2023 Kia Carnival SX Status in Astra Blue (a $495 coloration choice)
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
Class: Minivan
Coloration: Astra Blue
Miles pushed: 150
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | A- |
| Energy and Efficiency | B |
| Match and End | A- |
| Gas Economic system | A- |
| Worth | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and should not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | A |
| Large & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 290-hp 3.5 liter |
| Engine Sort | V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
Noticed gas economic system: 18.6 mpg
Driving combine: 70% metropolis, 30% freeway
EPA-estimated gas economic 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 check automobile: Rear Seat Leisure Package deal ($1000), SX Status Seat Package deal (no price), particular paint ($495)
Value as examined: $48,690
Fast Hits
The nice: Wonderful passenger room and luxury; satisfying acceleration; very respectable freeway gas economic system for a automobile of this dimension and energy
The nice: Distinctive styling; upscale trim in and out; broad array of consolation and comfort options
The not so good: Second-row reclining “lounge” seats are of doubtful worth and might’t be eliminated; hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive powertrains not obtainable
Tom Appel:
Let’s be trustworthy about one thing proper up entrance: Each minivan in the marketplace at present is fairly good. Actually good, truly. For 2023 Shopper Information named the Chrysler Pacifica its minivan Greatest Purchase—this primarily for the automobile’s deft mix of utility and luxurious—however we nonetheless advocate critically that buyers check drive all 4 autos 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 economic system and obtainable 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 relation to presentation, and the Carnival presents nicely.
Check Drive Gallery: 2022 Kia Carnival SX
2023 Kia Carnival SX Status
Kia needs prospects 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 yow will discover the phrase van wherever on this website, please tell us. As a substitute, Kia refers back to the Carnival as an MPV (Multi-Objective Car). Nobody is being fooled.
Check 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 in regards to the Carnival. As a public service, we’ve got recognized the best purchaser for the Carnival, and that’s a divorced man with younger children who’s nonetheless within the relationship recreation. As such, dad will get the complete utility of a minivan when he has the youngsters, and a cultured luxurious experience when he’s out in town. Name Carnival the bachelor dad social gathering 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 a horny look if designers imagine strongly sufficient within the mission. The Carnival is little modified for 2023. The large information is that the entry-level LXS trim has been dropped from the lineup, and the twond-row captain’s chairs, beforehand customary on high 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 check SX Status got here to $48,690, together with the now optionally available 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 check van arrived in stylish Astra Blue with Tuscan Umber leather-based seating, with steel-gray accents. As a substitute of wooden trim, the Carnival options brushed hammered-aluminum accents, in addition to black-lacquer console and sprint trim. The look is contemporary, a bit aggressive, however in the end good-looking.
Check Drive: 2022 Kia Carnival SX Status
By way of 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 often fill the van to its limits, you’ll discover the cabin open, ethereal, and lots roomy.
The front-row seats are a lot comfy, 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 within reason simple. The far-back seat is roomy sufficient for midsize adults, however the knees-up seating place will seemingly 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 will not be obtainable with power-folding 3rd-row seats, one thing the entire competitors affords. Folding the seats manually, nevertheless, will not be a crushing chore.
The dashboard and management format will really feel acquainted to Kia—and Hyundai—loyalists, and is just and elegantly organized. The configurable instrument panel contains Kia’s glorious Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM). The turn-signal activated system gives a blind-spot digital camera view on the instrument-panel of the lane you’re signaling into. The system works for each left and proper lane modifications, and is extremely helpful in heavy site visitors.
And, for date night time, the 12-speaker Bose audio system customary 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.
Check 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 graceful 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 largely unheard.
2023 Kia Carnival SX PrestigeRide high quality can 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 vivid spot. Whereas nobody would critically name the Carnival, or some other minivan, sporty, the Kia comes shut, with fairly fast strikes in site visitors, and decently managed roll in quick corners.
The Carnival is EPA rated at a mixed 22 mpg. We acquired nearer to town estimate of 19 mpg in driving biased considerably in direction of metropolis operation.
So, let’s say you’re not a bachelor dad on the prowl. As a substitute, you simply want a sensible household hauler and also you’d choose your automobile not appear like each different van on the street. We strongly counsel you’re taking the Carnival for a check drive. Whereas it’s rather less useful than the competitors, and might’t be had with AWD, it’s, frankly, the good 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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