Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival

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2020 Kia Carnival Review: Will It Outdo The Toyota Innova Crysta?

10/02/2020 | by Mohammed Burman

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The Kia Carnival is one of the most well-rounded premium MPVs in India. Read on our Kia Carnival Review to see how the car performs in the space.

Kia Carnival Overview: Top Models

The Kia Carnival is expected to be available in five variants.

 No.

 Variant Name

Launching Year 

 1

 Premium

 2020

 2

 Premium 8 STR

 2020

 3

 Prestige

 2020

 4

 Prestige 9 STR

 2020

 5

 Limousine

 2020

For more than a decade, the MPV segment has been dominated by Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova which has been substituted by the Innova Crysta, a more premium offer over the older Innova. Recently, with the launch of the Mahindra Marazzo and Maruti XL6, MPV buyers have more options to choose from. After the success of the Kia Seltos in the SUV segment, the South Korean has decided to put the first step in the MPV one with the Kia Carnival which is slated for launch in the next few days. Will the Kia Carnival effectively compete against the Toyota Innova Crysta? This Kia Carnival review will help you discover this question.

2020 kia carnival exterior

Also readKia Carnival Confirmed To Launch At 2020 Auto Expo

Kia Carnival 360 View: Exterior Review

The Kia Carnival will be a good-looking MPV with an attractive appearance. Overall, the Kia Carnival design will be unmistakably MPVish. All of the components are expected appear to work in harmony with each other, which makes the MPV look quite elegant.

Front View

In the front, the Kia Carnival will sport skillfully crafted headlamps with projector headlights and DRLs, a typical Tiger nose grille with chrome inserts, ice cube fog lamps with surrounding chrome garnish. All of these will make the front of the Carnival look premium.

2020 kia carnival black front angle

Side View

If we look at the side profile of the Carnival, we can realize the real size of the MPV. The chrome strip and the large glass area over the window with large opening doors will be present on both the front and rear. The most unique selling point of the Kia Carnival will be its sliding rear door which can be electrically opened and closed. The South Korean automaker calls this ‘Smart Power Sliding Rear Doors”. The MPV also comes with 18-inch alloy wheels across all variants. In the top variants, sputtering alloy wheels which contribute to the bling factors will be equipped.

2020 kia carnival sliding door

Rear View

The rear will have simple styling with a chrome strip between spilt LED taillights and skid plate on the bumper.

2020 kia carnival black rear angle

Kia Carnival Dimensions: Length, Width, Height & More

The first impression that you will have when looking at the Kia Carnival is that it is majestic with large dimensions.

 Dimensions

Kia Carnival 

 Length

 5,115 mm

 Width

 1,985 mm

 Height

 1,755 mm

 Weight

 2,195 kg (kerb weight)

2,830 kg (gross weight)

 Ground clearance

 170 mm

 Wheelbase

 3,060 mm

 Boot space

 540 litres

In comparison with the closest rival, the Toyota Innova Crysta, the Kia Carnival will overdo in all dimensions. This will offer the Kia MPV a clear benefit over its competitor.

A teaser of the Kia Carnival has been released prior to its official launch.

Kia Carnival Design: Interior Review

Seating capacity

The Kia Carnival will offer comfortable seats with sufficient thigh support for up to seven people. However, this feature will only be offered on the top-spec Limousine variant. The rear sliding door can be controlled using the switches on the B-pillar or by the driver using the buttons at the front. Kia has also surpassed most other auto manufacturers by offering a dual sunroof, which can be controlled by both the driver and the rear passengers. The MPV will also be equipped with manual blindfolds for both the second and the third seat rows, which help the passengers escape direct sun lights.

2020 kia carnival cabin seat

The rear seats, which will be the place where the Carnival passengers would spend most of their time are two luxurious captain seats which are called “VIP seats” by Kia. The leg support will also contribute to the rear passengers’ comfort. These seats can also be controlled to help the passengers who sit there comfortably watch movies on the 10.1-inch entertainment system. Entering and exiting the rear seat row will be quite simple, compared to other MPVS, thanks to the amber space inside the cabin and the flexible second row, which can be slid forward or adjusted both left and right. The rear seat row will also be reclinable and foldable.

2020 kia carnival vip seats

With all the three rows up, the Carnival will offer a 540-litre boot space, which can be expanded to 1500+ litres when the rear seat row is completely folded. Generally, the Kia Carnival cabin is sure to offer both the driver and the occupants a pleasant journey.

Comfort features

At the centre of the dashboard will be an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity across all variants along with inbuilt navigation on the top-spec variant. An 8-speaker sound system sourced from Harmon/Kardon will also be equipped on the top variant for impressive sound quality. The top-spec variant will also get Kia’s UVO connected car feature and Nappa leather upholsteries. The dual-zone and tri-zone air-conditioning will be standard across all variants.

2020 kia carnival dashboard

The Kia Carnival will be a highly practical MPV with a 220V laptop charging socket for the passengers who sit in the second seat row. A large storage compartment which is positioned under the handrest, two glove boxes, numerous USB points, cup holders, etc. will also contribute to the great practicality of the vehicle.

Safety and security features

The Kia Carnival will be equipped with a wide range of safety and security features which include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear disc brakes, rear parking sensors and ISO-FIX as standard across all the variants. All of which are expected to offer both the driver and the passengers a safe journey.

2020 kia carnival safety

Kia Carnival Performance: Engine Review

The Kia Carnival has been on sale in the international market and is powered by a 3.3-litre V6 gasoline burner and a 2.2-litre oil unit. However, the India-spec model will receive its power from only one BSVI-compliant turbo diesel motor which can deliver 200 PS against 440 Nm and is mated to an 8-speed AT unit.

 Engine Specifications

Kia Carnival 

 Engine Type

 2.2L VGT Diesel Engine

 Displacement

 2,199 cc

 No. of cylinders

 4

 Power (Ps)

 200 PS

 Torque (Nm)

 400 Nm

 Drive type

 2WD

 Gearbox/ Transmission

 8-speed AT

Also read Kia Carnival Spied Testing Ahead Of Launch Next Month

Handling and riding quality

The engine will emit certain sounds and a considerable amount of turbo lag can be felt at lower RPMs. When the motor reaches the sweet spot, it will just fly. The massive weight of the Carnival can be felt when it is being driven. NVH levels are expected to be satisfactory, given the large diesel motor of the MPV. The suspension will be soft when travelling on roads. The hydraulic power steering will be quite heavy, which inspires great confidence for the driver when driving at triple digits on highways with the support of the 8-speed AT unit but causes troubles when driving through heavy traffic in cities. Since the Carnival is a big luxurious MPV, a significant amount of body roll will be present when cornering and you should not corner in this MPV at a high speed.

Kia Carnival fuel mileage: Is it fuel-efficient?

The Kia Carnival is expected to have an ARAI-certified fuel mileage of 13.9 kmpl. This figure can be explained by presence of the 2.2-litre turbo oil burner and the MPV’s massive weight.

 Specifications

 Kia Carnival

 Fuel type

 Diesel

 Fuel Tank Capacity

 N/A

 Fuel economy

 13.9 kmpl

 Top Speed

 N/A

 0-100 kmph (sec)

 N/A

The Carnival’s direct rival in the MPV segment is the Toyota Innova Crysta, which is now powered by a BS6-compliant 2.4-litre oil burner with fuel mileage of 15.2 kmpl and a BSIV 2.8-litre oil burner with fuel mileage of 14.29 kmpl. Since the fuel mileage has a tendency to decrease with the engine update from BSIV to BSVI, the figure of the Kia Carnival's BS6 diesel unit is not low at all.

Kia Carnival Price: Is it Affordable?

The Kia Carnival is now on sale in the price range from INR 24.95 lakh to INR 33.95 lakh (ex-showroom).

 Variant Name

Price (ex-showroom) 

 Premium

 INR 24.95 Lakh

 Premium 8 STR

 INR 25.15 Lakh

 Prestige

 INR 28.95 Lakh

 Prestige 9 STR

 INR 29.95 Lakh

 Limousine

 INR 33.95 Lakh

This more affordable price range, in comparison with that of the Toyota Fortuner (INR 28.18 lakh - 34.2 lakh) will offer this new Kia MPV a clear advantage over its direct rival.

Kia Carnival Colours: How Many Options?

The India-bound Kia Carnival is available in three different colours: Glacier White Pearl, Steel Silver and Aurora Black Pearl.

Verdict: Is Kia Carnival worth buying?

Now, it is the time for the question at the beginning: "Will the Kia Carnival effectively compete against the Toyota Innova Crysta?" to be answered. The answer is definitely yes. The Kia Carnival has a wide range of benefits over its direct rival: the advanced features, the roomy cabin, the amber boot space, the comfort and the price. A customer who has any intention of buying an Innova Crysta should definitely have a look at the Carnival and give the purchase decision a second thought.

After the success of the Kia Seltos, will the Kia Carnival bring the South Korean auto manufacturer a decent sales number? Let's see the result after its launch in India.

Read more Kia car reviews by paying a visit to IndianAuto.

COMPARED WITH COMPETITORS

Kia Carnival Vs Kia Seltos Comparison: Will The MPV Attain The Same Success As Its SUV Sibling?

by Mohammed Burman | 04/02/2020

After the success of the Kia Seltos, the South Korean carmaker has decided to launch the Kia Carnival MPV at Auto Expo 2020. Will it be able to record the same success as its sibling? This Kia Carnival Vs Kia Seltos comparison is going to help you answer this question.

Kia Carnival vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Which One Fares Better?

by Harish Kumar | 21/01/2020

Kia’s second product for the Indian space, the Carnival will be induced in a segment seeing no immediate rivals but positioned over the Toyota Innova Crysta in the premium MPV segment. How could the Kia Carnival fare against the indisputable king of MPVs, the Innova Crysta in India? We compare.

KIA CARNIVAL LASTEST UPDATES

2021 Kia Carnival Revealed in U.S. With New Logo

by Jatin Chhibber | 01/03/2021

Kia will soon launch the new-gen Carnival in the American market. It will get propelled by a 3.5-litre petrol mill.

Kia Carnival Gets Discounts of Up to Rs 1.56 lakh This Festive Season

by Vivaan Khatri | 23/10/2020

The Toyota Innova Crysta-rivalling Kia Carnival is being offered with various discounts this festive season which can shave off up to Rs 1.56 lakh from the sticker price of the premium MPV

Discounts Worth Up to Rs 2.1 Lakh On Kia Carnival This Month

by Harish Kumar | 16/09/2020

Check out the hottest discounts and benefits on offer on the Kia Carnival for the month of September 2020.

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