Spoiler alert! I can’t stop talking about Encanto ! And, I’m going to give away the ending at some point in this review; you’ve been warned!
While driving the 2022 Kia Carnival , I realized how much this minivan reminds me of the movie, the characters, and the songs (that are played on every drive, through the Spotify app on Apple CarPlay, even when the kids aren’t in the car).
Like so many characters in the movie, the Carnival has very specific strengths and weaknesses, and though it’s in a small segment, it’s under a lot of pressure to be the best. All that said, the movie reminded me, “The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got, the miracle is you.”
Similar to Mirabel, the main protagonist in Encanto and the only Madrigal child without a special power, the Carnival is up against a lot, in this case in the form of the long-standing minivans in this segment. But it’s still special, in its own way.
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival
2022 Kia Carnival
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival
“The Family Madrigal”
Mirabel lives among her magical family — her sister Luisa is super strong, her cousin Camilo can shape-shift, and her mom “can heal you with a meal,” to name a few special gifts. Their lives revolve around helping the people in their town. However, Mirabel is consumed with her inability to make her family, especially her Abuela, proud. In the end, she doesn’t need a gift to help bring everyone together. In fact, when everyone’s powers get stripped away, they lean on the (giftless) people of the town, who help them manually rebuild their beloved home, Casita.
Now, many advancements to cars come with great research and demand (for example, back-up cameras are efficient and safe). But do we really need all the luxuries of modern vehicles?
Here at Driving , we may not always test the top trim, but we do tend to test the latest model year, and base trim or not, it’s generally an upgrade from the previous year or generation. In turn, when something like the Carnival comes along, it’s quickly compared to the likes of the hybrid Sienna, the luxurious Pacifica, and the well-known Odyssey, or even the retired Kia Sedona. We tend to forget the main purpose of a minivan: to haul families, regardless of the upgrades.
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
“Surface Pressure”
We recently compared the Carnival to the Toyota Sienna , and well, let’s just say the Carnival is under a lot of pressure in this segment.
The FWD Carnival may not have the fuel efficiency of the Sienna (combined 10.6 L/100 km vs. 6.5 L/100 km), but keep in mind that the starting price of the base Sienna is still roughly $6,000 more than the Carnival’s starting price of $34,795. Depending on the lifespan of your vehicle, the Carnival could be more cost-efficient in the end.
Add a couple thousand dollars, and you get an AWD Sienna, an option that isn’t available for the Carnival, but consider this: AWD is like one of the Madrigal’s special gifts. We’ve lived without AWD minivans before, and we still can and do — an awesome set of winter tires should get a minivan through the average Canadian snow day.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
No, no, no, but we will talk about the annoying second row that includes the reclining VIP lounge seats. It’s a bit gimmicky, and if you’ve got car seats, then your VIPs can’t recline. If you don’t have kids in car seats then hopefully they’ll have better luck maneuvering these seats than I did.
It should be a lot easier to get to the third row. It’s almost like this modern, SUV-shaped minivan is meant to be a three-row SUV with a big trunk (4,110L with all seats up) rather than for a large family who needs quick access to the third row. There isn’t enough space in between the two second-row seats and while most brands have a small button somewhere on the seat that gives access to a quick flip down, this one doesn’t. There is a bench seat option, the better option in my opinion.
Once you’re safely seated, it’s comfy and there’s enough legroom in the second and third row for little passengers (larger ones can be accommodated, but it’s a minivan — how often are larger humans in your back seat?).
2022 Kia Carnival Photo by Renita Naraine
“What Else Can I Do?”
Isabela tries so hard to be perfect; but it’s her imperfections that help her learn and grow.
Well, contrary to Mirabel singing to Isabela, “There’s nothing you can’t do,” this minivan has a few limitations. The top trim has a few features and driver’s aids that the base trim doesn’t include, such as heated second-row seats and wireless charging, as well as rear cross-traffic alert. But let’s face it, we’ve lived without those luxuries before, and we can do it again.
It is, however, a smooth ride that’s comfortable for the driver and passengers. It’s easy to park in crowded parking lots and has a great backup camera to act as a guide.
Sure, Kia’s infotainment setup is a bit confusing but it’s definitely not the worst. It gets easier with time, and once you’ve figured out your most commonly used buttons or touches, it becomes less of a distraction.
Colombia, mi encanto
I just really love this song; it makes me want to dance.
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For those who questioned the ending of the movie, I’m on your side — why didn’t Mirabel get a gift or power in the end? She totally deserved it! Well, I can only assume that the creators are leaving Casita’s door open to a sequel. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. And similar to the Carnival, there’s obviously room for improvement and upgrades, but that’s what a second generation is for, and until then, this Carnival works just fine.
I’ve seen quite a few of these on the road, and I can see why; its combination of being brand-new to the North American market, modern looks, and adequate price are huge selling points. It’s a great family-hauler.
Keyword: Millennial Mom’s Review: 2022 Kia Carnival is the ‘Encanto’ of minivans