Kia Carnival (KA4)

Since 1998, the Kia Carnival is a minivan that tries to be the little brother of the Hyundai Starex. As the current Hyundai Grand Starex is aging like a bonafide senior citizen, the Carnival keeps changing and with this fourth-generation model, the all-new Carnival is going to be the best Carnival ever made because of its sharp styling, more family-oriented interior, new tech, new performance, and new levels in safety, resulting to a minivan that nearly matches the same level as the Toyota Alphard but without all the drama involved.

2021 Kia Carnival

Here it is, the all-new, fourth-generation Kia Carnival. Priced at 31,600,000 Korean Won (around US$ 27,000), the all-new Carnival retains the same family-friendly comforts as its predecessors but with new and exciting features that made the new model the ideal alternative to rivals from the Rising Sun.

2021 Kia Carnival

One look at its design and you'll know that the new Carnival is all about business and leisure compared to its previous model because judging by its gaudy front grille that has a teething impression of an elementary school girl with acne on her face and braces on her tooth. Scary but the side view is reminiscent of 90's Japanese MPVs and the rear view is anything but basic to them. In short, the new model bears a love-it-or-hate-it impression on the outside but the design is not really the case for the new model because the true beauty of the fourth-generation model is the spacious interior.

2021 Kia Carnival interior

The new Carnival's interior really fits the "Connecting Hub" slogan very well because with so much high-tech conveniences offered, the passenger side is what sparked interests of many. Of course, you can have a seven-seater, a nine-seater, or for the ultimate in road-tripping, an 11-seater. The choices are quite surprising at first but the latter two are so much unrivaled because of the fourth-row seats. If the new Carnival is made to compete Japan's most luxurious minivans, you should go for the seven-seater variant because of the second-row seats that offered can be reclined just like what you expect from a Toyota Alphard or a Honda Odyssey. Couple that with some optional extras like a rear-seat entertainment system and the result is a very accommodating minivan.

On the driver's side, you are greeted by a host of features such as an optional sat-nav, smartphone connectivity, climate control, Kakao i, high-tech intstrumental cluster, a rotary shift knob that speedo boys called it worthless, lots of space to store your stuff, and many other features that will keep you occupied for more.

Boot space? It's identical to the previous model but the addition of fourth-row seating means no more unless you fold them down for more. Quite a hassle but this is how minivans roll these days.

2021 Kia Carnival

Under the hood, the 4th generation Carnival offers two new choice of engines such as the more powerful Smartstream G3.5 V6 engine with 294PS of power and the Smartstream D2.2 diesel engine that delivers 202PS of power, 45kg-m of torque, and 13.1km/L of combined fuel economy, enough for trips from Muntinlupa to the floating restaurant somewhere in the south and back.

Because it utilizes on a third-generation platform as well as MDPS, the new Carnival is now better to drive and better to live with than its predecessor and durable as well. It maybe worth the bulk than today's Sorento but it works like any other minivan should, no doubt. As for safety, the new Carnival hosts a wide array of safety tech under the Drive Wise banner but I'll leave it here.

2021 Kia Carnival

Based on experience, anyone who bought a new Sorento may have to think twice before trading one for the new Carnival because despite the new Carnival being more pricey than the Sorento, the new Carnival offers a lot of stuff that the Sorento can't and with that, you might want to consider this instead of the new Sorento.

The new Carnival, thanks to its new platform, new interior, new design, new technology, and new packaging, is a surefire sign to say that Kia's on a roll because while it's becoming more of a threat against its Japanese rivals, the same family-friendly feeling that past models bore still remains, making it the ideal Korean minivan for all walks of life. For work or for play, the new Carnival is all about getting the job done from start to finish and for anyone who has experience with past Carnival models, this is the best Carnival ever made.

Photo: Kia Motors

Third-generation Kia Carnival (YP) - 2019 minor change

Kia's third-generation Carnival (Sedona) minivan has been on the road for about four years now and although not fit for today's neighborhood full of pointless midsize crossovers, it remains an important charm point for an ever-growing Korean families who want to take them on different places like their grandma's house, a swimming pool with their relatives, family meets, debuts, proms, and so much more. With the 2019 minor change, there's so much to like about the family minivan that keeps collecting good memories for today's families.

2019 Kia Carnival

For its 2019 minor change, the new Carnival features a slightly revised styling and added tech while retaining the performance matched for today's lifestyles. Let's take a look on the exterior first and this minor change can be easily spotted with its new front lamps, new front grille, new front bumper, and new rear lamps. On the inside, the slightest change is the layout of the gear lever and there's now the annoying automatic emergency brake that your titos will find it annoying to use rather than conventional handbrakes. Also, there's now the addition of a wireless charging station for added convenience. Also, the sat-nav's improved with UVO 3.0 and then the sliding doors can be opened at the push of a button.

2019 Kia Carnival interior

2019 Kia Carnival interior

2019 Kia Carnival interior

The 2019MY Carnival still retains the choice of a 9-seater, an 11-seater, and a 7-seater with luxurious second-row seats in the Limousine variant, which is made to rival the likes of the Toyota Alphard and the Honda Odyssey.

The choice of engines remain the same too; there's the R 2.2 E-VGT diesel engine with 202PS of power, 45kg-m of torque, and combined fuel efficiency of 11.3km/L, and then the more powerful Lambda II 3.3L GDi engine with 280PS of power, 34.3kg-m of torque, and 8.2km/L of combined fuel consumption, all mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, which is an improvement compared to the pre-facelifted model.

For 2019, Smart Cruise Control is now added to the list of safety tech alongside others such as Backward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Assit, Emergency Stop Signal, High Beam Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Surround View Monitor, among many others.

The 2019 minor change Kia Carnival now starts at just 28,800,000 Korean Won ($27,000 or 1.4018 million Php).

Available colors: Snow White Pearl, Black Berry, Aurora Black Pearl, Silky Silver, and Panthera Metal.

Photo: Kia Motors

Riding with the Carnival

For over a year, my sister Elise and my brother-in-law drove a third-generation Kia Sorento for miles after miles, especially my dad and my sister Bea. Whether if it used to go from one city after another or one of our favorite points of interest, this crossover made a special place in our hearts but now, in anticipation of my sister having a third child, her Sorento crossover's replaced with a minivan that is not fit for today's neighborhood but an important charm point for an ever-growing family like hers.

As I'm sure you know, this is the current-generation Kia Carnival (Sedona) but it's a lot different to the Carnival I'm familiar with apart from the looks because what's under the hood is not what it seems.

The Carnival we have here is powered by a Lambda II 3.3L GDi V6 engine, the same engine used in the K7 saloon, producing 280PS of power and mated to a six-speed gearbox. In other words, it's like a Kia K7 with so much seats and space for the whole family like my sister's. In South Korea, you can now avail a V6 Carnival for 35.8 million Korean Won but we live in America, and a localized version of the Carnival, known as the Sedona, doesn't have a fourth-row seats like you get in the land of Koreanovelas. We got just the eight-seater variant, which is less than what the Koreans had but it's very accommodating and roomy indeed.

Anyway, here's a little story. My sister Elise and the family are coming to our cousin's home for her baby's birthday party somewhere in Kent. I told Mom and Dad I should be with Elise and they agreed. When the time came to step out from the house, I am a little excited about getting in to the Carnival. Trouble was the only seat reserved for me is the dreaded third row but thanks to its adjustable second-row seating, even if its occupied by child seats, I can get in and out of the third row seat without question and that's it. One thing that amazed me that this car has Apple CarPlay but I'm too far to try it out and ai wish I want to experience it to myself while on the move.

When it's time to set off, I got the chance to see what is like in a V6-powered Carnival. At cruising speeds, it was nice and comfortable, but in the case of residential speeds or highway speeds, I can feel its jittering vibrations at the back, only slightly, of course. Vibrations aside, despite being a heavy and thirsty car which consumes more than the Sorento we used to have, the powerful V6 Carnival handles like every other car I've been through and while it been through different points of interests my sister and her family had, this van gets from one point to another without a slouch.

After experiencing my first ride with the new Carnival, we arrived at Kent to visit our cousin's house for her baby boy's birthday party. I got pictures I am too happy to show you all.

And there you have it. So, what can I say?

Although big, thirsty, and jittering at high speeds, the V6-powered Kia Carnival feels like it's home even in today's neighborhood where SUVs became a norm in the suburbs. Apart from being spacious and accessible, it's very luxurious and comfortable indeed. In fact, it kinda reminds me of a time I rode someone's Hyundai Starex a decade ago but this is no Starex here. This is the Carnival I'm talking about and looks like we have to spend the whole year with this minivan but when the time comes to replace it, it's my sister's call.

Third-generation Kia Carnival (YP)

2015 Kia Carnival

One of the least likable MPVs in the history gets a major regeneration and this all new Kia Carnival wants to show the other MPVs that this is the MPV-est of the MPVs. It's just in time for the summer holiday when their parents want to take their kids to some of South Korea's finest destinations, say Jeju Island or N Seoul Tower or the Changdeokgung Palace or maybe Gangnam. So, can the all new Carnival worth it of being an ideal car for the hot summer holiday in South Korea?

So...is it all new?

Well, of course. This is an all new model. ALL NEW. I capitalised it so you know that this is a totally new one rather than a minor refresh of the model that is highly forgettable for...let's just say...its age.

How is it differ from the previous generations?

The first generation, launched in 1998 was kinda more of a saloon in a minivan's body, especially it was just an old Credos II underneath it. The 2001 facelift was fine because not only it looks as Americanized as a Chrysler Town and Country but the 2.9L diesel engine has better torque than its petrol equivalents. The second generation model, launched in the summer of 2005, comes with the long wheelbase model that comes with 11-seats for the whole family and the short wheelbase model that seats 9 people.

For this new model, it truly sets apart from its predecessors because unlike those two, the new third-generation model features a more robust shape reminiscent of luxury Japanese MPVs. From its signature looks to its headlamps and to its rear design, from every angle, you can see that this new model is truly a standout from the past and it's not as bizarre as its rival, the Ssangyong Turismo.

What's it like on the inside?

2015 Kia Carnival interior

2015 Kia Carnival interior

2015 Kia Carnival interior

The new interior now employs the familiar look as seen from the K5, the K7, and the K9, and because this is an MPV on its own right, it's available in either a 9-seater or an 11-seater, if you're lucky. Either way, the new model is a fit for the whole family but the 11-seater model is highly recommended because if you have you, your wife, your kids, granny, pappy, or any one of your relatives, this variant is your best bet and because it has longer wheelbase than the previous model, it's more spacious as well. Those seats can also be folded for some luggage concerns, handy if you're carrying so many bags of stuff you spent from the grocery or other things in your hand.

What about driving?

2015 Kia Carnival

On an average day, the new model is not quite bad to drive and thanks to the use of MacPherson Struts on the front and multi-link rear suspension, it feels more European to drive. For the nine-seater model, it weighs around 2030kg, which is the same as the previous model but for the 11-seater, it adds 7kgs of weight. On the upshot is, that model weighs less than the Ssangyong Korando Turismo. It's partly thanks to the high-strength steel body that not only it feels lighter but also more rigid and more durable than the old one.

The only engine available is the same R 2.2 E-VGT diesel engine carried from the Kia Sorento SUV. Now Euro 6-compliant, this engine develops about 202PS of power and 45kg-m of torque output. Thanks to its torque output, this engine delivers a great pull from start to finish. It has a fuel economy of around 11.5km/l, which is somewhat less than the Turismo gave. It's mated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, meaning that this new Carnival is the kind of MPV you would really want to relax while driving. It's not complicated to drive either and it's even more safer than ever because of the addition of new safety tech like the lateral alarm system, High Beam Assist, Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Warning System, and the new active hood lift system.

Active hood lift system?

Yes. That's a new feature. It was made, what Kia Motors states, to decrease head injury during pedestrian collision. Composing of sensors, ECU, and pyro-type actuators, this system lifts the rear part of the hood up to 120mm.

Should I buy one?

2015 Kia Carnival

The new model actually costs 27,200,000 Korean Won (around $27,200) up to 36,300,000 Korean Won (around $36,300). In theory, this is kinda more expensive than the Ssangyong Korando Turismo but who knows, if they don't like the Turismo for its looks, they could just rush to their nearest Kia dealerships to buy one.

Available colors: Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver, Powder Blue, Black Berry, Platinum Graphite, and Aurora Black Pearl.

Photo: Kia Motors