The 2024 Kia Carnival Is A Top-Notch Minivan!

Minivans used to be in a world of their own competing only against each other in a small segment. However, now in a world with an abundance of three-row SUVs, minivans really had to step up their game. Now, that is exactly what we've seen with the all-new Kia Carnival.

Let’s see how the latest 2024 version stacks up against other minivans like the Sienna as well as three-row crossovers like the Telluride. 

The 2024 Carnival Minivan Looks Like An SUV

The 2024 Kia Carnival has a pretty stylish exterior. Like we were saying at the beginning, minivans have to compete with more vehicles than ever; I think because of that, Kia really took a more SUV-like approach to this Carnival when it comes to the front-end design. Now for 2024, we're not going to see any styling changes, and you'll still continue to have a couple of different Grille choices. So you always have kind of that Tiger-nose shape that's typical but on your lower two trim levels. You'll have this bar design and once you get to the SX that's going to go for a Dark Chrome mesh through the center. 

It’s got a very unique looking headlight Arrangement as well which is actually made of three separate components. You have standard LED headlights integrated into the grill; and then in between, you got a daytime running light and your incandescent turn signal indicator. 

If you choose the SX Prestige model, that's going to upgrade your headlights from reflector LEDs to projector LEDs, and if you get above the SX trim level that's going to give you LED fog lights as well. 

The rear design is a more boxy squared-off look than your typical minivan. I like the way it looks, especially in person. We actually just got out of a Sienna, and this definitely has a less minivan-like look here in the back. 

None of the tail-lamp elements are LED and I'm a little disappointed by that. It's going to be that way if you go for any trim level except for that top-end SX Prestige. With that, you will get LED tail lights so only the top trim gets LED lighting.

As far as other design touches, you have stylish wheel options. The base LX will come with 17-inch alloy wheels, however, once you get to the EX trim level, it's going to upgrade you to these 19-inch contrast alloy wheels. I really like the way these look and they really pop against the ceramic silver paint color on this model. 

If you choose the SX or SX Prestige, you'll get the same wheels but in fully gloss black. 

We do have a gloss black finish on the lower part of the side mirrors, and in that you have standard heating and standard blind spot monitoring. If you want power folding, you'll need to get at least the SX trim level. 

Inside, The Carnival Is Pretty Comfy & Loaded

Before moving inside the 2024 Carnival, the key fob’s design looks like the typical Kia K5 but it is a little different because we've got the additional buttons for the power doors. You do have standard smart entry as well as standard remote start on all versions of the Carnival. And to get inside there's not a sensor behind the handle, so you're just going to press that which will unlock the door. 

The cabin of the 2024 Kia Carnival has a very traditional shape to it. The LX is the only model that's going to come with cloth seating, everything else will come with leatherette up until you get to the SX Prestige. That's going to get you real leather. 

This EX trim level has leatherette seating, however, it's a very realistic feeling. We've got some nice perforation and stitching details throughout, and as far as color choices, you've got the choice between Gray or Saddle Brown. The one we have is the gray option. 

However, as you can see, the seats basically are Black and many of the other elements inside the cabin are what is a light gray. Down below, we do have power-adjusting seat on all but the base model. It's going to be an eight-way power adjustment here. You get a four-way lumbar if you go up to the SX, and that's also the model that's going to start out with memory seating. 

The door trim has a nice leather material and a black finish around the window switches and above that as well. Speaking of the window switches, for the EX trim levels now only the driver's window is going to be Auto up and down. That is kinda disappointing as previously, all four of the windows were Auto up and down. 

We do have a full leatherette-covered dashboard and then, all through the center here, we have a very realistic Faux wood trim, this is going to be on EX and SX trim levels. The other trim levels will come with Faux textured aluminum instead. All your central tunnel area will be finished in a piano black plastic and no padding along the console. 

The gauge cluster has a traditional arrangement on board. It is analog, and you have a 4.2-inch multi-function display in the middle. If you want something a little bit more modern though, you can get a full 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster standard on the SX trim level. The steering wheel has a typical Kia design, and it is going to be leather-wrapped on all trim levels. 

Even though the Carnival takes an SUV-like approach it’s got a good amount of space. You have two cup holders in the front and then another storage area with a wireless phone charging pad. 

On the touchscreen display, you have a traditional backup camera with active trajectory on board. You get a 360 camera on the SX trim and above. 

This is a three-stage heated seat, and it’s going to be included on the LX with the seating package and above. If you want to see ventilation, you can upgrade it to the SX trim level. & then as far as your climate controls, you do have a three-zone automatic climate setup on the vast majority of trim levels but the base model. 

We have some physical controls for our audio system choices as well so you have a standard six-speaker sound system you upgrade to an eight-speaker sound system for your middle trim levels and then only the SX Prestige will come with a branded Bose 12 speaker sound system. 

We've got that middle EX trim and the overall sound quality of this is actually pretty good. Really fills up the cabin nicely! 

Talking about the touchscreen display, there are going to be two different choices, 8-inches on the base LX model everything else will get the 12.3-inch display as we have with us. As far as functionality, you do have some differences, I think the most important one to mention is the fact that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are going to be Wireless on just the base screen, and then if you have the 12.3-inch display, you will need to plug in your device with a USB connection to be able to have those abilities. 

We do have a power door, and I do also want to mention it has the smart ability kind of like the tailgate if you approach with the key fob it'll beep a few times, and open up the door. 

The 3.5-liter Engine Defines Refinement!

The Carnival keeps things, simple there's only one powertrain selection that is a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine making 290 horsepower and 262 lb-feet of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic which powers the front wheels. 

Talking about driving, the 2024 Carnival has one of the highest power outputs in the segment, so it really makes this feel plenty powerful when you're behind the wheel. The 0-60 really doesn't take too long at all, and has a very refined sound to it as well while you're accelerating! 

I think a lot of buyers are really going to appreciate that smooth V6 refinement. Even under really hard accelerations, it stays refined, it stays nice, and not strained sounding; so that's a really big benefit that you're going to get with this Carnival as opposed to something like the Toyota Sienna.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is the same as in other Hyundai and Kia products. Very nice and smooth gearbox and I really don't have any complaints here. It's nice and responsive and when you put your foot down, you get your additional power added quite quickly!

One thing to consider though is that, this is front-wheel drive only, so some other vans like the Sienna, are offering all-wheel drive at this point. The Honda Odyssey is also a front-wheel drive only so it's not like the only thing in the segment and honestly it's not a huge deal to me to have all-wheel drive in a minivan either. 

But for a lot of you guys, that extra all-wheel drive is a peace of mind. So that is a little bit of something to consider with the Carnival. As far as your fuel economy is concerned it's going to be a pretty decent fuel economy of 19 MPG in the city, 26 on the highway and about 22 miles a gallon combined for all the models.

In terms of comfort, alongside a few other Minivans in the segment, this Carnival also is one of the most comfortable vehicles money can buy. It is just so incredibly smooth, when you hit a bump it does not translate much into the cabin at all. It's just going to be one of those vehicles you can cruise down the highway and you're going to be enjoying every second of it in complete Comfort!

The 2024 Carnival Is Nice, But Maybe Not Enough 

With the 2024 Carnival, Kia went with, as we mentioned numerous times, a more SUV-like approach and I think that paid off. It just doesn't look so much like a minivan, as many of the rivals do! And of course, you know minivans have a little bit of a stigma. So I think it makes it more comfortable for people to choose to have a minivan and all the extra practicality that comes along with that. 

There are no other alternative power trains or all-wheel drive on this Carnival, that's something that both the Sienna as well as the Chrysler Pacifica have. And that's really going to be one of the biggest cons of this Carnival. Plus, you're stuck with the V6 fuel economy. Yes, you get the refinement, but 22 miles a gallon is far from the 35 miles a gallon that you're going to get on the Sienna. And the Pacifica also has a plug-in Hybrid, which is of course very efficient as well! So you're going to be paying the price as the pump for this Carnival.