2021 Kia Carnival arrives with SUV-inspired design

SUVs are so popular nowadays that they have all but eliminated market share for almost all other types of passenger vehicles, not least of them minivans. So to update their 2021 Kia Carnival, Kia took inspiration from the very popular “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome” meme. The new Carnival minivan has been infused with SUV styling elements to keep its head high in this raging sea of SUVs.

The 2021 Kia Carnival gets a long hood, blacked-out A and B pillars and a chrome finish on the C-pillar, making its stance look more upright and SUV-esque. The character lines are stronger than before, emphasising the size of the 2021 Carnival. But it retains the most basic minivan traits — the tall body, boxy shape and sliding rear doors.

The front design is made more aggressive than before. The grill, headlamps and bumpers gel together to provide a cohesive design, worlds away from what we usually see on minivans. At the rear, the 2021 Kia Carnival gets the now-customary full-length LED bar, connecting the tail-lights together. The 2021 Kia Carnival retains the massive tailgate of the minivan, ensuring that practicality is not hampered by its SUV aspirations. The interior pictures of the minivan are not out yet.

The minivan is expected to share the turbocharged 2.5-litre engine with the new Kia Sorento, along with its hybrid setup. A diesel will be offered for some markets. The 2021 Kia Carnival is expected to go on sale in South Korea in the third quarter of 2020. Expect a UAE and GCC debut by the end of this year.