All new and larger than life Carnival

The all-new Kia Carnival replaces the outgoing Grand Sedona to become a multifaceted companion to progressive families intent on living a big life.

The Carnival is motivated by a 2.2-litre “Smartstream” CRDi turbodiesel engine that is powerful enough to endow the all-new Carnival with a braked towing capacity of 1.5 tons for confident trailer, boat or caravan excursions.

And that confidence is amplified by an expansive roster of standard advanced driver assistance systems. Together, these elements make the Carnival an exceptional combination of modern design, capability, safety and luxury.

“The Kia Carnival is here to disrupt a staid segment and proves once again what is possible when conventions are shattered,” commented Gary Scott, the CEO of Kia South Africa. “With its SUV-like character, Carnival delivers a combination of premium design and features, intelligent packaging, and an abundance of innovation in safety and technology at a price that packs a value punch.”

Rugged yet refined exterior

The exterior design of the all-new Carnival follows suit with Kia’s recent signature SUV style, with the strong and confident design language directly connecting it to the crisp lines found on other recent Kia debuts. The SUV aesthetic is enhanced by the addition of a rear skid plate garnish and reflectors, as well as the standard fitment of tasteful 18- or 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

Premium, flexible and innovative cabin

The central facia stack takes on a premium image with high-gloss black surfaces, while a signature chrome garnish runs the length of the dash to create a sense of width, space and openness in the forward cabin.

In addition to the Carnival’s elevated interior styling, it offers plenty of space for seven- or eight-passenger flexibility (depending on the trim level), comfort for long road trips, or jaunts to the local hardware store.

The Carnival also offers a roster of special and innovative features to make travel easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Just one example is standard hands-free electric sliding side doors with smart key, as well as a smart power liftgate with auto-close (EX+ and above) to make loading and unloading the Carnival a doddle.

All the power you could need, without the related fuel bills

The front-wheel-drive Carnival line-up keeps things simple with a single powertrain and transmission combination. Kia’s brand-new “Smartstream” 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel engine is the perfect partner for the Carnival.

It’s more powerful than the outgoing 2.2 CRDi yet is more efficient, too (CO2 emissions fall by 31g/km to 177g/km), boasting 148kW and 440Nm.

The “Smartstream” engine finds the perfect companion in Kia’s eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, which offers imperceptible shifts whether the Carnival’s driver is “pootling” through town or towing a heavy trailer.

The safety of advanced driver assistance includes forward collision avoidance assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane-keeping assist with lane following assist and many more.

The Carnival will be available in four trim levels.

Pricing starts at R799 995 and will include Kia’s industry-leading unlimited kilometre, five-year warranty (inclusive of roadside assistance), as well as a six-year/90 000km maintenance plan.

Source: MotorPress