Overview:
"Whoa, that's a nice-looking Minivan!" Said no one ever. Until you saw the 2025 Kia Carnival Limousine in the flesh with its SUV-ish stance, a gnawingly large front grille and a long boxy silhouette with a shiny C-pillar trim shod with classy-looking 18-inch rims, and with this win in the battle of desire, logic already was on your side – a diesel heart (that's carried over from the last gen-car), seven seats with Captain chairs in the middle-row, 540-litre boot space with the third row up (!), leather-wrapped premium-fyness all round with all the latest tech – and ADAS Level 2 driver suite, twin 12.3-inch infotainment & driving displays with the latest wireless smartphone connectivity to beat.
And this sort of package with high marks on practicality gives SUVs nightmares! But this is the fourth-gen Carnival (available in black or white paint shades only) that will sheepishly blend in among some of the three-row SUVs and few crossovers at the corporate park drop-off area or the celebrity school pickup line — that is, until its motorised sliding side doors open to unleash the mischievous or ambitious within.
On highway trips and short inner-city commutes, the 190 bhp 2.2L diesel engine delivers smooth power to the front wheels and average fuel economy; all-wheel drive or a hybrid engine isn't an option here. The minivan's superiority shines through further with a cavernous interior space, and those second-row lounge chairs are comparable to three-row SUVs—and only the Toyota Innova Hycross or the Velfire come close to the package. The former lacks the Kia's road presence and design flair, while the latter lacks affordability.
So, is this new Carnival filling that sweet spot between these full-sized MPVs or targeting the chauffeur-driven lot away from LWB sedans? Or is it just an overpriced Premium MPV?
Verdict:
As a package, the Carnival seems to offer great bang for the buck, with the highlight being the 2nd-row experience, the relaxation-induced ride quality and a thoroughly modern interior design. The engine could have been a tad more powerful. A hybrid powertrain would have pushed the loyalty fan base far and wide for Kia, but as a people-mover slide-out door flagship that's all the rage today with celebs and politicians alike - the higher-than-expected price point for a 'Kia' is suddenly met with a 'Hmmm' rather than a 'Are you outta of your mind' from the serious buyers.
So, if you're in the market for a premium luxury family car that seats four in utmost comfort and can accommodate up to seven, you're honestly limited to very few choices. You can either snag a Toyota Innova (with an insanely long waiting period) or the upcoming Skoda Kodiaq and feel you made the logical choice. Or you can play the long game and get the 2025 Kia Carnival Limousine (with better space, massive road presence and sub-par fuel efficiency) before the societal tides turn and with FOMO kicking in, everybody else starts clamouring for one too.
Driving:
Driving such a large vehicle daily isn't my idea of therapy, but indeed, the drive experience over the open highways and short city runs in Bangalore was pleasantly refreshing. The Carnival feels light, smooth and easy to drive. It steers intuitively lightly at all speeds and rides great, taking on the most jarring potholes like a champ. It's also weirdly not the most difficult to place given its size—a robust 360-camera system certainly doesn't hurt but neither does expertly-calibrated steering.
The 2.2L turbo-diesel soldiers on with better refinement and easy-going grunt, making the hard work of hauling big families much easier. Acceleration is linear, with enough power for quick overtaking, but that was me without co-passengers or luggage! The big update, though, is the ride and handling tune. It is far improved with a composed flat ride and a supported on-road feel. With engine noise muffled uncannily well and light vibrations from the diesel engine – Floating down the highway at a reasonable speed, the Carnival quickly approaches luxury car levels of refinement.
Interiors & Technology:
Inside, the Carnival is an enjoyably practical space. The dash design is classy, the dark and tan leather combination works brilliantly, and the vents span the entire cabin like in new-age luxury cars. More importantly, though, with its layout and acres of space, the Carnival feels relatively easy to live with. The steering and two curved 12.3-inch displays are hefty and display crisp information, although the infotainment menus can be confusing. The two-mode panel of knobs and touch buttons that switches between climate and infotainment controls is a novel use of space. Still, on multiple occasions, I found myself cranking up the temperature when I wanted more audio volume and vice versa.
As you'd expect, storage in the front of the Carnival is terrific, with big door pockets, cupholders between the seats, a wireless charging pad for your phone and a big covered centre console area to store snacks for a 6-member night out! And while lounge & electronic synth music plays over the Bose branded speaker system, it's the 2nd row of passengers who'd be unruffled with two fully reclinable powered chairs featuring calf extension supports to morph into a business class travel experience. The cushioning is perfect for large-sized adults as well, and the legroom with the seats pushed back is unseen in a car at this price point. I wish the 2nd row's climate control were placed in the centre instead of the inconvenient location behind the driver's seat, which is more than a full arm's stretch. Retractable sunshades on the electric-operating sliding doors with a boss button complete the experience.
The third-row space is also excellent, with enough room for me (at 6 feet) to sit behind someone of a similar size in front. The two middle-row seats can slide back and forth to allow entry and more legroom for the third row. Climbing into the back is the least spacious part and slightly tricky as you have to move the 2nd-row chairs to the outer edges of the cabin to scoot in via the tiny middle passageway. The third row has cupholders, USB-C charging points, AC vents at the back and even sunshades! In other nifty features, the Carnival includes a passenger PA system that while you both keep an eye out, is better off yelling at the tiny scoundrels in proverbial 4K surround sound.
However, the boot setup on the Carnival brought out all the oooo & woowws from the ladies. If you need to use all three rows, there's a staggering amount of cargo space (540 litres), which is more than some SUVs have with the back row out of use! Fold down the third-row seats – and slot them folded flat into the storage well in the boot area. You've got an unfathomable 2800 litres of cargo capacity. If that's your brief, this could be the most practical and stylish five-seater. And don't go thinking that Kia missed out on the spare wheel – it's there! Neatly positioned under the vehicle's body, near the driver's side sliding door.
