Moving from the 2027 Carnival SX to the SX+ buys one thing: a second row designed around adults. The SX+ replaces the standard seats with VIP lounge captain’s chairs that recline under power, extend a leg rest, offer a relaxation mode and are both heated and ventilated. Seating drops from eight to seven as a result. Everything else that defines the top of the Carnival range stays put, including the 12.3-inch touchscreen, the 12.3-inch instrument cluster, the 11-inch head-up display and 19-inch black alloy wheels on 235/55R19 tires.
Space figures explain why the SX+ suits long drives. Second-row occupants get 1,045 mm of legroom, 1,606 mm of shoulder room and 1,686 mm of hip room. Cargo capacity with the rear rows folded is 4,110 L in both trims, and each carries a 72 L fuel tank, so range between stops is unchanged. Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist 2 are standard on both. Households that fill every seat on the school run should keep the SX; those that regularly put two or three adults in the middle row for a highway stretch will feel the SX+ difference.
- List who actually rides in your second row most weeks, because adults benefit from the SX+ far more than car-seat passengers do.
- Sit in both second rows back to back at Spinelli Kia and operate the power recline, leg rest and relaxation mode yourself.
- Confirm that the features you care about appear on both trims so the decision rests on seating alone.
- Measure the gear you carry against 4,110 L of maximum cargo volume, which is identical for either trim.
- Schedule a test drive that includes a highway segment to judge second-row comfort at speed, ideally with the passengers who will use those seats most.
Quebec road trips to Charlevoix, the Eastern Townships or Ontario cottage country run for hours. A second row that reclines, heats and ventilates changes how passengers feel when they step out, which is the whole argument for the SX+.
