Check 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

Colour: Astra Blue

Miles pushed: 150

CG Report Card


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

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

Huge & Tall Consolation

Huge Man	A
Tall Man	A

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

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

Noticed gasoline financial system: 18.6 mpg

Driving combine: 70% metropolis, 30% freeway

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

Gas sort: Common gasoline

Snow efficiency: N/A

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

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

Value as examined: $48,690

Fast Hits

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

The great: Distinctive styling; upscale trim in and out; 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 out there

Tom Appel:

Let’s be sincere about one thing proper up entrance: Each minivan in the marketplace at this time is fairly good. Actually good, really. For 2023 Client Information named the Chrysler Pacifica its minivan Finest Purchase—this primarily for the car’s deft mix of utility and luxurious—however we nonetheless advocate severely that consumers take a look at drive all 4 autos within the class.

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

We admire the Honda Odyssey for its stout drivetrain and sporty dealing with, the Toyota Sienna for its wonderful gasoline financial system and out there AWD, and the Kia Carnival as a result of it’s cool. Severely. 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 in relation to presentation, and the Carnival presents nicely.

Check Drive Gallery: 2022 Kia Carnival SX

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

Kia desires clients to think about the Carnival as a substitute for 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 will discover the phrase van anyplace on this website, please tell us. As a substitute, Kia refers back to the Carnival as an MPV (Multi-Objective Automobile). Nobody is being fooled.

Check 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, now we have recognized the best purchaser for the Carnival, and that’s a divorced man with younger youngsters who’s nonetheless within the courting sport. As such, dad will get the total utility of a minivan when he has the youngsters, and an aesthetic luxurious experience when he’s out in town. Name Carnival the bachelor dad occasion pad, and also you get the concept.

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 consider strongly sufficient within the challenge. The Carnival is little modified for 2023. The large information is that the entry-level LXS trim has been dropped from the lineup, and the two^nd-row captain’s chairs, beforehand customary on prime trim ranges, are actually 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 optionally available 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 elegant 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 in the end good-looking.

Check Drive: 2022 Kia Carnival SX Status

By way of passenger area, Carnival trails the voluminous Sienna, however gives about the identical quantity of passenger and cargo room because the Odyssey and Pacifica. However except to plan to often fill the van to its limits, you’ll discover the cabin open, ethereal, and lots roomy.

The front-row seats are loads snug, 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 probably show fatiguing for bigger occupants on longer journeys. Notice, 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 just isn’t out there with power-folding 3^rd-row seats, one thing the entire competitors gives. Folding the seats manually, nonetheless, just 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 wonderful Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM). The turn-signal activated system supplies a blind-spot digital camera view on the instrument-panel of the lane you might be signaling into. The system works for each left and proper lane modifications, and is extremely helpful in heavy visitors.

And, for date evening, the 12-speaker Bose audio system customary 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 ought to be simply the factor to assist underscore our bachelor’s erudite credentials.

Check Drive: 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite

2023 Kia Carnival SX Status

On the highway 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 largely unheard.

2023 Kia Carnival SX PrestigeRide high quality can be good–long-haul highway journey good—although cabin noise ranges on the highway are considerably increased than within the different vans. Dealing with is one other brilliant spot. Whereas nobody would severely name the Carnival, or some other minivan, sporty, the Kia comes shut, with moderately fast strikes in 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 highway. 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 good minivan, and maybe the one van with actual character.

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