Zander Drives Cars

Baby’s first press conference today as I stood by and watched Kia release two new cars: an updated K5 that looks exactly the same as the old one with the addition of green breaks, and then there’s the car that actually matters: the Carnival. The Korean MPV that’s out for some Japanese (and American) blood.

What’s new?

Let’s start from a technical standpoint. The Carnival is now available as a mild hybrid for the first time. This means you get a microscopic 1.6l turbo 4-cylinder, with a 54 kWh battery that makes 242hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, which according to Kia, is best in class among other hybridized minivans. MPG is unknown as of now, but Kia should be shooting for something around the 28-32mpg combined range, as that’s what rivals such as the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and Toyota Sienna Hybrid get.

There is also a “dark” trim package option for the new 2025 Carnival, which adds an exclusive color I can’t remember, along with black wheels and various other black accents.

Looks Ugly, Maybe

Yeah, don’t know how controversial this is, but I’m not huge on how this thing looks, Specifically, the front. It was styled to give more similarities to other Kia SUVs such as the Telluride and Sorento. While I do see the resemblance, the headlight placement and grille size throw me off significantly. As my friend Janey said, “It looks like it would snitch on somebody.”

As for the rest of the exterior, I think it’s pretty solid. The geometric pattern on the C-pillar is a personal highlight, along with the wheels, which are very EV9-esque.

A Lovely Place to Sit

I’m not going to call the Carnival “premium,” but I really want to. The old Carnival was definitely the “nicest” of all the minivans, what with its reclining second row with footrests, and the new Carnival looks just as comfortable to be driven around in, especially with this very nautical blue and white color palette. I also love the optional rear screens and trillion power outlets. Kia definitely knows how to get the attention of buyers with young children.

In The End…

It looks (aside from the front) great, has a seemingly great powertrain, and could fool someone who’s blindfolded into thinking they’re in a much nicer vehicle than they are. The new Carnival is slated to hit dealers this summer, and with a Mercedes-level turnaround like that, the pressure is on to make sure it doesn’t stumble on its feet.