Kia has introduced the Seltos mid-size SUV in a global unveil and now to strengthen its footing in India the brand is planning to launch another car by next year. The new Kia in question is likely to be the Carnival which the brand plans to showcase at the 2020 Auto Expo. The Kia Carnival is an MPV and if launched, it will rival the likes of Toyota Innova Crysta in the Indian market.
The Kia Carnival is much larger than the Innova Crysta and the Carnival measures in at 5,115mm in length, 1,985mm in width, 1,765mm in height and a wheelbase of 3,060mm. For comparison, the Innova Crysta measures in at 4,735mm in length, 1,830mm in width, 1,795mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,750mm. The Kia MPV is longer 380mm and wider by 155mm. The interior space on the MPV is huge and the seating can be configured in a 7-seat, 8-seat or even an 11-seat layout.
On the inside, the Kia Carnival gets features like a large infotainment system with Kia’s ‘UVO connect’, 7-inch colour TFT display on the instrument console, wireless mobile charging, steering mounted controls, three-zone independent climate control system, a 12-way power adjustable driver seat with 2 memory functions, dual sunroof, large centre console, USB charging outlets, first row heated & ventilated and second row heated seats, powered smart tailgate, power actuated sliding doors, ‘Infinity’ audio system and the interior comes in three trim colour options.
The Carnival is expected to be offered in India with the 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine which produces 202 HP of power and 441 Nm of torque coupled to a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. In the international market, the MPV is also offered with a 3.3-litre MPI engine and in two variant options.
The MPV is expected to be brought to Indian shores via the CKD route but the engine could be fully imported as a single unit. The Kia Carnival is speculated to be priced around the INR 25 lakh mark. Although the pricing would be on the higher side, the Kia Carnival will be a much better product overall considering the Toyota Innova Crysta which only bets big on its reliability card.
