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Latest Kia
Kia has been on a roll lately — recently the Korean brand introduced an all-new K5 sedan and Sorento SUV. Continuing its model line rejuvenation, the automaker today reveals its latest revamp: the 2022 Kia Carnival. Replacing the Sedona minivan, the new Carnival features bold styling, innovative new features, a spacious interior and the latest high-tech safety equipment. Most notably, Kia does not call the Carnival a minivan — it is now a multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV.
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SUV-Like Character
“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 of Kia Motors North America and 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,” Yoon enthused.
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New Platform
The 2022 Kia Carnival will be built on Kia’s latest N3 platform, which also underpins the new K5 and Sorento. More lightweight with better sound absorbing and insulating materials — as well as extensive use of ultra-high strength steel — the new platform should give this revamped MPV a quieter ride with improved driving dynamics versus the current Sedona.
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Bold Styling
Fashioned at the Kia Design Center in Irvine, California, the new Carnival features many cues that first appeared on the brand’s latest SUVs in order to give the minivan — we mean MPV — a more rugged appearance. Up front sits a modern version of Kia’s familiar “tiger nose” grille, which integrates with new signature LED running lights and slim headlights. The Carnival will also be the first vehicle in the automaker’s lineup to feature Kia’s new logo.
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SUV Looks
The SUV-like styling of the 2022 Kia Carnival gets further emphasized with bold wheel arches and a character line that runs the length of the vehicle connecting the headlights and taillights. Available 19-inch wheels add stature to the overall look.
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Rear View
On the road, unique LED taillights help the Carnival stand out from other people movers, and the lights stretch the full width across the back of the MPV. The rear valance below the bumper resembles a skidplate — designed to give the Carnival more SUV styling.
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Powerful V6
A 3.5-liter V6 engine motivates the 2022 Kia Carnival, producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque — a bump of 14 horsepower and 14 lb-ft of torque versus the 3.3-liter engine in the current Sedona. Power gets directed to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy numbers have not yet been reported; however, Kia does say the Carnival is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.
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Safety
The 2022 Kia Carnival comes with a long list of advanced driver-assist systems as standard equipment, including forward collision avoidance, blind-spot avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, park distance warning, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, high-beam headlight assist and driver attention warning. Kia’s exclusive blind-spot view monitor is available, as is cyclist detection for the forward collision-avoidance system and parking collision avoidance.
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High-Tech Cabin
The 2022 Kia Carnival has an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with the option of upgrading to a larger 12.3-inch widescreen display as well as a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all Carnivals, and the minivan — oops, MPV — can be equipped with wireless charging and up to nine USB ports located throughout the cabin. Also available is a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers.
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VIP Seating
Kia will offer the Carnival with the ultimate second-row with VIP Lounge Seating. These reclining bucket seats feature power adjustments, heating, cooling and extending leg rests.
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Plenty of Room
Carnival can be outfitted to seat seven or eight occupants, and according to Kia the new model boasts best-in-class passenger room and cargo space. Flexible 8-passenger seating features a sliding second-row center seat so a child or baby seated there can be better accessed from the front seats. This seat can also be folded to create a useful table.
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Spacious Cargo Area
The Carnival offers up plenty of cargo space even with all seats in place. Second-row seats can also be removed and third row seats can be folded individually into the floor for added versatility.
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Innovative Features
Kia will offer the Carnival with a range of innovative features including rear occupant alert, which notifies the driver if a child or pet is detected in the car after the doors have been locked; safe exit assist alerts rear passengers not to exit if approaching traffic might endanger occupants leaving the vehicle, and can even lock the doors automatically; a rear passenger view camera with zoom and night vision; and passenger voice recognition that lets second-row passengers controls certain vehicle functions via voice control.
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