2022 Kia Carnival Debut | CarGurus

It’s official: the brand-new Kia logo will debut in the United States on the nose of a minivan.

The Sedona, a long-time favorite of value shoppers in need of space, comfort, and convenience, will be replaced in 2022 with the all-new Carnival. And while that name may sound familiar, as it’s been used overseas for years, this Carnival is a brand-new ride for Americans.

The design is decidedly not typical of a family hauler. Like the Sedona before it, the 2022 Carnival drops the typical jelly-bean profile of so many minivans for something much boxier and blockier. The grille has a concave style, fitted with plenty of mirrored, multifaceted elements. The running lamps zag across the Carnival’s face like heat lightning, and the front quarter panels and A-pillars mimic the silhouette of an SUV.

Down the side, there’s almost no lateral curve along the top or bottom edge—this is a slab-sided piece of art. The chrome C-pillar element furthers the Carnival’s SUV styling. Were it not for the placement of their handles, we’d nearly expect the rear doors to swing open like a Ford Explorer’s. At the back, the thick brake-light bar stretches the width of the minivan, proudly displaying Kia’s new logo in large lettering.

Inside, the Carnival can be optioned with a sophisticated interior. Leather, chrome, and metal all come together for a well-crafted look and feel. A textured metal accent, similar to the outlining trim around the Kia Seltos’s grille, runs the length of the dash. Knobs—admittedly small knobs, but knobs nonetheless—exist for volume and tuning. The shifter is a standard lever design. You can option a Carnival with not one, but two moonroofs.

There’s seating for seven or eight, depending on configuration, and there’s plenty of space, too. 145.1 total cubic feet of cargo space puts it at the head of its class, although the second seats need to be physically removed, as they don’t fold into the floor like a Chrysler Pacifica’s. But while the Pacifica might offer quilted leather pillows for its second row, those don’t come close to what Kia has to offer with the VIP Lounge Seats options. The heated and ventilated second-row seats feature big headrests, and they recline with integrated footrests. That sort of comfort would normally cost you a four-figure first-class ticket.

The new Carnival will be built on Kia’s new platform, also underpinning the 2021 Sorento and the 2021 K5 sedan. Under the hood, Kia’s 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers 290 horsepower and enough grunt to safely tow 3,500 pounds. The Carnival features multiple drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart, so it’s prepared no matter if you’re trying to save gas on your way to soccer practice or running late dropping the kids off at school.

Even if you’re not the world’s biggest minivan fan, there’s a lot to love about the new Kia Carnival. Although pricing isn’t available yet, we expect the Carnival to come in a smidge lower than its competitors: the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Pacifica. Would you take Kia’s brand-new minivan or one of the others?

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Check out our 2020 Test Drive Reviews playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmXFayz9YD4&list=PLih2CvHcvvNMGJTgVYoRERJRKxqE16vw5
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0:00 The 2022 Kia Carnival
0:32 Exterior Design
1:33 Inside the Carnival
2:01 Seating and Cargo Space
2:46 New Kia Platform and Engine Specs
3:04 Technology and Safety
3:34 The Competition?