Welcome to the 2022 Carnival! Kia replaces Sedona with a Life Utility Vehicle called a Carnival
Hoping to avoid the perceived stigma attached to minivans, Kia is replacing the Sedona with what it is calling a Life Utility Vehicle (LUV). Adding LUV to the nomenclature alongside CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) and SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) will be a bit of an uphill battle.
But there is no doubt this entirely new vehicle has been designed from road to roof to appeal to and satisfy a variety of lifestyles.
2022 Kia Carnival
Arriving at your local Kia store this spring, the Carnival will be available in five trim levels and seven or eight-passenger configuration starting at $34,495. All will be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It will tow up to 3,500 pounds. Innovation, luxury and safety were key factors in the development process.
INNOVATION
- The instrument panel is comprised of an available 32-cm wide TFT-LCD instrument cluster alongside a 32-cm infotainment screen.
- You can create table space for third row occupants by folding second row seat backs down flat.
- You can remove second row seats and store third row seats in the floor for added cargo space.
- There are as many as nine USB ports, and two DC to AC inverters.
- Bose audio, personalized profiles, smartphone charging, and multi-Bluetooth connectivity are available.
- The rear window wiper tucks away out of sight, allowing an unobstructed view.
2022 Kia Carnival
LUXURY
- Available Martian-brown leather seats with premium stitching
- Heated or cooled second row ‘VIP Lounge’ seats with powered head and leg rests
2022 Kia Carnival in ‘VIP’ mode
SAFETY
- Lane keep and follow assist, smart cruise control, automatic high beams.
- Park distance warning, driver attention and rear occupant alert.
- Forward collision avoidance
- Surround view and blind spot view monitors available
The Carnival shares nothing other than its engine with the outgoing Sedona.
Based on a new (N3) platform, it is lighter, stronger, quieter, more aerodynamic and safer. Extensive use of hot-stamped and ultra-high-strength steel is used to provide increased structural stiffness.
The exterior design of the Carnival, from the company’s North American design centre, is fresh and strongly mimics the company’s line of crossovers – from the front.
The side and rear views are clearly those of a minivan.
That long roof and squared off rear-end are exactly what make this type of vehicle, whatever you call it, so utilitarian. The Carnival can carry up to seven folks in three rows of seats. Getting into the second or third rows through the massive power-operated side door is a breeze. The third row is not only readily accessible, but provides enough head and legroom for adults.
2022 Kia Carnival – second row
Sliding side doors are so much easier to deal with in tight parking spot and garages, just ask any parent who has ever had to deal with child seats!
The Carnival development team spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about passengers – of all sizes and ages.
On the top SX trim level, Business Class is the order of the day with powered foot and head rests for the leather-covered heated or cooled Captain’s chair style seats.
On eight-passenger models, the centre second row seat slides through a long range, allowing you to choose between additional passenger space or easier access to the little people back there. The centre second row seat back folds flat to provide a table for third row occupants.
There is ample storage space behind the third row. Fold one or both sides of the third row down for truly impression cargo capacity. With second row seats folded, you are presented with cavern-like dimensions.
Whether you call it a minivan or an LUV, the 2022 Kia Carnival has been developed to satisfy a variety of lifestyles. It is the first of five new vehicles coming from Kia this year.
2022 Kia Carnival
