Maybe we’re just fans of vans. The 2023 Kia Telluride is, by most accounts, a stellar SUV. But if you’re looking for utility, seating for up to eight, and plenty of rear-seat space and entertainment options, the Carnival might be the better buy. But Carnival is a … gasp! … minibus! Well, Kia calls it an MPV, but we call anything with a sliding door a van, sorry, Kia.
Regardless, we see plenty of reasons beyond the Carnival van’s utility that make it a great option over the Telluride.
Carnival and Telluride have a lot in common
Fun fact: The Kia Carnival is built on the same platform as Kia’s Sorento SUV, so it combines that three-row SUV’s rugged structure, strong driving dynamics, and smaller exterior dimensions. It also has the same 290-horsepower V6 as the Telluride and comes in five trim levels, from base to luxury. The Carnival’s styling splits the difference between a minivan and an SUV, with a strong nose and the high seating position of an SUV, but the rear two-thirds are pure van. Both can seat up to eight, or seven with two generous captain’s chairs in the second row. Both offer the same dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays, and options like leather and collision avoidance technology, and are priced about $1,000 apart.
Ok, we get it: The Telluride looks like a proper SUV
The 2023 Kia Telluride received a major makeover for the 2023 model year, just like its Hyundai sibling. In the update, Kia added the X-Pro trim, which adds a smooth handling capability to the Telluride, as well as rougher-looking leather and larger black wheels. The new styling also lends more of an urban fighter look to the exterior with understated chrome and black trim. On the inside, the new design takes cues from much more expensive SUVs, like the twin knobs around the console that were borrowed from the Porsche Cayenne, and the elegant wooden dash design that looks like it came out of a $100,000 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
The Telluride, too, can seat eight people, or seven with the captain’s chairs in the middle. But the third row in the Telluride has just 31.4 inches of legroom. The Carnival gives you five inches more legroom in the back, meaning real adults can sit back there and not feel cramped. Also, the Carnival has a generous 40.2 cubic feet of space behind that third row, while the Telluride only has 21.
Carnival holds more things (much more)
Sure, SUVs are praised for their cargo-carrying ability, but the Carnival is big enough to carry a sheet of plywood in the back. With the seats folded into the floor, the Carnival holds 145 cubic feet of cargo, which is truck-wide. The Telluride holds just 87 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and a bit more in the middle, but it’s not as useful a space as the Carnival with its seats folded flat. Parents magazine named it the best family vehicle because of that space advantage.
For most of us, the Carnival’s 3,500-pound towing capacity is plenty. For the rest of you, the Telluride can tow 5,000 pounds.
How much does a 2023 carnival cost?
The 2023 Kia Carnival comes in five trim options, LX, EX, SX and SX Prestige. It offers the LX Seat package, which is a little confusing, but it’s really just an option package for the LX. The LX starts at $32,600, the EX at $38,100 and the SX at $41,300. The top dog SX Prestige is a $45,700 premium package that, in addition to the leather, heated seats, and more of the SX package, adds a rear-seat entertainment package, carpet and additional trim, and most importantly, the row of second with heating and ventilation. “VIP lounge seats” that have a built-in ottoman.
Kia has not yet released pricing information for the 2023 Telluride. But we expect a price hike. The 2022 Telluride ranges from $33,090 on the LX model to $42,990 for the SX. The new 2023 Telluride should hit dealers this fall.
RELATED: 2023 Kia Telluride Release Date Coming Soon, Get Ready
