The Kia Carnival was launched at Auto Expo 2020 at a starting price of Rs 24.95 lakh ex-showroom
Kia Motors India Limited, a new entrant into the Indian automobile sector, has emerged as a leader in the mid-size SUV segment. It is now the third-largest carmaker in the country and commands a market share of 6.24 per cent in February 2020. Its position behind Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motors India is cemented due to the high success received for the Seltos and now, Kia will be able to reach new heights with the Carnival luxury MPV (or minivan).
Now, the South Korean brand’s dealership in Surat (Surat Motorcar LLP) has dispatched 11 units of the new Kia Carnival on a single day. Sales in February, the first month of its official launch in the country, hit 1,620 units. Launched at 2020 Auto Expo, the Carnival MPV is priced from Rs 24.95 to Rs 33.95 lakh ex-showroom.
The Kia Carnival comes in three formats: Premium, Prestige and Limousine, each having seating configurations in the range of seven to nine passengers. The Carnival measures 5,115mm in length, 1,985mm in width, 1,740mm in height and has a wheelbase of 3060 mm while riding on 18-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels. It gets three colour options: Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Silver and Glacier white Pearl.
The Kia Carnival powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. The engine offers 197bhp power at 3,800rpm and 440Nm torque at 1,750-2,750 rpm while mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine is compliant to BS6 emission norms.
Kia Motors has offered extensive safety equipment on the Carnival. The safety features include ABS, EBD, discs on all wheels, front and rear parking sensors, stability control, cornering brake control and rollover mitigation. It also boasts of hill start assist, side and curtain airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control.
Other notable features on the interior include dual-panel electric sunroof, VIP seating with 10.1-inch dual touchscreen rear-seat entertainment, one-touch power sliding door, smart power tailgate and a total of 37 smart connectivity features which are free for the first three years of ownership. Overall, the Kia Carnival is quite loaded on the inside and is one of the best at what it aims to be.
The Kia Carnival does not have a direct rival but is a premium alternative to the likes of the Toyota Innova Crysta. On the other hand, it is also an affordable alternative to high-end choices such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class as well as the recently-launched Toyota Vellfire. The company is currently working on all-new India-specific subcompact-SUV called the Kia Sonet.
