New Kia Carnival Launched – How it Compares to Old Model?
The new Kia Carnival premium MPV has finally been launched in India as we see what all is new in comparison to the outgoing model
As the new Kia Carnival is launched, it makes sense to compare it to the old model to see what all’s fresh. Carnival is a premium MPV which has done decently on the sales charts. People looking to travel in style and opulence often opt for it. The space inside the cabin is aplenty which enhances the practicality of the MPV a lot. The new Carnival is a CBU unit and depending on the demand, the Korean auto giant might want to manufacture it locally to bring the costs down considerably. Even before the launch, Kia has received 2,796 bookings for the luxury MPV. For now, let us compare the new and the old models on various parameters.
New Kia Carnival vs Old Model – Prices
The new Kia Carnival has a retail sticker of a whopping Rs 63.90 lakh, ex-showroom. Note that it comes in a single, fully loaded Limousine+ avatar with all the bells and whistles. This astronomical price is due to the MPV being a CBU model. On the other hand, the previous model used to sell between Rs 25.15 lakh and Rs 35.49 lakh, ex-showroom. Hence, there is a significant jump in the prices because of the addition of innumerable new amenities, features and cabin materials and layout. There are only two colour options to choose from – Fusion Black and Glacier White Pearl.
Price ComparisonOld Kia CarnivalNew Kia CarnivalEx-showroomRs 25.15 lakh to Rs 35.49 lakhRs 63.90 lakhPrice Comparison
New Kia Carnival vs Old Model – Specs
The new Kia Carnival comes with a potent 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine. It generates a healthy 142 kW (190 hp) and 441 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine pairs with a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission with a 2WD configuration. This is the same engine as the outgoing model along with the same transmission. There are only minute tweaks to the power and torque figures. The old model produced 197 hp and 440 Nm from the same powertrain. Hence, there is nothing much to choose from in this regard.
SpecsOld Kia CarnivalNew Kia CarnivalEngine2.2L Turbo Diesel2.2L Turbo DieselPower197 hp190 hpTorque440 Nm441 NmTransmission8AT8ATDrivetrain2WD2WDSpecs
New Kia Carnival vs Old Model – Features
This is arguably the most exciting aspect of the comparison. We know that new-age buyers want the absolutely latest tech, convenience, safety and connectivity features to pamper the occupants. People purchase the Carnival to relish the comfort and space inside the cabin. In fact, many businessmen prefer to conduct official meetings in the rear seat of such large MPVs. Let us commence by looking at what the new Kia Carnival offers:
2nd Row Powered Relaxation Seats
Ventilated, Heated 2nd Row Seats with Leg Support
Electronic Parking Brake
12-Speaker Bose Premium Sound System
Kia Connect 2.0 Suite
12-way Power Driver’s Seat with 4-way Lumbar Support and Memory Function
8-way Power Front Passenger Seat
Front Seat Ventilation and Heating
3rd Row 60:40 Split Seats
4-spoke Leatherette-wrapped Steering Wheel
Sunshade Curtains for 2nd and 3rd Rows
Glovebox with Illumination
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Shift-by-Wire Mechanism
Drive Modes – Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart
64-Colour Ambient Mood Lighting
Auto Anti-Glare IRVMs
Satin Silver Interior Door Handles
3-Zone Automatic Climate Control
Dual-Panoramic 12.3-inch Curved Displays for Infotainment and Instrumentation
11-inch Advanced Head-up Display
Powered Tailgate
One-Touch Smart Power Sliding Doors
Dual Electric Sunroof
Level 2 ADAS with 23 Advanced Features
Blind Spot Monitoring
360-degree Camera
High-Quality Materials
Premium Leatherette VIP Seats
8 Airbags
All Four Disc Brakes
Highline TPMS
On the other hand, even the outgoing model was incredibly well-equipped. Its top highlights were:
8-inch Touchscreen Audio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Dual-Pane Electric Sunroof
One Touch Power Sliding Doors
Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control with Auto Defogger
Premium Leatherette Seats
Harman Kardon Premium 8 Speaker Sound System
Rear View Camera
3.5-inch LCD Panel
Cruise Control
Smart Key with Push Start/Stop Button
2nd Row Standup Seats
3rd Row 60:40 Split Seats
Tilt and Telescopic Steering
Electrically Adjustable & Folding Outside Mirrors
Sunglass Holder
Conversation Mirror
220V Laptop Charger
Smart Power Tailgate
2nd & 3rd Row Sunshade Curtains
UV Cut Front Door Glass and Windshield
Highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Luxury 2nd Row Premium Leatherette VIP Seats with Leg Support
In-Built Navigation
Kia Connect Features and ECM with Kia Connect Controls
10.1-inch Dual Rear Seat Entertainment System
Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus Protection and Perfume Diffuser
Electronic Parking Brake
10-way Power Driver Seat
Driver Seat Ventilation
Wireless Charging
Paddle Shifter
OTA-supported India Maps
Front Console Wireless Smartphone Charger
Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel and Gear Knob
Premium Wood Garnish
6 Airbags
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
All Four Disc Brakes
ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts
Design and Dimensions
The new Kia Carnival certainly bears a modern appearance. At the front, it gets a colossal grille section with plenty of chrome insignias to lend it an opulent road presence. This grille is flanked by sleek LED headlamps with prominent LED DRLs surrounding it. Also, these DRLs almost touch each other at the centre. The headlamps are vertically stacked, which oozes premium design. The lower section of the bumper contains a rugged section which accentuates the sportiness of the MPV. Moving down the sides reveals the sheer length of this large MPV. I particularly like the elegant alloy wheels, the sliding doors, the solid roof rails, the black side pillars and the pronounced wheel arches. At the rear, the new Carnival gets a connected LED taillamp cluster which we see in many modern vehicles.
On the other hand, once you look at the old model, you realize just how futuristic the new version is. The latter is a complete departure from the previous Carnival. In fact, the old model had a much smaller grille section which had a chrome frame around it. Also, the headlamp cluster was larger with projector lamps decorating it. Down below, there were striking fog lamps with a chrome frame around the housing and a recognizable skid plate section. On the sides, there were black side pillars, faux roof rails, stylish 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and chrome frames around the windows. Finally, the tail end had split-LED taillamps, a shark fin antenna, a roof-mounted spoiler, a chrome belt above the number plate area, a sporty bumper with a skid plate and reflector lights on the extreme edges of the bumper. All in all, there are distinct customizations on the new version in comparison to the old one.
Dimensions Comparison (in mm)Old Kia CarnivalNew Kia CarnivalLength5,1155,155Width1,9851,995Height1,7551,775Wheelbase3,0603,090Dimensions Comparison
New gen Kia Carnival Launched in India
Our View
The new Kia Carnival has certainly raised the standards in terms of exterior styling, interior comfort, new-age features, technology and road presence. One could clearly see that the Korean auto giant has worked meticulously to create an MPV with the latest design language. It is clear that only wealthy individuals would prefer to own a vehicle like this. But the main aspect is to figure out if the new functionalities are worth the premium. I feel that there are enough amenities and newness to this latest avatar of the Carnival to warrant a premium. But the difference of around Rs 28 lakh in ginormous. However, it would be much more enticing once the prices come down due to local manufacturing.
Also Read: Top Upcoming 7-seat SUVs in India – Hyundai Alcazar to Kia Carnival
