2024 Kia Carnival EX - features and full review

[@VagabondBuilds]

2024 Kia Carnival EX is one of the best minivans we reviewed. The Carnival is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 with 290 hp; an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. ❤

[@Drummer55]

God bless you too. My daughter just bought one of these today. She and her husband have 5 kids, so this van will be excellent for them.

[@VagabondBuilds]

That is awesome! Glad to hear that. Big families are great!

[@auroranite]

Thank you for giving the LxWXH and Ground Clearance measurements. Most reviews don’t👍

[@VagabondBuilds]

Thank you for the support! Glad to be of help

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

As much as I like the sleek look, does anyone else have concerns about the tiny bumpers on all the new minivans? As a driver whose vehicle has been rear-ended three times while sitting at a stoplight and once slowing on a right turn, I see my van in the shop for days, if not weeks, a rental car not fully reimbursed by insurance, deductible if other driver isn't insured, etc. I'm old enough that one of the incidents involving my Oldsmobile only left a hairline crack in the hefty bumper with no damage to the car proper or tail lights. In the Kia, it looks like a minor fender bender may mean having to replace the tailgate, tail lights and bumper and hope the parts aren't on backorder.

[@VagabondBuilds]

Did you by any chance check the crash ratings?

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

No. I thought they only reflected safety features, not repair costs. I've kept my current and previous minivans for 14 years each so appreciate the suggestion on something else to research. I'm not a fan of the two-tone interior, but the blue is very pretty and I greatly appreciate the thorough review. Thank you!

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

Thoughts on the effectiveness of the air conditioning? The vents look very slim vertically, but perhaps good volume of air flow because they look wider than my Sienna (and Voyager before that). It's been over 100 degrees here daily for weeks and I usually run the a/c 8 months a year so this feature is more significant for me than many buyers. Thanks!

[@VagabondBuilds]

It was pretty warm here as well and we put the AC on and it was working great on cooling the car down for us as we were taking pictures and presenting.

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

@@VagabondBuilds Great! I've been disabled for more than 30 years. Money is very tight so I need to make the best possible purchasing decision. I appreciate your patience with my questions.

[@josephlee6311]

Wondering on seat removal and if the seats can turn around

[@VagabondBuilds]

Turned around? I don't think so.

[@n2n4n]

Great review. Do you have SX review?

[@VagabondBuilds]

Not in the carnival I believe.

[@kaleebarnes8181]

Is it only the SX with ventilated front row seats?

[@VagabondBuilds]

Not sure if other trims have it too, but usually the higher trims will give you ventilated seats.

[@karlagarcia7760]

Does this model have the remote start or is that only on the SX trim

[@VagabondBuilds]

I believe if you take a look at the msrp sticker in the video, it should state it there. Hopefully that helps! 😄

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

My EX shows remote start on the LX with Seat Package, but best to double check if that's an important feature for you.

[@hemangrathore4734]

Its great to have small turbo engine with hybrid powertrain and PHEV option, this is surely better looking than sienna ,

[@VagabondBuilds]

I will say Kia stepped up their game.

[@rustythelegend2225]

does it have hud?

[@VagabondBuilds]

Was it mentioned in the video?

[@聿枳]

2023 is better than 2024 for looking

[@VagabondBuilds]

Why?

[@justacinnamonbun8658]

The most unfortunate thing about Kia reviews, in particular this model, nobody talks a lot about the engine fuel delivery. This is important as a pure GDI-only engine is something I'd steer clear of. My research has led me to believe that the Carnival's 3.5L V6 is a Lambda III (three) engine and the engine cover is labeled "SmartStream" and I'm not 100% sure but I think the improvement here is it's really a GDI+MPI engine. Once I can get under the hood of one of these I can remove the engine cover and check for obvious fuel injectors sticking out. My first choice was the Telluride but the 3.8L V6 is GDI-only. I don't understand why Kia doesn't market or do a better job in their marketing literature and website to confirm the fuel delivery of their engines, it's like they keep it a secret or something.

[@VagabondBuilds]

Wow. Very interesting. You aren’t able to email someone or contact someone up the latter to find out?

[@justacinnamonbun8658]

@@VagabondBuilds Perhaps but I haven't even tried. Might just be faster to find one and take off the engine cover 😆.

[@VagabondBuilds]

@@justacinnamonbun8658 haha, you should try. Our dealership is pretty good at customer service. I hope the one closer to you is the same.

[@justacinnamonbun8658]

@@VagabondBuilds Well I already got kicked out of Gateway Kia of North Brunswick, I asked the service manager a question about a part under warranty on my 2023 Kia Soul and he lost his 💩 and told me to go down the road to Bridgewater Kia. So I ordered the widow switch for $100 including shipping and put it in myself. Car had only 5000 miles when the part failed. I guess his blue eyes didn't like my brown eyes or something. There was no calls for that kind of behavior, all he had to say was no, we don't do that, and I would have scheduled the service. I still want a Carnival though 😜.

[@TravelersCorner]

Yes, it’s GDI+MPI which delivers above EPA mileage rating. I got 29.7mpg in a 500 miles journey. A full tank could bring you up to 430 miles range. It’s more effecient when mid-grade gas was used. I don’t know if it’s still beta edition but it performs well so far.

[@Sandeepnama84]

Does EX model has markup on MSRP ?

[@VagabondBuilds]

I can’t answer that question, it depends on the dealership.

[@justacinnamonbun8658]

I'm in Central NJ and I've been after this minivan for several months and looks like the dealerships in my area have colluded to charge $4k over MSRP on both the Telluride and the Carnival. I'm waiting for December, when everyone is spending money on Christmas presents to see if I can shake out an MSRP deal or possibly below, depending on the situation on inventory at that time.

[@VagabondBuilds]

@@justacinnamonbun8658 I hope you get one at MSRP. In our area, which is Roseville(California) dealerships are still doing markups.

[@Thatsmessedupman]

​@@VagabondBuildsThat's a sad statement. I think these companies are purposely keeping low inventory so they can charge the sticker price which was always a fictitious number of money they would like to get but never got. So now they're getting it and they don't want to go back to fair pricing. Compared to the LX. I'm not really seeing much of a difference for the price increase. And this vehicle still has its flaws because it's not all-wheel drive and would I have difficulty in the snow.

[@jessydiaz4119]

We just bought ours a couple of days ago at MSRP in NC.

[@oliviaguerrero3314]

But ins? Dude! Buttons

[@VagabondBuilds]

Haha was the video helpful atleast?

[@DieselChicken]

AWD?

[@VagabondBuilds]

Not an option

[@itsjustdad]

And the winner of the ugliest automobile interior goes to...........................................

[@VagabondBuilds]

Hahahaha I actually think these carnivals are pretty nice haha

[@Victoria-pz9dv]

It's taken me some time to warm up to the two-tone color scheme, but almost every EX in my area has this so I'm adapting. At least the saddle brown isn't as orange as the "umber" and black some minivans have.

[@golibtokhirov3848]

Garbis kia

[@VagabondBuilds]

No no haha.. please try again!