Back in the day when you heard “MPV”, you immediately thought practical (of course) but also large, clumsy, and lack of imagination from the designers of such a variant. Over the years, however, MPV’s have become much more desirable. The folks designing at Kia have been cooking lately, and this is what we’re served recently – the mid spec Kia Carnival 2.2 CRDI EX+. Previously called the Sedona in the previous gen model, we recently got to sample the new Carnival.
Straight off the bat, we have to admit that the Kia Carnival is a stunning piece of kit from any angle. We’re yet to hear someone who does not like the way it look. At the front you get a modernised tiger nose grille, LED headlights as well as LED daytime running lights. Moving to the side, you get this clean silhouette that’s aided by 18-inch wheels. Then at the rear you get LED combination taillights. We rate this to go head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class in the design department.
The interior is where the fun is at. The Carnival has plenty of space and its well put together. Interestingly enough, this mid-spec EX+ model only comes in 8 seat configuration rather than 7-seats in the entry-level and range-topping derivatives. Accessing the rear seats is a breeze thanks to electronically operated sliding doors that can be opened or closed via either the key fob or inside the cabin. Standard features on our tester also include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power tailgate, and leather seats. It’s generously specced in our opinion.
Moving on to practicality, we’ll tell you one thing – this thing is massive. There’s plenty of space for all 8 passengers including the third row. Boot space comes in at a decent 627 litres with all seats up, with the third row folded down, you get an impressive 2785 litres. Other practical features include 7 USB ports, nine cup holders, and reverse camera to assist park the large people mover.
Powering the Kia Carnival EX+ is a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 148kW and 440Nm of torque. It sends power to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Kia claims that their MPV will average 6.8 L/100km, with mixed driving with majority of it being stuck in traffic, we managed 7.2 L/100 km during our stint. As large as it is, it’s no slouch. Overtaking in this thing is a breeze as the torque from the diesel engine is awe inspiring. Ride quality in the Carnival is pretty decent, and we suggest not going apex hunting as it does have some body roll (as expected from such a large vehicle).
Verdicts
Priced at R1,018,995, the Kia Carnival 2.2 CRDI EX+ makes for a compelling choice as not only does it offer great looks but also comes with a practical cabin and also great fuel economy.
