Multi-purpose vehicles are excellent for getting a large family around and having a blast while doing so! The Providence Journal thought after a test drive that the Carnival was “the most useful passenger vehicle on the planet.”
The Carnival is offering amenities such as second-row recliner seats, amazingly clear built-in entertainment screens, comfortable third-row seats, and exactly what nearly anyone would expect upon purchase: tons of cargo space. There are 168 cubic feet of space for passengers and 40 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, which can expand to 87 cubic feet with the third row folded. The Providence Journal team rated the suspension and tires as “incredibly smooth,” and the handling provides an excellent balance with precise steering.
A 290-horsepower V6 with gasoline direct injection that cranks out 262 lb-ft of torque powers the front wheels by means of an 8-speed automatic transmission. This vehicle is ready for Six-Flags Amusement Park or a pontoon trip on the lake and can tow up to 3,500 pounds while reaching 60 miles per hour in just seven seconds. The all-important EPA ratings for the Carnival are 19 city/26 highway/22 miles combined.
Visibility was a clear priority for the Carnival, with a panoramic sunroof and driver-assist technology such as Safe Exit Assist, which sounds a warning and locks a rear door if the system detects a vehicle rapidly coming up behind you. Other features include forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go.
The EX trim lives in the sweet spot between high luxury and practicality, with a power-operated rear liftgate, an in-cabin intercom, and a voice-control system that allows passengers in the rear to control the all-inclusive entertainment system. One of the best optional features is the dual 12.3-inch displays that now stretch neatly across the van's dashboard: one serves as an in-depth digital gauge display while the other takes care of infotainment duties. You'll enjoy staying fully charged with nine USB ports on board and fully entertained with first-rate audio courtesy of a 12-speaker Bose stereo!
