Kia Launches New Carnival Minivan With 202-hp CRDI Diesel Engine That Meets EURO 6 Emission Standards

Kia Motors pulled the covers off of its all-new Carnival minivan this week, with the hopes that they can do something to breathe life into the lackluster people mover category.

The vehicle was unveiled at a special event in Seoul, South Korea and it was significant in that this was the last vehicle in the Kia range to get the Peter Schreyer treatment.

Some of the changes that were on display included the now signature tiger-nose grille and a profile that is definitely much sportier.

Kia has revealed that the minivan will be priced similarly to its rivals and will feature technology and safety features that should boost its profile both at home and abroad.

The biggest rivals for the carnival are expected to be the Honda Odyssey, the Chrysler Town and Country, and the Toyota Sienna.

9 Or 11 Seater Configurations

Domestically, the Carnival will come with seating set-ups for both 9 and 11 people.

The Deluxe trim, which is the base, will seat 11 and come in at around 27 million won (US$23,600) to 35.9 million won.

The 9-seater variant is a little more upscale and contains the Luxury trim level that comes in between 29.9 million and 36.4 million won.

The latter price is where the fully-loaded Noblesse model is found.

2,2L CRDI Diesel Engine, 6-Speed Automatic Transmission

The engine that will be used in the Korean market is the R2.2-liter E-VGT diesel that generates 202-hp and 45 kilogram meter of twist. It will be mated to a 6-speed automatic and have front-wheel drive, and will also meet EURO 6 emission standards.

The numbers delivered by the powertrain represent an increase in both horsepower and torque, resulting in a 5.5% increase in fuel efficiency to 11.5 km/l in the diesel engine.

What may come as a surprise is that the fuel efficiency had increased despite the overall weight of the car going from 2,110 kg to 2,137 kg.

Superb Safety

Much of that extra weight is due to the addition of safety features, including about 52% of the car’s body being constructed of high tensile steel.

That is a slightly higher number than the percentage used on the Genesis luxury sedan from sister company Hyundai.

Industrial adhesives have also been used so that the rigidity of the car is improved, leading to a smoother, quieter ride.

The use of these materials also adds another level of safety to the car, especially when it comes to protecting passengers in the event of a collision.

That information leads Kia to believe that the Carnival will get the top “good” rating when the crash tests are performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Changes Inside The Minivan

Changes have been made to the inside, too, with the dashboard and center stack being completely revamped in order to give the minivan the appearance of a sport utility vehicle.

All told, the new configuration delivers 546-liters of internal space, which is up a couple of liters from the outgoing model. The increase is due in large part to an increase in the length of the wheelbase.

Kia has reported that preorders have already started for the car, which is expected to hit the market in June.

The Carnival has sold 1.46 million units since its initial release in 1997, with 570,000 of that number being domestic sales.

Kia Carnival Sold As Sedona In Some Markets

When the Carnival hits the overseas market, it will be sold as the Sedona in many markets.

Consumers in the US can expect to find a 3.3-liter gasoline direct injection V6 engine under the hood of the new Sedona.