Going on-sale around the country today, pricing and details for the all-new 2015 Kia Carnival have been released.
KIA HAS DROPPED the ‘Grand’ from its all-new 2015 Kia Carnival which goes on-sale today with prices starting from $41,490 (+ORC). Kia’s all-new people mover has been built off the same platform as the upcoming Sorento and offers seating for eight people.
“This is a car that changes the landscape for people movers, MPVs, CUVs _ whatever you want to call them,” Kia Chief Operating Officer Damien Meredith said. “It is a genuine eight-seat vehicle that can take both passengers and their luggage in comfort and safety.”
Kia said its engineers worked hard to make the new Carnival more refined than its predecessor. For a start, it’s 74% more torsionally rigid than the outgoing model, while thicker soundproofing material has been added to the wheel arches and around the engine bay, while new under-floor panels better isolate the cabin from road and wind noise. A new floor carpet material further reduces the level of noise inside the cabin, while wind noise is reduced in the new model as a result of repositioned windscreen wipers. As a result of these changes, the cabin of the new Carnival is now 2.5dB quieter than the outgoing model.
Styling
The new Carnival gets a wider-looking stance than its predecessor, borrowing heavily from other Kia models. For instance, the ‘diamond’ pattern grille, first featured on the 2013 Kia Cross GT concept, appears on Platinum variants while the SLi grade gets a chrome highlight on black bar design with S and Si models featuring a black bar design.
In profile, the new model’s more upright grille is accompanied by a smoother, more swept-back silhouette than the second-generation model, with a long bonnet and an all-round glass area which rises gently, before narrowing after the C-pillar. The car’s sportier shape is aided by a strong crease that runs along the length of the car, more sculpted surfaces, and a small rear spoiler, ensuring the car conveys a more dynamic appearance than its predecessor.
The new Carnival offers a longer wheelbase than its predecessor (+40 mm to 3060) with the height of the vehicle lower (-55 to 1755 with standard roof rails). The car is the same width as the outgoing model (1985 mm), but despite the longer wheelbase is shorter overall (-15 mm to 5115 mm).
Interior
While the outside of the car was styled in Korea, the interior was designed out of Kia’s Californian design studio with the crayon twirlers saying they looked to ‘first class air travel’ for inspiration. Okay. Here in Australia will feature a classy two-tone light/dark grey interior leather trim in SLi and Platinum grades and stain resistant grey cloth with black contrast dash in the S and Si models.
Thanks to a longer wheelbase passenger space is increased over the outgoing model. Legroom has been increased for all passengers, while lowered seat cushions counteract the loss in headroom resulting from the 20mm lower roofline. The shape of the roof – which no longer slopes gently into the tailgate – also ensures, Kia says, that third-row occupants enjoy greater headroom than before.
The cargo area grows by 77 litres to 960 litres (SAE) behind the third row of seats. This grows to 2220 litres behind the second row and 4022 litres when all rear passenger seats are stowed. Despite the lower roofline, the shape of the tailgate also enables a taller cargo opening height for the cargo bay.
Technology
The new Carnival is equipped with a range of advanced on-board technologies designed to improve the car’s capabilities and owner and occupant satisfaction.
For instance, a hands-free Smart Power Tailgate automatically opens when the key is ‘sensed’ in close proximity to the trunk, so owners can load their shopping bags or heavy objects straight into the vehicle, while the Carnival’s two power-sliding rear doors also open at the touch of a button located on the driver’s overhead console on SLi and Platinum.
The entry-level S model will feature a 3.5-inch mono LCD screen located between two analogue dials in the centre of the instrument binnacle, displaying major trip computer information in one place, including average and instant fuel consumption data, distance to empty and outside temperature. For Si and SLi models a Premium 3.5-inch OLED instrument cluster offers additional information, including digital speedometer, service schedule and an array of user selectable options such as headlamp escort function. The Platinum grade will highlight a 7-inch colour TFT LCD screen, with an electro-luminescent instrument cluster and digital speedometer, further improving the interior’s modern function and ambiance, while displaying all relevant journey information which the driver can select from the multi-function steering wheel.
The Carnival comes standard with a six-speaker audio unit with a 4.3 inch colour TFT LCD display featuring a rear-view camera display with guidelines. The unit is compatible with Apple devices and features a My Music function with a 750mb drive to save and play MP3 audio files. For the Si, SLi and Platinum grades the head unit is an 8-inch TFT LCD touch screen with satellite navigation, rear view camera display, DVD player (for use when stationary) and comes with Kia’s SUNA real-time traffic information and MapCare complimentary updates through the first two services.
Performance
The new Carnival will offer two engines, a 3.3-litre GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol engine and its 2.2-litre R Series diesel. For the new model, both units have been tweaked for efficiency and performance, they are mated to a standard-fit six-speed automatic.
The 3.3-litre GDI produces 206kW and 336Nm while the 2.2-litre four-cylinder ‘R’ turbo-diesel engine produces 147kW and 440Nm from 1750 to 2750 rpm – in the outgoing model this has been the most popular engine choice.
The new model carries over the previous-generation’s MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. However, the adoption of a hydraulic rebound spring on the front axle and stiffer suspension bars and cross-member bush mountings on the rear enhance ride comfort and stability by improving bump absorption and suspension rebound rates.
Like all Kia models, the Carnival received local tuning work to ensure the new people mover could handle Australian roads and driving conditions.
Safety
Kia has fitted a range of standard active safety technologies to the Carnival, including six airbags (front to rear coverage), eight three-point seat belts, Electronic Stability Control (incorporating ABS, TCS, Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control and Roll Over Mitigation) and rear parking sensors. For Platinum owners the suite of active safety features expands even further with Smart Cruise Control, Front Parking Assist (SLi and Platinum), LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System), BSD (Blind-Spot Detection); LCA (Lane Change Assist), which alerts the driver to vehicles approaching from the rear at high speeds in neighbouring lanes; HBA (High Beam Assist) and RCTA (Rear Cross-Traffic Alert), which warns against other cars driving behind the Carnival in car parks.
It’s interesting to note that the initial allotment of vehicles to Australia won’t have second-row seatbelt reminders making the Carnival only eligible for a four-star safety rating from ANCAP. In its statement, Kia said it expects the second row seatbelt reminder to be in the Carnival from June production, meaning post June 2015 models will likely be awarded a five star rating by ANCAP.
Pricing
Carnival S – petrol $41,490 (+ORC)
Carnival Si – petrol $45,490 (+ORC)
Carnival SLi – petrol $49,990 (+ORC)
Carnival Platinum – petrol $57,490 (+ORC)
Carnival S – diesel $43,990 (+ORC)
Carnival Si – diesel $47,990 (+ORC)
Carnival SLi – diesel $52,490 (+ORC)
Carnival Platinum – diesel $59,990 (+ORC)
Premium paint $695
The Carnival will also only have the Rear camera for the first few months. Later this year it will come with the 360deg camera system that is currentl available on the OS models. Pity KIA have not included this on the Platinum models on launch. Someone was asleep at the KIA wheel.