2022 Kia Carnival is a reminder that minivans are actually very cool – Roadshow [CNET]

2022 Kia Carnival is a sharp-dressed van

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Kia first unveiled the Korean-spec Carnival last year and not much changes for the US version. Our Carnival — which I’m totally pronouncing as “car-ne-vahl,” by the way — gets a new grille and wheel designs, both of which look awesome, and work well with the van’s bold styling and boxy shape. Without a doubt, this is a seriously attractive vehicle — minivan or otherwise — and it totally leapfrogs the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna in terms of design. The 2022 Carnival is also the first US product to wear Kia’s new logo, which you can see in the thin, full-width taillights.

That great style carries over to the interior, as well. There’s a lot of familiarity here; the 2022 Carnival shares a lot of its cabin design with the Telluride and Sorento SUVs. But that’s hardly a bad thing. Metal air vents accent a handsome dashboard, and the cabin really pops with the optional orange leather.

A hallmark of any minivan is its excellent functionality and the Carnival definitely doesn’t disappoint. Kia notes the van’s 168.2 cubic feet of passenger space and 145.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row are best-in-class figures, though the removable second-row seats won’t be quite as easy to ditch as the Stow-N-Go chairs in the Chrysler Pacifica. The Carnival offers seating for eight passengers, and the second-row middle seat can slide forward and backward or be converted into a table.

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The 2022 Carnival will only be offered with one powertrain: a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. With 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, the Carnival is competitive within the minivan class in terms of output, and it can even tow as much as 3,500 pounds, though its EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 miles per gallon city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined aren’t all that great. However, the Carnival will only be offered with front-wheel drive, giving the all-wheel-drive Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna an edge in wintry climates. Those minivans offer more efficient hybrid powertrain options, as well.

Really, the only things separating the Carnival from a midsize SUV are its sliding doors and an inch or two of ground clearance, and honestly, if that’s what turns you off, you ought to rethink your priorities. With its great tech, super-spacious cabin and bangin’ looks, the Carnival is a minivan that makes a cool statement. Look for it to hit Kia dealers in the coming months.