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Today at the Delhi Auto Expo 2023, Kia showed off its new facelifted Carnival MPV. Called the KA4 there, the new Carnival looks like an evolution of the current MPV that we get in the U.S., and we will likely get the new one as a 2024 model. The new fourth-generation Carnival is a newer expression of the Carnival that we get in the US, and Kia gave it newer Telluride-inspired styling.

Is there a new Kia Carnival coming out?

Kia debuted the KA4, or Carnival, at India’s largest auto show. It makes sense as India is a growing, large, market for Kia. Though a new Carnival is also expected in the U.S.,  Kia has yet to confirm whether it will be this version, or something else yet. But, it’s likely that this is the new facelifted Carnival. Though according to some, like Car Expert, the new 2024 Carnival will take more styling cues from the EV9.

The new version has some hallmarks of Kia’s new design language. Like the small Kia Niro SUV, it has some blades behind the back doors that are painted in a contrasting color. It also appears to have more ground clearance than the current version, but that could be a visual trick created by the black trim along the entire bottom of the minivan.

According to the Times of India, it’s the new generation of Kia Carnival, at least for Asian markets.

Will the new Kia Carnival seat eight?

New Carnival will still have three rows. It also gets a new look that’s more angular, and it has a definite Kia Telluride look to the grille. But, unlike that SUV, it has automatic sliding doors. It will also get heated and ventilated front seats, wireless chargers, a dual sunroof, and “flex” second row seating.

It also has the ability to create a lounge, with second row seats that spin 360 degrees. For the driver, the new KA4 gets a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays, one on the center stack and one in the gauge cluster. The new Carnival will have big shoes to fill, however, as the current third-generation won many awards.

What is the Kia Carnival comparable to?

Front angle view of gray 2023 Kia Carnival minivan
2023 Kia Carnival | Kia

The Kia Carnival splits the difference or tries to, between a minivan and an SUV. It has classic two-box look of an SUV, but then it has sliding doors and the huge passenger volume of a minivan. While many compare it to the Toyota Sienna or the Honda Odyssey, it seems to attract a different kind of buyer. It has slightly less storage space.

Today’s Carnival comes in seven- or eight-passenger versions. It has automatic sliding doors, and the seats can fold flat. It has the same 290-horsepower V6 that you get in a Kia Telluride, but it only comes as a front-wheel drive vehicle. Today’s Carnival starts at about $35,000, but a pimped-out SX prestige version is nearly $50,000 with options.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.