Kia’s redesigned Carnival will not only mark the South Korean brand’s full range renewal under the guidance of former design guru and new Kia president, Peter Schreyer, but will also be the first model to wear an all-new corporate face when it debuts at the New York motor show next month.
Sources inside Kia have told motoring.com.au that the replacement for one Australia’s most popular people-mover will be the first model to feature the brand’s remodeled front fascia, and that the ‘bold new look’ will likely appear on all new models going forward.
The new Carnival, which will be launched Down Under alongside the Kia-sponsored Australian Open tennis tournament in January (2015), replaces the second-generation model that went on sale here back in 2007 and was last updated in 2011.
In addition to an all-new look, the new Carnival promises a refreshed petrol and diesel engine line-up, increased safety and technology, even more passenger and cargo space, a better level of standard equipment and more luxurious interior.
We expect to see a number of new technology items in the new Carnival, including blind-spot monitoring, electric power steering, refreshed infotainment and rear-seat entertainment options and even a lane-departure warning system.
Sold as the Sedona in some markets, the Carnival is likely to feature toned-down versions of the styling cues seen on the KV7 concept in 2010 (pictured). It will compete head-to-head with the new Honda Odyssey and Hyundai iMAX, which have both outsold it so far this year.
In 2013, the Carnival found 2847 buyers, making it the best-selling vehicle in the sub-$55,000 people-mover segment and about twice as popular as the iMAX (1455) and Odyssey (1001).
Pricing and specifications are likely to be finalised closer to the Carnival’s international launch later this year, though we expect more information to be announced at the model’s motor show debut on April 16.
What’s coming from Kia:
pro_cee’d GT -- March 2014
Sportage Series II -- April 2014
New Carnival -- January 2015
New Sorento -- January 2015
Register to comment on this article.