Whenever I think of the Carnival, a mommy van comes to mind. Well, that changed this year when Kia brought in a mid-size executive-level SUV that goes by the same name with all the bells and whistles. My, oh my, how times have changed. The range-topping 2022 Kia Carnival 2.2 SX AT uses a longer platform that extends its wheelbase by 30 mm more than its predecessor. It is longer, wider, and statelier than ever before, and it is not just because of its looks.
Let’s start with the front fascia. Kia has done a marvelous job with the grille, with small rectangular bits that seem to cascade and grow as it rises to the top. It connects to dual LED projection-type headlamps with daytime running lamps on either side. At the bottom are slim fog lamps. There is a good amount of silver trim in front that perfectly matches the Astra Blue body color, and the shiny bits continue on the side with that large chrome fin on the C-Pillar that helps emphasize the breadth of the Carnival’s new body. Around the back are a shark’s fin antenna, a rear spoiler with a built-in LED stop lamp, a reflector bar connecting the slim LED rear combination lamps, and an underbody garnish.
There is no denying the exterior improvements of the Carnival, in both size and features. It is a little too boxy for me but displays unmistakable dignified poise and presence. It is a perfect vehicle for executives who like to be chauffeured around or even for tall rich athletes who cannot fit in compact sedans and SUVs. Aside from easy ingress, the smart key has an ergonomic design with lock and unlock clickers on the side. The button on both the front and power-sliding passenger door handles unlocks the vehicle.
The cockpit is pretty straightforward. It has a flat top to give the driver a clear view of the road, and the visual equipment is set low to not interfere with the line of sight. There is a small 4.2-inch TFT screen between the analog gauges and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with seven USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Below it is a thick silver accent running the width of the dashboard. It has an automatic climate control system with fan and thermostat features for the rear passengers. The leather seats are comfortable, and the driver’s is eight-way adjustable and has lumbar support, memory settings, and cooling. But the place to be is in the second-row captain’s seats. In the SX, these are relaxation seats with cooling and power everything — recline, cushion, and leg rest. Plus, it has a dual sunroof, so passengers can look out into the wild blue yonder to rest their weary minds.
One of the most impressive things about the Carnival is its spacious and configurable cabin. It is so wide that it fits a large center console  between the front seats, is long enough to give plenty of legroom for the first two rows, and has numerous storage spaces and cubby holes. The captain’s chairs are highly adjustable. It shifts sideways to make space in the middle for a path to the third row, while the third-row seats can fold into the floor to increase storage space. Its engine is Kia’s Smartstream Diesel 2.2-liter CRDi with a variable geometry turbocharger. It sends power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. There is a noticeable turbo lag, but when it does kick in, whoa yeah! Acceleration is smooth all the way to 100 km/h. The size of the Carnival is one of the big reasons the ride is so stable. The suspension setup (McPherson strut and stabilizer in front, multi-link in the rear) is excellent and negates all external noise, vibration, and harshness. Despite only having four speakers in the cabin, audio was clear over all kinds of road surfaces. It returned 12.3 km/l in mixed driving conditions.
Surprisingly, handling is easy for such a large vehicle. Steering is light but precise, which makes the Carnival reactive to driver input. There were hardly any blind spots but having a full complement of driver-assist features helped a lot.
The 2022 Kia Carnival 2.2 SX AT is (almost) as fully loaded as other executive minivans in the market, but at P3.008 million is a million less than the Alphard and only a couple of hundred thousand more than its predecessor. Is it worth it? For what it offers and all that it can do, I think it is.