Kia Carnival bookings will begin at 12 pm on September 16 in India
Kia India is all set to start accepting official bookings for the all-new fourth-generation Carnival MPV from September 16, with a token booking amount of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Carnival, which will initially be sold as a fully imported model, is slated to be launched on October 3. Ahead of the official announcement, several dealerships have already started accepting unofficial pre-orders.
Premium Features and Specifications
The upcoming Kia Carnival promises a more premium experience compared to its predecessor. Kia has confirmed several notable features for the India-spec model, including a dual-panel sunroof, power-adjustable ventilated second-row captain’s chairs with extendable leg support, power-sliding rear doors, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The Carnival will also feature two 12.3-inch curved displays and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Other premium touches include a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a digital key with fingerprint recognition and integrated ambient lighting along the dashboard.
Powertrain and single variant launch
Under the hood, the new Carnival will continue to be powered by the familiar 2.2-litre diesel engine, a powertrain carried over from the previous generation. While international markets get additional options such as a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol hybrid and a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, Kia India is expected to stick with the diesel unit for now.
The Carnival will be available in India in just one fully loaded variant at launch, brought in as a full import. While this will increase the starting price, Kia has plans to assemble the model locally at a later stage, potentially bringing down costs. However, some of the high-end features may be omitted when assembly begins in India.
Pricing and Market Positioning
Given its premium positioning, the new Kia Carnival is expected to be priced around Rs. 50 lakhs. This price tag puts it in a unique space with no direct competition. The Toyota Innova HyCross, which comes in at approximately Rs. 30 lakhs and the Toyota Vellfire, which starts at Rs. 1.22 crores, mark the closest price points for comparison.
In addition to the Carnival, Kia will also reveal the price of its EV9 full-size electric SUV during the launch event.
Kia’s move to bring the Carnival as a full import initially sets it apart in the Indian MPV market. While its premium features and high price tag may make it a niche offering initially, eventual local assembly could broaden its appeal. With a competitive feature set and no direct rivals, the Carnival is poised to capture attention in the luxury MPV segment.