Riding on the success of its first product in India, Kia is all set to launch the Carnival in the domestic market. But this isn't a conventional vehicle that we Indias are used to yet. Is Kia overconfident or have they done the homework properly? Will the Carnival be a mistake from this Korean giant or will it create a new segment for itself? With these questions in place, I flew to Hyderabad to spend the better part of two days with this people mover. Continue below to read my experience and verdict on this MPV.
The Carnival is huge. By any standards. We had the hotel's Innova Crysta for company and parked side by side, the Carnival simply overshadowed the Innova in terms of sheer size. Ofcourse it will be priced way above the Innova but when it comes to a benchmark for a premium people mover, the Crysta is what the Carnival needs to beat. The front is bold and I like the rather large grille that also gets a splash of chrome and silver inserts. The headlamps are of the LED variety and those ice cube fog lamps are a common sight on Kia cars around the world.
So while the front end gets your attention, the side profile is rather boring. This is down to the fact that this is a MPV that needs roomy interiors and hence the roof is almost flat. There are no modern-day design lines on the side either. But, the large 18 inch alloy wheels do their job well and come with locally made MRF tyres.
The rear profile is, well, like a MPV. No flashy signs of modern design but the LED pattern of the taillights looks good. This is the top spec Limousine version and the same is flaunted on the boot hatch. There are silver skid plates under both the bumpers and a spoiler at the back to wrap up the exteriors.
So while the design is grand in terms of sheer size, the cabin too is roomier than what I had expected. The first row first - while most owners will be chauffered around, whenever they wish to be behind the wheel, the Carnival will keep them pampered and smiling. First, it feels more car-like than an MPV, ergonomics are spot on and quality levels are very high. You do feel the luxury factor here. The lovely, comfortable seats for instance. Then, the touch and feel of panels and the extended feature list that even includes a ventilated driver's seat that's powered too. Sense of space continues with the massive storage space under the arm-rest, generous door pads enough cubby holes for smaller items.
But its the 2nd row that needs more attention. The powered sliding doors look classy and all you need to do is press the soft black sensor button on the door handle outside. The same function can be done using the button on the inside of the B-pillar, via the key fob and via the button location above the inner review view mirror. Infact, a long press of the button on the key fob, even when the car is locked, results in the doors opening up. Clever. Given how wide the doors slide, you can literally step into the car.
The Carnival is offered with numerous seating configurations and for the drive, we had the seven seater on offer with captain 2nd row seats. These offer you calf support extenders and separate arm-rests too. These seats can be reclined, have a slide function and can even be moved out by a few inches if the need arises. The flat floor aids comfort and the top spec trim comes with screens mounted on the back of the front seats. The roof mounted blowers work well but look a bit flimsy - I doubt their longevity and the controls are on the right side, difficult to access from the left seat. Why? International models are left-hand drive wherein the owner sits on the right seat of the 2nd row. Its opposite in India, remember?
Getting into the 3rd row isn't a task - again, the sliding doors come to the rescue. Head room is a generous 987 mm (930 on sunroof models) while shoulder space is claimed to be 1508mm. Again, the large glass area comes handy and you do not feel hammered in. These are also called sinking seats because they can be stowed away into the floor of the Carnival and in the process, liberating as much as 1,624 litres of space. This MPV also has rear proximity sensors wherein if you walk towards the hatch with the key fob in pocket, it senses your presence and the pops open the tail gate. Smart!
But there's more to the Carnival than its size, space and feature list. Its the way it drives and happy to report, it's way positive than I had expected. The 2.2-litre engine might sound inadequate for its size but with almost 200 horses (200 PS) on offer and maximum torque of 440Nm, right from 1750rpm onwards. In contrast, the 2.4 on the Innova offers 150 PS and 343 Nm of torque. But more than the punch on offer, its the way the Carnival feels on the move. NVH levels are terrific and Kia has worked very hard to keep noise and sound intrusion to the bare minimum. On the move, 1st and last row passengers can easily have a normal conversation without having to raise their voice levels. It is that good. Infact, at high speeds, 2nd and 3rd row passengers can hardly hear the engine running. With a low Cd value of 0.342, this is one aerodynamic vehicle, slipping through the air and thus keeping wind noise levels to the bare minimum.
The 2.2 diesel comes mated to an 8-speed automatic across all versions and the combination works well. There is no manual on offer for the Indian market and that's the right way to go about it. This also makes the drive experience far smoother and jerk free for the occupants while making it easier for the owner to get behind the wheel on weekends. Pedal to metal, there is ample poke in the motor to literally shove you into the seat and this is due to the availability of torque from as low as 1750 rpm. The 'box though is slightly on the lazier side and that actually complements when you want to take it easy!
The engine is BS6 compliant and there is an inlet for AdBlue next to the fuel filler cap. The urea level indicator is present in the driver info display. With the Kia Carnival, you do have the option of changing gears manually and doing so results in quicker momentum. Talking of which, the Carnival remains planted at triple digit speeds and the otherwise supple suspension does not make you feel nervous. The rear will not wallow all over the road while undulations will be taken care of easily. There is a certain amount of body roll and you do need to consider this is a large and a heavy car - hence high speed lane change or attacking corners needs prior planning.
Dynamics are excellent for what is a people mover and the steering does its bit to keep you in control. It is a hydraulic one and I must admit, is on the heavier side at parking speeds. You do need to use both your hands for performing a lock to lock maneuver but it does ease up as speeds rise. The Carnival makes use of a MacPherson strut at the front and gets multi links are the rear. This is largely responsible for a plush ride on the move.
The Carnival comes with a full safety kit of 6 Airbags and an advanced electronic stability control package that has roll over mitigation, brake assist, traction control, cornering brake control et al. It also makes use of several front and side collision measures. Kia claims the Carnival has enough usage of high tensile steel and gets an enhanced body structure.
India has no dearth of luxury SUVs and luxury sedans. But for customers who want a luxury people mover or an MPV, they either have to stick to the Innova, or have to deepen their pockets by looking at options like the Velfire. There is simply no other option available and for those who want something 'more' than the Innova, the Carnival seems to be the perfect upgrade. It betters the Innova in most areas and should be priced at a premium of about Rs 4-6 lakh. Given the long list of features, space and size on offer, the Carnival might be the right recipe for Kia to continue their success story in India. I think it all makes sense!
