Kia Carnival

Expert Review by Maxabout

Sliding into the driver’s seat of the new Kia Carnival Limousine Plus, all one notices immediately is the class and the level of space provided all around. This premium MPV which was launched on 3rd October, 2024, is Kia’s bold attempt to return to the overseas market of high-end people carriers, particularly, India. Speaking as a reviewer who has reviewed many head-to-head competitors in this category of vehicles, I must, without hesitation say that the Carnival Limousine Plus, defines a new luxe and a fair amount of relaxation that entwines most vehicles of this class.

There is no denying the importance of the Carnival to 7e consumers in India. In a book where family vacations or group excursions are a way of life and therefore the appetite for big, plush, feature-filled vehicles is insatiable. Kia has quite clearly tapped into this need and delivered a product that is not just good, but one that will wow and defy expectations.

I must say I am favorably inclined with the Carnival. The indisputable grandeur of Carnival Limousine Plus is most impressive and since I have started getting familiar with its features and usability, I am excited to express my opinions about this outstanding oversized mobile.

Design and Aesthetic Evaluation

As far as the design of the Kia Carnival Limousine Plus is concerned, all credit for creating a modern M-PV lies within its exterior. I have been walking around the vehicle and the comments about its rather imposing but still elegant stance persists. Right on the front is Kia’s trademark and the ‘tiger nose’ grille which has been reworked to be more stylish and plentiful chrome accentuated. Projector LED headlamps integrated with outstanding DRL's give a futuristic appeal to the Carnival, while the stylish sculpted bumper with LED fogs completes the sporty effect.

Then, in the side view, the dimensions of the Carnival what looms large further developing. The long wheelbase and tall roof line speak volumes about the interior space. What strikes me even more is that this is a big car; and not particularly heavy but quite massive and benevolently dreamy once I walk into it. The side sills with chrome finishing and 18 inch dual tone alloy wheels further enhance its beauty.

Last but not the least, the rear of the Carnival also impresses with considerable attention to detail. The broad LED is crafted to form the taillights with a light bar that gives the tail premium touches at the rear, whereas powered tailgates clipped with hands-free smart opening lends the carniva plenty of usage possibilities.

As I walk in, I can already feel that this is a posh affair. The two tone Black and Brown cabin theme with leather seats is definitely luxurious. The dashboard is neat with a modern touch especially with the presence of a 12.3 inch touchscreen system. Detail is another appealing factor in the car; from the brushed aluminum accents, to soft touch materials all over the cabin.

The second-row captain seats are one of the features that elevate the experience with heating and ventilation options as well as power adjustments. The third row which many designs ignore turns out to be rather well executed in the Carnival as it is spacious and comfortable.

Certainly with the Carnival Limousine Plus, a good synergic relationship between design and quality is maintained. This is a vehicle that is as good internally as it is externally and I am bowled over completely.

Performance and Powertrain

Going to the practical side of things, under the hood of the Kia Carnival Limousine Plus is a 2.2 CRDi diesel engine that produces 193 PS power and 441 Nm of torque. This powerplant comes along with an 8-speed automatic gearbox which directs the power to the front wheels.

The moment I hit the start button and begin to move, I am astounded by the fact how well refined this diesel engine is. At idle, there is hardly any clatter, and once I ‘step on the gas’, the power is delivered smoothly and linearly. The 8 speed automatic gearbox is a jewel in this case as gear changes are executed effortlessly and even without the driver noticing them.

When driving on a highway, the performance of the Carnival is commendable, especially for the kind of category it falls under. Because there is enough torque, there is no problem with overtaking, and the engine never appears to be worked out especially when the car is at maximum capacity. The true peasant in me loves all these driving modes- Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart which change the emap for the throttle control and TCU for various driving scenarios.

However, the best asset of the Carnival is quality of ride, the most anticipating factor of any vehicle. The setup of the suspension is somewhere in the middle, effective enough to soak up bumps and focused enough to maintain body control when cornering. Even on bumpy portions of the road, the rest of the car remains composed, with only a few low frequency vibrations creeping into the cabin. This especially matters for a car that is meant to be taken on long journeys with the family.

Driving is, however, not brisk however it is consistent and safe. At lower speeds of the vehicle, the steering is light, thus making it easy to turn the car in city settings, while it gets heavy at higher speeds for motion stability. There is some body roll which is normal for a vehicle but acceptable for a vehicle of this size.

The one feature, in my opinion, really stands out is the soundproofing. Once you reach a highway speed, the noise level in the cabin still is low, even in the third row making it possible for people to talk easily.

Summing up, the Carnival Limousine Plus is able to deliver a quite different experience from the conventional driving impression expected from this type of car. It is all relative to the expectations when being seated in a luxury MPV.

Features and Technology

The Kia Carnival Limousine Plus is better than awesome technology packs that detail features inside and comfortable, convenient and secure all at once.

The dashboard contains a 12.3 inch touchscreen that acts as the infotainment system. This one is sharp and functional with good wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The system is easy to operate and my favorite option is the split feature that allows for viewing of both navigation and media simultaneously.

With regards to the umpteenth 12 speaker Bose sound system, it is unimaginable. All the Bose speakers in the compartment are kind of an open phone, with clear sound everywhere in the cabin. Other ordinary yet extraordinary device is the 11 inch heads up display, which is relevantly one of the most important devices.

Inside the Carnival, there is a lot of attention to comfort. For instance, the tri-zone climate control guarantees that every occupant is comfortable, powered sliding doors and tailgate are additional details that provide ease. Impressive are the second-row seats that offer heating, airflow, and power adjustments. These seats are perfect, for instance, I can see these being used by an executive being driven in a car.

Kia does care about safety, that much is evident. All available versions of the Carnival Limousine Plus are equipped with 8 airbags, ABS with EBD, and a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). All of these include, forward collision negative action system, lane keep assist system and automobile adaptive cruise. I know assistive systems during my test drive, proved, were effective and non intrusive as in terms of added safety.

When this big car is in park, one feature I appreciate the most is the 360-degree camera which allows for parking by providing views from all sides. Another feature is the blind spot view monitor which I felt was very practical since it provided live footage of the blind spots into the instrument cluster when the turn signal was switched on.

The UVO connected car technology is one feature that cuts across all divides. It provides a number of remote capabilities via a smartphone application, such as engine start/stop, climate control, or vehicle tracking. Such connectivity is commendable and helps enhance the experience during ownership.

Variants

Kia Carnival 2024 model year comes in two variants in India: Limousine and Limousine Plus. College consumers who love traveling in style would benefit from both variants though there is more to the Limousine Plus that I am reviewing.

Some of the features included in the base limousine Limousine variant include; LED lights, 18 inches light weight rim radius tractor, 12.3 inches display screen, wireless android auto, and apple carplay, second row captain seats, and

The limousine plus variant also provides for objects such as LED rear fog lamps, individually powered tail gate, eleven inch heads up display, sound system with twelve speakers, and second row warmed and cooled leg supporting seats.

I think that although the Limousine variant offers a better deal in the price range, for customers who prefer a luxury and technology, the additional features in The Limousine Plus variants are worth to pay a higher price for.

Market Position and Pricing

Marketing itself for ?63.90 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kia Carnival Limousine Plus is positioned as a more premium offering in the Indian MPV market. With this pricing strategy, it is placed well above the mid-range MPVs such as Toyota Innova Crysta and Maruti Suzuki XL6 but below the ultra-luxury MPVs like Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

The Carnival has been in the market for quite a while now which has made it quite a competitor with its close rival the Toyota Vellfire priced at a pricing of ?90 lakh. The Carnival is bound to feel a better option for buyers whose quest for an MPV is in between the economy and the luxury car’s class.

The Carnival's pricing strategy as I evaluate it considering all its feature sets, the quality of build, and the brand, is competitive. Most importantly, it is particularly suitable for the target audience who wish for a large, comfortable, well-equipped Mid-Range Passenger Vehicle offered at a price that is lacking in luxury brand premiums.

Target Audience

Kia Carnival Limousine Plus is designed, of course, for an elite audience who appreciates both space and comfort, and the luxury. There are a number of such demographic groups that attract me to it including the following:

Large families: Great for that frequent traveler family because of its roominess and comfortable sitting capacity.

Corporate executives: Ideal for those who are often driven around with a bougie second row of seating and plush ride quality.

Hotel and tourism operators: Because of its mix of comfort, space, and premium features, it is great for high-end hotel shuttle buses and luxury tour operators.

Entrepreneurs and business owners: Those looking for a car that makes perfect sense in terms of transporting the family, but that could also be a mobile working office, the Carnival will be appreciated.

As much as it is a fantastic car, I feel like the perfect user of the Carnival Limousine Plus is someone who puts comfort and luxury as a priority as opposed to sporty or off-road use. This is a car for people with class and wish to have a car that shows their class.

Value for Money

So now that we have considered the market for the Kia Carnival Limousine Plus, I must say the value proposition seems quite encouraging. True, the price of ?63.90 lakh is a bit high for you however level of comfort, space, and other riches offered go with the price.

The level of space and practicality offered by the Carnival is exceptional in comparison with the price of other similarly priced SUVs or sedans. Its feature list is very thorough considering the fact that many features that are standard with other luxury cars and are extra here.

The constructive quality as well as materials is very good, making an enduring vehicle. This is very important in terms of value retention as well as satisfaction of long-term ownership.

One of the most noteworthy advantages of the Carnival is its adaptability. It can act as a comfy family automobile, a spacious business transporter or even a portable workstation. This multi-role capability provides great additional value in the total package.

In this context, I would add that although the investment required to purchase the Carnival Limousine Plus is quite high, it is reasonable price wise considering how useful and expensive it is going to be in the segment.

Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

The Kia Carnival Limousine Plus, powered by a 2.2 liter diesel engine, finds the right balance between performance and throttle response. I conducted my tests and fuel efficiency figures of 10-12 kmpl were recorded in city driving conditions, which improved to 14-15 kmpl on the highway.

These are good figures for the size and weight of that kind of vehicle. The 72 liter fuel tank gives a practical range of over 800 km on a single fill, which is encouraging especially for people that travel long distances.

When compared to its petrol engine counterpart, the Toyota Vellfire, one of the dents was on fuel consumption as a high mileage diesel Kia Carnival clarrifies. This means in the long run a good number of savings will be realized especially for those who are high mileage users of the vehicle.

Refinement of the engine means that better fuel economy does not compromise NVH levels which is one of the engineering triumphs.

Competitors and Comparison

So far, the Kia Carnival Limousine Plus does not correctly achieve a competitive position in the Indian market and is only slightly below the most direct competitor - the Toyota Vellfire . Here is how the assessment runs:

Price: The Carnival (?63.90 lakh) is very affordable as compared to the Vellfire (Costing ?90 lakhAll inclusive and above) , it provides almost the same luxury albeit at a lower tag.

Space: Similar to the above model, both have a good room inside but rather the Carnival with a bit more space due to its longer wheelbase.

Features: The Vellfire has been a powerful SUV in many regions also, and so is most common with features of the Toyota. In many of the feature aspects, the Carnival performs on par or beats the Vellfire, more so with respect to ADAS and connectivity options.

Powertrain: The diesel of Carnival emits less than what the petrol hybrid Vellfire would emit however Vellfire probably will be a bit more refined in terms of diesel engine.

Brand perception: Another case that could potentially pull some buyers despite the high difference in prices is that more women prefer to buy or be seen with goods such as Toni's Bible April publications in India.

As far as my appraisal goes, this is one of the Vellfire's advantages of power and status. Carnival, on the other hand, it's very appealing in its price performance and does not particularly lose out on the luxury or features.

In its online reviews, however, the Carnival is noted to have the additional arch opponent of premium price SUV class vehicles. As much as it will not perform up to their offroad abilities or sporty characteristics, it provides much larger and more outstanding comfort zones, which makes it an attractive option to consumers who are looking for such features.

Conclusion

Having spent some good amount of time with Kia carnival limousine plus, I should state that Kia has really succeeded in some ways. The vehicle is able to encapsulate the essence of the normal MPVs and the ultra-luxury vehicles into one package without sacrificing on the size, and comfort and other sporting features and even cost.

When looking at the interior, the lavish and roomy nature of the Carnival as well as the long list of available options are very attractive. One particular strength of this vehicle is that it does its primary function efficiently, be it as a family vehicle or for the executive.

Nevertheless, it is vital for potential customers considering purchasing the vehicle to pay attention to its size as it can be inconvenient in highly populated cities, and its fuel consumption, while for its class is proficient is not typical of smaller cars.

For this modern day utility vehicle, premium MPV with great features and all the luxurious functions, the value is quite commendable. This is a vehicle that I can safely endorse to buyers who require a spacious, luxurious and full featured MPV but not at the centre of ultra-luxury MPVs.

As one of the reviewers, I can say how Kia has managed to do a special and premium vehicle with lower prices than expected. This car carnival Limousine plus is an example of Kia’s increasing presence in the upper segment of the car market and raises the standards of luxury MPVs in India.