Kia, in 2002, sold the U.S.-market Sedona over three generations. It seems the automaker is not so keen on you remembering that vehicle. Instead, it is replacing that outgoing minivan with a family hauler. It is calling the Carnival. Furthermore, Kia does seem intent on minimizing Sedona’s influence that it doesn’t want the 2022 Carnival to be calling a minivan at all.
Kia Carnival has a New Identity
A multi-purpose vehicle could be interpreting as a buzzword. The automaker wants to conjure an image of more of a crossover than a vehicle. However, camouflaging the mini van-ness isn’t a new concept per see. The Chevrolet Uplander and its Buick Terraza, Saturn Relay, and Pontiac Montana SV6 have taken on a long snout and lower cladding that GM that says gave them SUV styling. The Carnival, under the Kia family, is good-looking, adaptable, and cozy.
Entering a market where the minivan segment is lessening is the 2022 Kia Carnival. The carmaker is hoping to adopt its bulky, tall position for its MPV. They want to capture some attention from shoppers who might instead choose a crossover. Kia is going for crossover equality by stressing the Carnival’s length and width, moreover, not its height.
The nearly flat body line runs from the headlights to the taillights. It incorporates the track of the sliding door along the way. This surfacing detail creates the illusion of the hood looks longer, flatter, and hangs less than other vans. The complicated styled headlight parts are showing, rather than tucked away under transparent plastic. The Kia tiger-nose grille is reminiscent of the Seltos small crossover. A skinny, full-width taillight and satin silver “skid plate” trim show around the back, thus helping the Carnival look less top-heavy.
Inside the Carnival, this SX model gets a lovely tan and black SynTex upholstery. It has front bucket seats that are separated by a fixed center console that houses a traditional shift lever.
