Kia has just revealed the exterior design of the facelifted Carnival. The minivan has undergone a plastic surgery that brought along several tweaks. The model is also getting a hybrid powertrain.
After three years on the market looking the same, the vehicle now sports a more daring design, in line with what the Kia lineup currently offers, as the leaked photos confirmed a few days ago. The front fascia is the one that sustained the largest number of mods. The car received brand-new headlights with a layout that follows the shape of the letter T, with the DRLs stretching toward the center of the bonnet where the bidimensional logo is positioned. The fog lamps, formerly placed in the front bumper, have vanished.
The design is mirrored at the rear, where new taillights show up, with similar LED strips stretching below the perfectly upright rear window, but not split by the Kia badge anymore. The carmaker found a lower location for it, a move also chosen for the K5 sedan, unveiled 24 hours prior.
Kia relocated the license plate to a lower position to offer what they call "a cleaner tailgate," since the visible handle for opening it also disappeared. Instead, there is a wide metal-looking trim almost entirely covering up the rear bumper, matching the one on the rear pillar, with the metal stretching all along the back, below the window.
The carmaker also announced the arrival in the lineup of a new Gravity trim, which is set to bring a uniquely designed grille, skid plates, and wheels, but also a darkened roof rack and C-pillar. New redesigned wheels will be available in the lineup of the facelifted Carnival.
Photo: Kia
Customers will be able to choose from six body colors: Ivory Silver, Snow Pearl White, Astra Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, Pantera Metal, and Ceramic Silver.
The Korean carmaker is probably still working on the cabin of the vehicle, since we get no photo from inside. What we do know is that it is getting a similar approach to the K5. Therefore, we should expect the curved display, uniting both the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the infotainment display of the same size.
Kia has already confirmed that the Carnival is getting a hybrid powertrain that integrates a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, both inherited from the Sorento SUV, where the system generates a total of 227 horsepower (230 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm).
It remains to be seen if the Carnival is getting the same output and torque or if Kia will retune the system. Petrol and diesel powertrains, with and without electrification, will make up the engine lineup.
We have yet to see and learn more about the Carnival minivan in the coming weeks. The facelifted Kia Carnival will most likely reach North America as a 2025 model year. Pricing and exact specification will be announced closer to the launch date.
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