New Kia Carnival’s spacious interior revealed

A little over two weeks after Kia Motors revealed the exterior of its fourth-generation, all-new 2021 Carnival MPV, the Korean carmaker has released a single image of the interior, in Korean market specification. The new Carnival, which now sports a more squared-off, SUV-inspired design and is expected to arrive in India by 2022, will go on sale in Korea in the third quarter of this year.

Key highlights of the spacious and futuristic interior are a panoramic dashboard display with haptic touch control, intelligent packaging and comfortable seating across three or four rows, claimed best-in-class cargo space and practical storage areas for passengers

The new Carnival – the brand’s fourth-generation flagship minivan and sold in many markets worldwide as the Kia Sedona – is targeted at young families.

Like its predecessor, the Carnival boasts significant levels of space for passengers in all rows. Kia designers have created a greater sense of roominess inside, the futuristic-looking, spacious cabin offering premium material quality and innovative technology

The high-tech ambiance is most obvious in its wide, wraparound dashboard, with a high fascia that is elegant in its simplicity and cutting-edge in the array of features it offers. The dashboard seamlessly integrates dual-screen infotainment technologies with haptic touch controls, placing the driver in command of their very own cockpit.

The dash itself is accented by high-tech two digital displays all under one piece of glass, linking Kia’s latest 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. This display provides a wide variety of useful information across its 12.3-inch split screens. Many infotainment functions can be controlled using touch-sensitive buttons around the screen, with a similar panel further down the center console for the climate control system. A shift-by-wire dial for the transmission at the base of the centre console further expresses the new Carnival’s sense of technology and modernity.

The new Carnival’s 30mm longer wheelbase (up to 3,090mm) and 10mm wider body (up to 1,995mm) further enhances utility. The overall length of the new Carnival grows by 40mm to 5,155mm, with a 30mm longer rear overhang (up to 1,130 mm), creating more space for third-row passengers and best-in-class luggage space with it.

Intelligent packaging for three or four rows
The Carnival boasts intelligent interior packaging and cabin storage areas in abundance. Kia says the new model is based on the ‘Spatial Talents’ interior design concept created by Kia’s design teams.

What helps deliver more interior space is the new Carnival’s longer wheelbase, a longer rear overhang, and a wider body. The result is more interior space for passengers in all three or four rows. Depending on market, the Carnival offers owners three- or four-row seating configurations, with space for 7, 9 or 11 occupants in total. In its seven-seat configuration, the Carnival boasts Kia’s reclining ‘captain’s chairs’ for second-row occupants, with adjustable backrests, armrests and legrests providing ‘business class’ seating for comfort on long journeys.

Lots of practical storage options for occupants too, with a range of new features for stowing, supporting and even charging electronic devices and smaller items. Second-row occupants have access to back-of-seat USB chargers, storage nets for mobile devices, and a new storage drawer in the base of the rear console, with a tray for storing tablets or phones above a larger storage area.

Kia is expected to reveal the engine options for the new Carnival in the coming weeks. Expect it to carry over the 2.2-litre diesel for select markets. For regions which prefer petrols, the new Carnival is expected to get the same 280hp, 2.5-litre turbo-petrol that powers the new Kia Sorento, along with a hybrid option, which will pair a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.

When will the new Kia Carnival come to India?
Kia Motors India launched the Carnival at the Auto Expo in February this year. However, the third-gen MPV currently on sale in India debuted globally all the way back in 2014, and is due to be replaced, with Korea set to get it first in the coming months. This new, fourth-gen Carnival is only expected to come to India by 2022.