
Still, the valiant effort from Kia designers to try and bring folks into the minivan segment by way of SUV-like exterior design is a smart one in a crossover-hungry world. And while the sheet metal might make it look more like a Chevrolet Traverse from some angles, there’s no doubt that this big box still rides, drives and feels like a minivan from the inside. The 2022 Kia Carnival is Kia’s brand-new minivan that wants to make you think it isn’t a minivan.
#Kia 11 passenger van 2022 plus#
Both SX trims gain seatback touchscreens (much like the Chrysler Pacifica) that includes Netflix and YouTube apps, plus Kia's Sounds of Nature white noise programs (parents of …

The gauges get swapped out for the all-digital instrument panel in the SX Prestige only. That would be the 12.3-inch screen that arrives with the EX trim. The standard infotainment set-up consists of traditional analog gauges and a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen that does look a bit cheap in a housing clearly intended for something bigger. We should also note that although most of the Carnival's "wow" features are available in other minivans, none offer the same number of them in the same place. Still, there's not as much of a drop-off in terms of quality and ambiance as you'll find in various Toyota Sienna trim levels, and every Carnival has a more upscale look and feel than the appliance-like Honda Odyssey. Keep this in mind before expecting to see multiple big screens and VIP Lounge seats in a $33,000 base van - you can't even get those on the regular SX, they're Prestige only. Both the SX and SX Prestige (pictured above) are the range-topping models, and with them you get improved materials quality and far more equipment. What’s the interior and in-car technology like? The Carnivals pictured on this page represent the nicest you're going to find. It replaces the outgoing Sedona as Kia’s minivan offering. Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash ratings & safety features What’s new for 2022? The Carnival is an all-new model for 2022. If high fuel economy isn’t a priority, though, the Carnival deserves a place on your shortlist. All the glitter and glitz fall away with the Carnival’s powertrain, though, as Kia doesn’t offer any green options like its competition.

It’s all far more upscale and luxurious than you’d find in other minivans (especially the Honda Odyssey), and that’s exactly what Kia needed to do to compete against the sumptuously updated Chrysler Pacifica and the classy Toyota Sienna now on the market. The interior is slathered with piano black trim, haptic-touch buttons and beautiful patterned plastic, which does good work at imitating metal trim. Kia also draws you in with a mountain of tech and potential for extremely cool features like the Mercedes-like wall of screens in the dash and VIP Lounge second row (or, alternatively, the unique "Captain Kirk" seat of the eight-passenger Carnival).


