Is Kia’s New Multi-Purpose Vehicle Just a Minivan with a Fancy Name?
Editor’s note: This article was updated on 6/13/2023.
The 2022 Kia Carnival was revealed back in 2020 and is finally about to take its new design to the streets. It isn’t an SUV, and it is not a minivan, either. While Kia has dubbed this a “multi-purpose vehicle,” that’s just a new name for a minivan. However, is Kia going to benefit from this risk? It seems the market might be ready for such a leap.
What is the Kia Carnival Multi-Purpose Vehicle?
Kia is hoping to find many fans with its new Carnival Multi-Purpose Vehicle, even though most vehicles are multi-purpose anyway. You don’t necessarily need a car to take you to the store and a car to drive you to school. Some people have trucks to do heavy lifting a car isn’t capable of, but this 2022 Kia Carnival does it all! Groceries? Check. Soccer? Check. Road trips? Check!
But can’t most cars do that anyway? Does Kia think this new name will get people to buy a minivan on accident? It sounds like the company is hoping to steer away from the “minivan” label, which isn’t a bad move. “Minivan” isn’t a cool car that everyone jumps to buy.
The Kia Sedona didn’t exactly elicit feelings of joy either. Perhaps the “carnival” name is supposed to make potential buyers feel relaxed and ready to embark on a vacation. This idea is just crazy enough that it could work. And to be fair, it doesn’t look like your standard minivan either. The Kia Carnival is pretty stylish and has all the bells and whistles that technology can provide.
Kia is ready to embark on a new journey
According to a press release back in 2020, the company was shifting its focus with “Plan S.” The company dropped “motors” from the name and will focus on innovation.
“Kia Motors will transform itself into a ceaselessly innovative brand by accelerating its bold and preemptive transition to future businesses,” CEO Han-woo Park said. In addition to that, the company hopes to offer 11 different electric vehicles by 2025. It also hopes to have upwards of six percent of the global electric vehicle market share, with 25% of its sales being from eco-friendly vehicles.
“Kia will reinvigorate its brand innovation by developing products and services that offer new experiences for customers.” This means making automobiles that drivers want to drive. It also means having the innovative, top-of-the-line features that buyers want.
Is the Carnival MPV worth buying?
The Kia Carnival has more features than your standard minivan. It seats up to eight people and has enough room in the trunk to take all of your supplies on a trip. It has all of the updated features a family might look for when purchasing a minivan, including many places to charge your devices.
With the MSRP at $32,100, it isn’t a bad deal. The 2021 Sedona started at $30,400 and arguably has fewer features. The 3.5-liter V6 has 290 hp and is capable of towing an estimated 3,5000 pounds.
Kia has implemented advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to keep families safe in the Carnival. It has automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, driver attention monitor, blind-spot warning, and other helpful features included standard. If you are in the market for a minivan that does more, the Kia Carnival might be a good option. Time will tell if this captures the minivan market, but the company seems prepared to do just that.
