2022 Kia Carnival: Test drive review

Built to fulfil the demands of consumers with huge families, the fourth-generation Kia Carnival made its Malaysian debut just a couple of months ago with a competitive price of RM196,340 on the road without insurance.

Looking more majestic than ever before, the all-new Kia Carnival 11-seater MPV is now 210 mm longer, 145 mm wider, and 120 mm lower than before, translating into a more spacious and more stable people mover than before.

Its wheelbase, on the other hand, now measures 3,090 mm which is 90 mm longer than its predecessor.

Exterior

On the exterior, highlights include Kia’s striking Tiger Nose grille, sleek LED headlights with integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRL), a generous dose of chrome and brushed metal bits, as well as the funky 18-inch alloy wheel design.

The sliding doors and the boot are not only powered, but can also be operated via various methods such as the key fob, buttons on the doors themselves, and the control panel located behind the steering wheel.

As far as its looks are concerned, the Kia Carnival is arguably the best looking MPV in the market at the moment.

Unlike the other 11-seaters in the market like the Hyundai Starex, Hyundai Staria, or the Mercedes-Benz Grand Vito that look like buses, the Kia Carnival here looks much sleeker and more luxurious.

In fact, the new Kia Carnival actually looks more striking than the epitome of luxury MPVs itself - the Toyota Alphard, which essentially looks like a toaster on wheels.

As handsome as it looks, the all-new Kia Carnival is also a very nice vehicle to drive despite its massive size.

Interior

The flamboyance of the exterior continues inside the cabin of the Carnival as well. Although the materials used are not as plush as what you would get in an Alphard or a Vellfire, the Carnival’s interior can still be considered a grand one.

There is a generous dose of premium Leatherette upholstery for all 11 occupants, and all the buttons, levers, knobs, and switches are made of high quality materials as well.

Key features include the 12.3-inch touch screen display infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes with Bluetooth, MP3, and an impressive audio system.

Making things convenient for all occupants are the automatic windows all around, 8 USB charging ports, two 12V power outlets, second and third row sunshades, air vents and cup holders for every row, and a dedicated control for rear air conditioning.

Speaking of the seats, both the second and third row seats come with 40:20:40 split-folding configurations. 

The seat in the middle on both rows can actually be folded to open up a walk-through space from the second row to the last row.

Unfortunately, fourth row seats are quite narrow, making them ideal only for children or small individuals. Plus, luggage space comes at a premium when the seats are up.

What this means is that the Kia Carnival is not actually an outright 11-seater where all the seats are the same size, as the width, headspace and legroom get lesser as we go from the front to the back.

On the upside, every row gets its own pair of USB chargers, cup holders, and air-con vents, which is a big advantage. 

Driving impressions

Powering the Carnival is a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 199 hp and 440 Nm of torque, which is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that comes with paddle-shifters.

Despite its size, the Kia Carnival feels almost car-like to drive thanks to its low centre of gravity and well-built chassis. There is always a lot of power available on tap, minimal body-roll, good visibility, and great composure at all times.

The level of noise insulation is impressive as well, as the diesel engine can barely be heard in the cabin even at higher speeds.

On the downside, the Kia Carnival lacks active safety features like the Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Collision Avoidance system, and Adaptive Cruise Control which are available even in the Perodua Myvi.

Other than that, the all-new Kia Carnival has all the things one would expect in a modern family vehicle like good build quality, handsome design, a long list of standard equipment, good level of comfort and of course, a competitive price tag.

2022 Kia Carnival Specifications

Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Displacement: 2,151cc
Gearbox: 8-Speed automatic
Max power: 202 PS @ 3,800rpm
Max torque: 440Nm @1,750 - 2,750rpm
Top Speed: 190km/h
0-100 km/h: 9.7 seconds
Selling Price: RM196,341

Also read: All-new Kia Carnival launched in Malaysia