Kia Carnival bookings to commence at 12 AM on 16th September in India
Kia India is set to begin accepting official bookings for the all-new fourth-generation Carnival MPV starting 16th September, with a token booking amount of Rs. 2 lakhs. The Carnival, which will initially be sold as a fully imported model, is scheduled to launch on 3rd October. Ahead of the official announcement, several dealerships already started taking 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-pane sunroof, second-row electrically adjustable ventilated captain seats with extendable leg support, power-sliding rear doors and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
The Carnival will also feature dual 12.3-inch curved displays and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) suite. Other premium touches include a head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, a digital key with fingerprint recognition and ambient lighting integrated 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 have 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 push the initial price upwards, Kia has plans to locally assemble the model at a later stage, potentially bringing down costs. However, some of the high-end features may be omitted when the assembly begins in India.
Pricing and Market Positioning
Given its premium positioning, the new Kia Carnival is expected to be priced at around Rs. 50 lakhs. This price tag places it in a unique space, with no direct competition. The Toyota Innova HyCross, which tops out at approximately Rs. 30 lakhs and the Toyota Vellfire, which starts at Rs. 1.22 crores, mark the nearest price points for comparison.
In addition to the Carnival, Kia will also unveil the pricing for 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 might make it a niche offering at first, the eventual local assembly could broaden its appeal. With a competitive feature set and no direct rivals, the Carnival is positioned to capture attention in the luxury MPV segment.
