The all-new forth generation Kia Carnival has been unveiled in its home market of South Korea.
Dubbed by Kia as a “Grand Utility Vehicle”, this next-generation Carnival (also known as the Kia Sedona in other markets) is the South Korean carmaker’s answer to the increasingly luxurious minivan sector.
Thus far, only exterior shots have been previewed. And from the looks of it demonstrates a departure from Kia’s previous design language.
The new design of the Carnival according to Kia now takes cues from SUV styling. This new design direction is demonstrated by the shorter front overhangs and a longer bonnet, achieved by moving the A-pillar further back. Gone too is the now-familiar Kia family tiger-nose front end seen on the current generation Carnival. Instead, a more stylish and premium-looking tiger-face grille extends across the width of the Carnival. Flanked by slender headlights and set above a stepped LED daytime lighting signature. If you squint hard enough, this new front end design looks like a Range Rover crossed with a Lexus, which is no bad thing for a minivan to emulate.
This latest generation Carnival is also to be a larger car than the current generation thanks to a longer wheel base. To break up the boxy side profile of the people-mover, the next-generation Carnival carries forward the floating roof-line of the current gen model. This time however Kia calls it an ‘island roof design’, with blacked out A and B pillars supports the body coloured roof. This ‘island roof’ theme is further reinforced with the addition of a Sorento-derived contrasting silver accented C-pillar trim that wraps around the rear-quarter of the Carnival. This silver accent piece will finished with a subtle diamond-patterned design that will mirror the interior of the Carnival.
A full length light bar, that seems to be the trend in most new cars these days, dominates the rear design of the Carnival and helps break up the boxy shape. Metallic skid plates front and rear along with a more pronounced wheel arch design goes some way to further emphasise the muscular SUV look Kia is going for the brand’s flagship people mover.
Further details should be known in the coming weeks and month, this includes information regarding interior and technology offered in this South Korean minivan. The range of engines on offer is still an unknown. A selection of turbocharged petrol four cylinders with mild hybrid capabilities has been slated for the Carnival.
However, the Malaysian market will more likely receive the carryover 2.2 litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine from the fourth-generation Sorento and Kia Grand Carnival. The current generation Kia Carnival was launched in Malaysia in March 2017 and at the time its asking price was RM165,888 which was great value for money and its only rivals were China made brands that might have been priced lower but did not offer the same level of luxury appointments. Visit a Naza Kia dealer to take this current model for a test drive.
Kia is anticipating a Korean market launch in the third quarter of 2020, while local launch dates are to be confirmed.
Text by Joshua Chin
