Kia Unveils Carnival ‘Multi-Purpose Vehicle’

Kia has revealed the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), which replaces the outgoing Sedona, the automaker announced. Staking claim on the unoccupied space between SUV and family hauler, the Carnival arrives with a new name and is the first vehicle to be sold in the U.S. with Kia’s new logo.

Designed at Kia’s California design studio, the Carnival features a boxy appearance, reminiscent of the company’s line utility vehicles – Telluride, Sorento and Seltos – and has three rows of seating for seven- or eight passengers.

The Carnival, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, produces 290 horsepower and provides up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.

“The Kia Carnival is here to disrupt a staid segment and proves once again what is possible when conventions are shattered,” said Sean Yoon, president & CEO, Kia Motors North America, Kia Motors America. “With its SUV-like character, our new multi-purpose vehicle delivers a combination of premium design, intelligent packaging, and an abundance of innovation in safety and technology. For these reasons, the Carnival is the first vehicle to proudly wear our all-new Kia badge and is a bold signal of things to come.”

The 2022 Carnival will be offered in four trim levels: LX, EX, SX and SX-Prestige. This all-new MPV is expected to go on sale in the second quarter of this year.

The exterior of the 2022 Carnival follows suit with Kia’s recent boxy SUV style, the company said.

Exterior Features

• Kia’s “tiger nose” grille with integrated LED headlamps
• Brawny wheel arches
• A cutline that runs the length of the vehicle, joining front and rear lamps
• Large two-tone mirrors and black/chrome rocker panel moldings
• Combination taillamps featuring geometric shapes
• Rear skid plate garnish and reflectors
• 17- and 19-inch wheels and available gloss-black wheel design

Within, the Carnival’s sleek design elements and quality materials, as well as three rows for 7 or 8 passengers, Kia said.

Interior Features

• High-gloss black surfaces on the center fascia
• A chrome garnish running the length of the dash
• Integrated slim metal air vents
• Three interior colors
• 2 cubic feet of passenger room
• 1 cubic feet of cargo room (behind first row) in LX, EX, SX trims
• “Slide-Flex” seating for 8-passenger versions allow multiple configurations including a sliding second row center seat which, when in the forward-most position, allows the front passenger easy access the baby or child riding in it. This seat also converts into a functional table
• Available heated and ventilated second-row VIP Lounge Seating with power controls, wing-out headrests and leg extensions in up-level 7-passenger configuration
• Removable second-row seats and fold-in-floor third-row seats

The Carnival also offers a roster of special features:

• Standard hands-free opening power sliding doors with Smart Key
• Available hands-free Smart Power Liftgate with auto-close (EX and above)
• Available Smart Key with one-button open/close functionality for rear sliding doors and liftgate (EX and above)
• Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) uses ultrasonic sensors engineered to detect child or pet movement in the second and third rows after the doors have been locked
• Safe Exit Assist (SEA): Audibly alerts the driver or passengers opening their door not to exit the vehicle when the system detects approaching traffic
• Rear Passenger View Camera with zoom and night vision
• Passenger Talk cabin intercom system
• Passenger Voice Recognition allows second row occupants to control numerous in-vehicle functions through voice commands by pushing a button mounted on the ceiling (standard on EX SX, SX-Prestige)
• Dual Rear Screen Entertainment Monitors with Wireless Apple and Android device screen mirroring (standard on SX, SX-Prestige)

And like all of Kia’s lineup, the Carnival offers an array of standard and optional technology, including:

• Standard 8-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 3-in. navigation display
• 3-in. full digital instrument cluster
• Multi-Bluetooth connectivity
• Up to nine USB ports for all three rows and two 110-volt power inverters
• Bose Premium sound system, available with 12 high-performance speakers
• Bose Centerpoint technology
• Dynamic Speed Compensation analyzes the sound source and automatically adjusts according to speed
• UVO link telematics offers an array of advanced connected vehicle features, such as:
• Connected Routing: A cloud-based route calculation system
• Connected Weather: Provides weather information for more than 25,000 cities
• Enhanced UVO voice assist feature allows voice control of the vehicle’s climate, seat and steering-wheel heating, audio system and other functions
• Connected User Profiles: Allows customers to add an additional driver profile to their vehicle
• Calendar Integration: Designed to sync your Google or iCloud calendar
• Last Mile Navigation: Gives you walking directions to your selected navigation destination
• UVO & Smart Speaker Integration lets customers use Amazon-Alexa or Google-Assistant enabled smart speaker or device to remotely control some functions (such as remote start)

Advanced notifications:

• Engine Idle Notification and Automatic Engine Shut Off notifies the driver via the UVO link app if the engine is left idling and, after a pre-selected time, turns off the engine
• Rear Occupancy Alert can send push notification alerts via the UVO link app if movement is detected inside the vehicle
• 911 Connect and Roadside Assistance will automatically attempt to call 911 via the built-in UVO modem if an airbag deploys. For non-emergencies, it can connect with 24/7 roadside assist and share the vehicle’s location

The 2022 Carnival is built on the same all-new 3rd generation “N3” platform as the Sorento and K5. Kia’s engineers made sure it was lighter, stronger and quieter than the outgoing architecture, the company said, and highlights include:

• Expanded use of hot-stamped parts and ultra-high-strength steel for increased average tensile strength and torsional stiffness that result in better driving dynamics
• Greater application of sound absorbing and insulating materials to minimize road, wind and engine noise
• Aerodynamic improvements to wheels, front bumper and mirrors to achieve better fuel economy

The front-wheel drive Carnival is available with a single powertrain:

• 5-liter V6 GDI Engine
• 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm
• 262 lb.-ft. torque at 5,000 rpm
• 8-speed automatic transmission
• 3500 lbs. of towing capacity

The Carnival MPV is also equipped with comprehensive list of standard Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features including:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
• Blind-Spot Avoidance Assist (BCA)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
• Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) with Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• High Beam Assist (HBA)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)

In addition, the Carnival offers several available “Kia Drive Wise” Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS):

• Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist-Cyclist (FCA – cyclist)
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA)
• Navigation Based Smart Cruise Control-Curve (NSCC-C)
• Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA-R)
• Surround View Monitor (SVM)