Kia Carnival Forum banner

Best Carnival Trim

3661 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  gnarmac
My 2 cents after doing tons of research on carnival trims and having bought an SX..if you are on budget and don’t care for some of those fancy features, go for LXS. If you prefer 19’ wheels and a nicer and bigger display and with more power options for the driver seat along with rear climate control option go with EX..if you need fully loaded but bench 2nd row seats and don’t care for sunroof / moonroof go for SX..SX prestige if you like the dual sun roofs and bucket seats..LXS might be best value overall if you can live with the basic options..all trims come with remote start and LXS and above come with power sliding doors..
  • Like
Reactions: 2
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Yup, no argument here. I personally think the EX offers the most bang for buck, but my wife wanted the black rims and a happy wife...
Originally planned for LXS but ultimately went for EX, though maybe not for obvious reasons.

If you have a driver with any kind of carpal tunnel or wrist pain/weakness/inflammation then the power lift gate may be a welcome feature, especially if you are constantly loading and unloading things.

For parents and especially those with special needs kiddos, we were happy to discover the rear passenger monitor / camera on the EX.

Finally the EX has built-in window shades for the rear rows. We thought this was standard across the range but were disappoineted to learn that LX and LXS don't have it. Yes, you can add these aftermarket, but the built-in ones are very nice and well integrated. These are also helpful for kids with certain visual impairments.
The best possible trim would be the SX if they sold it without the entertainment screens. We find them almost never used, difficult to use, and very much in the way. All the other bits of the SX make it the choice for anyone wanting all the seats/seat flexibility. I would order and trade in for a 2023 SX w/o the screens or screens designed like Pacifica that can fold out of the way and i would make sure it had the tow hitch from factory this time.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
I would love to have the Canadian EX+ available in the US! It is basically the SX without the entertainment screens in the back and includes the 12" drivers display only in the SXP. It also has the inverters (AC) plugs in the 2nd and 3rd row.
  • Like
Reactions: 5
I would love to have the Canadian EX+ available in the US! It is basically the SX without the entertainment screens in the back and includes the 12" drivers display only in the SXP. It also has the inverters (AC) plugs in the 2nd and 3rd row.
Yeah, I even contacted a Canadian dealer and tried to import to the states, but they are contractually restricted by Kia Corporate from doing so.
To me the best trim doesn't exist, it combines the maximum cargo capacity and configurable seating of the Canadian EX+ with the creature comforts of the top trim SX (that includes the leather cooled/memory front seats, Bose Stereo, dual sunroof, LED interior lighting and parking collision avoidance assist-reverse). Kia, please bring this trim for MY2023.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Bought the SX but overall was very annoyed by the way the features were bundled at each trim level. Would love to have opted OUT of the entertainment screens and opted IN to the lane changing blind spot video feed. Ultimately felt like there were too many little features in the Prestige that I would have gladly paid for BUT I needed 8 seats and didn't want the dentist chairs anyway (my kids will be in car seats for awhile anyway).
  • Like
Reactions: 2
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top