[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Kia Carnival 2022 - Complete makeover, operating experience approaching a luxury car

With a completely new name, Kia Carnival 2022 is implicitly affirming a stronger return in the large MPV segment as a response to the Toyota Sienna launched not long ago. Besides, Carnival is also the next model in the product line to use the new badge of the Korean brand.

Overview

The complete transformation of Kia’s minivan model is even reflected in a completely new name: Carnival. The 2022 Kia Carnival will replace the Sedona model in the product line, possessing a square design somewhat similar to the Kia Telluride SUV. This is probably the Korean car manufacturer’s intention to take advantage of the success of Telluride – a large SUV that has been highly appreciated by critics. Large wheels, crossover proportions and daytime running lights running seamlessly with the grille give the Kia Carnival 2022 the feel of a high-end SUV, reminiscent of the Range Rover.

All Kia Carnival versions are equipped with a 3.5L 290 horsepower V6 engine, accompanied by a front-wheel drive system and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The cockpit is upgraded with the option of a dual-screen setup for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. In addition, the Carnival also receives many driver assistance features as standard such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, automatic headlights and blind spot monitoring.

What’s new in the 2022 Kia Carnival?

Kia Carnival 2022 will be a completely new car model to replace Sedona’s position in the product line, with superior styling, exterior and interior design, features and technology to help increase competitiveness against rivals such as Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and especially the new Toyota Sienna. And of course, like its brothers, Carnival will wear the new badge of the Korean car brand.

Price of Kia Carnival 2022

In the Korean market, the Kia Carnival 2022 is distributed with 4 different versions: from the standard LX, EX and SX to the top luxury SX Prestige, the car’s price ranges from 30.56 – 40.43 million Won (~ 588 – 778 million VND). According to general assessment, the EX version is the top priority choice for the balance between technology features and price. Specifically, this version comes with a number of convenient features while still ensuring cost savings, including an electric trunk, an intercom system in the cabin and a voice control system that allows rear passengers to interact directly with Carnival’s infotainment system.

According to some sources from sales consultants, Kia Carnival 2022 is expected to officially launch in the Vietnamese market next October with prices ranging from 1.1 – 1.6 billion VND.

Powertrain and performance

As mentioned, the 2022 Kia Carnival will initially only be available with only one powertrain setup: a 3.5L V6 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive – quite a shame there isn’t any option for a 4-wheel drive system. Meanwhile, the closest competitor is the Chrysler Pacifica with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and the new Toyota Sienna also has a hybrid version. However, some recent reports indicate that Kia will add a hybrid version to the Carnival as early as mid-2022, possibly sharing some mechanical components with the electrified version of the Sorento.

Through practical experience, the Kia Carnival 2022 has indeed made a very good impression in terms of handling and body balance. With a figure of 355 Nm, Carnival owns the most powerful engine and also has the most torque in the segment to date. Combined with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, the 3.5L V6 engine provides relatively good acceleration with abundant reserve torque, taking only about 7.0 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill. The top standard for minivans is always comfort and relaxation for passengers inside and the Kia Carnival 2022 is capable of doing that. The MacPherson front suspension and multi-link rear suspension combined with thick tire walls ensure absolute comfort, ensuring it does not affect passengers’ sleep when the vehicle overcomes potholes.

In corners, the Kia Carnival exhibits excellent stability with very little unwanted body movement such as tail swing or vibration. Carnival’s steering wheel also scores points thanks to its good weight and lightness when traveling in the city and becoming firmer at high speeds. On the highway, the experience of driving this MPV weighing more than 2.1 tons is equally appreciated, with support from the adaptive cruise control system and lane keeping feature providing moments of relaxation and reducing the burden for the driver.

Fuel consumption

According to the EPA, the fuel consumption of the Kia Carnival 2022 is 12.4L/100km on urban roads, 9.0L/100km on highways and 10.7L/100km on mixed roads, slightly better than its predecessor, Kia Sedona. If compared to the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna, which are available with plug-in hybrid and hybrid powertrains, it’s clear that the Carnival’s fuel economy doesn’t really measure up.

Interior amenities

Kia Carnival 2022 has a modern dashboard and significantly more spacious driver’s seat space than its predecessor Sedona. Kia says both the wheelbase and overall length of the Carnival have been increased to provide more space for passengers and cargo. The large center console with a neat layout and limited physical buttons creates a modern and convenient cockpit for each operation. Kia Carnival uses shiny metal accents that stretch across the entire width of the dashboard, making the cockpit even more spacious and airy. The center armrest is covered in leather and is large enough to ensure that the driver’s and passenger’s elbows in the passenger seat do not touch each other during travel.

The Carnival is more than just an ordinary MPV, it offers ample legroom and ceiling clearance in all three rows of seats. Not only that, all 2022 Kia Carnival versions are available with the option of a panoramic sunroof ensuring the most airy and relaxing interior space. Notably, in addition to the 1,029mm legroom, the second row even becomes a VIP space with two captain-style leather seats, integrated heating/ventilation system (for the top version SX Prestige). Not only that, these two seats can also slide backwards to expand the seating space, and come with a reclining feature and an electric calf support.

The Kia Carnival 2022 has a luggage compartment with a standard capacity of 1,138 liters, about 178 liters larger than the Sedona. However, this number is still not enough for Carnival to compare with competitors in the same segment. However, when folding the third row flat and removing the second row, the Carnival’s storage space reaches 2,460 liters and 4,109 liters respectively – numbers larger than any MPV model currently on the market.

Infotainment system

Technology features in the interior compartment have a huge step forward on the Kia Carnival 2022. The car uses a standard 8.0-inch infotainment screen, with an option to upgrade to a dual 12.3-inch screen spanning ⅔ of the dashboard area, including one screen for the digital instrument cluster and the other screen for the infotainment system. Both of these infotainment screen setups are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Carnival’s cabin has up to 9 USB connection ports scattered throughout the rows of seats. The rear-seat infotainment system with two screens is standard equipment on the SX and SX Prestige versions. As for the top SX Prestige variant, the Carnival is equipped with a 12-speaker Bose sound system for the ultimate entertainment experience.

Safety features and driver assistance technology

Kia adds more standard safety and driver assistance features to the Carnival, including lane-keeping assist, automatic headlights, front/rear collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. The superiority of the 2022 Kia Carnival’s safe driving experience is most clearly shown in the Top Safety Pick rating evaluated by the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Quang Hung (Tuoitrethudo)

According to: Caranddriver