2024 Kia Carnival Review: A Spacious Family Minivan

The 2024 Kia Carnival is among the most stylish and versatile family MPVs ever made. And this time, the Kia Carnival offers modern aesthetics, advanced technology, and class-leading warranty coverage. There are so many good 2024 Carnival features that buyers should look forward to. If you’ve driven the outgoing model, you might have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the new Carnival model. For starters, the Carnival MPV comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that kicks out 290 horsepower. It’s also available in a seven or eight-seater capacity, depending on the chosen trim. Our 2024 Kia Carnival review dives into all the MPV’s coolest features, and reasons why it might be for you. 

The 2024 Kia Carnival highlights include the Highway Driving Assist, the 290-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, the second-row VIP lounge seats,  and the 12.3-inch infotainment system. Starting at $34,995, the 2024 Carnival is a Stylish family MPV that competes with rivals like the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Chrysler Pacifica. Want to learn more? Read our review of the 2024 Carnival. 

2024 Kia Carnival Pricing and Trim Levels

The 2024 Kia Carnival comes in five trim levels: LX, LX with Seat Package, EX, SX, and the SX Prestige. With a starting price of $34,995 for the base LX trim, each of these Carnival trim levels offers a desirable blend of features to suit different needs and budgets. 

Here’s a look at the 2024 Carnival Prices:

KIA CARNIVAL TRIM LEVELPRICE MSRP
2024 Carnival LX$34,995
2024 Carnival With Seat Package$36,995
2024 Carnival EX$40,495
2024 Carnival SX$43,695
2024 Carnival SX Prestige$48,095

Family-Friendly Kia Carnival Interior

The 2024 Kia Carnival’s interior is spacious and well-appointed. Its spaciousness and versatility make the Carnival perfect for families. Depending on the trim and configuration, the 2024 Carnival can seat seven or eight passengers. 

Breakdown of the seating arrangements in trim levels:

2024 Kia Carnival Trim LevelSeating Capacity
LX and SX Prestige TrimsStandard seating for seven
EX and SX TrimsStandard seating for eight

Besides carrying up to eight people, the Kia Carnival’s interior offers the type of practicality you can expect from a top-class minivan. Users can slide and remove the Carnival’s second-row seats. The MPV’s third seats recline and fold into the floor. 

The SX Prestige trim features luxurious second-row VIP lounge seats that slide, recline and have leg extensions at the push of a button. However, the second-row  VIP lounge seats on the Prestige trim are not removable. Well, at least they slide. 

The 2024 Kia Carnival also features easy-to-use anchor points for child car seat installation. Speaking of children, there is ample space for access to the Carnival’s third row, especially with second-row captain’s chairs. 

With all seats in place, the 2024 Carnival offers 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 86.9 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded down. This capacity is significantly more than many midsize SUVs like the Ford Everest. 

Engine and Transmission

The 2024 Kia Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This strong V6 engine pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which is both swift and notably quiet. 

Another thing that’s noteworthy about the 2024 Carnival is that the MPV is not available with all-wheel drive, unlike some competitors. The Carnival is only available with a front-wheel drive setup. That’s a bit of a bummer, considering all the MPV’s other best features. 

Performance and Handling

The 2024 Carnival handles well, offering an overall comfortable yet agile driving experience. The steering provides swift and accurate inputs. The brakes are strong and responsive, just like the automatic transmission system. The suspension strikes a balance between comfort and agility, making the perfect family MPV for city driving and long highway trips.

The heart of the Kia Carnival 2024 is the 290-horsepower V6 engine, which provides ample acceleration and smooth performance even with a full load of passengers. Notably, the Carnival has good merging and passing power. 

Kia Carnival Fuel Economy

In terms of fuel economy, the 2024 Kia Carnival delivers 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, or 22 MPG combined. The Carnival’s efficiency is comparable to the Honda Odyssey and the front-wheel-drive, non-hybrid Chrysler Pacifica. 

The Carnival’s closest competitor, the hybrid Toyota Sienna, boasts a superior 36 mpg combined. Also, the plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica can travel up to 32 miles on electricity alone with a 30 mpg combined rating post-battery depletion. 

Stylish Exterior Design

2024 Kia Carnival Exterior Rear View

The 2024 Kia Carnival features a boxy, SUV-like design that gives it a rugged and modern appearance. It looks like a combination of the Sienna and the Sorento Hybrid. 

The Carnival’s unique aesthetic helps it stand out from traditional minivans. The MPV’s best exterior features are the power sliding doors, which provide added convenience and accessibility.

Infotainment System

The 2024 Kia Carnival’s interior features a Dual Panoramic Display that combines a 12.3-inch infotainment system and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster in upper trims. The Kia Carnival’s infotainment system comes with connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Yes. Wired. 

Advanced Technology Features

Besides the 12.3-inch infotainment screen and digital cluster duo, the new Kia Carnival brings awesome technology features. 

One of the 2024 Carnival’s best technology features is the Driver And Passenger Talk, which is an intercom system that allows easy communication with rear passengers.

You’ll also love the Smart Power Doors, which provide a hands-free experience. And the operation is simple. The power sliding doors open automatically when the Smart Key is nearby. The Sportage model also has this feature.

Kia Carnival Safety Ratings

The 2024 Kia Carnival earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, thanks to its excellent crash test ratings and safety features. 

The Carnival 2024 has the Kia Drive Wise suite, which features standard tech like automatic high beams, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a blind-spot monitoring system. 

The new Kia Carnival also comes with the Highway Driving Assist feature, which helps with steering, braking, and accelerating in various traffic conditions, with attentive driver input.

Class-Leading Warranty

The 2024 Kia Carnival comes with a great warranty  Kia offers a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Final Verdict

The 2024 Kia Carnival stands out in the minivan segment. For 2024, the MPV combines a stylish design, advanced technology, and practical features with a decent warranty. The new Carnival may not offer the all-wheel-drive setup or better fuel economy numbers, but it excels in practicality and convenience. Whether it’s road-tripping across the country (hopefully not off the beaten path) or running errands in the city, the new Kia Carnival will get you there. Overall, the 2024 Carnival’s starting MSRP $34,995 price tag is worth it for families.  

Wilfred Nkhwazi
Wilfred Nkhwazihttps://flagshipdrive.com
Wilfred Nkhwazi is a writer and explorer of the open road. 📚 With more than five years of experience in the world of automotive writing, Wilfred is the visionary behind Flagship Drive. As a seasoned writer, he brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to Flagship Drive, providing readers with the latest news, reviews, and trends in the automotive world. Wilfred has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the engineering behind cars, making him the go-to expert for all things automotive. When he isn't behind the wheel, you can find him exploring the latest automotive innovations. He has attended several auto events in the UK, such as the 2024 Supercar Fest: The Runway, the Weekender, and the Goodwood Festival Of Speed. On top of that, Wilfred Nkhwazi founded other publishing platforms like "ShesABeauty" and "Adorable Beginnings", which covers different types of content. He belongs in a world of words.

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