UPPING THE ANTE

The Kia Carnival may have the chops to kick off the luxury MPV parade. But can it start a revolution?

- PARTH CHARAN

Taking a minivan – the automotive equivalent of celery – and naming it “Carnival” is a serious vote of confidence. But if the success of the Seltos is anything to go by, Kia Motors has plenty of reasons to be selfassured. Its second entrant in the Indian market, contrary to popular belief, is stepping into relatively unclaimed territory – something that its sheer size and opulence makes clear, the moment it greets your eye.

The Carnival is a grand piece of design, trumping most SUVs in terms of street presence with its mammoth proportions and swept-back looks. What I like in particular is the restraint Kia has shown in designing the Carnival. In an era of oversized grilles, acutely angled headlamps and slapdash draftsmanship, the Carnival is designed to be an object of utility rather than an outright object of desire, and this distinction, in turn, makes it look more desirable. An arrow-straight shoulder line, pinched third-row window, upswept headlamps and 18-inch alloys make it look impeccably groomed.