Review: 2022 Kia Carnival – So much metal for RM 196k but can you handle its size

Every once in a while, there comes an unassuming car that manages to exceed expectations. And the most recent one would be the 2022 Kia Carnival.

Well, not unassuming in its road presence and sheer size, but in the sense that it is a Kia and an MPV, intended as a people carrier/family car. In my time with the 2022 Kia Carnival, I have grown rather fond of it, and I don’t even have 9 children.

This 11-seater MPV is currently fully-imported (CBU from Korea) with local assembly plans starting later this year, which can perhaps address one or two of its very few shortcomings, as we shall discuss shortly.

Also read: All-new 2022 Kia Carnival goes on sale; Priced at RM 196,340, fully imported from Korea

Exterior – Unapologetically square

First, let’s talk a bit about the 2022 Kia Carnival’s exterior. Can you believe that you can trace its lineage back to the first-generation Carnival that was sold as the Naza Ria in Malaysia? It’s like Jabba the Hutt having a great-grandson who looks like Ryan Reynolds.

In terms of exterior design, I believe this is one of the best examples of an MPV, a bus-sized MPV at that. If you were to pull up at JW Marriott Hotel in its predecessors for example, you’d feel a bit self-conscious. In this however, it would fit right in, minus the diesel clatter.

Its angular design motif complements the square shape rather than attempting to mask it, unlike the Hyundai Staria, which I think looks like a train. But that might just be me.

Look closer to the Kia Carnival and you’ll find intricate details like the headlamps that go without traditional covers, so it looks exposed, and the diamond-pattern texture silver trim on the C-pillar.

There are also strakes on the side mirrors and ducts on the front bumper for air manipulation.
If I had to nit-pick, I would prefer touch-sensitive keyless access rather using buttons on the door handles. Utilizing buttons feel somewhat entry-level and a mismatch to the upscale exterior. 

Also, the slit for boot access below the number plate at the tailgate looks like an afterthought. Perhaps it’s for easier reach, but I believe integrating it underneath the light bar would be just as effective. Apart from that, it’s a job well done by Kia.

Interior – Properly upmarket

Whereas the previous-generation Kia Carnival looked utilitarian on the inside, this all-new model feels like a quantum leap forwards. I like the cohesiveness thanks to the wraparound design that blends the dashboard and door cards.

It also has a few European-inspired elements like the dual-widescreen centre stack that’s Mercedes-esque and the rotary gear knob that’s seen in a few Jaguars. Using the rotary knob feels strange at first but you do get used to it after a while.

Build quality is superb. There’s no squeaks or strange noises in the cabin, panel gaps and alignment are spot on, and the centre console has minimal flex. Even the materials used are of high quality, as good as it gets for the money.

Space wise, it is absolutely cavernous. We measured it to be the widest cabin of all the cars we’ve tested thus far, at 168 cm (average cabin width is about 140 cm to 150 cm). And you can tell its spaciousness from the inside because each seat has its own time zone.

Despite being an 11-seater, I think it works best as an 8-seater as the fourth-row seats are uncomfortable at best. The seatback is incredibly upright with a crouch-like seating position.

Plus, your head would be right in front of the rear glass and you can imagine the safety concerns if a tall vehicle were to rear end the Carnival.

Kids may find it acceptable, but I’d still wouldn’t recommend it due to the aforementioned safety concerns. At most, short trips are acceptable I suppose.

With the fourth-row seats down, the second and third-row seats get to maximise legroom by setting in their furthest back position. And there’s still a decent amount of boot space.

Any real complaints about the interior? Well, the floor is on the higher side and there’s no stepped access, which means the elderly will likely struggle a little to get into the cabin. And this is from personal experience of ferrying a grandparent.

Also, and this is more of a niggle than complaint, but the CBU-spec Carnival gets an analogue instrument cluster rather than a screen. Now, I’m still a fan of traditional dials but in this setup, in this stack that’s designed to feature a screen, it just looks out of place.

Another niggle would be the gloss-black plastics on the centre console, which amplifies fingerprints, scratches, and dust. But in the grand scheme of things, these are trivial when you consider how well-executed this cabin is.

Driving Experience – So refined, it's like driving on butter

In a gargantuan like the Kia Carnival, you’d expect it to be cumbersome to drive, but you’d be wrong. Steering is wonderfully light, visibility is excellent thanks to the high driving position and door-mounted side mirrors, and the swell of torque available from just 1,750 rpm makes mincemeat out of its 2-tonne kerb weight.

The Carnival longer and wider than an Alphard (4,945 mm x 1,850 mm vs 5,155 mm x 1,995 mm), but it's not as daunting to manoeuvre as its size would suggest due to the excellent turning radius, the abovementioned visibility, and the rather useful 360-degree camera.

That being said, it's still a physically large MPV, which requires extra caution around tight parking spaces.

Steering ratio is well-judged; not too quick that it feels nervous on highways, not too slow that it becomes tedious in car parks.

Best of all, it’s a car that works with you in being a smooth driver, rather than you trying to finesse your way around jumpy throttle or grabby brakes. No such things here, only progressiveness. It’s a calibration exercise that not every manufacturer gets right, but Kia has and your passengers will be glad.

In fact, the entire driving experience is just smooth and easy-going. Power delivery is progressive and the 8-speed automatic transmission exploits the available torque and shifts seamlessly most of the time.

If you must know how it handles, you’re probably not the target audience but it’s perfectly capable as a large MPV. It responds intuitively to your inputs and is composed around bends. It’s no sedan but the fact that it doesn’t drive like a boat is worth commending.

What isn’t commended is the lack of ADAS. This is one area we hope the upcoming locally-assembled (CKD) model would address but for now, it’s perhaps the only glaring drawback. 

Ride comfort - Supple, perhaps a little too supple

The suspension delivers a cushy ride. Even the sharpest of edges fail to send a jolt to the cabin, at most a gentle thud. Parking lot speed bumps aren’t as annoying as they are in other cars. As for regular lumps and bumps, the Carnival just glosses over them.

However, the flipside to its soft suspension is that the rear tends to oscillate over larger undulations on highways, rather than being able to settle quickly. This effect is more pronounced for those seated in the third and fourth row that are right above the rear axle. Firmer damping would solve this but ride quality will be affected, so it’s a give and take.

Seats on the front and left side of the first three rows feel plush and supportive. The seatback is nicely sculptured to support the curvature of the spine, while the seat base is of a decent size and sufficiently angled for thigh support.

Cabin insulation is impressive. The diesel clatter is pretty much non-existent in normal driving from the inside. Tyres remain hushed even at triple-digit speeds. Wind noise however, is noticeable when cruising at our national speed limit. I suspect the roof rails may have contributed to the wind buffeting noise.

Fuel Consumption

After a journey of 100.4 km with a mix of 50% highway and 50% city driving, it required 8.42 litres of fuel to brim the tank. Working out the numbers, the Kia Carnival’s fuel consumption is calculated at 8.4-litre/100 km.

Do note that the test was conducted with only the driver alone. Expect the fuel consumption to increase with several passengers on board. Even so, the Kia Carnival’s fuel consumption is still rather impressive considering its size, weight, and power output.

Conclusion

As an MPV, I have almost no qualms with the 2022 Kia Carnival. Its relaxing driving experience makes ferrying people around less of a chore, doing its job with superb refinement and comfort. Its impressive fuel consumption is a bonus.

Most of the faults pointed out, namely the analogue dials and gloss-black trim, are nit-picks. The former could be addressed by the upcoming CKD version. That, and the omission of ADAS. Which leaves the only real complaint – the high floor.

Also read: Hyundai chooses Indonesia but Kia prefers to do CKD in Malaysia over Thailand, here’s why

If you ferry any elderly on a regular basis especially those who requires a wheelchair, or anyone with disabilities, then the tall floor could prove to be inconvenient. In that respect, a Toyota Alphard with a special electronically detachable seat for persons with disability would be more suited to for the job.

For everyone else with a particular large family, the 2022 Kia Carnival should be right at the top of your shortlist under RM 200k. Let me rephrase that - this is the one to pick. Just treat it as an 8 + 3-seater and it’ll serve you well.

Also read: 

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