The Kia Carnival replaced the Sedona as the automaker’s minivan. This seven- to eight-passenger vehicle comes with attractive styling and impressive features in five different trim levels. The 2023 Kia Carnival boasts interior updates compared to the previous model. In the market, it competes with Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Here’s more about the 2023 Kia Carnival and whether it has Android Auto as a standard feature.
An overview of the 2023 Kia Carnival
The 2023 Kia Carnival is available in five trim levels: EX, SX, SX Prestige, LX and LX Seat Package. According to Kia, the LX comes with a starting price of $32,900, the LX Seat package at $34,900, the EX at $38,400, the SX at $41,600 and the SX Prestige at $46,000.
The Kia Carnival adopts a different approach as a van; is billed as a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) inspired by the highly successful Kia Telluride SUV. The Carnival includes crossover-like dimensions, premium design elements, large wheels and an upgraded interior. For the 2023 model year, the vehicle adds several new features to its five trims.
Does the 2023 Kia Carnival have Android Auto?
Yes, the 2023 Kia Carnival has Android Auto. Kia is among the first automakers to recognize and use utility apps in its vehicles. Kia Carnival 2023 is fully compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen that wirelessly integrates with your Android Auto or Apple CarPlay systems.
Each of the five models has a 3.0-inch navigation screen and a 3.0-inch full digital instrument cluster. Drivers also have access to wireless smartphone charging and Bluetooth multi-connectivity.
Android Auto is Google’s in-car assistance designed to work with various apps like Waze, Google Maps and Google Voice Assistant to make it safer to use your phone while driving. With it, Android Auto can play music, navigate, make calls, send and receive voice text messages and listen to audiobooks while you’re fully focused on the road without distraction.
Standard Android Auto works with your phone via a USB connection, while Android Auto Wireless works wirelessly. With the latter, you don’t have to keep connecting and reconnecting the cable to your car’s infotainment system.
Android Auto Wireless has been around since 2020 and is compatible with a smartphone running Android 11 or earlier and only phones with 5GHz Wi-Fi. If you don’t like the phone, you’ll be stuck using a cable until you upgrade.
In some vehicles, the system will ask if you want to use a wireless connection in the future when you connect the USB cable. If you say yes, your phone will automatically connect to the system with Android Auto. The system uses Wi-Fi Direct for data and music instead of Bluetooth for wireless Android Auto, while calls go through Bluetooth.
Useful features of technology and entertainment in Carnival
The 2023 Kia Carnival comes with some useful tech and infotainment features. For example, the LX model features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while other trims have a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The SX Prestige is the only model with a 12.3-inch instrument panel.
Other impressive tech and entertainment features on the 2023 Kia Carnival include Bluetooth pairing for two devices, HD radio, voice recognition, SiriusXM satellite radio and navigation capability.
According to Edmunds, the 2023 Kia Carnival has a host of parking cameras and USB ports. It also has three sound systems: the six-speaker system with Bluetooth capability, the eight-speaker system and the spectacular Bose 12-speaker system with a subwoofer, external amplifier, integrated roof antenna and Bluetooth capability.
Other standard entertainment equipment at every trim level includes voice-activated radio programming, a Wi-Fi hotspot, steering wheel infotainment controls and six USB ports.
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