Kia has dropped the Grand Sedona moniker and replaced it with a fresh name and even fresher styling. Determined to make the world of MPVs more exciting, they now present the all-new Kia Carnival.
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When you’re young and leaving school, you’ll often sit around with friends and discuss ways to make money. Entrepreneurial minds will discuss things like opening up a car wash, my discussion was about a taxi service. In the days before mobile apps and e-hailing services, finding a ride home after a night on the town was near impossible. We envisioned a service whereby you could call the number and arrange to be taken home, long after the regular taxis had stopped working, you and your friends riding in the comfort of one of the only MPVs on sale at the time – a Kia Carnival.
I’m giving my age away, but the model in question was the first-generation Carnival. MPVs were, and still are, rather unpopular in South Africa for the general consumer – most of the sales are taken up by fleet or shuttle services. The Carnival has persisted though, although you may recall it as the Sedona, a name that has fallen by the wayside in favour of a global realignment. The latest, fourth-generation Carnival takes the easy-driving, practical approach of the previous Grand Sedona and dials it up to 11.
Styling
It’s rather difficult to pen a shape that is practical, spacious, elegant and attractive. It’s rather hard to include aesthetically pleasing lines in something that has to be shaped like a loaf of bread, but I have to commend Kia’s California design studio for what they have done with this new Carnival. It manages to be nearly all those things bundled into one and even the most image-conscious individual would have no problem stepping out of a Carnival.
The Kia DNA is strong with this one and a clear correlation between this and the other models in the range, the Sonet, Seltos, and Sorento. The Tiger-Nose grille element is wider and extends into the LED headlights, the grille element itself reversed for a more fluid and modern approach. Stylish, brushed aluminium spars rest like eyebrows over the headlights and are joined by similar trim pieces in the lower section of the front bumper, skid plate, side sills, and up towards the rear where a substantial hockey-stick element is crafted, detailed with striking diamond embossing that refracts the light as it strikes the sides.
The rear taillamps make the most of LED technology and are slender strips that wrap around the rear corners and are joined by a colour-coded trim piece, creating the impression of a singular, unbroken line. This helps break the tall stature of the Carnival and lends an impression of width. The prominent Kia badge in the centre is flanked by LED detail elements that mimic the angular shape that is found in the headlights and is sandwiched between two pieces of brightwork, one extending from the C-pillar hockey sticks and another down low, in a skid-plate style execution.
What the ladies think of the Kia Carnival
Space & Interior
I initially thought that the exterior was impressive but it pales in comparison to the interior. It’s clear to see that while much effort was placed into getting the exterior look perfected, even more, was applied to the interior. I was suitably impressed by the fit and finish, the Carnival presenting itself as a high-end luxury vehicle. The two-tone execution in the interior is something to behold and every time I climbed in, I was instantly invigorated and my mood improved. This is what a car should do for you and here you’re getting it in an MPV. Supple black leather with visible, raised stitching is offset with cream leather and similarly coloured plastics in high-traffic areas. Small touches of brushed aluminium are complemented by piano black finishes around the door handles, the cluster and the centre console.
There’s no shortage of space in the Carnival. The seating arrangement is a particular winner and despite being an MPV, most variants will only seat 7 as the second row is comprised of two individual seats that offer the same level of comfort and convenience as the front two. The rear bench seats a further three and behind them, you will find an 1139-litre boot, expandable up to 4110-litres when you start folding seats flat and removing the second row.
Comfort & Convenience
The SX Limited model derivative that I had on test is the higher grade version, only superseded by the SXL. As such, it gives you a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual tilt and slide sunroofs, and heated and ventilated front seats with memory functions. Dual-zone automatic climate control and several USB charging outlets ensure that you’re comfortable and entertained on any drive.
Passengers to the rear benefit from separate air vents, USB charging ports and multiple cupholders for those longer than usual drives where beverages are consumed in the car.
Performance
With only a single engine option across the range, the performance is equal amongst all the trim levels. The Carnival is powered by a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 148 kW of power and 440 Nm torque. It sends this power to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Kia claims performance figures of 10.7-seconds for the 0 – 100 km/h dash and a top speed of 190 km/h. None of these matter though as one has to accept that the Carnival is not a sports car.
The low-down torque delivery of the Carnival does make it enjoyable to drive though and one gets the impression that towing with its rating of 1588kg braked would be effortless and a pleasure. The gearbox is well programmed but I did find the brakes to be lacking in feel, requiring additional pressure to check the vehicle up adequately.
Fuel Economy
Quoted figures from Kia suggest that you should expect to see a fuel consumption figure on the combined cycle of 6.8 l/100km – a touch heavy for a diesel engine but forgivable when one considers its size. Realistically, this figure is more akin to mid-8s as our time with the vehicle revealed.
The Carnival is fitted with a 72-litre fuel tank that Kia claims will yield 1059 km of range. With our actual fuel consumption figures, expect to get approximately 857 km from a full tank.
Safety
In SX Limited trim, there’s no shortage of safety systems. Semi-autonomous driving systems are the order of the day with Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Following Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blindspot Collision Avoidance Assist and, in SXL trim, a Blindspot View Monitor (BVM) which displays a view from the camera on whichever side the indicator is activated, allowing you to monitor the traffic alongside you.
The Carnival is also crafted from ultra-high-strength steel and has no fewer than 7 airbags.
Price
One area that often gets overlooked is the fact that there are very few if any, options available for you to select when you buy a Kia. If you want a particular feature, it can usually be found on a trim level higher. The Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi SX (LTD) currently retails for R1 003 995 and while that may seem like a high price, I urge you to look at the opposition from Hyundai and across the waters at Mercedes-Benz.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi EX | R803 995 |
| Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi EX+ | R883 995 |
| Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi SX Limited | R1 003 995 |
| Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi SXL | R1 028 995 |
Competitors
When you’re in the market for an MPV like the Carnival, you’ll be tempted to consider options like the Hyundai Staria which is similar in terms of specification and price but divides opinions when it comes to styling and execution. From Mercedes-Benz comes the Vito and while we’re talking about the Germans, the Volkswagen Transporter. Toyota also weighs in here and many forget about the Quantum VX Bus, certainly one worth considering.
Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Carnival. Each and every drive was special, even though it was an MPV. Yes, parking and navigating parking lots was a bit of a chore but the dual sliding doors meant that I could squeeze into gaps and my passengers could still get in and out without a problem. I can easily see how this vehicle would appeal to the family that often takes long trips as the comfort levels were exemplary and the ergonomics designed to make time behind the wheel as comfortable and stress-free as possible. It’s the sort of vehicle that you invest in because it will be able to make all your intended adventures just that little bit more pleasurable.
Chad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Kia Carnival 2.2CRDi SX Limited (2022) review