Introduction
In April 2017, Kia Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh in India, to build a new manufacturing facility in Anantapur District. With a capital investment of 2 billion USD by Kia and its affiliates, the manufacturing facility began production in the second half of 2019 with a production capacity of approximately 300,000 units per year.
In August 2019, the Korean carmaker launched its first product for the Indian market – the Kia Seltos compact SUV. The Seltos took the market by storm. The introduction of Seltos not only marked Kia’s foray into India, but also affirmed their stand that they are here to play hard and win. Since then, the Kia Seltos gone on to become a runaway success, sweeping innumerable awards.
Earlier this year when Kia announced that it will be launching the Carnival MPV at the Auto Expo, quite naturally, the expectations from all quarters were sky high. But will the Carnival be able to deliver on the expectations? Is it worth the price tag it bears? Last month, we were invited to the City of Pearls – Hyderabad, to find out the answers to all the questions that’s reeling on your mind. So buckle up for the ride, because its Carnival time.
Design and Engineering
Standing at 5,115 mm in length and 1985 mm in width, the Kia Carnival is a big car with an imposing road presence. It has a stately appearance that exudes class and is sure to turn heads on the go. The quality of steel, paintwork and other material used on the exterior are impressive which results in this MPV being solidly built. When viewed from the front, the signature tiger nose grille ensures that the Carnival wouldn’t be mistaken for anything other than a Kia. The aesthetically crafted LED headlamp cluster gives the Carnival a distinctive character.
The one-touch power sliding doors and dual panel electric sunroof are absolute delights and will evoke envy from onlookers. The 18-inch sputtering alloy wheels adds to the panache of the Kia Carnival.
Other exterior features include body colour bumper and ORVM, front and rear skid plates, black surround DLO, chrome rear garnish, LED turn signal on ORVM, chrome outside door handle, rear spoiler with LED HMSL, projector bulb type headlamps with escort and anti-fog function, door step plate and the shark fin antenna.
The NVH levels are very well contained with neither the vibration of the diesel pot nor the exterior noise invading the privacy of the passenger cabin. The Kia Carnival is available in three exterior colour options – Aurora Black Pearl, Glacier White Pearl and Steel Silver.
Interior and Comfort
Step inside the Kia Carnival and you will be welcomed by a very tastefully crafted dual-tone black and beige interior. Right from the first glance, the passenger cabin comes across as luxurious, classy and extremely spacious. Be it driving your colleagues for a team brunch, getting away with your family over the weekend or setting out on an adventure with your friends, Kia Carnival comes with versatile seating combinations to make room for everyone and almost everything you need.
The seat are well bolstered with excellent lumbar support. There is adequate head, shoulder and leg room for passenger of the first and second row. The third row is best suited for kids or small built adults. The one-touch powered sliding doors enables effortless ingress and egress for second and third row passengers.
The luxury second row VIP seats are truly indulgent with comfortable leg rest and 10.1-inch touchscreen rear entertainment system. The seat upholstery has been done up with premium Nappa leather that add a touch of class. To maximize comfort, the tri-zone temperature control system enables the driver, front and rear passengers to adjust the temperature and air flow setting as per their preference.
Other create comforts which makes the Kia Carnival a convenient package comprise of the steering mounted audio control, smart pure air purifier, smart power tailgate, power windows with driver one-touch auto down, rear view camera, front armrest with storage box, coat hook, front console and luggage power outlet and USB charging ports, smart key with push start/stop button, day/night rear view mirror, electrically adjustable outside mirror, auto cruise control, auto defogger and diffused rear air conditioner vents.
The Carnival also comes with UVO. With 37 unique features, UVO is the latest evolution in connected car technology and infotainment. It lets you seamlessly connect your smartphone or smartwatch with the Kia Carnival.
Performance and Handling
Doing duty in the Kia Carnival is a 2.2-litre diesel engine mated to 8-speed sportsmatic transmission. The diesel pot responds well to throttle inputs and has a flat torque curve delivering linear power across rev range. Despite the Carnival being a large car, the lightweight BS6 compliant engine seemed adequately powerful churning out 200 PS maximum power and 440 Nm maximum torque. Even while overtaking cars within the city and on the highways, the Carnival chugged along effortlessly leaving the others behind.
The ride quality is impressive owning to an intelligently engineered suspension set up. Even while navigating through the congested and potholed thoroughfares of old Hyderabad, not once was the ride quality compromised with the Kia Carnival absorbing all the undulation of the road with relative ease.
The handling is also commendable with the Kia Carnival inspiring confidence with great traction. Even while cutting corners at relatively high speed, the Carnival remained well planted to the ground with negligible body roll. Kudos to the engineers at Kia for achieving the right balance between handling and ride quality.
Safety
To ensure a high level of safety, the Kia Carnival’s structure is made of high-strength steel and adhesives to provide comprehensive safety, by reducing the impact in the unfortunate event of a crash. The carnival also comes equipped with driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags. In addition to this, it features Electronic Stability Control that helps in controlling brake pressure in changing driving situations like sudden turns, acceleration and braking. Front and rear parking sensors aid to safely manoeuvre and park in peculiar conditions. The Carnival also features the hill start assist control that prevents the vehicle from rolling back during an uphill climb from a static position.
Verdict
The Carnival sits in the pinnacle of Kia’s product portfolio in India. It is stately in appearance, with a classy and spacious interior, and powered by a responsive diesel powertrain which boasts of excellent drivability. The handling and ride quality is brilliant. The one-touch power sliding doors, dual panel electric sunroof, rear VIP seats with leg rest and 10.1-inch touchscreen rear entertainment system puts the Carnival in a league of its own. It is fair to say that the Kia Carnival is presently India’s most luxurious MPV. Quite obviously, all of this luxury comes at a price, which starts at Rs 24.95 lakhs and goes up to Rs 33.95 lakhs (ex-showroom). Anyone who has experienced the comfort of travelling in a Kia Carnival will tell you that it’s worth every penny.
Power Drive 