2023 Kia Carnival SX Status in Astra Blue (a $495 shade choice)
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
Class: Minivan
Shade: Astra Blue
Miles pushed: 150
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | A- |
| Energy and Efficiency | B |
| Match and End | A- |
| Gas Financial system | A- |
| Worth | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Client Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | A |
| Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 290-hp 3.5 liter |
| Engine Kind | V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automated |
| Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Noticed gas financial system: 18.6 mpg
Driving combine: 70% metropolis, 30% freeway
EPA-estimated gas financial system: 19/26/22 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Common gasoline
Snow efficiency: N/A
Base value: $45,700 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: Rear Seat Leisure Bundle ($1000), SX Status Seat Bundle (no value), particular paint ($495)
Worth as examined: $48,690
Fast Hits
The good: Glorious passenger room and luxury; satisfying acceleration; very respectable freeway gas financial system for a car of this dimension and energy
The great: Distinctive styling; upscale trim inside and outside; broad array of consolation and comfort options
The not so good: Second-row reclining “lounge” seats are of doubtful worth and may’t be eliminated; hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive powertrains not accessible
Tom Appel:
Let’s be sincere about one thing proper up entrance: Each minivan available on the market in the present day is fairly good. Actually good, truly. For 2023 Client Information named the Chrysler Pacifica its minivan Greatest Purchase—this primarily for the car’s deft mix of utility and luxurious—however we nonetheless advocate critically that consumers take a look at drive all 4 automobiles within the class.
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
We admire the Honda Odyssey for its stout drivetrain and sporty dealing with, the Toyota Sienna for its glorious gas financial system and accessible AWD, and the Kia Carnival as a result of it’s cool. Significantly. The Carnival doesn’t fairly match the utility or drivetrain sophistication of the opposite minivans on the market within the U.S., but it surely does trump all comers in the case of presentation, and the Carnival presents nicely.
Take a look at Drive Gallery: 2022 Kia Carnival SX
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
Kia desires clients to think about the Carnival as an alternative choice to the minivan, and never a minivan itself. Kia goes as far as to keep away from utilizing the phrase minivan by itself web site. Test it out. If you will discover the phrase van anyplace on this web site, please tell us. As an alternative, Kia refers back to the Carnival as an MPV (Multi-Function Car). Nobody is being fooled.
Take a look at Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
That’s okay, we all know the reality. And, the reality is, name it a van or not, there’s an terrible lot to love concerning the Carnival. As a public service, we now have recognized the best purchaser for the Carnival, and that’s a divorced man with younger children who’s nonetheless within the courting recreation. As such, dad will get the complete utility of a minivan when he has the children, and a cultured luxurious journey when he’s out in town. Name Carnival the bachelor dad get together pad, and also you get the concept.
The Carnival debuted as a 2022 mannequin, changing the stodgy Sedona within the Korean maker’s lineup. The van was—and is–a revelation style-wise, proving that even a big, slab-sided van can sport an attractive look if designers consider strongly sufficient within the venture. The Carnival is little modified for 2023. The massive information is that the entry-level LXS trim has been dropped from the lineup, and the twond-row captain’s chairs, beforehand normal on prime trim ranges, at the moment are a no-cost choice.
For ’23, the Carnival is obtainable in entry LX, midlevel EX, well-equipped SX, and luxury-level SX Status trim ranges. Base costs vary from round $35,000 to round $48,000. Our take a look at SX Status got here to $48,690, together with the now elective 2nd-row captain’s chairs—dubbed VIP Lounge Seats–which restrict seating capability to seven occupants.
So, how luxurious is an almost $50,000 minivan, and the way impressed will bachelor dad’s perspective second wives be? The reply to each questions is “very.”
Our take a look at van arrived in elegant Astra Blue with Tuscan Umber leather-based seating, with steel-gray accents. As an alternative of wooden trim, the Carnival options brushed hammered-aluminum accents, in addition to black-lacquer console and sprint trim. The look is contemporary, a little bit aggressive, however finally good-looking.
Take a look at Drive: 2022 Kia Carnival SX Status
When it comes to passenger house, Carnival trails the voluminous Sienna, however affords about the identical quantity of passenger and cargo room because the Odyssey and Pacifica. However except to plan to repeatedly fill the van to its limits, you’ll discover the cabin open, ethereal, and lots roomy.
The front-row seats are loads snug, as are the reclining 2nd-row VIP chairs. As the twond-row seats slide each side-to-side in addition to for-and-aft, entry to the threerd-row is fairly simple. The far-back seat is roomy sufficient for midsize adults, however the knees-up seating place will possible show fatiguing for bigger occupants on longer journeys. Observe, too, the VIP seats can’t be eliminated, one thing to contemplating when checking that choice field.
Additionally value noting that for nearly $50,000, the Carnival is just not accessible with power-folding 3rd-row seats, one thing all the competitors affords. Folding the seats manually, nevertheless, is just not a crushing chore.
The dashboard and management structure will really feel acquainted to Kia—and Hyundai—loyalists, and is just and elegantly organized. The configurable instrument panel consists of Kia’s glorious Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM). The turn-signal activated system offers a blind-spot digicam view on the instrument-panel of the lane you might be signaling into. The system works for each left and proper lane adjustments, and is extremely helpful in heavy visitors.
And, for date night time, the 12-speaker Bose audio system normal on the SX Status ought to impress. After a dinner of shrimp de jonghe paired with a bottle of Terlano Terlaner Classico, a high-fidelity Spyro Gyra jam ought to be simply the factor to assist underscore our bachelor’s erudite credentials.
Take a look at Drive: 2021 Honda Odyssey Elite
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
On the street the Carnival acquits itself nicely. We had famous our appreciation for the sleek energy supply of the Honda Odyssey, however the Carnival is not any slouch when it comes to acceleration or refined drivetrain conduct. Plus, the engine makes good noises when pushed, however is in any other case principally unheard.
2023 Kia Carnival SX PrestigeRide high quality can also be good—long-haul street journey good—although cabin noise ranges on the street are considerably increased than within the different vans. Dealing with is one other shiny spot. Whereas nobody would critically name the Carnival, or every other minivan, sporty, the Kia comes shut, with fairly fast strikes in visitors, and decently managed roll in quick corners.
The Carnival is EPA rated at a mixed 22 mpg. We received nearer to town estimate of 19 mpg in driving biased considerably in the direction of metropolis operation.
So, let’s say you’re not a bachelor dad on the prowl. As an alternative, you simply want a sensible household hauler and also you’d desire your car not seem like each different van on the street. We strongly recommend you’re taking the Carnival for a take a look at drive. Whereas it’s rather less practical than the competitors, and may’t be had with AWD, it’s, frankly, the best minivan, and maybe the one van with actual character.
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2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
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2023 Kia Carnival SX Status Gallery
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