What is the best MPV which comes to your mind, one that can easily move 7-8 people comfortably? Oh, also the vehicle which offers a reliable engine and with good brand image over the years. It is also used with famous Bollywood Celebrities and industrialists. Are you there? C'mon fast! Yes, you are. It is the famous Toyota Innova Crysta which manages to pull a bomb in terms of sales at our shores. Well, things were going smooth until Kia just launched the Carnival at Rs 25 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi which is priced similar to Toyota Innova Crysta top-end variants.
Now, let's talk about a history of Innova first. The famous MPV was brought in the Indian market in 2005 and since then it has become a popular choice among people. The MPV was a replacement to Toyota Qualis and then lived up to many facelifts until the Crysta took over. The latter is an advanced version of the Innova which comes with a highly updated design, technology, features and moreover improved and powerful engines. The oil burner makes 150 bhp while the 2.7L petrol makes 164 bhp. No doubt, it is the 2.4L diesel which is grabs more sales. It is also offered in both manual and automatic transmission.
Well, Toyota Innova Crysta is no doubt an excellent MPV but people who are spending close to Rs 25 lakh for the top model deserve to know what does the Kia Carnival offers, right? Well, to solve your problem here we are, not with a comparison but to tell you that whether Kia Carnival makes a worthy upgrade over Crysta?
Interior Design Marks - Kia Seltos - 100; Toyota Innova Crysta - 70
Well, the exteriors meet with the eyes first and not many people like the idea of a long van. So we decided to bring you how the interiors of this long and luxury VAN looks like. Now, where the Crysta is offered with a single tone interior, Carnival opens doors for luxury and more advanced technology.
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Starting off with the dual-tone beige and black interiors and loads of cubby holes for bottles and holding up your snacks. Due to the longer width, the shoulder room is not compromised and it adds up to more space over the Innova Crysta. Another addition is the rake and reach steering column, multi-function controls, cruise control and even tri-zone automatic climate control. This means different temperatures can be set for the driver, co-driver and the rear passengers.
You thought the detailed interior was finished? Well, we have more in store. As you can see how these both pictures depict the sense of space, premium-ness and availability of features. Well, this is the Limousine version of the Carnival so you won't get the lumbar support. The base trim which costs Rs 25 lakh will come with stand-up 2nd-row seats.
Exteriors Marks - Kia Carnival - 90; Toyota Innova Crysta - 80
Again, as I said above, it is what meets the eye first. For me, it is the Carnival that garners my attention and I am assuming with its huge size, it will grab more eyeballs than the Crysta. It is huge in size and the front grille gives it an aggressive look.
On the outside, you will receive projector headlights with escort function and fog lamps, rear spoiler with LED HMSL, front and rear skid plates, position lamps and among others. The side profile gets 18-inch Crystal cut alloy wheels and chrome door handles.
Size - Well, you guys decide from the table given below
| Dimensions | Kia Carnival | Toyota Innova Crysta |
| Length (mm) | 5115 | 4735 |
| Width (mm) | 1985 | 1830 |
| Height (mm) | 1755 | 1795 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 3060 | 2750 |
Kia Carnival is longer, wider and packs in a greater room on the inside. When it comes to height then the Toyota Innova Crysta is taller by 40 mm. The design of Carnival looks intimidating when viewed from both the front and rear profile. The side just gives a reminder to the Omni. Oh sorry, a luxurious and Rs 25 lakh Omni. Also, with a powered gate!
Features
Even with the base trim 'Prestige' of Kia Carnival which goes against the Toyota Innova Crysta top-end 'Z' trim, the former impresses us with the list of features. It offers tri-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay And Android Auto.
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It also offers one-touch power sliding rear door, auto headlight control, 18-inch alloy wheels, 540 litres of boot space, Dual airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear disc brakes, engine start/stop, cruise control, sunglass holder and among others.
Compared with Innova Crysta then this one offers a 7.0-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver's seat, seven airbags, ABS with EBD and ESP, cruise control and among others. Well, as I said above we are comparing the base unit of Carnival with top trim of Innova Crysta. Even after such, the Carnival comes out to be a better value for money. One thing they could have introduced and that is multiple airbags as dual airbags in Rs 25 lakh MPV does not make sense at all.
Engine - Are You Looking For Power Or Efficiency?
| Specs | Kia Carnival | Toyota Innova Crysta |
| Engine (L) | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Power (bhp) | 197 | 150 |
| Torque (Nm) | 440 | 343 - MT, 360 - AT |
| Transmission | 8-speed AT | 5-speed - MT; 6-speed - AT |
| ARAI | 13.9 km/l | NA |
As you can see from the table above, the Carnival packs in a mighty 2.2L turbocharged diesel which makes close to 200 bhp and 440 Nm of torque. Like it will pull and pull with enough torque but will also drink more. It comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission which means when you are cruising at highways with decent speeds, it will give you more fuel efficiency.
On the other hand, Toyota provides a sole 2.4L diesel engine on the Innova Crysta which makes 150 bhp. The torque figures stick 343 Nm for the MT and 360 Nm for the automatic. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Seating Configurations
Kia Carnival offers multiple seating configurations like 7,8 and 9 seaters for people with multiple tastes. The entry-level Premium trim is offered with 7 and 8-seater while the mid-spec Prestige comes with 7 and 9-seater. It is the top-spec Limousine which comes with VIP seats for the second-row and offers a 7-seat layout.
Toyota Innova Crysta offers 7 and 8 seating configurations for various models. The top trims receive leatherette upholstery just like the Carnival. Another advantage of Carnival is 10-inch dual rear entertainment seat package, driver-seat ventilation, air purifier and more.
So in the end, if you are in the market for an Innova Crysta upgrade, the extra amount paid for the Carnival is worth every penny - across all parameters. That said, we do agree that the long term reliability and re-sale value of the Innova remain unbeatable!
Note - All prices stick to ex-showroom, Delhi
