they tried really hard to make it not look like a minivan, and i think did one of the most convincing jobs i've seen. what do you think? the name seems like a pretty terrible decision, imo.

i enjoy the simplicity of the new brand badge, though.

Each year, there is less and less of a difference between the SUV's and Minivans.

Clown car is what comes to mind when I read the name. And this song popped in my head.

Quote:

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I want a big red nose I want some floppy shoes
I want a squirtin' flower squirt it on you
Like all the bad clowns do

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I like that they're offering the pimptastic Japan home market style luxury recliners as an option.

truth

chimpanzee said:

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I like that they're offering the pimptastic Japan home market style luxury recliners as an option.

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Korea actually.

neutics said:

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chimpanzee said:

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I like that they're offering the pimptastic Japan home market style luxury recliners as an option.

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Korea actually.

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Right, I have only ever seen them in the Toyota Alphards, maybe they do it in Korea too.

SUVs, cute utes, and minivans have looked more or less the same from behind for years now. It's about time the rest of it caught up.

AgGrad99 said:

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Each year, there is less and less of a difference between the SUV's and Minivans.

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Yeah the similarities are apparent, and the "minivan" looks better.

La Fours said:

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Clown car is what comes to mind when I read the name. And this song popped in my head.

Quote:

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I want a big red nose I want some floppy shoes
I want a squirtin' flower squirt it on you
Like all the bad clowns do

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My first thought as well

if we can ignore the name, this thing really is like a Telluride but better in many respects if you don't need AWD. It's a great value compared to competitors in terms of features offered at lower trim levels and also of course the longer warranty. Only cons for me are the mediocre mpg and also that they left the track on the sliding doors visible. What?

Otherwise this is what I plan to get for my family this summer. Will definitely de-badge the Carnival emblem though.

Not bad looking.

Kia knocked it out of the park IMO. That thing hardly looks like a minivan but has all the features and benefits of one.

Very impressive.

I'm in love

I like the new logo

Reviving this thread to respect rule 1 - picked up this beauty on Monday in Minnesota (yes, I live in Texas).



Worked out well as there are currently none of these anywhere in Texas or border states, and the dealers are asking for $4-6k over MSRP for a damn minivan! So I found this dealer that's 10 minutes from my sister in MN that was over $2k under MSRP before other rebates and no dealer add-ons plus only a $125 doc fee.

Wife loves the color and kids are happy. Drives like a dream too which made the 1,100 mile trip home a little more tolerable. Lots of looks on the highway from Tesla drivers and others wondering what it was.

Next up: debadge the dumb 'Carnival' name on the tailgate. Not sure what was wrong with Sedona?

FDXAg said:

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Kia knocked it out of the park IMO. That thing hardly looks like a minivan but has all the features and benefits of one.

Very impressive.

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It's a lowered SUV with sliding door.

Not sure if it's a minivan that looks like a small SUV, or if small SUVs look like minivans...

Looks like a cross between a squashed expedition and a town and country

What trim level is it?

Are you able to turn the 2nd row seats around so they face the third row?

Re: the name, I believe the Kia minivan has been the carnival in non-US markets for a long time and they decided to unify. It's a little goofy sounding but I'm sure soon enough it will sound normal.

GarlandAg2012 said:

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Re: the name, I believe the Kia minivan has been the carnival in non-US markets for a long time and they decided to unify. It's a little goofy sounding but I'm sure soon enough it will sound normal.

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Yup.

All the Kia Sedonas in China are also badged Carnival.

Just like Kia is K2,K3,K4, K5, K7, K9 for their sedans instead of Rio, Forte, Optima, Amanti/Cadenza, K900 etc

It really looks pretty decent

Gordon McKernan said:

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What trim level is it?

Are you able to turn the 2nd row seats around so they face the third row?

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Mine is the SX (not Prestige which has the reclining seats that are not removable). No regrets on the purchase so far but no vehicle is perfect. I may add an auto dimming rear view mirror which was a strange omission on one of the top trims.

Unfortunately I don't think the reversible seat feature made it to the US. It's not in the manual and a few owners have tried without success so far. Maybe deleted due to safety ratings or requirements?

Looks better than other minivans, but it still has low ground clearance. In Houston, you must take regular flooding into account with vehicle selections.

Buck Turgidson said:

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Looks better than other minivans, but it still has low ground clearance. In Houston, you must take regular flooding into account with vehicle selections.

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So the Carnival actually has class-leading ground clearance at 6.8in which is substantially more than the Odyssey (4.5) and Pacifica (5.1) and even Sienna (6.37).

The dimensions on this thing are different...it's also got the longest wheelbase of the bunch but the shortest length among all minivans. Also the narrowest if you include the mirrors by 1-3" which is great because I can actually drive it into my garage without folding the mirrors...wife likes the power-folding mirrors though.

Somehow the interior dimensions are on par too except for the 3rd row legroom which is still a little shorter than the competition. Also has class-leading passenger and cargo volume.

Other vehicle is a Subaru so that's probably what we would take out in a flood situation if needed (or if we ever get 8" of snow again in my lifetime).

chimpanzee said:

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I like that they're offering the pimptastic Japan home market style luxury recliners as an option.

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We need the Alphard here....

Worst name for a vehicle I've heard in years. That is just embarrassingly bad and I would almost fire someone over that....but it looks sharp for a minivan.

Would rename it with next years model. You gotta think they will.

Kia Carnivore

Let's go max T, Kia. Shake that minivan market up.

Ad shows alpha males ripping entrails from apex predators and spreading DNA to herd. I won't get too detailed here but this ad shows late at night, per FCC mandates.

What is going on with the bumps at the c-pillar, are they trying to detach the air before the taper to the rear?

I love this guy. And also, cool van.

tk for tu juan said:

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What is going on with the bumps at the c-pillar, are they trying to detach the air before the taper to the rear?

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HA don't think it serves any function other than to distract the eye from the stupid door track that they couldn't figure out how to hide. That's really my only design complaint about the van but I don't mind the hexagon silver thing really.

tk for tu juan said:

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What is going on with the bumps at the c-pillar, are they trying to detach the air before the taper to the rear?

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More aerodynamic -like a golf ball

Looked at it online. Low stock every where. Went with a 21 Odyssey EX-L

lancevance said:

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Looked at it online. Low stock every where. Went with a 21 Odyssey EX-L

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Great choice, can't go wrong with the Odyssey really and I liked their refresh for 2021.

Yeah for some reason the Carnivals are really slow to arrive in Texas or anywhere near here and the dealers are pretty greedy. I had to travel a little further for mine.


Congrats on the new ride!