EXCLUSIVE: Kia Carnival MPV To Arrive In India In January 2020 Ahead Of Auto Expo

• The Carnival will be Kia’s second model for India after the Seltos.
• It comes with electric rear sliding doors for easy ingress and egress.
• Expected features include UVO connected car technology, powered tailgate as well as heated and ventilated front seats.
• India-spec model likely to come with 2.2-litre diesel engine that develops 202PS and 440Nm.
• The Carnival will be positioned above the Innova Crysta in India.

Kia Motors India will launch the Carnival MPV in January 2020 ahead of the Auto Expo, according to some dealers ZigWheels spoke to. Select dealers have already started accepting bookings for the Carnival while a few have informed that the MPV could be priced in the range of Rs 27 lakh to Rs 36 lakh (on-road). The Carnival is Kia’s second launch for India after the successful Seltos midsize SUV. It will be positioned above the Innova Crysta in the country. 

Visually, the Carnival looks like a typical MPV with plenty of smart design elements. The front-end comes with Kia’s Tiger-Nose grille that is flanked by projector headlamps while the lower front bumper comes with aggressive air dams that house Kia’s Ice Cube LED fog lamps. A sharp crease than runs through the profile and the MPV comes with smartly styled dual-tone alloy wheels. At the rear, the Carnival comes with split LED tail lamps while a thin chrome strip is present above the number plate housing for added bling. 

Inside, the Carnival comes with a minimalist dashboard with premium design elements like hooded dials. However, the main party piece are the electric sliding doors. In addition to being a cool feature, sliding doors are useful for getting in and out of the MPV in tight spaces. 

Expected features in the Carnival include UVO connected car technology, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, three-zone climate control, cruise control, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, powered front seats with ventilated and heated function, powered tailgate as well as keyless entry with push-button start. It could come with safety features like eight airbags, ABS with EBD, a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control, front and rear parking sensors as well as hill start assist. 

Overseas, the Carnival comes with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that develops 202PS and 440Nm of torque. It drives the front wheels and is offered with a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It is likely that the India-spec Carnival could come with this powertrain in its BS6 guise. There is a 3.3-litre V6 petrol unit available in the international markets. However, the chances of it coming here are slim as most MPVs sold in India are diesel models. 

The Carnival will start a niche segment in India as it will be positioned above the Toyota Innova Crysta. Considering its premiumness and luxury goodies, would you pick it over Toyota’s bread-and-butter model? Let us know in the comment section below.