The Kia Carnival is a multi-purpose vehicle that has a range of seating arrangements and cargo space features you can utilize to suit your needs.
Whether you need to transport up to 11 passengers from one location to another or have a large amount of cargo that needs to be moved, the Kia Carnival can help get it done.
But where does the versatility end? Can you turn the seats around?
In the North American version of the Kia Carnival, the second-row seating cannot be turned around without external modifications which may potentially void the warranty. However, in Australian versions, the second-row seating can be turned around and securely latched in place for rear-view seating.
If you own a Kia Carnival that is not a North American manufactured version, there are several ways you can adjust the second and third-row seats to your liking.
Whether you want to spice up ways you can transport your family or want to open up additional cargo space for pets or supplies, let’s go over the different ways you can adjust the seating arrangements now.
Kia Carnival Second Row Seating Adjustments
The second row of seating in your Kia Carnival can be very versatile and allow for a range of different positions to suit your needs.
Each seat adjustment can be done in just a few minutes’ time, and each seat includes levers, buttons, or straps you can pull to help release the locking mechanisms and make rearranging the seating easier.
Second Row Side Seats
Both of the second-row side seats can be adjusted so they are rear-facing.
The biggest downside here is that both seats will have to be rear-facing at the same time, you cannot do one at a time since the seats are left-right specific.
When adjusting a second-row side seat to be rear-facing, you will first need to pull the reclining tab on the outside of the seat and fold the back down onto itself.
After this, pull on the metal detachment lever which is on the rear of the seat near the floor. This will release the seat from the floor tracks and allow adjusting.
After both side seats have been removed from the floor track, swap their position.
For example, if you have removed the seat from the left side of the vehicle, you will now reinstall it on the right side of the vehicle facing the rear.
Reattach the seats into the floor track by sliding the front hook into the white mounting area of the floor track, and allowing the weight of the seat to secure the rest of the mechanisms in place.
Be sure to check for a small indicator on the side of the seat which will turn green if the seat is securely attached.
After the seats are in place and rear-facing, you can adjust the seatback to your liking, as well as slide the seat forward or backward to give the most comfortable amount of space between the second and third-row seats.
Second Row Center Seat
The center seat in the second row can be placed into table mode.
On the right side of the center seat, you will see a small fabric loop.
Pull this loop to allow the seat to recline forward or backward. Fold the center seat all the way forward to allow the cup holders and small table to be used.
Additionally, you can pull the metal bar at the front of the seat near the floor to slide the seat forward or back so either the second row or third-row seating can make use of the table.
Since the second-row center seat can slide forward or backward independently of the two second-row side seats, it can be an excellent option for placing child seats.
Slide the center seat all the way forward and place a child seat securely in place so the front row passenger can have easy access to the child as needed.
If you prefer to have the child seat rear-facing so passengers in the second or third row can have easy access to the child, the second-row center seat can be turned around and made rear-facing.
In order to do this, place the center seat into table mode, and then pull the fabric loop on the rear of the seat cushion in the center of the seat.
This will release it from the floor tracks that were previously holding it in place.
Lift the seat and rotate it 180 degrees until it is fully rear facing and place it back into the floor tracks.
Ensure you place the front hooks of the seat into the white mounting point on the floor track first, then let the weight of the seat fall into place on its own. A small green indicator on the side of the seat will let you know the seat is securely placed.
Third Row Seating Adjustments
The Kia Carnival can provide an ample amount of storage space when the third row seating is placed into cargo mode.
In order to reach cargo mode, start by sliding the seat belt into the small securing tab on the side of the vehicle.
Lower the headrests to their lowest position on all three of the third row seats to prevent damage to the seats.
From the rear hatch of the vehicle, pull the two large levers on the back of the seats outward and upward.
This will release the seats from the floor track and allow them to be folded down into the cargo area.
Ensure the levers are both pulled outward while you also push on the back of the seat to fold them over.
While doing this, the seats should start to pull back and fold into the cargo space of the floor.
This gives plenty of cargo space for camping equipment, gardening supplies, or any other cargo you may need to transport in your Kia Carnival.
FAQ
Why would I want to turn the seats around on a Kia Carnival?
Some child car seats may be better suited for rear-facing installation or some countries may require children to be rear-facing for safety.
Can I void my warranty if I rotate the seats on a US Kia Carnival?
Yes, it is possible. Any tampering with the manufacturer-installed components can void the warranty, and in some cases, you will need to remove some of the seat runner systems in order to allow the seats to rotate on a US version of the Carnival.
Does having the second and third-row seating facing each other give more legroom?
No. If you have passengers in both the second and third-row seats, and those seats are facing each other, there will be very limited legroom for those passengers.
Conclusion
While the rear-facing seats do not come standard on the North American version of the Kia Carnival, they are commonly found on the Australian and some European models.
Each of the seats offers a variety of adjustment options to suit your needs.
Whether you want to keep a child in a car seat close to the other passengers, or you would like to adjust the seating arrangements to provide more cargo space in the rear, it can all be done easily on the non-North American version of the Kia Carnival.
