The all-new Kia Carnival takes luxury to a whole new level
The fourth-generation Kia Carnival has arrived in the United States, six months after its global debut. Replacing the outgoing Sedona, the Carnival is the first vehicle to be sold in the U.S. with the automaker’s new logo, which can be seen on the bonnet and in the rear light. It will be offered in four trim levels: LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige.
Appearance-wise, the US-spec Carnival looks practically the same as the global model. The front is dominated by the modernised tiger nose grille, which is flanked by the high-tech LED headlights, while the rear section features sleek combination tail lights with geometric graphics. Large two-tone mirrors, black/chrome rocker panel mouldings as well as 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels contribute to the upscale look.
Inside, the Carnival offers seating for eight passengers, with a second row centre seat that slides forward and converts into a table. There’s also a seven-seat option, which gives the MPV heated and ventilated VIP seats in the second row. These seats also come with power control, wing-out headrests and leg extensions.
On the technological front, an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is equipped as standard but this can be upgraded to a 12.3-inch unit. There are up to nine USB ports for all three rows and two 110-volt power inverters. Audiophiles can opt for a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system that comes with Bose Centrepoint technology and Dynamic Speed Compensation.
Riding on the new N3 platform, which also underpins the new Sorento and K5, the Carnival is offered with a sole engine option in the form of the 3.5-litre V6 GDI that produces 290 hp at 6,400 rpm and 355 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite being a front-wheel-drive, the Carnival boasts an impressive towing capacity of 1,587 kg.
It also comes with a comprehensive list of standard Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that includes the follwing:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
- Blind-Spot Avoidance Assist (BCA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
- Parking Distance Warning-Reverse (PDW-R)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) with Lane Following Assist (LFA)
- High Beam Assist (HBA)
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
Set to go on sale in the second quarter this year, the Carnival is priced from $32,100 (RM129,764) for the LX all the way to $46,100 (RM186,359) for the SX Prestige.
