Based on my observation, not many vehicles face as many critics as the 2024 Kia Carnival SX. I know, with only four options in the minivan segment, there is a minimum 25-per-cent chance that the Carnival will win a buyer. But that is assuming its buyers are strictly looking for minivans, which is unfortunately almost never the case.
Anecdotally, the Carnival is put up against everything in its price range — minivans, crossovers, pickup trucks, and even some entry-level luxury cars — but for some reason, most people I have talked to always find a reason to not go with the Carnival. These reasons are often rather subjective — people dislike its styling, the perceptions of the Kia nameplate, its country of manufacture, or any combination of those three. It is hard to win someone over holding any of those biases, so I will not even try. For everyone else, here is my objective review of the fully loaded Carnival SX.
Kia knows North American shoppers like SUVs, hence the boxy, SUV-like styling cues incorporated into the Carnival’s exterior design. You will notice unique design elements such as a slightly higher ride height, flaring wheel arches, and contrasting silver skid plates — all typical dress-up found in crossovers and SUVs, rather than minivans. The end result is a more rugged and tougher look than traditional minivans.
Stepping inside, the Carnival greets you with a spacious cabin and sophisticated design. Materials are on par with most top-of-line mainstream crossovers, particularly the metal trim piece splitting up the dashboard. As with every minivan, interior space is never an issue. There is plenty of room for everybody, and second-row occupants will no doubt appreciate the reclining seatback and extendable footrest that gives a near first-class flight experience. The second-row captain’s chairs can also slide forwards and backwards, and side-to-side, allowing for passengers to sit closer together, or to open up the path for the third row.
In terms of features and comfort, the Carnival SX is hard to beat. You will find heated and ventillated seats in the first and second rows, a dual-panel power sunroof, power-operated side doors and rear liftgate, a Bose premium audio system, and a handy passenger view camera that helps the driver keep tabs on the little ones out back. Moreover, the Carnival is incredibly comfortable to ride — the cabin is whisper-quiet and the suspension soaks up every single bump on the road. Its supple ride quality is easily comparable to luxury sedans that cost twice the money. The Carnival should be at the top of your list if interior space and comfort are priorities.
Unlike recent trends in the three-row SUV segment where manufacturers are replacing six-cylinder engines with turbo-fours, the Carnival retains its normally aspirated 3.5L V6. Putting out 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, power delivery is buttery smooth — never hasty, but it carries enough power to keep up in any scenario. The Carnival will not thrill in the handling department, either, but it favours an easy driving experience and feels most at-home cruising on the highway.
Fuel economy is estimated at 12.1 L/100 kilometres in the city and 8.9 on the highway. My observed figure over my city-heavy commute came in at 11.6 L/100 km — impressive for the Carnival’s size and displacement — and it can accept regular gasoline which is a bonus.
When it comes to drivers assistance features, the Carnival comes standard with Rear Occupant Alert, Lane Keep and Follow Assist, and forward collision avoidance across all trim levels. Our top-of-the-line SX trim gets loaded up with high-tech goodies such as navigation-based adaptive cruise control, parking collision and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, blind-spot view monitor, a 360-degree camera, and more advanced collision avoidance assist systems.
When you look at its starting price of $36,495, the Carnival is a lot of car for the money — literally. Even at our SX tester’s total of $49,995 as-tested, it is still a relatively budget-friendly alternative to many other mainstream three-row crossovers, which have been pushing past the $60,000 mark lately.
After spending a week with the 2024 Kia Carnival SX, it is every bit as good as other minivans and three-row SUVs in the market, and if reliability is a concern, rest assured every Carnival comes with one of the best warranties in the business. I see very little reason not to choose it over most vehicles in its price range, especially if hauling people and gear is a priority.
