New Kia Carnival Launched – Here’s 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.

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.

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.

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