Kia Carnival 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

What are the variants and features available for 2020 Kia Carnival?

Kia offered the Carnival in a total of five variants in the Indian market. Every variant is specific to what it offers and the number of seats it comes with. You cannot customize the variant in terms of seating like some of its rivals. Hence the Premium variant comes with only 7 or 8 seater option and the Prestige variant is only provides 7 or 9 seater configurations. The top of the line Limousine VIP variant is a 7 seater only and offers each and every bell and whistle that Carnival has to offer including infotainment screens for the second row of passengers.

Even the base trim of the Kia Carnival is quite loaded in comparison to its rivals. It offers cruise control as well as an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. Kia deserves a pat on its back for keeping the base variant loaded and not skimming it off with features like its rival Toyota. But what needs to be remembered is that the base variant of the Carnival is priced quite close to the top variant of the Toyota Innova.

Which trim should you go for?

The Carnival comes with many seating options as well as variants. This makes it quite a versatile car and hence the choice of variant entirely depends on the usage. If you have a large family then we would recommend the 9 seater option which is only available in the prestige variant. This variant will also be a go-to option for commercial buyers. But if you are looking for a luxury, the 7 seater Limousine variant will offer everything this segment has on offer today at this price point. Overall, the Premium 7 seater option would make the most sense for a lot of buyers as it comes with all necessary features and is the most value for money variant in the lineup.

How robust is the performance with the Kia Carnival?

Kia has given this massive car an impressive engine. The powerhouse of the Carnival is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel motor that belts out 200hp of power at 3800 rpm and a strong 440 Nm of peak torque at 1500-2750 rpm. But even with such number numbers on the spec sheet, the power to weight ratio is similar to the 2.8 Crysta due to its heavyweight. The engine on offer is all about providing steady pulling power rather than blistering performance. Once you press the button to start the engine, you are instantly made aware of the refinement levels on offer.

The throttle feels responsive even if you are doing triple-digit speeds and you sit on an ample power reserve at all times. Within the city, the more than adequate low-end torque enables the car to crawl around easily even in stop-go traffic. While on the highway, the performance is not what you could call punchy due to the weight of the car.

The Carnival comes with only one transmission option which is an eight-speed torque converter. Once you want a quick move on and mash the throttle you realize that the transmission on offer is not really very responsive. Before getting the desirable power there is a drop in acceleration which is quite evident in the way the engine and transmission respond. Hence, it is not a car meant for going pedal to metal style and if driven sedately, will keep most users happy.

The engine does not get noisy even at high RPMs and provides adequate pulling power for your daily grinds as well as long-distance journeys. With the full house, you can expect a minor drop in performance and can feel the engine working harder, but it never feels too strained. Overall, the engine feels adequate for a car of its size and does not feel underpowered, but it also does not feel sprightly in any manner.

Earlier the Innova was the most refined MPV in its segment but it seems like those are the days are long gone. Carnival’s engine feels better when it comes to refinement and it also generates the most power in its segment. It is the only car to offer an 8-speed automatic gearbox in this comparison too. The extra gears help the engine stay more relaxed at high speeds thereby feeling more refined. On the other hand, the Ertiga is not even in the league in terms of power and torque output and comes with the smallest engine. However, all cars are not BS6 compliant.

How swift is the acceleration with Kia Carnival from 0-100 kmph?

Kia’s Carnival takes 13.6 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 kmph which is almost at par with its main rival, the Innova Crysta. In fact, the Carnival does a commendable job compared to its rivals as it is the heaviest car in its segment.

The top of the line Limousine Variant stands at 2.2 tonnes which is quite heavy for today’s MPV standards. In comparison, the Ertiga is just 1,235 kgs in terms of its kerb weight. Ample low-end torque enables the Carnival to get a good start off the line.

In comparison, the Innova Crysta is still the segment leader when it comes to outright performance. It manages to finish the 0-100 kmph dash earlier than the Kia Carnival but only by a slight margin. Meanwhile, the lightest car in its segment, the Suzuki Ertiga, is also the slowest and it takes a painstaking 16 seconds to reach 100 kmph from a standstill. This simply means that the Carnival and the Innova are much better when it comes to getting a quick move on or overtaking.

How composed is Kia Carnival on Indian roads?

If the Carnival was a warrior, the ride quality would be the best artillery that it has got. Kia has given the Carnival one of the best suspension hardware to deal with the Indian roads. It simple glides over bad roads and manages to soak in bumps and potholes quite well, keeping the passengers inside the cabin at utmost comfort. Within the city, you never feel the road undulations and the suspension manages to iron them out well and provide a flat ride.

While on the highway doing cruising speeds between 80 and 100 kmph the car feels well planted and remains glued to the road. However, the body roll is quite evident which is obvious given the size of the car and the fact it is an MPV.  But in return, you get a comfortable ride as the suspension is tuned towards. The 5.8 m is not the best in the segment and the size of the car makes it cumbersome to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

Coming to the handling, the steering is super light at city speeds and does not weigh adequately enough at high speeds. Hence, the steering could have certainly done with more heft to provide more confidence at high speeds. However, straight-line stability is the best in its segment and the chassis and suspension are well-tuned to tackle highway drives. Overall, the Carnival is not a car to push into a fast corner but a car built to keep its passengers comfortable regardless of the road surface it drives on.

The Kia Carnival offers the best ride quality in its segment. It overtakes the Toyota Innova in providing comfort while on the go. Hence, it makes it a better car for undertaking long-distance journeys. The bigger tires and a wider footprint helps the Carnival stay more planted while the lower height gives it more stability.  On the other hand, the  Maruti Suzuki Ertiga does a good job as well in ironing out the road undulations. 

How well-modulated is braking in the Kia Carnival?

Being a 2.2 tonne MPV, Kia has given the Carnival disc brakes on all four wheels as standard. It also comes with ABS with EBD as standard. The braking performance feels quite adequate for stopping a vehicle of this size. Even under hard braking, the car maintains its line and does not feel under-confident in any way.

However, the brake pedal feels spongy, especially under emergency braking. The top of the line variant comes with the convenience of an electronic parking brak which makes parking the vehicle easier.

Kia’s new Carnival is the only MPV in its segment that offers disc brakes on all four wheels. The tires also offer a decent grip around the corners and don't screech on heavy braking like the case with the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The ABS of the Carnival is well calibrated as well. On the other hand, the Innova also provides strong braking performance but portrays more nose-dive under hard braking.

How fuel-efficient is this new MPV?

Can a high on size vehicle provide a high fuel efficiency number as well? Well, it turns out “NO” is the answer in the case of the Kia Carnival. It manages to return a combined fuel efficiency of 13 kmpl which means you can expect it to return 8-9 kmpl within the city conditions.

Even while it is the lowest in this comparison, it is not a bad mileage figure for a vehicle of its size and weight. Even while the mileage might sound low for some, the humongous tank ensures that you get a 700 plus km range on a full tank.

Even with Kia being the game-changer in the Indian market, Maruti Suzuki still remains the king of the market when it comes to fuel economy. Hence, the Ertiga is the MPV to go for if you are looking for the most frugal car in this comparison. Meanwhile, the Toyota Innova keeps the fuel economy under acceptable limits but loses out to Ertiga.

How striking is this MPV from the outside?

The Kia Carnival is simply a big car in every way, no matter where you look at it from, the road presence is evident. But Carnival’s styling is nothing like that of the Seltos. Yes, there are similar design elements like the Tiger Nose grille and ice-cube shaped fog lamps, but that’s where the similarities end. The Carnival is not what you will call sharp or very aggressive.

The sharp cuts and creases have been replaced by something much more subdued which is in line with what MPV's have been designed like. From the side, the Carnival looks the most MPVish while the rear gets a plain design with a skid plate at the bottom of the bumper. Overall the Carnival looks smart and not boring like some of the MPVs in the market.

As evident from the spec sheet, the Kia Carnival is simply the biggest car in the comparison with the longest wheelbase. As all are MPV in the comparison there is nothing much interesting to speak of in terms of design. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the smallest car here but gets the highest ground clearance.

Exterior Features:

• Tiger Nose Front Grille
• Auto LED Projector Headlamps With Auto Leveling
• Fog Lamps
• Shark Fin Antenna
• Rear Spoiler
• Front and Rear Skid Plates
• Chrome Rear Garnish
• LED Turn Signal - Outside Mirror
• Door Step Plate

How roomy is the 2020 Kia Carnival Interior?

Once you step inside the Carnival you realize it is not only big on the outside but also big on the inside. The cabin offers a sense of space that is unmatched by any of its rivals.  You will appreciate the good quality materials used and the piano black inserts on the dashboard, steering wheel, and the door pads uplift the appeal of the cabin. The cabin quality is top-notch and can rival some German cars easily. In the centre of the dashboard sits an 8-inch touchscreen which looks a tad bit small for the sheer size of the cabin.

The width of the car has converted into a considerable distance between the two front seats and the large windshield accentuates the feeling of space. The overall visibility is good and you don’t feel claustrophobic on the inside in any way. What also makes an immediate impression is the overall quality in the cabin. The front-seats provide good comfort it is easy to get into and out of them.

The rear seats of the cabin can be accessed via powered sliding rear doors. The doors open wide, getting into the cabin is a bit of a climb up. The 7 seat version provides the most space and comfort. The top of the line Limousine variant comes with entertainment screens for the 2nd row of passengers which enhances the cabin experience. The 2nd row of seats is nothing less than a home recliner and are supremely comfortable, offering multiple adjustments to customize seating positions. It is just a delight to undertake a long-distance journey in the 2nd row of seats of the 7 seater version of the carnival.

There's enough under-thigh support, legroom, headroom, and shoulder room no matter what seating position you sit in. The third-row seats are reasonably comfortable but lack under-thigh support, still, they provide enough room for adults.

In the 9-seater Carnival, the second- and third-row captain’s chairs also get reclinable backrests, adjustable armrests, but they don’t feel quite as luxurious or supportive as the ones on the 7-seat Limousine. The third-row seats come with a knees-up seating positing but provide adequate knee room. The fourth row, however, is best left to kids. The 9 seater variant is best for those with a large family. Overall, the 7 seater or the 8 seater variants provide you more space as well as comfort.

In comparison to its rivals, the Carnival not only provides a much more spacious cabin but it also feels more premium. Kia simply has more features on offer and its main rival, the Toyota Innova just cannot match up. Hence, the Carnival is now the new benchmark in terms of space and comfort when it comes to the interiors. The Ertiga, on the other hand, cannot match on any level in terms of space as well as features offered in the Kia.

Interior Features:

• Leather Wrap Steering
• Chrome Door Handles
• Cruise control
• Engine start/stop
• Passive entry
• Voice commands
• Automatic climate control
• Roof-mounted AC vents in all rows
• Heated and ventilated front seats 
• Electrically foldable and adjustable ORVMs.
• 8-inch touchscreen 
• Height Adjustable Headrests
• Steering With Audio Controls
• Illuminated Glovebox
• Anti-Pinch Windows

How flexible is the cargo space in the Kia Carnival?

With a boot capacity of 540 litres, the Kia Carnivals provide unmatchable space to keep your luggage or cargo. In comparison MPVs like the Ertiga offer boot space of 209 litres, which is way too less for a car in this segment. Hence, the boot space even with the third row of seats up is quite adequate.

If you choose to do some house moving duties, folding down the second row of seats liberates 2220-litres of cargo space! In addition, the auto-boot release features help in making it convenient to open the boot if your hands are busy.

The Carnival offers the most cargo space due to its long wheelbase as well as its sheer size. Ertiga has the least usable cargo space with all rows up due to its small physical dimensions. Innova Crysta comes with a bigger boot than Ertiga as well as the largest fuel tank, making it a convenient long journey car.

What are the various safety features that back you up in the Kia Carnival?

Kia has loaded the Carnival with safety features like ABS with CBC and EBD, Traction Control, Rollover Mitigation, Autonomous Emergency Braking and 6 airbags. If we talk about crash test ratings, the Carnival has received a full 5-stars from NCAP in its crash test.

Dual front airbags are standard and more advance driving aids are available with the top of the line Limousine variant which makes it quite a safe car.

Safety Features:

Some of the prominent safety features that come with the Kia Carnival are as follows:

• 6 Airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Hill Assist Control (HAC)
• Emergency Brake Signal (EBS)
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Door Ajar warning
• Emergency Brake signal
• Anti-Theft System
• Front Seat Belt reminder

How does 2020 Kia Carnival compete with the other MPVs?

Kia Carnival VS Toyota Innova

Toyota’s Innova has been a leader in the MPV segment since its inception in the Indian market. It is not difficult to see the reason for the same as it offers a powerful engine as well as a spacious and comfortable cabin. It also comes with Toyota’s bulletproof reliability as well as after-sales service. But in comparison, the Carnival just trumps over the Innova in terms of space, comfort as well as features. However the Toyota Innova costs cheaper than the Carnival making it quite a practical option still.

Kia Carnival VS Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Another best selling car in the MPV segment is Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga. Suzuki has recently updated the car and it now feels more premium as well as more spacious on the inside. It offers the most frugal engine and hence is a perfect car for your daily grind. But in comparison to the Carnival, it is no match as it neither offers the performance nor the comfort that the Kia has on offer. However, what needs to be remembered is that the Carnival’s base variant costs almost double of the top-variant of the Ertiga.

Should you buy the Kia Carnival?

After seeing the overall package, we are sure that Kia again has a game-changer at its hands. The Carnival might not be a workhorse like the Innova Crysta but it delivers at providing a premium and upmarket experience that no other car can rival at this price point. It looks stylish and gets a long list of features along with providing acres of space.

The ride quality on offer is also impressive. But the Carnival is priced at a slight premium over the Toyota Innova which might put off some customers. But it certainly justifies its price premium and would not only be a rival to just the MPVs but can also take away some SUV buyers. Hence the Carnival is a practical as well as a safe bet for anyone looking for an MPV and ready to shell out a bit more for the experience it offers.