Bangalore: We drove the new Kia Carnival. It’s bigger and has a great road presence, yet this time, the focus is on making it look upmarket. Here’s the first drive report of the fourth-generation facelifted model of Kia’s XL-sized MPV.
I wonder if any car’s stock has risen as much as Kia has bet on the new Carnival. At ₹ 63.90 lakh (ex-showroom), it has set itself apart from cars like the Hycross and Invicto. And it seems so. Be it the design, interior or the way to drive, the Carnival is a more likable car than before. The Carnival has a new face, with a wide grille and an upright stance that make it look a bit SUV-like. The LED headlights are stacked vertically and the L-shaped daytime running lights are profiled more sharply.
The 18-inch alloys get minor changes. The side profile remains unchanged. The sidestep comes as an accessory. The larger sliding second door is exclusive to the Carnival. The quarter glass between the C- and D-pillars has grown in size and the panel treatment in the centre is different too. The design changes at the rear of the Carnival, just like the face, are similar to other Kia SUVs. The electric tailgate is more upright and connected LED light strips connect to the reprofiled tail lamps. The washer is tucked neatly behind the spoiler. Gone is the chubby and flowy look, the Carnival now looks longer with sharp creases on the profile.
Available only in a single, fully loaded trim, the Carnival gets a 2+2+3 layout. Even with all three rows up, boot space is a whopping 627 litres. The loading lip is deep and pulling heavy luggage through it will be tiring.
Step inside the Carnival, and there is a huge difference in the cabin compared to its predecessor. The brown leatherette fabric feels premium and the fit and finish levels have improved. The third row is spacious compared to most MPVs. The third row is well-appointed, thanks to three adjustable headrests, ceiling-mounted AC vents, cubby holes and dedicated charging ports. The thigh support is somewhat lacking, but the increased quarter glass area with privacy blinds makes the space quite usable for adults.
The middle captain seats are nothing short of a private lounge. The flexibility of the seats is amazing, especially when the third row is empty. The seats can be manually swivelled fore and aft, and side to side, while electric adjustments allow for reclining, thigh and calf support adjustments. The captain seats are large and supportive, the headrests are well contoured to provide lateral support and overall come with heating and ventilation features. Passengers can adjust the air conditioning settings to their liking thanks to the 3-zone AC. The window glass area is huge and thankfully comes with electric blinds. The large doors can be closed or opened electrically in multiple ways, whether it’s a touch of a button or using the key fob. The Carnival misses out on a panoramic sunroof and gets a split, dual-pane sunroof instead which isn’t really a bad thing. The wheelbase remains unchanged, so space in all three rows remains the same.
We wonder if Carnival buyers will hardly want to drive an MPV. If they do, the driver’s seat is a definite upgrade over the previous generation. In fact, the first Carnival to appear on the Indian scene in 2020 was the second-generation model. It was discontinued last year, and you can now see it in the fourth-generation facelifted model. The cabin has been completely overhauled due to the model change. Level-2 ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance Systems) is now a standard fitment. The clear projection of the 360-degree camera is definitely a boon for the Carnival to navigate through tight city spaces. The displays are new. It is a free-standing unit with two 12.3-inch screens, tilted slightly towards the driver. The touch response is fast, the layout is clean. It comes with a host of new features to keep the driver and passengers entertained. The driver’s display has been completely revamped. The fully digital unit has a lot of information and is easy to read from how it appears.
The steering wheel is new, and so is the layout of the dashboard. There is more attention to detail and the touch points are soft and feel premium. The new steering wheel is a 4-spoke unit, has better grip than before and has new buttons for various ADAS functionalities. The finish on the door handles, keys and levers is nice, which is quite different from the previous Carnival. Kia has left no stone unturned when it comes to creature comforts. Wireless charging, wireless Android Auto, CarPlay connectivity, ambient lighting, auto-dimming IRVMs, head-up display and more. The front seats are electrically adjustable and have heating and cooling functions just like the middle seats. The audio output from the 12-speaker Bose stereo is bassy and fun. There is no dearth of storage space either. Whether it is a deep box under the front armrest or a large glovebox, the Carnival has plenty of decent storage spaces.
Under the hood is the same 2.2-litre diesel engine that generates 193 PS and 441 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic torque converter. Torque has dropped by 1 Nm and power by 7 PS. The drop is not visible in the numbers, and the engine has strong mid-range pull. Power delivery is gradual and the Carnival feels best on the highway, cruising comfortably at 100 kmph. There are drive modes, but even in Sport, the performance doesn’t change much. The gear line stays a little tall, allowing the driver to rev the engine more for smooth overtakes. There are paddle shifters, in case one wants to drive it enthusiastically.
The ride is supple and the Carnival easily overcomes road imperfections. The suspension is set on the softer side to minimize the impact of road undulations. Don’t expect too much handling from the Carnival. The wheelbase is over 3 metres, and straight-line stability is good. The insulation of the cabin is also commendable, filtering out the diesel rumble or road noise. The noise from the all-disc brakes has improved. In terms of safety, the Carnival gets 8 airbags as standard along with hill assist control, tyre pressure monitor, front, rear and side parking sensors and ADAS level-2 suite.
Though the Carnival’s customer base may be much lesser than the Seltos and Sonet, those who can take it home will be most happy. It is spacious, premium, tech-savvy and has no threat in the market. It may not be as fun to drive, but it is better in terms of comfort.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
