2024 Kia Carnival Limousine Test Drive Review

Comfortable people carriers have always been in demand across all segments. That is the reason you have options from a Maruti Suzuki Eeco all the way to the Mercedes V-Class, each of them catering to a specific section of buyers. The 3rd generation Carnival was launched in 2020 and found a lot of buyers due its practicality and spacious interiors. However, in March 2023, the automaker stopped selling the Carnival in India as globally the 4th Generation was already out and the facelift for the same was due soon. It only made sense to launch the facelift in India and thus for approximately a year and a half, the carmaker did not have the Carnival in its portfolio. It is now back and in its latest avatar, with a lot of changes inside and out. We took it out for a spin and here are our impressions.

Externally the design has evolved and this limousine now looks more modern and sophisticated. Dimensionally it is marginally longer, wider and taller than the 3rd generation model. Even the wheelbase is 30 mm more than before. The design is more aerodynamic with a 3% lower coefficient of drag. The front gets a sleek black and chrome grille and the vertically stacked LED headlamps look quite stunning. The rear gets LED combination tail lamps. The side profile is highlighted by the large and wide powered sliding doors (2nd row) and sleek 18-inch alloy wheels. The tailgate is also powered and automatic, the length of this car is massive (5.1 meters) and that is precisely why it is so comfortable inside. 

The interiors are fresh and well laid out with modern materials. Fit and finish has been really been paid attention to. While previously the vehicle was offering a variety of seating options, this time it comes in a 7-seater configuration only. The biggest selling point is the large and comfortable 2nd row which offers business class comfort. The relaxation seats are wide with adequate support and offer electric adjustment along with ventilated function, heating and leg support. The seats can also be moved laterally and they are also electrically adjustable. Legroom, shoulder room and headroom are at premium levels here. This row is the sole reason why someone will consider to buy the car. 

The 3rd row offers sinking seats for three passengers and ingress can be a little tight if you are on the healthier side as you have to get in through the 2nd row (middle). The last row offers decent amount of headroom, legroom and shoulder room but under thigh support is lacking. Still one of the best 3rd rows out there. Even with all the seats up, there is plenty of space in the boot. The luggage room is quite deep making it very practical. However, if you still need more room, the last row seats fold flat into the floor and it is pretty much like a 1BHK in there. 

Coming to the front, a lot has been offered to pamper the driver. To start with, the drivers’ seat gets 12-way power adjustment which includes 4-way lumbar support adjustment. Memory function is available too. The front passenger seat gets 8-way electric adjustment. Both front seats get ventilation and heating. The panoramic curved display houses the infotainment and the drivers’ instrument cluster as well, both 12.3-inch. The UI is completely new here and the same will be seen in future models from both Kia and Hyundai. Lots of features are offered here such as ADAS level 2 with 23 features, 360-degree cameras, Kia Connect with OTA updates, an 11-inch Heads Up Display, powered sliding doors and tailgate, a 12 speaker Bose Audio System, dual sunroofs, 8 Airbags, tri-zone climate control and interior ambient lighting. The buttons for infotainment and climate control can be swapped by the simple press of a dedicated button.

Under the hood is the same 2.2-litre ‘Smartstream’ diesel mill as before, but there have been some changes done to this powertrain. It now gets an aluminium block, which reduces its weight for better efficiency and dynamics. This motor churns out 193 HP and 441 N-m of torque. The insane torque is the reason why the driveability is so sorted. The fuel injectors work with 2300 Bar pressure as opposed to 2000 Bar earlier. Friction has been reduced and overall this has resulted in better fuel economy and reduced emissions. The manufacturer deserves a special mention for the engine refinement. Mated to this oil-burner is an 8-speed automatic transmission (Torque Convertor). The MPV does a 0-100 km run in 10.7 seconds, which is fantastic for a automobile of its size and weight. The ARAI rated fuel economy is 14.85 km/l and with this weight we reckon one should get around 10 km/l in the routine Indian driving cycle, which again is quite good for something this massive. 

You get 4 drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart. While the first 3 modes are pretty much self explanatory, in the ‘Smart’ mode the car automatically adjusts engine and transmission based on the driving activity and throttle input. Kia have opted for a Shift-By-Wire system and thus have given a round dial instead, in the place of a conventional gear lever. The suspension has been setup for comfort and the Carnival will cushion the passengers pretty well when driven on bad roads. In spite of the softer suspension setup, the dynamics are pretty good for a car with this large a wheelbase. The steering weighs up reasonably well at high speeds and is light to manoeuvre at slow speed. This car is all about comfort and is not really meant for corner carving. The brakes bite well and the 235/60 Continental tyres on the 18-inch alloys offer great levels of grip. NVH levels are well in control and you can barely hear any outside noise in the cabin.

After driving and deep diving into the Carnival, there is barely anything to find fault with. As critics, we always have some negatives to talk about but the Carnival has been so well done in all aspects, that it is extremely difficult to find a fault with the product. There is only 1 variant on offer and 2 colours: Black and White. However, prices have almost doubled since the last generation model and this car now retails at about ₹77 lakhs (on-road Mumbai) which is a bit steep. It is a SKD (Semi Knocked Down) import and hence the prices are higher due to only little localisation. Yes, Kia have added a lot of tech and features to the car and unlike certain other manufacturers who dump bare basic models in India at CBU (Completely Built Up) prices, Kia is indeed offering a global product here with all the bells and whistles. In terms of competition, there is nothing it competes with directly. The Toyota Vellfire could be the only competition but its price is even more steeper. Kia have already gotten more than 3,800 bookings for the Carnival, which is great and this goes to say that people will readily pay for a product which is sorted in every respect.