Take a look at Drive: 2023 Kia Carnival SX Status | The Each day Drive | Client Information® The Each day Drive

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status in Astra Blue (a $495 shade choice)

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

Class: Minivan

Shade: Astra Blue

Miles pushed: 150

CG Report Card


Room and Consolation	A-
Energy and Efficiency	B
Match and End	A-
Gas Financial system	A-
Worth	B+

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Client Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup.

Huge & Tall Consolation

Huge Man	A
Tall Man	A

Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	290-hp 3.5 liter
Engine Sort	V6
Transmission	8-speed automated
Drive Wheels	Entrance-wheel drive

Noticed gas financial system: 18.6 mpg

Driving combine: 70% metropolis, 30% freeway

EPA-estimated gas financial system: 19/26/22 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gas sort: Common fuel

Snow efficiency: N/A

Base worth: $45,700 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)

Choices on take a look at car: Rear Seat Leisure Package deal ($1000), SX Status Seat Package deal (no price), particular paint ($495)

Worth as examined: $48,690

Fast Hits

The good: Glorious passenger room and luxury; satisfying acceleration; very respectable freeway gas financial system for a car of this measurement and energy

The nice: Distinctive styling; upscale trim inside and outside; broad array of consolation and comfort options

The not so good: Second-row reclining “lounge” seats are of doubtful worth and may’t be eliminated; hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive powertrains not accessible

Tom Appel:

Let’s be trustworthy about one thing proper up entrance: Each minivan in the marketplace in the present day is fairly good. Actually good, truly. For 2023 Client Information named the Chrysler Pacifica its minivan Greatest Purchase—this primarily for the car’s deft mix of utility and luxurious—however we nonetheless suggest critically that buyers take a look at drive all 4 automobiles within the class.

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

We recognize the Honda Odyssey for its stout drivetrain and sporty dealing with, the Toyota Sienna for its glorious gas financial system and accessible AWD, and the Kia Carnival as a result of it’s cool. Critically. The Carnival doesn’t fairly match the utility or drivetrain sophistication of the opposite minivans on the market within the U.S., nevertheless it does trump all comers on the subject of presentation, and the Carnival presents nicely.

Take a look at Drive Gallery: 2022 Kia Carnival SX

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

Kia needs prospects to think about the Carnival as an alternative choice to the minivan, and never a minivan itself. Kia goes as far as to keep away from utilizing the phrase minivan on its own website. Test it out. If you could find the phrase van anyplace on this web site, please tell us. As a substitute, Kia refers back to the Carnival as an MPV (Multi-Function Automobile). Nobody is being fooled.

Take a look at Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

That’s okay, we all know the reality. And, the reality is, name it a van or not, there’s an terrible lot to love in regards to the Carnival. As a public service, we’ve recognized the perfect purchaser for the Carnival, and that’s a divorced man with younger children who’s nonetheless within the courting sport. As such, dad will get the total utility of a minivan when he has the youngsters, and a cultured luxurious trip when he’s out in town. Name Carnival the bachelor dad occasion pad, and also you get the thought.

The Carnival debuted as a 2022 mannequin, changing the stodgy Sedona within the Korean maker’s lineup. The van was—and is–a revelation style-wise, proving that even a big, slab-sided van can sport a horny look if designers imagine strongly sufficient within the venture. The Carnival is little modified for 2023. The massive information is that the entry-level LXS trim has been dropped from the lineup, and the two^nd-row captain’s chairs, beforehand commonplace on high trim ranges, at the moment are a no-cost choice.

For ’23, the Carnival is offered in entry LX, midlevel EX, well-equipped SX, and luxury-level SX Status trim ranges. Base costs vary from round $35,000 to round $48,000. Our take a look at SX Status got here to $48,690, together with the now non-obligatory 2^nd-row captain’s chairs—dubbed VIP Lounge Seats–which restrict seating capability to seven occupants.

So, how luxurious is an almost $50,000 minivan, and the way impressed will bachelor dad’s perspective second wives be? The reply to each questions is “very.”

Our take a look at van arrived in stylish Astra Blue with Tuscan Umber leather-based seating, with steel-gray accents. As a substitute of wooden trim, the Carnival options brushed hammered-aluminum accents, in addition to black-lacquer console and sprint trim. The look is contemporary, slightly aggressive, however finally good-looking.

Take a look at Drive: 2022 Kia Carnival SX Status

When it comes to passenger house, Carnival trails the voluminous Sienna, however provides about the identical quantity of passenger and cargo room because the Odyssey and Pacifica. However until to plan to usually fill the van to its limits, you’ll discover the cabin open, ethereal, and many roomy.

The front-row seats are lots comfy, as are the reclining 2^nd-row VIP chairs. As the two^nd-row seats slide each side-to-side in addition to for-and-aft, entry to the three^rd-row in all fairness straightforward. The far-back seat is roomy sufficient for midsize adults, however the knees-up seating place will doubtless show fatiguing for bigger occupants on longer journeys. Be aware, too, the VIP seats can’t be eliminated, one thing to contemplating when checking that choice field.

Additionally value noting that for nearly $50,000, the Carnival isn’t accessible with power-folding 3^rd-row seats, one thing all the competitors provides. Folding the seats manually, nonetheless, isn’t a crushing chore.

The dashboard and management format will really feel acquainted to Kia—and Hyundai—loyalists, and is just and elegantly organized. The configurable instrument panel consists of Kia’s glorious Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM). The turn-signal activated system supplies a blind-spot digicam view on the instrument-panel of the lane you’re signaling into. The system works for each left and proper lane adjustments, and is extremely helpful in heavy site visitors.

And, for date night time, the 12-speaker Bose audio system commonplace on the SX Status ought to impress. After a dinner of shrimp de jonghe paired with a bottle of Terlano Terlaner Classico, a high-fidelity Spyro Gyra jam needs to be simply the factor to assist underscore our bachelor’s erudite credentials.

Take a look at Drive: 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

On the street the Carnival acquits itself nicely. We had famous our appreciation for the graceful energy supply of the Honda Odyssey, however the Carnival isn’t any slouch when it comes to acceleration or refined drivetrain conduct. Plus, the engine makes good noises when pushed, however is in any other case principally unheard.

2023 Kia Carnival SX PrestigeRide high quality can be good–long-haul street journey good—although cabin noise ranges on the street are considerably increased than within the different vans. Dealing with is one other brilliant spot. Whereas nobody would critically name the Carnival, or another minivan, sporty, the Kia comes shut, with moderately fast strikes in site visitors, and decently managed roll in quick corners.

The Carnival is EPA rated at a mixed 22 mpg. We obtained nearer to town estimate of 19 mpg in driving biased considerably in direction of metropolis operation.

So, let’s say you’re not a bachelor dad on the prowl. As a substitute, you simply want a sensible household hauler and also you’d desire your car not appear to be each different van on the street. We strongly recommend you are taking the Carnival for a take a look at drive. Whereas it’s rather less useful than the competitors, and may’t be had with AWD, it’s, frankly, the best minivan, and maybe the one van with actual character.

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