Kia has taken the wraps off its new minivan and besides the more SUV-like styling, there’s also one bigger change. Kia has ditched the Sedona name and now its minivan will be called the Carnival, just like it is in other markets outside the US.
The 2022 Kia Carnival arrives with a boxy look that’s bolder than its predecessor. At the front there’s a new “modernized” version of the brand’s tiger nose grille, which integrates the LED headlights. You’ll also notice that the Kia Carnival is the first model to get Kia’s new logo.
Under the hood the Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, that’s mated to an eight speed automatic transmission. The Carnival is only available with front-wheel drive, but Kia says that it can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Inside there’s room for either seven or eight passengers. Kia says that the Carnival has best-in-class passenger room at 168.2 cubic feet of space and best-in-class cargo room with 145.1 cubic feet of space behind the first row. The eight passenger version also includes a sliding second row center seat which can be slid forward to the front passenger easy access the baby or child riding in it.
Second row passengers in the seven passenger version will also like the VIP Lounge Seating with its heated and ventilated seats, leg extensions and wing-out headrests.
On the tech front the Carnival comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a Bose audio system and wireless smartphone charging are available. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen are optional. Two 110-volt outlets are also available to help you power all your gadgets.
To keep everyone safe, the Carnival comes standard with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot avoidance assist, parking sensors, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert and automatic high beams.
The 2022 Kia Carnival is going to arrive in the second quarter of this year.
