2022 Kia Carnival EX Yearlong Review: DIY Upgrade Savings

Over the air updates (OTAs) are all the rage nowadays. All the coolest software defined vehicles are doing it. But some upgrades can only be done with physical parts, time, and elbow grease—either your own or that of a mechanic, and accessorizing can be a great way to ease the sting of having settled for something other than the topmost, fully equipped model. After all, in the immortal words of Clairee Belcher in "Steel Magnolias," "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."

This has been a consistent theme of my stewardship of our 2022 Kia Carnival EX, which as we've noted, was not a cost concern but a desire to avoid one particular feature of the fully loaded Carnival SX Prestige model: its non-removable Barcalounger middle-row seats. First we met or exceeded the sound quality of the Prestige trim's factory Bose 12-speaker audio system with a two-phase JBL aftermarket upgrade costing up to $1,900 in parts. Luggage rails are only available on SX models, so we added a trailer hitch ($303) and bought a cargo basket ($218). For this update, we set our sights on a tablet holder, an electrochromic rear-view mirror with HomeLink garage-door opener, and an ambient lighting kit (which not even SX Prestige models get). So fancy!

KiaStuff.com offers a headrest-mounted tablet holder ($75) for rear-seat occupants, which is a vastly more affordable and future-proof alternative to the rear-seat entertainment system that came standard on all SX and SX Prestige trims for 2022 (for 2023 it's a stand-alone option on both). It's trivially easy to install—simply pop off the headrest, thread its posts through the tablet holder, and replace the headrest. Kia even puts a USB-A slot on the side of each front seat to easily power your tablet(s).

One tiny problem: The post spacing doesn't fit our Carnival's headrests (the first photo shows it hanging from a single post). Fortunately, it fits both the Ford long-termers resident in this office…

Having a built-in HomeLink garage-door opener can be a real godsend—especially for those with multiple doors or gates—while electrochromic mirror dimming eases the stress of night driving for many drivers. This feature is only offered as standard equipment on the Carnival SX with Prestige trim, but the accessory can be had for $350, and we installed it in the MotorTrend garage in one hour.

No specialized tools are required, beyond a generic nylon trim-removal tool and a T20 Torx driver and socket. In a nutshell, you simply pry off a panel covering the mounting screw, swap out the mirrors, then remove the A-pillar trim (which includes cutting and replacing the tether that keeps this panel from flying loose in a curtain-airbag deployment), and route a wire down from the mirror to the fuse block.

The kit specifies which wires to tap for battery and ignition power, using clip-on T-taps, and where to attach the ground. The wire-tapping bit felt a tad aftermarket-audio, but the high-quality clamps click definitively, and the installation procedure has the battery being hooked up to troubleshoot loose connections before all the trim is reinstalled. We highly encourage anyone handy to try it. (We'll even give you the mirror! Read on!)

Kia's $425 aftermarket lighting kit for the Carnival includes no connection with the audio system, so sadly it can't pulse to the beat as in the youthful Kia Soul, but footwell mood lighting is a lovely luxury touch that will set our minivan apart even from those posh Carnival SX Prestige versions. As with the mirror kit, the instructions are clear, easy to follow, and probably would have taken us just over an hour to complete.

Beware that this one requires drilling three holes in the sides of the center console—two way up front for the LED lamps and one on the side for the switch. We consulted YouTube to confirm that removing the shifter really didn't require any tricks or tools—nope, just a lot of brute force pulling straight up. Also, the shifter-surround and wireless charging trays are supposed to come out separately but came as one for us, which made them slightly harder to reinstall.

Our biggest roadblock, setting us back maybe 45 minutes, was the fact that the JBL audio upgrade was wired in such a way as to prevent removal of the center console. But there was enough slack to slide it aft 4 inches or so, providing clearance to drill the holes and route the wiring, so we had the car buttoned up within two hours. Another bonus: Despite having the battery disconnected for up to two hours, the radio presets were all retained.

Before pitting for our 16,000-mile service we asked the dealer to quote installing both kits, and the price was $500. Unless they're charging $166 per hour, we probably beat "flat rate" for these two installations. When we asked Kia to send us the mirror, it accidentally sent us a case of 12, and it doesn't want them back. So, if you have a Kia Carnival LX, EX, or SX non-Prestige model and would like one, send a selfie taken with your Carnival to motortrend@motortrend.com, and we'll send the first 11 respondents a free $350 mirror [Update: You guys are quick--all the mirrors are spoken for--Ed].

To date, our tally of aftermarket parts upgrades stands at $2,671 with DIY installation, $4,271 including quoted or estimated labor charges. That's a savings of $2,729 to $4,329 versus the $7,600 price difference between the EX and the SX Prestige model. That price differential is unchanged for 2023, despite losing the standard rear-seat entertainment screens (now a $1,000 option) and making the Barcaloungers a no-cost option. Let's hear from all you Carnival DIYers!

For More on Our Long-Term 2022 Kia Carnival EX: