Kia Missed a Huge Opportunity With the Carnival
Without a hybrid option, the Kia Carnival will have a hard time competing against more eco-friendly minivans. Is a solution on the horizon?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The
Kia Carnival
offers what you’d expect from a minivan
. From its drivetrain to its comfort-focused interior, it’s clear that the vehicle’s primary focus is moving up to seven people from place to place. But Kia failed to keep up with its minivan-making rivals in one regard—it didn’t offer a hybrid option for the Carnival. Every other minivan on the market gives drivers the eco-friendly option.
Jerry
, your trusty car insurance super app, took a closer look at the Carnival and Kia’s goals for the van to see if the company has any plans to rectify the issue.Rollout of the Kia Carnival is confusing
When Kia unveiled the 2022 Carnival, the company shied away from calling it a minivan. Instead, they tried on a new label, dubbing it a “multi-purpose vehicle” or MPV.
As you might’ve predicted, the label didn’t stick. But it’s not the only reason people are a little confused about the Carnival.
You see, in many ways, the Carnival is your best option for a new minivan. Its V6 engine offers plenty of power, giving it more horsepower than any other minivan available. Its seating arrangement also provides more comfort than some rival models.
But there’s one glaring gap in the options offered for Kia Carnival—a hybrid powertrain. Unlike the Toyota Sienna and the Chrysler Pacifica, the Carnival only has one motor option: a V6 with a mediocre overall fuel economy of just 21 mpg.
A hybrid option may be in the works, but nothing’s been revealed yet, even for the 2023 model.
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How does the Kia Carnival compare to competing minivans?
Being a minivan, the Kia Carnival doesn’t have many rivals to deal with. In the U.S., only three other minivans were released in 2022: the Chrysler Pacifica, the Honda Odyssey, and the Toyota Sienna.
Critics aren’t all on the same page when it comes to ranking the four vans.
Consumer Reports
gave the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna the same score of 79, dropping the Odyssey’s grade by one and handing the Pacifica a dismal 57 due to reliability issues.Car and Driver
, on the other hand, claimed that the Pacifica was the best minivan on the market, praising it for its fuel efficiency and comfortable eight-passenger setup. The Carnival was placed second, with the Honda and Toyota trailing behind.MORE: Kia Isn't Fooling Anyone With the 2022 Carnival...and That's Alright
Kia Carnival ownership costs
The most obvious thing the Kia Carnival has going for it is its price. Starting at $34,800, it’s easily the cheapest new minivan available, beating the closest starting price by $5,700.
Because it’s such a new vehicle, average
car insurance
for a Kia Carnival is hard to pin down. But no matter where it lands, you can save on coverage by shopping for car insurance quotes online with Jerry. Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture: Jerry is an app.
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MORE: Critics and Consumers Disagree About Which Minivan Is Best
4.7
