New Kia Carnival 8-seater – Pricing and specifications

Kia has launched the Carnival MPV in South Africa to replace the longstanding Grand Sedona range.

The Carnival will be available in four specification grades all powered by a 2.2-litre engine, and thanks to its larger measurements it offers enhanced space and practicality compared to the model it is replacing, said Kia.

The design language of the new people-mover follows that of the brand’s SUVs, with thin LED headlights on every model, a tiger-nose grille, and 18-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels.

Features

The new Kia Carnival EX is the entry-level model and comes equipped with seven leather seats, front and rear manual air-conditioning, automatic headlights, an electrically-adjustable driver seat, four USB ports, drive mode select, auto-folding wing mirrors, an 8-inch infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hill-start assist, and seven airbags

With the slightly upgraded EX+ specification, you further get keyless entry and start, powered sliding doors, an electric tailgate with key control, remote start from outside the vehicle, front and rear climate control, rear sunblinds, paddle shifters, seven USB ports, as well as another seat to form a total of eight in a 2+3+3 configuration.

Second from the top sits the SX Limited which is a limited-edition model that offers heated and ventilated front seats, an electrically-adjustable driver seat, LED front fog lights, dual-LED headlamps, LED taillights, a dual sunroof, a wireless charger, front and rear skidplates, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display.

From March onwards, the Carnival SXL will then take its place at the top of the line-up and it sports a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system to go along with the features of the SX Limited.

Both the SX Limited and SXL derivatives are also fitted with Kia’s advanced driver assistance system which comprises a forward collision avoidance assistant, blindspot collision avoidance assist, blindspot view monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, smart cruise control, and an around-view monitor.

With three rows of seating up, the Carnival supports a maximum cargo capacity of 1,139 litres.

Power

The front-wheel-drive Kia Carnival line-up is powered by a 2.2-litre, turbo-diesel engine producing 148kW and 440Nm.

Drive is handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission that allows the MPV to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 190km/h.

Due to the more powerful engine compared to the Grand Sedona, the Carnival’s maximum braked towing capacity now also stands at 1,500kg.