There may not be a huge selection of minivans on the market, but the competition among the few available is fierce. Kia has redesigned the Sedona and renamed it the Carnival to go all out. It’s already obvious because it’s the new minivan on the block, but other features like styling, power and cavernous space earned it rave reviews. However, there is one safety-advantage feature that will appeal to car users and may tempt some potential buyers away from arch-rivals.
The 2022 Kia Carnival has good power
The Carnival, which Kia insists is a “multi-purpose vehicle,” or MVP, may not be the most powerful vehicle in Kia’s lineup. However, it does very well for those looking for a reliable family vehicle. The 3.5L V6 engine produces 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The EPA rates gas mileage at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 lbs, and maximum payload is 1,334 lbs.
Carnival has plenty of room for passengers and cargo. With all seats in place, you get 40.2 cu-ft of space to store your goods. If you lower the seats, that increases to 145.1 cu-ft.
It doesn’t have a large set of security advantage features. Still, drivers will no doubt be relieved to know there are blind spot and lane departure warnings, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors and a pre- and post-collision safety system. It’s important to note that there are front, rear and third-row head airbags, according to Edmunds.
In-car entertainment is pretty basic. You get AM/FM Stereo, six speakers, a USB connection and a USB with external media control.
Braking comes naturally as a huge safety advantage
For anyone who has to drive in heavy traffic, especially if you’re driving a car or have a vehicle full of small children, it’s important to have a general idea of how long it takes you to stop. In this case, the Kia Carnival managed to lead the competition.
Although Kia likes to refer to the Carnival as an MVP, as opposed to a van, review sites like Consumer Reports still rank it against vans. In this case, the Carnival comes in at 129 ft, compared to the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica, which get 136 ft. The Toyota Sienna gets 148 ft. The Chrysler Voyager and Ford Transit Connect have yet to be tested.
While this may not seem like a big deal, every inch counts when it comes to avoiding an accident or calling 911. The Carnival is the clear choice for anyone who has to drive in heavy traffic where you’re constantly forced to stop and go without much head up.
It is not a speed runner
Despite being able to stop in the fastest time, the competition beats the 2022 Kia Carnival when it comes to acceleration. The Carnival takes a full 8.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60. By contrast, the Toyota Sienna takes 8.2 seconds, the Honda Odyssey takes 8.1, and the Chrysler Pacifica has the fastest time of all at 8 seconds.
However, this is only a difference of 0.4 seconds at most. The only drivers who would care about this are those who are probably trying to get into the races, and there aren’t many sporting events where minibuses go around the track. With that in mind, being the slowest member of the pack isn’t such a detriment to the Kia Carnival, especially when you consider long road trips compared to racing against Mustangs.
CONNECTED: These beautiful features of the 2022 Kia Carnival can bring you to a van
