Our Opinion - 2023 Kia Sedona Review The 2023 Kia Carnival looks like a mid-size SUV when you catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of your eye. It looks good, and so does Kia’s marketing. On the other hand, the Carnival is a small van. Don’t you believe me? My friend, check the back doors. They are moving. The Carnival has a low floor and a boxy shape to hold more cargo than a regular crossover. All Carnivals have a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 290 horsepower and an automatic transmission with eight speeds. Kia cars come with several driver-assistance features as standard, and more high-tech features are available on more expensive models. But don’t be put off because the Carnival looks like a minivan. Accept how well it drives, how practical, and how roomy the inside is. What's New? In 2023, only the top-level SX and SX Prestige versions of the Carnival will change. A 12.3-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display are now standard on the SX. The second-row captain’s seats that recline are no longer a common feature of the top-of-the-line SX Prestige. Instead, they are an extra feature that can be added. Most people now choose an adjustable bench for three people. No longer available is the low-cost LXS trim. Pros and Cons Pros: A spacious and elegant cabin Seats that can be moved A long list of good things Cons: The optional lounge chairs in the second row make it harder to carry things. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The 2023 Carnival has a 290 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is not an option for the Carnival. It only comes with front-wheel drive. Kia will not offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain on the Carnival anytime soon, unlike the Chrysler Pacifica, which has one as an option, and the Toyota Sienna, which is only available as a hybrid. Kia says that the Carnival can pull up to 3.5 tonnes. The Carnival’s smooth ride and handling, which is steady in turns but quick when cruising, impresses us. On our test track, the Carnival went from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds thanks to its smooth V-6 engine. Safety Kia includes lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlamps, and blind-spot monitoring as standard features on the Carnival. These features help the Carnival compete with the Pacifica, Sienna, and Honda Odyssey. The following are among the most important safety features: Pedestrian identification is a standard for automatic emergency brakes. There is also lane-keeping help and the usual lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise control is something that can be used. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The dashboard and front seats of the Carnival are both stylish and roomy. There is a lot of space for small items in the center console, and a Mercedes-style dual-screen infotainment system with a digital gauge display makes it easy to use the van’s connectivity features. The second row of seats in the SX Prestige model has pop-up footrests and leather upholstery. Even though these “VIP Seats” are a comfortable way for passengers to pass the time on a long drive, they can’t be taken out or stored on the floor as they can in other minivans. This means that the Carnival has less space for cargo than other minivans. The second row of seats can get some fresh air through the optional panoramic sunroof, which has a large opening in the second row. We could fit a whopping 48 carry-on bags behind the third row of seats when we tested it. That’s a lot of cargo space, but remember that the Pacifica and Odyssey are a tiny bit bigger. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The EPA thinks that the Carnival 2023 will get 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg overall. As part of our extensive testing process, we put a ’22 Carnival on our 75 mph highway fuel-economy route and drove it. On the road, it got 28 mpg, two more than the EPA says it should get. Infotainment and Connectivity The primary infotainment screen on the Carnival is 8.0 inches, but two 12.3-inch displays take up two-thirds of the dashboard. One is a digital gauge display, and the other is an infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are installed as standard. There are up to nine USB ports in each cabin on the Carnival. The SX trim level has an optional entertainment system for the back seats, but only the SX Prestige has a Bose audio system with 12 speakers. Price and How to Choose The Carnival will come in four trim levels, from the basic LX to the luxurious SX Prestige. However, the EX is the best combination of price and features. A power-operated rear liftgate, an intercom inside the car, and a voice-control system that lets people in the back seats control the Carnival’s infotainment system with their voices are just some of the features that make the cost of upgrading worth it.
