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

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos: Introduction

The Kia Carnival will be launched on the first day of Auto Expo 2020. It is expected to be an ideal addition to the limited MPV segment. With an attractive appearance, numerous modern features, and an aggressive price, the MPV is expected to overdo the current MPV segment king, the Toyota Innova Crysta.

Launched in August 2019, the Kia Seltos has achieved a great sales number thanks to its distinctive design, wide range of top-notch features along with various engine and transmission options. The sales number of the SUV has even once surpassed that of some segments dominators like the Hyundai Creta or the Tata Harrier.

Now, a question might pop up in your mind: “Will the Kia Carnival enjoy the same success as its sibling?” Read our Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos comparison to discover the answer to this question.

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos Dimensions: Which is bigger?

The Kia Carnival is definitely bigger than the Kia Seltos as the former dwarfs its sibling in all dimensions.

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos: Which is better looking?

Interior comparison

The interior design of the Seltos is fresh and unique for the Indian auto market with a top-segment quality and either black or beige cabin paint scheme options. The Seltos is a highly practical SUV with many storage spaces around the cabin and the ability to comfortably accommodate three adults in the rear. Noteworthily, the 433-litres boot space is quite ample in comparison to the Hyundai Creta and the Tata Harrier.

The Kia Seltos has a unique interior design with top-notch quality.

Having said that, the Kia Carnival is a breakthrough in terms of the seating, especially in the top-spec Limousine variant, thanks to the VIP third seat row with the excellent thigh and leg support as well as the 10.1-inch entertainment system on the rear of the second seat row. The third row seats can also be reclinable and foldable, allowing the boot space to be expanded from 540 litres to 1500+ litres. Sadly the space there is a little cramped, even with the cars gigantic dimensions. Besides the third seat row, the seats in the second and first rows can offer a comfortable journey for the occupants, thanks to the manual blindfolds and the dual sunroof (not available in the base trim) with the latter being one of the unique selling points of the MPV.

The Kia Carnival is sure to offer the passengers a comfortable journey.

Exterior Comparison

Kia Seltos has managed to attract SUV fans since its official debut, owing to its distinctive design, great street presence, amazing curves and lines. Thanks to the chunky bumper with silver inserts, the sportiness of the SUV is remarkably enhanced. Dominating the front of the Seltos is the Kia’s signature bold ‘Tiger Nose’ grille with knurled-effect chrome finishes, which gives the SUV a more premium feeling. A multi-tier full-LED lighting system is also present in the front of the Seltos. On the side profile, the SUV sports a kit of well-designed diamond-cut 17-inch squared-off wheel arches with plastic cladding and a bold shoulder line. The window line extends to the rear, which creates an interesting contrast with the dropping roofline. In the rear, heart-beat effect LED taillights are present. The rear bumper features a twin-exhaust garnish and is sculpted with sharp lines which add to the dynamism of the SUV.

The Kia Seltos has an attractive appearance with a great street presence.

In the meanwhile, the Kia Carnival does not pale in comparison with its sibling with an MPV's typical appealing appearance. At the front, some of the features of the Seltos will be carried over to the Carnival such as the multi-tier lighting system and the signature ‘Tiger Nose grille’ with chrome inserts. The side profile of the Carnival gives us the true feeling of the real size of the MPV. One of the most outstanding features of the MPV also lies on the side profile and is the ‘Smart Power Sliding Rear Doors’ (as called by Kia) which can be opened and closed electrically. The MPV gets standard 18-inch alloy rims across which are larger than those on the Seltos by one inch. The rear of the Carnival will come with a simple design and features a chrome strip between split LED taillights and a skid plate on the bumper.

The Kia Carnival is also a good-looking MPV.

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos Features: Which is safer and more convenient?

Comfort features comparison

In its segment, the Kia Seltos seems to be unequalled in comfort. In the centre of the dashboard is a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen which supports UVO connectivity. This advanced technology comes with up to 37 features which can be categorized into 5 categories: Convenience, Remote Control, Safety & Security, Vehicle Management, and Navigation. Other outstanding features of the SUV include an 8-speaker system, 360-degree view camera, smart air purifier, electric sunroof, and ventilated power seats.

The Kia Seltos is equipped with a wide range of modern features.

Kia Carnival is a highly practical MPV with numerous storage spaces such as a large storage compartment under the handrest, two gloveboxes and cup holders along with many device charging points. Besides, the Kia Carnival is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (smaller than that on the Kia Seltos) which supports standard Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and also the UVO connectivity features in the top-spec variant. Moreover, the dual-zone and tri-zone air-conditioning system will be offered across all the variants.

The Kia Carnival is also equally well-equipped.

Security and safety features comparison.

Like the BlueLink system of the Hyundai Venue, the UVO connectivity technology of the Kia Seltos offers AI-enabled voice assistance, safety alerts, collision auto-notification, etc. Other safety features in the Kia Seltos include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, brake assist, traction control, hill holder, etc. Furthermore, the Kia Seltos adopts strong and adhesive steel in its structure which helps decrease crash impacts.

On the other hand, in the safety front, the Kia Carnival seems to be surpassed by its sibling with only some of the standard safety features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, read disc brakes, rear parking sensors and ISO-FIX across all the variants. The UVO connectivity feature also helps increase the safety level of the MPV but only on the top-spec variant.

The Kia Carnival can ensure a safe journey for both the driver and the passengers.

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos Engine Specifications: Which has a higher performance?

Since the two Kia cars do not have the same number of motor options, we would like to compare only their diesel motors with each other. We will also provide the information of the two gasoline burners at the end of this section for reference.

The Kia Seltos is exceeded by the Kia Carnival in almost all engine specifications, except for the transmission diversity. For those who prefer a more powerful vehicle, the Kia Carnival is the better choice; nevertheless, for those who would like to experience the manual gearbox, the Kia Seltos would be more suitable.

Besides that, the Kia Seltos is also offered in the petrol version, with two different petrol engines.

Kia Seltos vs Carnival Fuel Mileage: Which is more fuel-efficient?

The Kia Carnival is dwarfed by the Kia Seltos in terms of the fuel mileage.

Kia Carnival: Other Competitors

In the Indian auto market, the Kia Carnival also competes against the Toyota Innova Crysta.

Kia Seltos: Other Competitors

The Kia Seltos also rival the Hyundai Creta, the Nissan Kicks, the Mahindra XUV500, the Jeep Compass and the Tata Harrier.

Kia Carnival vs Kia Seltos Verdict: Which one is worth buying?

After the Kia Seltos, the Kia Carnival is expected to become a segment dominator and effectively pose a threat to the Toyota Innova Crysta. Both of the two vehicles have an appealing appearance and a well-equipped cabin with some segment-leading features. The most remarkable distinction between the two cars lies in the motor and transmission options. For those who prefer a powerful MPV, please choose the Kia Carnival; nevertheless, people who like to have a wider range of motor and gearbox options on a highly fuel-efficient SUV, the Kia Seltos is a better choice.

If you are interested in reading more such interesting car comparisons, please pay a visit to IndianAuto.