Kia Motors India is all set to re-enter the premium MPV segment with the highly anticipated launch of the new Kia Carnival in 2024. The third-generation Carnival was recently phased out in India as it reached the end of its product lifecycle. However, Kia is now gearing up to reintroduce the Carnival with a fresh and updated version to cater to the evolving needs of Indian consumers in the premium MPV segment.

During the launch event of the Seltos facelift, Taejin Park, CEO of Kia India, confirmed that the upcoming facelifted version of the fourth-generation Carnival will be introduced in the Indian market. Park emphasized Kia's commitment to bringing the latest and most advanced model to India, stating, "We don't want outdated designs in the Indian market. We aim to premiere the best and newest model here."

Although the fourth-generation Carnival, known as the Kia KA4, was showcased at Auto Expo 2023 in India, it was not launched under the Carnival name since the third-generation model was still available for sale at that time. The fourth-generation model has been on sale overseas for approximately three years and is now due for a mid-lifecycle styling update. The facelifted version of the fourth-generation Carnival is already undergoing testing in Korea and will feature significant styling changes to align with the design language of newer Kia models. Notable design elements, such as the connected L-shaped tail lamps and Kia's signature Star Map lighting, which debuted on the Seltos facelift, are expected to be incorporated into the updated Carnival. This synchronization of the product lifecycle will bring the Indian market in line with global updates.

The new Carnival destined for India will not only showcase a refreshed design but will also introduce an array of additional features and technological advancements. Kia is likely to adopt the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route for its India launch, enabling competitive pricing; however, a notable price increase can be anticipated compared to the third-generation Carnival, which had an ex-showroom price of around Rs 31 lakh.

While the new-generation Carnival will not have a direct competitor, it will face some competition from models such as the Toyota Innova Hycross. Positioned below the Toyota Vellfire, the upcoming Carnival will also coincide with the full model change of the Toyota Vellfire in the Indian market in the coming months.