Is the 2023 Kia Carnival LX Seat Package Worth It?
The Kia Carnival Seat Package boasts extra seating and comfort—but you might be better off opting for a higher trim instead.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
For about $2,000 above the starting price, the Kia Carnival LX Seat Package adds an eight-passenger capacity with a middle second-row seat, along with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and simulated leather upholstery throughout this family minivan.
The base 2023 Carnival LX alone has a lot to offer: a standard 290-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, power-sliding rear side doors, front and rear air conditioning, and reclining third-row seats. But for about $2,000 extra, the LX Seat Package offers additional upscale features for a comfortable ride that will wow the whole family.
Here’s everything you need to know about the LX Seat Package before you head to your local
Kia
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What is the Kia Carnival Seat Package?
Need some extra room and comfort in your minivan? Only available on the base 2023 Kia Carnival LX, the Kia Carnival LX Seat Package takes you from a seating capacity of seven to eight, along with several other upgraded standard features.
What’s included
The Seat Package includes five upgrades to take your seating game to the next level:
- Eight-passenger seating capacity with a middle second-row seat
- Heated front seats
- Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Simulated leather upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
What it does
Basically, the Seat Package upgrades all front and rear seating throughout the entire base LX to add a touch of luxury to your minivan driving experience on the road.
If you’re looking for extra seating to accommodate your growing family, the Seat Package will upgrade you from seven-passenger seating to eight-passenger seating with second-row slide-flex seating. That means you’ll have three seats total on the second row instead of the standard two sliding and removable second-row captain’s chairs featured on the base LX model.
Front seat occupants will also enjoy heated front seats, while drivers will ride in comfort and style with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The base LX only includes a height-adjustable driver's seat.
And last, but not least, the Seat Package will upgrade all front and rear seating in your Carnival LX from basic cloth seats to simulated leather upholstery for all passengers to appreciate.
How much is a 2023 Kia Carnival Seat Package?
Who could possibly say no to heated front seats and simulated leather upholstery? Then again, you’ll need to consider if these extra conveniences are worth the extra price.
While pricing differs between trim levels, the Seat Package is only available on the base model and costs about $2,000 extra than the regular LX. But keep in mind that these same seating upgrades come standard in the higher Carnival trim levels—minus the SX Prestige that boasts genuine leather upholstery. Let’s break down each trim by price:
2023 Kia Carnival trim pricing
Trim | Starting price |
|---|---|
$33,110 | |
LX Seat Package | $35,100 |
EX | $38,600 |
SX | $41,800 |
SX Prestige | $46,200 |
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Is the Carnival Seat Package worth it?
The Seat Package is worth it if you require an eight-passenger seating capacity. And if you’re hauling the whole family on roads trip or just around town, you’ll be in safe hands as even the base model comes with an abundance of standard driver assistance features, such as:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention warning
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure mitigation
- Pedestrian detection system
- Rear parking sensors
- Rear seat reminder
- Safe exit assistance
But if you happen to have $3,500 more to spend, the experts from Car and Driver and Edmunds agree that you’ll want to consider the EX trim level. It includes everything the LX Seat Package has to offer, plus a ton of additional standard high-tech and luxury features.
Let’s take a closer look below.
Seat Package vs. the EX
Starting at $38,600, the 2023 Kia Carnival EX will almost make you feel as if you’re driving a luxury minivan. Along with all features from the LX Seat Package, the second-tier EX steps up all modern conveniences to include additional upgraded features like:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Triple-zone automatic climate control
- Hands-free liftgate
- Rear side window shades
- Satellite radio
- Navigation
- Eight stereo speakers
- Quiet mode
- Interior camera
- Interior intercom system
The Carnival EX also adds more safety systems to keep you protected on the road including adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, lane keeping assistance, and pedestrian and cyclist detection for about $3,500 more than you’d pay for the LX Seat Package.
Seat Package vs. the SX
Looking for a touch of luxury and sportiness in your minivan? Starting at $41,800, the 2023 Kia Carnival SX might just do the trick. Here’s what the third-tier trim level gets you:
- Ventilated front seats
- Digital instrument display
- 115-volt power outlet
- Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Memory for the driver's preferred settings
- Roof rails
- Black 19-inch alloy wheels
- Satin chrome exterior trim
- Matte-chrome grille design
- LED fog lights
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
And if you didn’t think the 2023 Kia Carnival could possibly come with any more safety features, you’d be mistaken! In addition to the driver assistance features mentioned above, the SX also boasts a blind-spot camera, rear automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system for about $6,700 more than the LX Seat Package.
Seat Package vs. the SX Prestige
For the crème de la crème of the 2023 Kia Carnival trims levels, look no further than the top-of-the-line SX Prestige. Starting at $46,200, you’ll feel like a million bucks when you’re riding your family around with additional luxury features, such as:
- Genuine leather upholstery
- Heated steering wheel
- Dual power sunroofs
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Full LED headlights
- LED tail lights
- LED interior lighting
- 12-speaker Bose premium sound system
And surprise—the Kia Carnival actually offers one more seat package with the SX Prestige Seat Package. It adds heated and ventilated second-row seats, along with power-adjustable and reclining lounge seats for the second row at no additional cost. Just be aware that you will lose your third seating option for the second row if you go this route.
The bottom line
If you’re just looking for an eight-seater ride with a minimal amount of luxury upgrades, then the LX Seat Package is worth it. But for drivers who require the latest and greatest in modern conveniences and tech features (and money is no object), the EX or SX might be more up-to-speed for those wanting to live their best lives in a family minivan.
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