In many of its promotions, Kia has marketed the Carnival as a 'multi purpose vehicle' or MPV, and deliberately avoided calling it a 'minivan'. Minivan silhouette aside, the vehicle has more aggressive, boxy design with a longer hood and SUV proportions. Car enthusiasts and potential buyers have been debating about whether this styling truly hides the Carnival's true nature as a minivan or is merely a ploy to appeal to SUV loving consumers. The design, some say, effectively bridges the gap between minivans and SUVs. A few say it's still obviously a minivan, just with some exterior tweaks. The conversation frequently veers into whether this design tactic is smart marketing or possibly deceptive to consumers, and if it will inspire other manufacturers to do the same with their minivan designs.