The Bottom Line: Who is Kia? Kia Corporation was founded in May 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. From humble beginnings making bicycles and motorcycles, Kia has grown to be part of the dynamic, global, Hyundai Kia Genesis Automotive Group, to become the world’s fifth largest vehicle manufacturer.
Are Kia and Hyundai the Same Company? Kia filed for bankruptcy in 1997 after they were their own independent entity. Hyundai Motor Group decided to purchase the auto company in 1998 to keep it afloat. Kia and Hyundai operate independently, but Hyundai is the parent company of Kia Motors.
What kind of vehicle is a Carnival? While it looks more like an SUV, the Kia Carnival remains a minivan at heart, and goes up against rivals such as the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The Carnival comes with a long list of standard comfort and safety features, along with a very affordable base price.
The 2022 Carnival minivan, which replaces the Sedona minivan, starts at only $32,100. It has a 3.5L liter V6 engine, offers seating for seven or eight passengers, and comes in LX, EX, and SX trim levels. The new 2022 Carnival is arriving at U.S. dealerships right now.
This week Kia sent me a 2022 Carnival SX Prestige Edition Minivan to test drive and review. The base price for this model starts at $46,100. As this is the top of the line model with every available option, the only extra cost item on the test minivan is the Astra paint job for $495.
The total MSRP manufactures suggested retail price, including the $1,175 destination charge, came to: $47,770. Yes, your reading that correctly, this 2022 Kia Carnival is a high tech luxury SX Prestige Edition minivan, and is priced under $48K.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the total out the door and in your driveway purchase price came to: $53,741. This price is right in the sweet spot of the luxury minivan class, and being the newest van on the block, it has the best and most up-to-date options, comfort features and technology for sale today.
Riding on Kia’s brand new N3 platform, the Carnival is powered by a 3.5L liter direct injection V6 engine making 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, and runs through an 8 speed automatic transmission. Carnival’s interior blends comfort and luxury with high tech appointments like an electronic parking brake with automatic hold, to stop the minivan from rolling backwards in the driveway, or on hills at a stop light.
The Carnival SX Trim combines next level tech enhancements with additional driver assistance technologies, with multipurpose capability. These features are: a navigation system with a 12.3 inch center stack display screen, auto emergency braking with junction turning and cyclist detection, navigation based smart cruise control, highway driving assist, 19″ black machine finish alloy wheels, smart power sliding side doors and a smart power rear liftgate, a wireless phone charger, and a live rear passenger view through the center stack display screen, just to name a few of the cool ones.
Fuel economy is 26 MPG highway, 19 MPG city and a respectable 22 MPG in combined driving. The greenhouse gas rating is a 5, and the smog rating is a 5, both out of 10. All really good numbers for a luxury minivan that can seat 7 people and can tow. The Kia Carnival towing capacity reaches an impressive 3,500 pounds, which is plenty of power for pulling a small boat or trailer, to your next weekend adventure.
As this is a Kia minivan, it comes with the best compressive automotive warranty available. The Carnival is covered for: 100,000 miles on a limited power train warranty, with a 5 year or 60,000 miles limited basic overall warranty, and comes with a 5 year or 60,000 miles roadside assistance program, all at no additional cost to you.
Plus Kia is rated as the #1 market brand in initial quality for the 6th year in a row. Think of it as 5 years worth of total piece of mind for your body, soul and wallet.
When you’re ready to buy a new minivan, the 2022 Kia Carnival should be on your ride and drive list, as it is one of the best and newest minivan’s for sale today. Call, click or visit your local Kia dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on a new 2022 Kia Carnival. And remember that the base window sticker price for the all new Carnival minivan starts at just $32,100.
A word to the wise is sufficient: Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense © editorialprovided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
