Kia Carnival Limousine Plus 2.2 Diesel AT

Autocar India

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The Kia Carnival is already being locally assembled in India, so current pricing reflects duties applicable to semi-knocked down (SKD) kits that are assembled at Kia’s Anantapur plant. At present, the Carnival is offered with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, priced at around Rs 59.4 lakh ex-showroom (Limousine Plus variant).Looking ahead, Kia is also preparing to introduce a hybrid version of the Carnival later this year. This variant is expected to be priced under Rs 50 lakh and, importantly, will also be locally assembled. The addition of a hybrid powertrain should broaden the Carnival’s appeal, especially in a market that is gradually shifting towards electrified options while still valuing efficiency and long-distance usability.

Kia Carnival

Autocar India

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Choose the Kia Carnival 7-seat Limousine variant for a chauffeur-driven family; it gives you the most space and comfort with a truly big boot within your budget. Coming from a Crysta, you will feel a clear step up in rear-seat comfort, a lower walk-in height and a quieter cabin. Also, the list of features your family will use every day, like power sliding doors, sunblinds, and a strong rear AC. The second-row lounge chairs are great for long city runs and for your 600-700 km trip every few months, and the boot can take large suitcases even with all three rows up, which is the main win over your current car. Kia’s service reach in Chennai is wide, so upkeep should be straightforward.One thing to be aware of: the Carnival is a very large vehicle, so tight basements and narrow lanes will require careful driving. Also, running costs in heavy traffic will be higher than those of your Crysta.The MG 9 is a good option too, but only for the city, and for your long trips, you will have to rely on public charging infrastructure, which can slow you down and spoil your trip. We would suggest you stick to the Carnival simply because of your long-distance runs, where you want peace of mind.

Kia Carnival

MG M9

Autocar India

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There is a fairly big gap in the Rs 40-75 lakh price range when it comes to genuinely comfortable seven-seaters, especially if your priority is a usable third row.At the lower end, you have the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. It is a comfortable, practical seven-seater with a reasonably spacious third row by Indian standards. Adults can sit there for short to medium journeys without feeling completely cramped, and the hybrid powertrain makes it smooth, quiet and extremely efficient. In top ZX (O) trim, it comes in at around Rs 40 lakh on road, and it is hard to fault in terms of reliability, comfort and ease of ownership. However, at your budget of up to Rs 65 lakh, it doesn’t quite feel like you’re fully utilising what you’re willing to spend; it’s sensible rather than indulgent.At the upper end, around the Rs 70-75 lakh mark, you step into a different league with premium MPVs like the Kia Carnival and the MG M9. These are a clear step up from the Hycross in terms of space, comfort and overall experience. The Carnival, in particular, feels several notches superior - plusher interiors, far comfier seats, sliding rear doors, and stronger performance. Most crucially, a significantly more spacious and accommodating third row. Even full-sized adults can travel in the last row in proper comfort, which is rare.The MG M9 is worth considering if you are open to going electric. It offers a very lounge-like cabin experience and a genuinely usable third row. It makes the most sense if you have home charging and your usage is largely city-based, though it can handle intercity runs with planning. As a people-mover focused on comfort, it does the job very well.The challenge is that with a hard ceiling of Rs 65 lakh, your options narrow considerably. There aren’t many models in that exact band that deliver a truly luxurious third-row experience. SUVs in this price range may offer seven seats, but most still compromise heavily on the last row compared to these MPVs.So realistically, if you want the best third-row comfort and can stretch to around Rs 75 lakh, the Carnival (or M9, if EV suits your usage) is the proper upgrade. If not, the Innova Hycross remains the most sensible and dependable choice. It is comfortable, practical and easy to live with, even if it doesn’t feel like a big-ticket indulgence at your stated budget.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carnival

MG M9

Autocar India

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The Kia Carnival has a roomier cabin and is the more practical choice, thanks to its greater luggage flexibility and the freedom to take out-of-town trips without worrying about charging infrastructure. The M9, on the other hand, feels more luxurious and, being an electric car, is far more refined than the diesel-powered Carnival.With your kind of usage of around 100 km a day, the savings in running costs with the M9 will be significant. If you can install an AC charger at home and most of your driving is within the city, the MG M9 makes more sense.

MG M9

Kia Carnival

Autocar India

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Your daily drive of 180km is a lot of time to spend on the road. You need a car that is efficient yet comfortable. The MG M9, being an EV, would be the cheapest to run, but it's not as comfortable as the other three. The M9’s seats and ride quality are not as good as the Kia Carnival, which appears to be the most practical option for you, as you get the benefit of diesel efficiency and cost, quality interiors, cosseting seats and good ride comfort.The Toyota Velfire is by far the best of the lot: the cabin feels a notch above the others, the hybrid powertrain delivers ultra-smooth, efficient performance, and reliability is bulletproof. We agree it is overpriced, and it's your call how much you want to spend for that extra bit of comfort.

MG M9

Toyota Vellfire

Kia Carnival

Autocar India

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No, the only other option you have in the MG M9's price range is the Kia Carnival, which is available with a diesel engine. In case you're looking for a petrol-hybrid, you might want to consider a Toyota Innova HyCross/Maruti Suzuki Invicto, which are significantly cheaper than an MG M9 EV, or consider the Toyota Vellfire, at twice the price of the MG.

Toyota Vellfire

MG M9

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carnival

Maruti Suzuki Invicto