New Kia Carnival six-seater introduced; replaces nine-seater version

Kia has silently introduced a six-seater variant of the Carnival MPV priced at Rs 28.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India). This new version, with captain seats for both second and third rows, is only available on the mid-spec Prestige trim, with the nine-seater version being discontinued.

• Kia Carnival gets captain seats for second and third rows; no changes to features list
• Nine-seater Carnival has been discontinued
• No change in powertrain option

Kia Carnival: now sold as a six-, seven- and eight-seater

Until now, the Kia Carnival was available in three seating configurations – seven, eight and nine. Speaking to our dealer sources, we have learnt that demand for the nine-seater variant was lesser than what the carmaker had anticipated, and hence, they have pulled down this version. The nine-seater variant, too, was available only on the mid-spec Prestige trim.

Kia is upping the luxury quotient of the Carnival with this new six-seater version that comes with individual captain chairs for both the second and third rows. As a result, this version of the Carnival also comes with more boot space than the seven- and eight-seater versions – with 540 litres of space that can further be expanded to 2,759 litres by folding down the second and third rows.

Apart from these changes, the six-seater Prestige trim continues with the same equipment list as the nine-seater version. That means you get features such as LED headlamps and tail-lamps, LED fog lamps, 18-inch crystal cut alloy wheels, tri-zone climate control, 8-inch infotainment screen, powered tailgate, dual-pane electric sunroof, all-LED interior lights, leatherette seats, sliding function for third row seats, front parking sensors, side and curtain airbags and more.

In all, the Kia Carnival is now available in four trims – Premium, Prestige, Limousine and the recently introduced Limousine Plus. A seven-seater configuration is standard on all trims. The eight- and six-seater configuration is offered only on the Premium and Prestige trims, respectively. Here’s a look at the detailed price list of all variants of the Carnival.

Kia Carnival: powertrain details

Powering the Kia Carnival is a sole 200hp, 440Nm, 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. The power is sent to the front wheels via an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The Carnival has an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency figure of 13.9kpl.

Kia upcoming launches in India

The South Korean carmaker is gearing up to introduce an all-new MPV, which will likely be called the Carens, early next year. Kia also plans to launch its first EV in India – the EV6 – which will come via the CBU route sometime next year. Following the EV6, Kia will also introduce the e-Niro electric SUV in 2023 with a mass-market electric vehicle expected to follow a year later.