Kia Carnival SX8 AT
If there’s one car that’s perfect for road trips this holiday season, it’s the all-new Kia Carnival SX8. Designed with a sleek, modern, and upscale look, it goes above and beyond the basic people mover with a more executive look and feel.
Though it’s classified as a minivan, its styling is much more luxury SUV. The Carnival has a more classy front end with LED projector type headlamps, LED daytime running lamps and LED fog lamps. From the side, one of the pillars is accentuated in silver as an accent piece. Plus, it rolls on stylish 19-inch alloy wheels.
Rolling out the red carpet
The Carnival practically rolls out the red carpet for passengers. Puddle lamps are standard, illuminating where you step when getting in at night. Inside, you get leather seats for all and a four-spoke leather adjustable steering wheel. The dash and door trims are done in a tasteful mix of black, cream, grey and brushed aluminum.
Power sliding doors on both sides give you access to the second and third row seats. The second row in this top-of-the-line SX variant has Relaxation Seats which have power recline, with cushioned leg rests. It has long slide and lateral shift adjustment, and is equipped with armrests and cooling. The third row reclines, folds and has a 60:40 split/sink.
Packed with amenities
Passengers will enjoy the six-speaker entertainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen with AM/FM, MP3 with USB ports, Bluetooth hands-free and voice control, Apple Carplay, Android Auto and wireless charging.
There’s enough power outlets to keep everyone’s devices charged. There are also USB ports, with one connectivity port and two charging ports on the front center console. There are two charging ports on the front seat back panel, and two charging ports in the third row. Finally, there are two 180W 12V outlets located at the rear console and luggage area.
While in transit, passengers will be kept comfortable by the standard three-zone air conditioning system. The second and third row are equipped with sunshade blinds. There are six cup holders and six bottle holders evenly distributed around the cabin. There’s even a panoramic moon roof to feel more of the outdoors.
Smart power
Moving the whole vehicle along is a Smartstream four-cylinder 2.2-liter CRDI VGT diesel engine. It puts out 202-Ps at 3,800 rpm with 440-Nm of torque between 1,750-2,750 rpm. It’s paired with a Smartstream eight-speed automatic transmission which smoothly drives the front wheels. There are four selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport and Smart.
It’s packed with safety features too, with driver assist technologies like Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Best of all, these are all made effortless as the driver can make various adjustments without taking hands off the wheel thanks to controls for audio, Bluetooth, the Multi Function display, Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist.
All-in-one package
The Carnival offers the power, luxury, convenience and safety any parent could want, all in a package that still draws stares while one the road. The ride is plush enough to absorb the bumps on the road but still firm enough to offer good road holding on winding country roads.
The all-new Carnival SX8 AT is priced at P2.988M. It includes a five-year or 160,000-km warranty and 24/7 Roadside Assistance.
It may look like an executive mover, but there’s no doubt it’s also a practical family choice.