Kia is showing immense sincerity with regard to making an impact in the Indian market. That is very evident in the fact that it showcased its intentions by making an all-new model for India, the SP Concept SUV. Besides, it also displayed a wide selection of its international line-up at the 2018 Auto Expo. What’s more, the Korean carmaker is all set to roll out cars from its facility in Andhra Pradesh from mid-2019. Not only Kia’s Grand Carnival MPV, but a number of other models are also being considered for being introduced to India.
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Here are the key things to know about the MPV:
- Bigger than the Innova Crysta- In fact, it is 380mm longer, 155mm wider, yet 40mm shorter in height than India’s most popular MPV, the Toyota Innova Crysta. The MPV-like design, especially from the rear and sides, are hard to miss. Especially the 19 inch alloy wheels are sure to grab attention, though, there are also smaller 17 and 18-inchers available. The highlight of the exterior is sliding rear doors, which sets it apart in this market segment.
- Two engines on offer internationally- at an international level, the MPV is sold with a 3.3 litre V6 petrol engine and a 2.2 litre, four-cylinder, diesel motor. Both are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The former develops 270hp/318 Nm, while the latter churns out 200hp and 441Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine is more suited to the Indian market.
- 11-seat configuration- the 11-seat format, along with the standard seven and eight seat configurations is another USP. Going by what the brand claims, even the fourth row of seats gets 685mm of legroom, 902mm of headroom, and 1266mm of hip room. The second row of seats is also completely foldable. Such flexibility can help boost sales particularly in the tourist vehicle segment which currently the Innova Crysta predominates.
- Rich in equipments- the Grand Carnival promises a host of sporting features such as steering-mounted audio controls, a audio system with Aux, USP input and Apple smartphone compatibility, cruise control, push-button start, a 7.0 inch colour instrument cluster, a 12 way, power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, three-zone automatic climate control, multiple USP charging points, two sunroofs, a sensor-controlled tailgate, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. As far as safety features are concerned, the MPV comes with front and curtain airbags, rear cross-traffic alert, a blind-spot detection system, hill-start assist, and ESC.
- May be part of Kia’s five-model onslaught- with the current evaluation of the Grand Carnival for the Indian market, there’s a good chance of it being one of the five launches that the carmaker has planned for India in 18 months following the introduction of the production-spec SP concept (which may be called the Trazor). Based on its size and expected equipment list, if the MPV forays into India, its cost is likely to be a premium over the diesel trims of the Innova Crysta, which are priced between Rs. 15.46 lakh and Rs. 21.57 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
