The new Kia Carnival arrives in NZ

The new Carnival represents a design evolution for Kia’s flagship MPV, with a sense of solidity, contemporary details and SUV-inspired forms and surfaces. It brings a stronger, more stylish presence to the MPV segment as a result. 

Compared to the previous model, it features a shorter front overhang, with the base of the A-pillar moved backwards to create a longer bonnet. Its increased wheelbase contributes to greater space throughout the cabin and the extended side profile hints at the new Carnival’s more refined dynamics. 

At the front, a new bolder ‘tiger-nose’ design spans the width of the vehicle, integrating LED daytime running lights, LED headlamps and front grille to give the new Carnival a unique light signature. The sculpted bumper and lower air intake at the front are matched with metallic trim and a black lower bumper – a styling treatment evident on the brand’s SUVs. 

At the rear, the Carnival is robust in stature, and boasts a wide, distinctive new look accentuated by a full-width light bar, which utilises LED technology in the Deluxe and Premium models.  

The new Carnival offers a choice of six premium exterior paint colours for the Kiwi market, complementing the new aluminium alloy wheel designs – 17-inch for the EX model and 19-inch for Deluxe and Premium models.  

Inside, the Kia Carnival’s cabin provides a relaxing, high-tech, and stylish environment ideal for family travel. 

This high-tech ambience is most obviously showcased with the wide, panoramic-screen dashboard design, which integrates dual-screen infotainment technologies and haptic touch controls. 

In the Premium model, a compact shift-by-wire dial for the transmission is located at the base of the centre console, freeing up space and falling easily to hand. 

Thanks to its new platform and larger body, the fourth-generation Carnival boasts unrivalled space for passengers. 

New Carnival offers owners three-row seating configurations, with space for up to eight occupants in total. The car is also more versatile and spacious than ever before, offering intelligent and flexible interior packaging and an abundance of cabin storage areas. 

Key to the extra roominess is the 30mm longer wheelbase and 10mm wider body which enhances space utilisation. The overall length of the new Carnival grows by 40mm to 5,155mm, with a 30mm longer rear overhang creating more space for third-row passengers and best-in-class luggage space. 

A new one-touch sliding walk-in device has been designed to make entry to the third row easier than before. 

Deluxe and Premium models also have heated front seats and heated second row outer seats, with the front two in the Premium also ventilated. The steering wheel on the Premium is heated, too. The driver’s seat in the top two models is powered (8-way in Deluxe and 12-way in the Premium), with an 8-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat of both models. 

With the second and third seat rows folded, the Carnival offers best-in-class cargo space of up to 2,785-litres (VDA) and there is 627-litres available to use behind the third row (to the upper edge of the seat backs) when all seats are in use. Furthermore, the lift-over height for the cargo area is 26mm lower than its predecessor, at 640mm, making it even easier to load. 

The power tailgate (Deluxe and Premium only) and smart power-sliding rear passenger doors (all models) also facilitate access to the cargo area and cabin. 

The new Carnival features a range of convenience features designed to make life with the stylish MPV as convenient as possible.  

The hub of the MPV’s connectivity is its twin digital display. This links Kia’s latest 4.2-inch digital driver instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system under a single seamless glass display in the Deluxe and Premium models (the EX boasts an 8-inch touchscreen).  

Both provide a dual-screen display that creates a panoramic, widescreen user experience, with many infotainment functions controlled via touch-sensitive buttons around the screen. There is a similar haptic control panel further down the centre console for climate control. 

The infotainment system offers a crystal-clear display, as well as seamlessly integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Live telematics information is also available via the in-car touchscreen and on the driver’s smartphone. The Deluxe and Premium models are equipped with the latest satellite navigation system that also provides live traffic information and weather forecasts. 

The infotainment system also enables users to connect two smartphones via Bluetooth at the same time, enabling separate phones to be used for phone calls and media. Wireless phone charging is offered on the Deluxe and Premium models, with the centre console tray alerting the driver if the phone is left behind when exiting the vehicle. 

Music lovers will appreciate the quality of sound in the plush cabin of the new Carnival, with six and eight speakers fitted to the EX and Deluxe respectively, while owners of the Premium model will enjoy the Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers. 

The new Carnival adopts Kia’s latest Smartstream powertrain technologies, which are designed to enhance efficiency and performance. 

The new 2.2-litre Smartstream diesel engine that powers all three models in the Carnival range in New Zealand recently debuted in the 2021 Kia Sorento SUV. It delivers 148kW peak power and 440Nm of torque over a broad range of engine speeds. 

One of the cleanest diesel units ever made by Kia, the 2.2-litre Smartstream produces significantly less CO2 emissions than the engine it replaces and records combined fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km (improved from 7.6L/100km in the previous model’s engine). 

The new Carnival also boasts a comprehensive range of passive and active safety and driver assistance systems, protecting the driver and passengers on every journey. Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help to reduce many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving, making the Carnival relaxing, safe and confidence-inspiring to drive. 

For New Zealand drivers, Kia has prioritised safety across the range with a suite of segment first and class leading technologies that lifts the safety bar across all Carnival models. In fact, the ADAS range in the new Carnival is one of the most comprehensive found on any new car today. 

Kia’s ‘Level 2’ autonomous driving technology – Smart Cruise Control – controls acceleration and braking depending on the vehicles in front. Using front view camera and front radar, it helps maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead while Lane Follow Assist helps centre the vehicle in its lane during driving. In addition, it features a Rear-View Monitor with dynamic guidelines (RVM) and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA).