Kia Carnival hits U.S. showrooms, ditches old ‘Sedona’ name

Customers in South Korea could order a Carnival MPV starting from last summer, but North America – where the model had been previously known as the Sedona – only received it today.

The manufacturer calls the car a crosswagon, or Grand Utility Vehicle. It is the first Kia to boast the company’s new logo in the States. It comes powered solely by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 294 PS (290 hp / 216 kW) and 355 Nm (262 lb-ft) of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission drives the front axle, and AWD is not an option.

The available trims include LX, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige. The base trim provides nine airbags, an AC, an infotainment system with an 8-inch display, keyless entry system, reversing camera, AEB, automatic high beam, blind spot monitoring, drowsiness alert, and lane departure warning.

Options include an adaptive cruise control system that works in tandem with sat-nav software, a dual-zone HVAC, digital dashboard, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and leather upholstery. Elsewhere, a regular gear lever replaces the rotary knob.

Pre-orders are already running, and shipments should start in the second quarter of 2021. The Carnival will primarily compete against the likes of the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna.

On a related note, the Kia Sedona was a real market outsider in its vehicle class in the USA, selling a meager 13,190 units as opposed to the 93,802 units of the best-selling Chrysler Pacifica.