‘Handsome’ 2022 Kia Carnival Is the Darling of the Grocery Store Parking Lot
Since there’s a large variety of people at the grocery store, it’s a good spot to find out what people really think about something. The 2022 Kia Carnival fared well in this test recently. The new Kia Carnival replaces the Kia Sedona. With large wheels and SUV style, it’s a new direction for the Kia minivan. We take a look at the handsome style that makes the Carnival such a darling.
What the 2022 Kia Carnival looks like
MotorTrend’s tester took the 2022 Kia Carnival to a grocery store, where it attracted a lot of notice in the parking lot. MotorTrend reported that “we can confirm the Carnival is cart-stoppingly handsome; on our weekly grocery shopping trip, a young man in charge of collecting the shopping carts and a customer driving away both stopped their respective four-wheelers to ask, ‘Wow, what is that? Who makes it?'”
The handsome styling that turns heads
Kia might call the 2022 Kia Carnival an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), but most people will recognize it as a minivan. It has front-wheel drive and two sliding doors plus seating for up to seven people. All-wheel drive is not available.
The Carnival’s sophisticated exterior style includes both the new Kia logo and L-shaped metal work around two sides of the third-row windows. The hexagonal pattern in the metal along with its finishes gives the feature some pizazz without being distracting, says MotorTrend.
A related hexagonal pattern appears on the metal ledge that accents the dashboard inside the Carnival. MotorTrend finds this trim to be both visually appealing and practical as well since it’s a cool spot to rest your hand while using the buttons or controls.
The 2022 Kia Carnival features excellent tech as well. Turning on the turn signal causes a view of the rear blind spots to temporarily appear in the digital gauge cluster. The Carnival offers Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has its own UVO infotainment system with its own features, including a selection of nature sounds. The systems are accessed through the Carnival’s 8-inch touchscreen. The Carnival offers up to nine USB ports to meet the needs of the entire family, says Car and Driver. Top trims also come with a rear-seat entertainment system.
The SX Prestige trim has available second-row seats that fully recline and have a footrest, all controlled with a button. These seats also feature leather trim along with heating and ventilation, says Kia. The second-row seats are also removable, and the third-row seats can be stored in the floor. On some trims, the middle seat in the second row slides forward to allow third-row entry, or it folds down, becoming a table.
Is the 2022 Kia Carnival a good minivan?
MotorTrend is quick to point out that the 2022 Kia Carnival provides substance along with its style. The Carnival has more engine power than most minivans, with its 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid option is currently not available.
MotorTrend found it accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds and has a 118-foot stopping distance from 60 MPH. For handling, MotorTrend says the Carnival has “solid, if uninspiring, road manners.” While it’s certainly not a sports car, the 2022 Carnival is fine for short or long trips.
The handsome 2022 Kia Carnival looks like it might be the next big thing from Kia. It’s becoming popular enough that MotorTrend is hearing rumors of dealer markups. Look for one that stays near the starting prices for its five trims – between $33,275 and $47,275.
RELATED: Will Kia Regret Naming Its New Minivan the ‘Carnival?’
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