Up to now, we’ve solely reviewed the fanciest-pants 2022 Kia Carnival SX Status with the seven-passenger configuration that features second-row “VIP Lounge” seats with deployable footrests and a deep recline choice. It is swank. Nevertheless, it is in all probability a better option for households with older children who do not have to sit down in automobile seats and might subsequently benefit from these additional options.
If that is not you, I like to recommend the eight-passenger configuration. Each minivan has some form of second-row trick up its sleeve. The Honda Odyssey has the lateral-sliding Magic Slide seats. The non-hybrid Chrysler Pacifica has Stow ‘n Go. The Toyota Sienna has the Tremendous-Lengthy Slide captain’s chairs. The 2022 Kia Carnival not solely gives the VIP Lounge seats, it gives the “Captain Kirk chair.” Let me clarify.
The second-row center seat within the Carnival is greater than only a quasi leap seat positioned in between captain’s chairs, as within the eight-passenger Sienna (above left) and Pacifica. Just like the Odyssey’s (above proper), the seat is wider and subsequently extra comfy, although nonetheless flatter and narrower than the outboard seats.
That is the place the Odyssey and Carnival diverge.
Whereas the Carnival’s cannot be so simply eliminated as these within the Odyssey or others, it is able to sliding a really absurd diploma backwards and forwards. Bringing all of it the best way ahead lets mother or dad extra simply are inclined to their treasured cargo in a front-facing automobile seat. Doing so additionally supplies these within the outboard seats extra shoulder room and/or a better view of junior in a rear-facing automobile seat.
Then it will get loopy.
You may slide it again to the third row. This may additionally unlock shoulder area with three folks throughout, or make it simpler/attainable to put in three automobile seats. You’d additionally nonetheless have legroom within the outboard third-row seats. This versatility is outstanding.
Nevertheless it actually would not cease there.
You may transfer the center seat all the best way again to the place the third-row folds into the ground. This creates an uncommon five-person seating association. If there’s one other minivan that may do that, please let me know.
Doing this enables all three folks to have limitless shoulder room, and the individual within the center will get immense, sprawl-out legroom. You additionally protect extra cargo area than in case you raised the 40-portion of the third-row to sit down that additional individual (which you’d should do with simply two second-row captain’s chairs).
Sitting again there may be uncommon. There’s both nothing on both facet of you otherwise you’re surrounded by baggage. There’s additionally no armrests (nor are there inside armrests for the captain’s chairs, which is a particular down facet). And, admittedly, the seat is more durable and flatter than the third row.
This place could be why I dubbed the Carnival’s center seat the “Captain Kirk chair.” Not really due to the Enterprise bridge, however as a result of the identical identify was as soon as used to explain one other uncommon solo chair. You see, on KLM’s 747 airplanes, there are two Enterprise Class areas. One is upstairs, and the opposite is within the nostril. Down there, pairs of seats fan out alongside the fuselage, leaving a big area in between either side — simply sufficient for a single lie-flat enterprise class seat. I as soon as heard it dubbed the “Captain Kirk chair,” paradoxically, by the top of Kia company PR. It is an ideal descriptor, in each the 747 and the Carnival.
So, with Sulu and Chekov forward with their respective laptop terminals, let’s check out another options of the Carnival’s second row.
That is the area offered for climbing into the third row. Clearly, with the Captain Kirk chair, you’ll be able to’t precisely climb by the captain’s chairs. Hmm, which means there are captain’s chairs and the Captain Kirk chair. I suppose that is complicated. Admiral Kirk chair? Perhaps, however provided that you pronounce “Admiral” like Ricardo Montalbán.
Anyway, this area is not that nice. Additionally, the door juts out an incredible deal. My spouse reported that it was troublesome to maneuver across the door whereas securing our son in his rear-facing automobile seat when the outboard captain’s chair was pushed all the best way again.
By the best way, that is way back to the outboard captain’s chairs go. The VIP Lounge chairs go a lot farther, as do the Sienna’s Tremendous-Lengthy Slide seats. That is about the identical because the Honda Odyssey.
Third-row consolation appears just like different minivans, however a better back-to-back sit might reveal variations. I might say it appears comfier than the Sienna’s, whereas additionally having a much less cave-like view thanks to larger rear quarter home windows.
One characteristic I like is the flexibility to motor ahead the entrance passenger seat utilizing these controls. They got here in useful when making certain there was sufficient area for the rear-facing automobile seat.
This trim stage, the SX (no Status), included touchscreens mounted to the entrance seats. Amongst its options are the Sounds of Nature characteristic (see video on the backside of this web page) discovered in lots of Kias, Hyundais and Genesiseses. In case your child will put on headphones, this might function a white noise machine for naps with out making everybody else within the automobile take heed to rain falling.
The draw back with these screens is that it barely reduces the quantity the second row can slide for third-row entry. Worse, it considerably reduces the area between the entrance seat and a rear-facing youngster seat. You must slide the entrance passenger seat additional ahead than you’d with out these screens — in case you would in any respect.
In whole, I am a giant fan of this configuration. I nonetheless suppose that the Sienna’s Tremendous-Lengthy seat journey could be extra helpful for my household, however I actually dig the Captain Kirk versatility, particularly in comparison with the eight-passenger Sienna, which doesn’t Tremendous-Lengthy slide. Actually, all the varied second-row designs are the primary differentiator of the 4 competing minivans (properly, moreover the Sienna’s game-changing gas financial system). Every gives one thing totally different, however none are essentially higher. They only fulfill totally different wants and preferences.
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