2023 Kia Carnival: A Trim Comparison
The Kia Sedona is out and the Kia Carnival is in. This stylish new minivan from 2022 returns to the market for 2023. It boasts impressive driving performance and a luxurious interior at an affordable starting price.
2023 Kia Carnival Trims
The 2023 Kia Carnival offers a long list of standard features with its base trim, but you can find even more in its other trim options. Find a model that suits your budget and driving needs. Read on to find out more.
Performance
All trims come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s as smooth as a tall glass of vodka. The Carnival handles itself incredibly well and the brakes are responsive as well. Front wheel-drive is standard and the only choice with the Carnival.
LX
The LX has a starting price of $32,600, which is the cheapest model but that doesn’t mean it cuts back on features. Right off the bat, you’ll get an 8-inch touch display, a six-speaker stereo, HD radio, Bluetooth, and seven USB ports. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard smartphone integration features you will get with this trim as well.
The interior features seating for seven, upholstered in a comfortable cloth material. The second-row seats are sliding and removable. Rear doors are hands-free and power-sliding. You can also start your car remotely to get your interior cooler or warmer depending on your seasonal needs.
In the way of safety features, you’ll get the usual suite of features like forward collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. Other features include driver drowsiness monitoring, pedestrian detection, rear parking sensors and vehicle exit warning.
Optional with this trim is a LX Seat package that upgrades the seven seat arrangement to an eight-seat arrangement with synthetic leather upholstery. The driver’s seat becomes a power-adjustable version and front row seats are heated. Blindspot monitoring and parallel exit assist are added safety features with this package. You can get all that for $2,000 and for another $1,500, you can get a rear-seat entertainment system.
EX
The EX trim, starting at $38,100, comes standard with seating for eight. It also boasts tri-zone climate control, a hands-free liftgate, and wireless device charging. The infotainment system includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, satellite radio and eight-speaker audio. Additional safety features include front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and adaptive cruise control.
Once again, the rear-seat entertainment system is optional.
SX
The 2023 Kia Carnival has a starting MSRP of $41,300. This trim adds on top of everything in the EX trim, a surround-view parking camera system, skid plates, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and an extra USB port. Front seats are both ventilated. And another big difference is that the rear-seat entertainment system is standard with this trim.
SX Prestige
If you are ready to splurge on your new minivan, what better way than with the Prestige trim. This model comes with dual sunroofs, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated second-row lounge seats (yes, footrests!) and a heated steering wheel. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12-speaker Bose audio system are other premium features with this trim. It should be noted, though, that this trim only provides seating for seven.
The SX Prestige trim starts at $45,700.