnival is a completely restyled take on the minivan that draws heavily from the world of SUVs and CUVs. Personally, I dig the “lowered Telluride” vibe it has going on and despite having long since sworn oaths to never drive a minivan, I could see road tripping in this. In fact, Kia’s not even calling the Carnival a minivan, instead coining their own phrase to class the Carnival as an LUV (Life Utility Vehicle). Whatever you call it, the pronounced wheel arches, chunky chrome C-Pillar and wide, boxy shadow it casts is certainly unique in the segment.

Commonplace features are the dual sliding doors, configurable and removable seating and oodles of storage space. However, Kia has turned up the wick a bit when it comes to fit, finish and luxury refinements.

A panoramic dashboard greets the driver and morphs into the equally large and colourful infotainment unit. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wirelessly available and you can charge your device sans tether too. Should you rather plug in, there are 9 available USB ports scattered throughout as well as two inverters. Each captain’s chair up front is both heated and cooled and, should you wish to spoil guests, powered captain’s chairs complete with heating, cooling, recline and ottoman features can be optioned for the second row. Although it is worth mentioning that those cannot be removed for additional stowage.

Powering the Carnival will be Kia’s tried and tested 3.5l V6 engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels — there is currently no AWD option available. Horsepower is now rated at 290 (up from 276 in the Sedona) and there is 262 lb-ft of torque on tap. This not only helps to move the Carnival’s mass but also means, should you need to tow some extra toys, there should be ample shove to do so. The Carnival is capable of towing 1587kg (3,400 lbs).

Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, driver attention warning and collision avoidance warning sensors are all available safety features as well as blind spot and surround view monitoring. For those worried about their offspring in the back, rear occupant alert can also be optioned.

Kia is launching the Carnival in three different trim levels — LX, LX+ and EX — with pricing listed at $34,995, $37,995 and $41,995, respectively.

Links: KIA Canada