Does the 2022 Kia Carnival have WiFi?

The Kia Carnival is Kia's newest multi-purpose vehicle, most similar to the discontinued Sedona minivan.  The van is rolling out for the first time in 2022, loaded full of incredible state-of-the-art features.  With five available trim levels, the car can easily be customized to fit every driver's needs.  One of the common questions people have asked about the Carnival is whether or not it offers in-cabin WiFi on any of its trims.

How Does In-Cabin WiFi Work?

In-cabin WiFi works by placing a router or modem into a car and essentially creating a hotspot inside the cabin.  This typically tethers to the infotainment system of the car and has a monthly service fee to use, similar to at-home internet service - this fee depends on the car brand and how they administer the hotspot.  

The car will use both the infotainment system and the driver's cell phone data that they already use on a daily basis to create the hotspot, allowing all passengers to use the WiFi that comes from it.  From this, they can watch movies, play games, get work done, and more.

Cars with in-cabin WiFi are also referred to as "connected cars."  This simply means that they connect to internet technology.  The US Department of Transportation released an article explaining how connected cars' technology could also communicate with other vehicles around them to utilize important safety features - this could potentially drastically lower driving fatalities caused by accidents.

UVO and Verizon WiFi HotSpot

Newer Kia models require enrollment in their UVO Link service.  Luckily, most Kia models offer UVO capability nowadays, so finding a vehicle that will provide this should not be a problem.  On the Kia Carnival, the top three out of five trims offer UVO capabilities - the EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims.

Once the car registers with any of the UVO services, the driver can then sign up for the WiFi HotSpot.  Kia uses Verizon as their service provider for the hotspot; after signing up, drivers either receive three months of service or 3GB of service free, whichever comes first.  After the trial, a subscription with Verizon is required, along with the UVO subscription.  

Pros and Cons of WiFi HotSpots

Pros

Keeps Passengers Entertained

Long road trips can be tough, especially with young children in the car.  Kia's WiFi hotspot allows up to five devices to connect at one time - the 2022 Kia Carnival can seat up to eight passengers.  The second row has two screens that feature wireless capability as well, which gives even more reason to subscribe to the WiFi hotspot.

Work from Anywhere

It happens to the best of us - you are out and about and an important email comes in that needs to be addressed.  Or maybe, a meeting comes up that you couldn't make it home in time for.  With a WiFi hotspot, these situations do not have to become a problem.  The car can be the office when necessary, allowing the flexibility to keep moving and adventuring.

Better yet, for passengers, they can continue to work even when the car moves.  Long road trips do not need to halt their productivity; the Carnival is spacious enough for them to set up and get work done.

Communication Between Vehicles

As the Department of Transportation noted, connected cars harbor the technology to communicate with each other and send signals regarding road safety.  This keeps you and your family safer while driving without really having to make much more of an effort.

Cons

Extra Cost

The WiFi hotspot comes with many added benefits, however, it does incur an additional monthly cost on the vehicle owner.  Not only do they pay for the car and for their UVO subscription, they also have to pay Verizon as well just for the hotspot capability itself.  Adding everything together can end up being costly if you're on a tight budget.

Distracting

With WiFi in the car, drivers may want to reach for their phones more often than before.  Traffic during the daily work commute, long road trips, and other situations already allow drivers' attention to drift; with the added bonus of social media and the rest of the internet at their fingertips, this may get worse.  Distracted driving increases the risk of accidents.

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