Posh 2022 Kia Carnival starts at PHP 2.54M

All-new Kia Carnival arrives with SUV-like looks, more comfortable interior

Back in January, Kia Philippines gave us a glimpse of the 2022 Carnival when the first batch of the all-new minivan arrived in the country. Not only does it have a more SUV-like appearance, but Kia mentioned that it will have luxurious appointments and amenities across the range.

A little more than a month after, the 2022 Kia Carnival has officially been launched. Available in two distinct variants, the next-generation minivan not only looks more luxurious but has been thoroughly upgraded to deliver a comfortable riding experience.

As mentioned earlier, the Carnival adopts a new design language. Despite still being a minivan, Kia gave the 2022 Carnival an edgier exterior - hence its more SUV-like shape. It gets new slim LED headlights, a more prominent tiger-nose grille, new front and rear bumpers, a more sculpted hood, and a faux skid plate in front.

Also worth mentioning on the new Carnival are the eye-catching chrome C-pillars that feature a diamond pattern design, slim full-width LED taillights, a redesigned tailgate, and stylish 19-inch (or 18-inch) alloy wheels.

Unlike the previous generation which can seat 9 or 11 people, Kia Philippines has decided to treat the all-new Carnival as an executive people carrier. This meant the minivan can only seat 7 people in total. Despite its seating capacity, Kia made sure it has plenty of features available.

All variants come with full-leather upholstery, captain seats on the second row, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, three-zone automatic climate control, power sliding rear doors, a power tailgate, and smart entry with remote engine start.

Available only on the top-of-the-line SX variant are relaxation seats for the second row. Unlike typical captain seats, these ones come with power recline, cushion and leg rest, power sliding function, as well as cooling function. Even the driver and front passenger get the added benefit of having ventilated seats on the SX.

Other extra amenities on the range-topping Carnival include LED cabin lights, a dual panoramic sunroof, a wireless charging pad for mobile devices, and winglet-type headrests for the second row.

At the heart of the 2022 Carnival is a 2.2-liter Smartstream turbo-diesel engine. It makes 202 PS at 3800 rpm and 440 Nm of torque at 1750 - 2750 rpm. Power is then sent to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

While the engine makes similar power as the previous turbo-diesel powertrain, Kia says the new engine is all-new and benefits from an all-aluminum construction. With it, Kia claims the new engine produces fewer emissions, is 20kg lighter, and has better cooling compared to the previous motor.

In terms of safety, the minivan comes with the following; anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, multi-collision braking system, hill-start assist, trailer stability assist, blind-spot detection with collision avoidance assist, reverse camera, front and rear parking sensors, and cruise control.

Additional intelligent safety features such as lane-keeping assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, and rear-cross traffic alert are standard on the SX variant.

Available hues for the 2022 Kia Carnival include Astra Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, and Snow White Pearl (additional PHP 10,000). The SX version is now available in the country while the EX variant will be arriving in March 2022.

Pricing of the 2022 Kia Carnival is as follows:

-2.2L EX AT - PHP 2,540,000

-2.2L SX AT - PHP 2,998,000