A few decades ago, minivans were the most popular choice when it came time to shuttle a fair amount of people around town. As the SUV began to dominate the mainstream sector, the minivan had taken somewhat of a backseat in the very relevant family vehicle segment. As we look forward to 2024 here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, the Carnival is set to reign as the “anti-SUV” of choice for buyers who are tasked with shuttling duty.
First arriving on the scene 3 years ago to replace the Sedona, the Carnival resembles an SUV from some angles but is a functional and family-ready minivan at the core. When you are looking at 6 to 8 passengers for anything from a grocery run to a late-season Six Flags run, nothing compares to the Carnival for comfort and capability. The power source is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gas engine cranking out 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
Power is sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed transmission, and you’ll be looking at an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 22 combined. All the models that existed before this were known for their family-friendly features and ability to sprawl, with this coming fourth-generation Carnival offering a more SUV-like façade to infuse with its family-focused mission. There is much more useful cargo room in the back than a typical crossover or SUV and features such as power-sliding side doors, one-button door open/close functionality, and modular seating.
Families on a budget that have a long to-do list will be thrilled will the long list of standard features on the last LX trim, which has LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 6-speaker audio system, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Stepping up to the EX offers tri-zone automatic climate control, 19-inch wheels, an interior camera, and an on-board intercom. As you approach the top of the range with the coveted SX Prestige, there is the added visceral enjoyment of cowhide upholstery, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a power sunroof.
Keeping a consistent and watchful eye over all your precious peeps and cargo aboard is our “Drive Wise” system, which is a helpful collection of the most advanced driver aids in existence. Here you'll never worry about the lack of a watchful eye with rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, blind spot warning, parking distance warning, driver attention warning, and safe exit assist. Other trim levels feature even more active safety features like forward collision avoidance, highway driving assist, and parking collision avoidance.
If you are frequently hitting the road with the family in tow and can’t get enough of the prime + safeguarded vibe, you’ll be thrilled with the Carnival’s warranty, which offers a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Car and Driver staff excitedly claimed that “The Carnival minivan is the desirable choice for when an SUV just isn’t handy enough.” If you opt for the second-row VIP seats, the Carnival is transformed into a very awesome luxury transit, with the reclining buckets intended to make road trips loaded to the gills with anxious kids a cinch.
We know that this is the season when all the “people moving” events come to fruition, and we’re standing by to help you here at Jim Butler with well-equipped and proper vehicles such as the Carnival!
