The Kia Carnival is one of the last remaining choices in the minivan segment, but it’s uniquely positioned to be a great choice for families.

Unlike SUVs, minivans have huge cargo holds and it’s much easier to get in and out of them thanks to their lower profile and sliding door. Let’s take a look at five features that make the Kia Carnival a great family vehicle.

Spacious Cabin

The Kia Carnival offers seating for up to eight passengers in three rows. The seating can be reconfigured for different accommodations. For example, every trim level has foldable rear rows that increase cargo volume to 145.1 cubic feet. The cabin is incredibly roomy with tons of legroom that ensures comfort on long drives. The front row has 41.1 inches of legroom, the second row has 40.5 inches, and the third row has 35.6. The Carnival has a total interior volume of 167 cubic feet.

Passenger Entertainment

One thing that’s necessary for long road trips is a way to keep the kids entertained. The Carnival is well-suited to this with a voice assistant that can be used by passengers to open windows and adjust climate control. There are seven USB ports throughout the cabin and two power outlets, giving passengers plenty of options for plugging in their devices. There’s also a rear-seat entertainment system with two 14.6-inch monitors for passengers to stream content. A 12-speaker Bose audio system is also available.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety is one of the top priorities for families when shopping for a new vehicle. The Kia Carnival is outfitted with plenty of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced safety features include rear occupant alert with ultrasonic sensors, safe exit assist, and highway driving assist. The Carnival also includes front and rear parking sensors. These features translate to peace of mind when on the road in the city or the highway.

Trim Choices and Affordability

It’s no secret that family-size SUVs can get expensive fast. The base LX model of the Kia Carnival starts at $37,895, which is a great value price if you just need the basics. However, there are plenty of other options to fit different budget considerations. For example, the midlevel EX trim starts at $42,095 and offers several convenience features for roughly $5,000 over the base trim. These include an in-cabin intercom, a power-operated rear liftgate, and a voice-control system that allows passengers to control the infotainment system.

Smooth Ride and Handling

Crossover SUVs can offer fairly smooth handling, but due to their higher profile often experience body roll in corners. The Kia Carnival rides smoothly when cruising, but it also stays balanced and composed around corners. The minivan is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 287 horsepower paired with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. The balanced ride and plenty of power make the Carnival easy to live with on road trips or daily driving.

The Kia Carnival also offers a unique wildcard in that its exterior is styled almost like an SUV, which gives it a cool factor not matched by its rivals.