10 Highlights Of The 2024 Kia Carnival

If you need a three-row vehicle, the dilemma is whether to get a sport utility vehicle or a minivan. This might be the case if you’re torn between the Kia Telluride and the Kia Carnival as your next family car. Both can be a good solution if you need to transport stuff daily or have a family you need to bring around, such as kids to school or soccer practice. While the SUV has been the more popular choice in recent years, minivans or multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) like the 2024 Kia Carnival are more cost-effective.

The new Kia Carnival is primarily a family-friendly ride. It elbows for your attention against main competitors such as the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and Chrysler Pacifica. These four minivans available today in the United States, can carry a good combo of people and some cargo, have easy access for adults and kids because of their lower seat and ride height, and typically deliver better fuel economy than most SUVs. Here are some of the best features of the 2024 Kia Carnival to help you make an informed decision if you are considering a Kia Carnival.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, Car and Driver, and Bloomberg.

1 Powerful V-6 Engine

The 2024 Kia Carnival relies on a V-6 powerplant mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which transfers the power to the front wheels. The 3.5-liter aluminum block produces 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

These numbers make it the leader of the minivan pack, slightly ahead of the Chrysler Pacifica, with an output of 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The Kia is a big vehicle and tips the scale between 4,431 and 4,581 pounds, depending on the trim, but the refined engine is powerful enough to take the car from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds.

Performance Specs

(Specs sourced from Kia and Car & Driver)

The Carnival only comes with a naturally aspirated engine. Meanwhile, the Toyota Sienna has a standard hybrid setup. The Pacifica is also offered with an optional plug-in hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive.

2 Good Balance Between Power And Efficiency

A minivan loaded with people, a lot of luggage and gear, long trips. All these translate to spending your hard-earned cash on fuel. However, you don’t have to worry much about the Kia Carnival. It returns a decent 418 miles for one full tank of 19 gallons. The 2024 Kia Carnival EPA fuel economy numbers are pegged at 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, or 22 mpg combined. According to the EPA, the annual fuel cost will be around $2,350 or about $3.94 for every 25 miles you drive.

Fuel Economy

(Information sourced from the EPA)

On quick comparison, the Chrysler Pacifica, with a six-cylinder 3.6-L engine running on regular gasoline, has an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined (19 city, 28 highway). The Honda Odyssey also returns 22 mpg combined (19 cities, 28 highway).

3 Setup To Deliver A Plush Ride

Besides the SUV-like styling that gives it the guise of its Kia Telluride sibling, comfortable and functional interior, and technologies onboard, the Korean carmaker has set up the vehicle to deliver a smooth ride. The Kia Carnival has a steel unibody and iso-structure body construction. This means the architecture is designed to be rigid for better stability and safety. Employing iso-structure components also contributes to the vehicle’s ride quality, handling, and efficiency.

Kia Carnival Suspension, Body Construction And Braking System

• Body Construction: Steel Unibody, Iso-Structure
• Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson Struts, Coil Springs, Stabilizer Bar
• Rear Suspension: Independent, Multi-link, stabilizer bar
• Braking System: 4-wheel Disc w/ Antilock Brake System (ABS)
• 12.8-inch disc brakes in all four corners

There’s nothing extra special about the underpinnings of the Kia Carnival, but you have a setup that works to absorb road bumps well and ensure good handling and braking, whether you’re speeding on straights or negotiating corners. You have independent suspension, MacPherson struts, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar in front. At the back, the manufacturer installed an independent, multi-link suspension and suspension bar to keep the car on the ground while keeping it nimble in different driving conditions.

4 SUV Design Flair Without The Hefty Price Tag

Most of the time, minivans don’t appeal to parents and other consumers because they look boring. That’s not the case for the new Kia Carnival, which, despite having sliding rear doors, sports looks that will remind you of an SUV. The exterior of the Carnival makes it one of the more attractive options in its segment. Even with the SUV looks, it comes in cheaper than the Kia Telluride, which ranges between $35,990 and $52,185.

Kia Carnival Sports SUV Looks With Minivan Pricing

• LX – $33,200
• LX Seat Package – $35,200
• EX – $38,700
• SX – $41,900
• SX Prestige – $46,300

The 2024 Carnival’s overall look reminds you of its Kia Sorento sibling or its bigger SUV Kia Telluride stablemate. The front end features LED headlights, daytime running lights, a black glossy grille, bumper sensors integrated into the bumper cover, and a matte black lower grille. On the side, Kia keeps things exciting with opulent-looking lines from front to back.

The Carnival’s entry-level trim gives you 17-inch alloy rims, while the higher trim comes with 19-inch shoes. The rear end shows the metallic silver trim peace consistent with the vehicle’s front. The LED brake light goes across the back of the car, giving it a more premium look.

5 Large Screen For Instrumentation And Entertainment

Tracing the history of touchscreens in vehicles to the Riviera in 1986, the 8.8-inch touchscreen of the 2002 BMW 7 Series, and then the humongous Tesla 17-inch display in its 2012 Model S. Today, big screens in cars are an imperative for consumers.

Size of Kia Carnival Instrument Display And Infotainment Display

• 4.2-inch instrument display (LX and EX)
• 8-inch touchscreen display (LX)
• 12.3-inch instrument display (SX and SX Prestige)
• 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation (EX, SX, and SX Prestige)
• Dual-Screen Rear Seat Entertainment System (Optional on SX and SX Prestige)

The Kia Carnival comes standard with a 4.2-inch instrument display and an 8-inch infotainment screen that can be synced with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The more premium trims offer a pair of 12.3-inch displays for their instrument display and touchscreen infotainment system.

This family-oriented vehicle, particularly the SX and SX Prestige trims, also come with a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system. Passengers at the back can mirror their devices and stream their favorite shows using embedded apps.

The Kia Carnival has a two-way intercom system that lets the driver or front-row passenger talk clearly to people at the back. If you’re on a road trip with the family and doing that familiar survey of where to stop next for food or whatnot, you do not have to amplify your voice so your kids will hear you. The intercom does the job for you through the car’s speaker system. Such cabin talk feature is also available in competitors like the Toyota Sienna.

Designed To Help Parents Stay In Control

• Intercom system
• Acoustic windshield
• Sound-deadening materials for a quieter ride
• Camera system with night vision to check passengers at the back
• Wi-Fi hotspot

The 2024 Carnival is built to help parents stay in control while driving. Aside from the intercom system, the Korean carmaker designed the windshield and used sound-deadening materials in the cabin to ensure a quiet ride. The Kia MPV also comes with a camera system so you can check on the kids without turning around. Then the much-needed hotspot to keep everyone in the vehicle connected.

7 Optional Second Row V.I.P. Seats

The standard second-row seating capacity of the Carnival is up to three passengers. However, if you tend to travel with fewer people, you can opt for the VIP lounge seating for the SX Prestige model. There will be no fighting for the shotgun seat. But yes, it might translate to a vote who gets to sit in the even more comfortable airplane-like accommodation in the second row. The VIP lounge seating features headrests, full recline, power footrests, ventilation, and heating.

Pros And Cons Of The Kia Carnival Second-Row Lounge Seats

While the lounge chairs for the second row make the ride more luxurious, note that these seats cannot be removed, stowed, or slid all the way forward. This, of course, will prevent you from maxing out the cargo capacity of the 2024 Kia Carnival. For some, it could be a deal breaker, especially if you have a toddler in a child seat, traveling with several kids, or adults who need to access the third row easily.

8 Best-In-Class Passenger Room And Interior Built For Practicality And Comfort

The Kia Carnival’s interior is modern, spacious, sleek, and practical. With many adjectives you can throw in the air, it’s all about function with a design that uses a good dose of common sense. The entry-level LX comes with seven-passenger seating with an eight-seater configuration option, just like the higher EX, SX, and Prestige trims.

While the top-tier is the only choice that gives you pure leather seat trim, the others come with easy-to-clean synthetic leather (for the EX and SX) and fiber (for the LX). Furthermore, the 2024 Kia Carnival is the roomiest minivan available in the United States today.

Interior Dimensions

(Specs sourced from Kia and other car manufacturers)

Depending on the trim, you can easily adjust the seats to your liking with power lumbar support and an integrated memory system. When the whole family tags along, you’ll have enough comfort, convenience, and technology features to keep everyone happy.

The long list includes tri-zone climate control, rear-seat screens, multiple speakers with tweeters and rear surround, USB ports for second and third-row occupants, wireless phone chargers, Wi-Fi hotspots, smart power sliding rear doors, and more.

9 The Carnival’s Generous Cargo Space

Aside from comfort, practicality, reliability, and safety, one of the most significant factors you must consider when buying a minivan is its cargo space. Minivans such as the Kia Carnival are a do-it-all ride because they just don’t carry large groups of people, but they have abundant space for luggage, boxes, groceries, furniture, gear, or whatever you need to haul.

When it comes to cargo space, the 2024 Kia Carnival is the best in its class. It can still hold as much as 40.2 cubic feet of cargo with all seats occupied. You have a whopping 145.1 cubic feet of space with the seats folded.

Kia Carnival Cargo Space Vs. Competition

The Carnival’s third-row seat can be folded, and the second-row seats can be removed so you can easily configure the cabin depending on your needs. Aside from the available cargo volume, the Carnival MPV has many pockets and nooks where you can put your things during your trip. The cargo space might be the deciding factor if there’s a discussion about whether you should go for a three-row SUV or a minivan.

10 The 2024 Kia Carnival Is Loaded With Safety Features And Driver Assistance Technologies

The predecessor of the 2024 Kia Carnival was Money.com’s best overall and best-value minivan. It also received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS in 2022. Aside from its price tag, experts and consumers alike will be pleased that the new Carnival offers some of the best warranties in the auto industry, along with safety features and technologies that will make the ride perfect for you and your family. Aside from airbags to protect you and your loved ones during a collision, the vehicle is loaded with technologies that will make life easier for the driver and safer for every occupant.

Dynamic Driving Systems Standard Across Kia Carnival Trims

• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCTA)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) with Ultrasonic Sensor

The 2024 Carnival also has Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse, Forward Collision Avoidance, Surround VView Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and other technologies for its upper trims. These safety features keep it at par with competitors such as the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Pacifica. The Kia minivan is also equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control-Curve (ACCC), which aside from adjusting the speed based on existing speed limits, can slow the vehicle down when negotiating curves.