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2024 Kia Carnival Review: Family MPV Indulgence Redefined
It was four years ago at Auto Expo 2020 that Kia made a big splash into the luxury car market by launching the Carnival. This was just before the world locked itself up and stayed at home due to the ravages of the pandemic.
The third-gen Carnival continued to be sold in India till June 2023, even though the fourth-gen version of the luxury MPV had been on sale in international markets since 2023. Kia also showcased the facelifted version of the Carnival dubbed the KA4 at Auto Expo 2023.
Now, over a year and a half, after it was first showcased at Auto Expo 2023, the KA4 is finally here in India bearing the Carnival nameplate and looking to once again disrupt the Indian luxury car market with a price tag of Rs 63.90 lakh (ex-showroom), which is nearly double what its predecessor cost.
We recently got to drive the all-new 2024 Kia Carnival on Indian tarmac to see how the newest version of the luxury Korean MPV performs on our roads. Here are our thoughts...
2024 Kia Carnival Review: Design & Features - Boldly Luxurious
The third generation of the Carnival was subtle with its approach to the design department, content to blend in with the rest of the crowd. The new 2024 Kia Carnival is anything but subtle. It is big and its design is bold, taking the best of Kia's aggressive new design language and applying it to a boxier MPV shape.
At the front, the new Carnival is dominated by one of the largest-ever iterations of the firm's Tiger Nose grille. Flanking the grille on either side are vertical LED headlights and inverted-L LED DRLs that stretch across the top of the grille. Lower down, there is another air dam and a matte chrome skid plate.
At the sides, the biggest highlights are the new 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. There is also a contrast element on the large C-pillar that extends around the rear of the new Carnival. Other highlights on the sides include roof rails, shark fin antenna, automatic sliding rear doors and the dark chrome finish to the side step.
At the rear, the new Carnival sports a small spoiler element, and a slightly angled rear windscreen underneath which, sits the the LED lightbar-style taillamps. The powered tailgate allows easy access to the rather large and deep boot space. The third row of seats can fold flat into the floor of the new Carnival for those who want an even more ridiculous amount of space at the back.
Step inside the new Carnival and you're greeted by a brilliant dual-tone themed interior which shows you just how upmarket the new MPV has become. There is soft-touch material everywhere you can put your hands on.
The dashboard sports dual 12.3-inch displays for the instrumentation and infotainment that sit behind a single pane of glass that curves towards the driver. The infotainment screen supports Kia Connect with OTA updates along with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and is paired with a 12-speaker premium audio system from Bose.
There is also an 11-inch head-up display that makes it easier for the driver to keep an eye on the road ahead while still getting the relevant data needed for the drive.
The front seats are powered (driver: 12-way with 4-way lumbar support and memory function; passenger: 8-way) and are ventilated and heated as well. The front seats are large and make every journey a comfortable one for those sitting up front in the new 2024 Kia Carnival.
The second row of seats is the place to be. The second row features two captain seats that slide and recline and offer ample leg support. These captain seats are also ventilated and heated and these are the seats to be in if you get the new Kia Carnival.
Unlike in other three-row vehicles, the third row of seats in the new Kia Carnival is more than usable for adults. People up to six feet can comfortably travel in the back row of seats in the new 2024 Carnival. The closed three-quarter panel glass for the third row even offer sun blinds, which shows just how much attention to detail Kia paid when designing the new Carnival (KA4).
Other highlights of the new Carnival include the two large electric sunroofs that add to the spaciousness of the cabin, and the automatic three-zone climate control system with vents for the second and third rows on the roof (along with controls for the second row). There is also a wireless charger, an illuminated glove box, two USB ports for each row and paddle shifters behind the 4-spoke leatherette steering wheel.
The 2024 Kia Carnival comes packed with safety gear including eight airbags, disc brakes for all four wheels, ESC, Hill Assist Control, tyre pressure monitoring system, front, rear and side parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and a Level 2 ADAS suite with features like Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Front Collision Warning and Avoidance Assist, High Beam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and more.
2024 Kia Carnival Review: Specs & Dimensions - Bigger & Better Than Ever
The 2024 Kia Carnival has grown in size compared to its predecessor. The new Carnival is 5,155mm long, 1,995mm wide and 1,775mm tall and sports a 3,090mm long wheelbase. The new Carnival is 40mm longer, 10mm wider and 20mm taller than its predecessor and features a 30mm longer wheelbase.
Underneath the new boxier engine compartment is an updated version of the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that powered the previous Carnival. The new engine is compliant with the latest BS6 Phase 2 norms and produces 190bhp and 441Nm of peak torque all of which is sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox with shift-by-wire technology.
2024 Kia Carnival Review: Driving Impressions - The Family's Luxury Barge
The new Kia Carnival's diesel engine is carried over from its predecessor and is something we've come to enjoy. Put your foot down and the new Carnival gains speed without much fuss despite weighing in at over 2 tonnes.
The throttle response is quite nice and while not what you would call punchy. With the massive amount of torque (441Nm) on offer at low and mid rpms and the eight-speed gearbox (with new shift-by-wire tech) that knows how to harness it nicely, the Carnival does quite well on the go and when you need the extra bit to pull off an overtake.
The steering feels predictable; offers a decent feel and weighs up nicely as you shift through the four driving modes on offer - eco, normal, sport and smart. This combined with the very composed suspension setup means that the new Carnival is more than competent in changing direction at speed.
The refined suspension setup absorbs the bumps and ruts with ease keeping those inside away from the most thuds and judders that come from travelling down a rather beaten down road with only the worst of the worst bumps making their way into the cabin. However, the suspension isn't so soft that the 2024 Carnival suffers through the corners as it keeps body roll to a minimum for a vehicle of its size.
The disc brakes on all four wheels combined with the ABS bring the new Carnival to a halt without much fuss at all. Parking isn't that much of an issue either, with the 360-degree camera and the parking sensors allowing you to park this over 5-metre-long family wagon without any hassle at all.
The 2024 Kia Carnival's cabin keeps the NVH levels to a minimum and if you have someone driving you around the second row with its captain seats is a place you'll find yourself stretching out and relaxing in especially if you're on a long trip.
2024 Kia Carnival Review: Final Thoughts & Verdict - Family MPV Indulgence Redefined
The all-new(for India) 2024 Kia Carnival is a luxury MPV that sports a big and bold design that is matched by the tech inside it. It is a people for the higher-end Indian car buyer who doesn't care about the badge up front but instead looks at what a vehicle offers to the entire family.
Sure, the price tag compared to the previous generation has nearly doubled. However, the fact that the 2024 Kia Carnival has taken such a massive step forward and has come to India as a full import does somewhat justify the price tag. Though I'm sure that wouldn't be much of a talking point for those looking for a family MPV at the price point the new Carnival is priced at.
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