Kia India is gearing up to introduce its second product for our market in the coming months. We can now confirm that the Kia Carnival MPV will launch at Auto Expo 2020, which is set to begin on February 5, 2020. The company had first showcased the Carnival in India earlier at the 2018 Auto Expo and had received massive consumer interest for the model. The Carnival that will be sold in India will be a mildly updated version of the car shown earlier and will have subtle “tweaks” in its feature list to suit Indian tastes.
For those who don’t know, the Kia Carnival is also sold as Sedona in some markets and will be touted as a premium alternative to the Toyota Innova Crysta in India. The Carnival is so big on the inside that it can be configured as a seven-seater, eight-seater and even an 11-seater. The MPV measures measures 5,115mm in length, 1,985mm in width, and 1,740mm in height, with a massive 3,060mm wheelbase; all of which makes it longer and wider than the Innova Crysta.
The Carnival can also be seen as a more practical alternative to the Innova Crysta, thanks to its lower slung construction and sliding doors for the second row, which are power-operated. Kia will sell the Carnival in not one but multiple variants. Expect the higher trims to come with captain chairs that have extendable leg rests and chair arms, and a high-quality entertainment package consisting of multiple 10.1-inch screens. Additionally, Kia’s UVO Connect in-car connectivity suite, a large touchscreen infotainment system, two sunroofs, a power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, three-zone climate control and plenty of safety kit will be available, at least on the top-spec Carnival.
For the Indian market, the Carnival MPV is expected to come with a BS6-compliant, 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine good for 202hp and 441Nm of torque, which is mated to a 6-speed automatic. It remains to be seen whether this MPV comes with 6-speed manual as well.
Expect more details on the India-spec Carnival MPV, along with official commencement of bookings, to take place sometime in mid-January 2020.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
