Kia Carnival

In Australia, the Kia Carnival went on sale in 1999, with a standard 5-speed manual and 2.5 L V6 producing 177 hp (132 kW). A 4-speed automatic was optional. In 2001, it outsold the Toyota Tarago, becoming the top-selling minivan in the country. It was a sales leader again in 2004 and 2005 when sales peaked at 5,259 units.

In Europe, the first generation was available only with the 2.5 L Rover KV6 engine[4] 24V petrol with 163 PS and Euro 2 standard emission level and the 2.9 L turbo-diesel engine with 126 PS. From 2001, Kia Motors introduced the 2.5 L KV6 Euro 3 with 150 PS and the 2.9 L CRDi common rail diesel engine with 144 PS.

In North America, the Sedona came equipped with a 3.5 L V6 engine making 195 hp (145 kW) and a 4-speed automatic (later a 5-speed automatic transmission). The first generation Sedona lacked features that other minivans had such as power sliding doors and power liftgate, a fold flat third row seat, navigation system, rear-view camera, and backup sensors. Early Sedonas were rated at 15.6 L/100 km (15.1 mpg) (city) and 10.9 L/100 km (21.6 mpg) (highway), but the numbers improved slightly to 14.8 L/100 km (15.9 mpg) (city) and 9.6 L/100 km (24.5 mpg) (highway) for 2005 models.

In North America, the EX was the highest-level body style with amenities such as interior and exterior chrome accents, interior wood grain, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob and alloy wheels, with optional leather appointed seating, sunroof and DVD player.

• 
  2001 Kia Carnival Classic (pre-facelift, Australia)
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  2002–2003 Kia Sedona LX (United States)
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  2004–2005 Kia Sedona LX (United States)
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  Kia Carnival (facelift, Thailand)
• 
  Naza Ria (Malaysia)
• 
  Naza Ria (Malaysia)

Kia introduced the second generation Sedona to the North American market at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2005 for the 2006 model year offering a single engine/transmission choice, the 240 hp 3.8-liter V6 Hyundai Lambda engine with continuously variable intake valve timing and a five-speed manumatic automatic transmission.[9]

2011 Kia Sedona LX (facelift, United States)

Initially offered only in long-wheelbase (LWB) form, the short-wheelbase (SWB) model followed for the 2007 model year.[9] Trim levels include Sedona (SWB), Sedona LX (LWB), and Sedona EX (LWB). A rebadged version of the second generation was offered from 2007 to 2009 as the Hyundai Entourage.

The van was updated for the 2011 model year with a new Tiger Nose grille and taillights, a more powerful engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, but dropped the short-wheelbase version because of poor sales.[10]

The North American configuration earned a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for all seating positions in frontal and side-impact crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also rated the Sedona "Good" – its highest rating – in front, side and rear impacts. The IIHS has christened the 2006 Sedona a "Gold Top Safety Pick", making the Sedona (and the similar Hyundai Entourage) the safest minivan currently tested.[11][12] Kia had announced that the 2012 Kia Sedona will be the last Sedona for the American market.

In May 2012, Kia told The Car Connection that the Sedona would be discontinued in the U.S. market after the 2012 model year, but a company spokesperson said the company did not expect to permanently exit the minivan market.[13]

In 2013, Kia relaunched the Sedona as a 2014 model with minor updates, which started selling around the end of May.[14]

The second generation Sedona was the second top selling large MPV in the UK market, and in 2010 received a new grille, new equipment (including a reversing camera built into the rear-view mirror) and a single engine choice, a 192PS 2.2 CRDi I4 replacing the 183PS 2.9 CDRi.[15][16] The second generation was marketed in three trim levels (1,2 & 3) with a 5-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic gearbox. Trim level 1 included air-conditioning, electric windows. Trim level 2 received alloy wheels, rear parking camera with the display incorporated into the rear-view mirror, and climate control. Trim level 3 added electronic stability control, leather seats, heated front seats, power tail gate and powered folding door mirrors.

In September 2012, the Sedona was withdrawn from the UK market due to poor sales.

2013 Kia Grand Carnival SLi (Australia)

Interior

The second generation Carnival went on sale in Australia in January 2006. Initially, the long-wheelbase 3.8L V6 5-speed automatic Grand Carnival was sold alongside the previous generation 2.5L V6 Carnival, until the second-generation SWB Carnival arrived in August of that year, available in both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic, and new 2.7L V6 engine. Both models sat 8 passengers. A 2.9L turbo diesel engine was introduced in the Grand Carnival in March 2009. In June 2010, the Carnival and Grand Carnival underwent a mild facelift, the manual transmission was dropped from the SWB model, and the LWB model received a new 3.5L V6 and 6-speed automatic. In 2011, the SWB Carnival was dropped entirely, while the LWB model gained the new 2.2L "R" series diesel engine, replacing the previous 2.9L engine. The Carnival was Australia's best-selling people mover between 2007 and 2013.

The Kia Sedona (Carnival) has received the 2007 MotorWeek "Best Minivan" award in its 2007 Drivers' Choice Awards and The Car Book's 2007 "Best Bet" distinction. Overall, Kia models improved 22% in J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality Study (IQS), and improved twice as much as any competitor in the last 3 years.[17]

The Kia Sedona ranked 4th the "20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure" list by Insure.com.[18] Edmunds.com names Kia Sedona as one of the "Top Recommended" Vehicles for 2010.[19]

• In the 2007 reliability report published by TÜV, 1st generation (1999–2005) of Kia Carnival placed 113th out of 113 in the 2- to 3-year-old cars category, with a defect rate of 25.1%.[20] In the 2008 TÜV report, 1st generation (1999–2005) of Kia Carnival placed 116th out of 116 in the same category, with a defect rate of 19.70%, and also placed 111th out of 111 in the 4- to 5-year-old cars category, with a defect rate of 27.60%.[21]
• According to MSN autos reliability survey, 2006 Kia Sedona reliability rated as good, overall 5/5. It rated as "Minimal Problems", and comment as "Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs."[22] MSN Autos use Identifix for data on all automobiles.[23]
• According to MyRide.com reliability survey,[24] The MyRide Reliability Ratings are collected from visitors and past customers of Autobytel Inc.'s websites (Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com and CarSmart.com) who own vehicles from model year 2001 and newer via an online survey conducted by an independent third party.

Durability scored 86 (Industrial average 80)

Mechanical Quality scored 89 (Industrial average 80)

• The 2009 Kia Sedona's JD Power reliability score is same as the 2009 Honda Odyssey[25] and 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan.[26]

Hyundai Entourage

Kia Carnival Limousine (South Korea), based on the Hyundai Entourage styling

From 2006 to 2009, Kia manufactured a rebadged variant of the Carnival for sister company Hyundai. It was manufactured in Soharii Plant in Gwangmyeong-Si which is part of Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea. Called the Hyundai Entourage, the Hyundai version was briefly cancelled in August 2005, but resurrected in October without affecting its introduction date. The production Entourage was shown at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006 and went on sale in April 2006. While otherwise similar to the Carnival except for the name, the Entourage was only available in extended-length because of the mid-size Hyundai Veracruz crossover SUV, which measured about the same length as the short-wheelbase Carnival.

Unlike the Carnival, the Entourage was never a sales success, and in April 2009, the Entourage was discontinued for the 2010 model year. However, the Carnival remained in production and was updated with more features so it could better compete with the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and the Chrysler minivans.[27] After Entourage production ended, Kia, despite 49.2% owned by Hyundai, continued its contract to build Hyundai vehicles, and Kia-built Hyundai vehicles continued well for the United States & Canada markets as Kia decided to build the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe in its new West Point, Georgia plant. Entourage's revised styling was adopted in South Korea as a facelift for the Kia Carnival, except for revised grilles suited to the Kia brand.

The Entourage was powered by the company's 3.8 L Lambda V6. It seated seven people with optional equipment ranging from automatic climate control, leather seating, power sliding doors and tailgate, reverse sensors, and a six-disc in-dash CD changer.

• The (base) GLS model features 16-inch wheels, removable second-row captain's chairs, 60/40 split-folding third-row fold-in-floor seat, a six-way manual-adjustable driver seat, tri-zone air-conditioning, six-speaker CD stereo, cruise control, power windows and door locks and keyless entry.
• The SE level adds 17-inch alloys, dual power-sliding rear doors, heated mirrors, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls wood or metal accents and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat.
• The Limited trim level includes a power opening/closing liftgate, heated leather seats and an electroluminescent instrument cluster – with optional sunroof, 13-speaker surround-sound audio system, four-way power front-passenger seat, power-adjustable pedals and seating memory system.

The American configuration of the Hyundai Entourage earned a five-star safety rating–the highest honor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bestows–for all seating positions in frontal and side-impact crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the Entourage "Good"–its highest rating – in front, side and rear impacts. The IIHS rated the 2007 Entourage a "Gold Top Safety Pick," making Entourage with the similar Kia Sedona the safest minivans tested for 2007.[28]

The 2009 Hyundai Entourage minivan was recognized as a Best Family Car for 2009 by Parents magazine and Edmunds.com in their annual list of family vehicles.[29]

The Hyundai Entourage ranked 3rd for the "20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure" list by Insure.com. According to research, the Entourage is one of the least expensive vehicle to insure. Low rates tend to reflect a vehicle's safety, and the drivers who tend to buy them.[30]

In the United States, the Sedona was previously only available in LX and EX trim levels. In 2015, Kia expanded the trim levels to L, LX, EX, SX and Limited.

In Saudi Arabia, it is available in the Grand Carnival version and comes in the LX and EX trim levels, whereby EX being the top-of-the-line with some SX-L features. Kia recently launched the 2020 Grand Carnival with minor changes to the 2019 model.[34]

In Australia, the Carnival is available in S, Si, SLi and Platinum trim levels with the choice of either the Lambda 3.3-litre GDI V6 or the R-Series 2.2-litre I4 Diesel mated to a 6-speed automatic, while models from 2018 came standard with an 8-speed automatic.[35] Since its Australian debut in February 2015, the Carnival has consistently been Australia's top selling people mover averaging around 500 sales per month, while for the year of 2019, 6,493 Carnival's had been registered.

Kia Motors India launched the Carnival in India on 5 February 2020 at the Auto Expo 2020. The Indian version is powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine, mated to an eight speed automatic transmission. The Carnival is available in three variants, which are Premium, Prestige and Limousine.

In Indonesia, the Grand Sedona was launched in August 2016 at the 24th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in gasoline variant. The diesel variant and facelifted version of the Grand Sedona was launched at the 26th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in August 2018. In the fact, Indonesian Sedona's was IDR 400-500 million cheaper compared to its rivals because of the 4-row seats to enter into commercial tax despite its being fully imported from South Korea.

The third generation Carnival was launched in Malaysia in March 2017 as the Grand Carnival as a fully imported vehicle.[36] In January 2018, the vehicle became locally assembled in Malaysia.[37] The Malaysian market Grand Carnival is powered by the 2.2 litre diesel engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.[38] Kia launched the eight-speed automatic transmission in October 2018.

2018 Kia Carnival S (facelift, Australia)

In Vietnam, the Grand Sedona is manufactured in joint venture with THACO at the Chu Lai plant in Quang Nam Province.[31] This model is exported to Thailand.

As of June 1, 2018, South Korean automotive manufacturer, Kia has launched the Grand Carnival in Pakistan in collaboration with its local partner Yunus Brothers Group forming Kia Lucky Motors Pakistan.

In Thailand, Yontrakit Kia Motor Co. Ltd has launched the Kia Grand Carnival in Thailand. In November 2019, Yontrakit Kia started importing the Carnival LX trim level from Vietnam instead of South Korea, resulting in significant price reduction due to the ASEAN free trade area.[39]

The facelifted Sedona was introduced in Mexico on 5 September 2018 as a 2019 model. It is offered in four trim lines; LX, EX, EX Pack and SXL trim levels. All versions feature a 3.3-litre engine.[40]