With a name like Carnival, it should be fun, right? Kia Carnival 2023 may try to pass as an SUV with its design and Kia’s ingenious marketing calling it an MPV. Don’t get it wrong though, as the Carnival is all minivan, with sliding doors, three rows of seats and a super spacious cabin.
As the redesigned and renamed Kia Sedona, consumers are expected to love everything about this family hauler. However, before you buy the 2023 Kia Carnaval, you should consider the different trim levels, each of which brings a host of additional features. Today, we’re going to dive in and find that sweet spot of value and comfort to describe the best level of trim.
Five trims to choose from for your Kia Carnival
When you first start looking at the specs and features of the 2023 Kia Carnival, you’ll notice that there are five trims, each packing plenty of additional extras. As Kia describes, you can choose from the LX starting at $32,900, the LX Seat package starting at $34,900, the EX starting at $38,400, the SX starting at $41,600 and the SX Prestige starting at $46,000. Every version of the Carnival comes with the 3.5-liter V6 engine, making 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
The base LX model comes with lots of love, including power-sliding rear doors, seven-passenger seating, heated exterior mirrors, sliding and sliding second-row captain’s chairs, reclining third row, a touchscreen 8 inches and USB ports across all three rows. The LX Seat Package is more of an add-on than a package, but it increases seating capacity to eight and adds simulated leather upholstery and heated front seats. Additionally, there are many standard safety features you’ll need in a family hauler, such as a driver attention warning system, rear seat monitors, pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warnings, lane and safe exit assist feature.
2023 Kia Carnival livery you may like the most
Looking beyond the base Kia Carnival model, the EX brings all the elements of the LX seating package, but adds a hands-free liftgate, 19-inch alloy wheels and an upgraded interior trim. It also brings second- and third-row sunroofs, satellite radio, a 12-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless smartphone charging and three-zone climate control. Features that families may like more include “Quiet Mode,” which turns off the rear speakers in case of sleeping passengers, an interior camera, and an interior intercom system. These features make the most sense for everyday families, and the EX is the sweet spot of clothing you might like best.
Choosing the SX trim should be left to those who want a sportier feel for their minivans. It adds a dual-screen entertainment system, surround-view camera and ventilated front seats. Slip into the luxury side of the 2023 Kia Carnival with the SX Prestige and you’ll enjoy authentic leather, heated and cooled second-row seats, a 12-speaker Bose system, and a dual-power sunroof. Of course, those extras are good. However, if you’re not sure about spending more than $40,000, stick with the EX as the top trim level that adds the most value for the price.
What cut industry reviews say is the best
Car and Driver says that the best version of the 2023 Kia Carnival is the EX, citing convenient upgrades that are worth every penny. Autotrader also endorses the EX model as the best value for most drivers. Since all gear comes with the essentials you need for safety and performance, it comes down to what comforts and conveniences you consider most important when choosing your gear. However, if you value the opinions of third-party industry critics, EX is the way to go.
The 2023 Kia Carnival is a fun introduction to the Kia lineup, offering several trims to help you configure your best variant. However, if you’re still not sure, the best model in terms of value and added features, according to most, is the EX.
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