Team-BHP - Kia Grand Carnival MPV coming in 2020. Edit: Launched @ 24.95 lakhs

Quote:

Originally Posted by headbanger (Post 4734996)

The question is how much fight does Carnival want to bring to Innova - barge in right inside the fort or challenge to coexist. The key is pricing here.

Innova has a huge following in our market but with Ertiga / XL6 as the cheaper alternative and Carnival as a slightly higher priced competitor to Toyota offering, Innova has a challenge at hand now.

In my opinion, Toyota will remain the taxi king! And probably a choice in hinterlands where reliability is paramount. Kia will always be looked at as a premium offering. So more urban and 5 star fleet kinds. Kia has to prove itself as rugged if not more as toyota.
And like you mention, the ertiga, marazzo, innova and carnival all line up in different segments nicely. What Toyota will lose for sure is customers who want luxury MPV and don't mind paying but had no other choice beyond the Innova.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayguar (Post 4735002)

She sat both in the 4th row of the 9 seater and 3rd row of the limousine variant. The 9 seater variant looks too cramped for a premium MPV.

The 9 seater ain't premium cause it's only in lower trim level and is meant as people mover, taxi, commercial use mainly. Most families will get 7 or seater and only large joint families might need 9 seater config. It's obvious if you get 4 row seating then you will lose out on premium and luxury comfort.

The fact that Kia offers as people mover plus premium MPV is commendable as it covers a much larger target base.

Having driver the Carnival (8 seater) extensively here in the UAE, the only thing I can say is that it should not be compared to the Innova.

It is a much larger and more premium offering compared to the Innova.

The interiors are really roomy (even the third row if you adjust the second row), the AC is very strong, the cabin feels premium and is well loaded.

Even the on-road manners like ride quality and sound insulation is quite a step up over the Innova. When I drove this car back in 2016, it was on my wish-list to be launched in India!

Here, we drive the 3.3 V6 petrol motor with 276 bhp. But being a heavy car, the acceleration feels quite relaxed. I hope the torque of the diesel engine compensates for this.

I never had interests in MPV, even when Innova Crysta was launched. But Carnival is just awesome and I am drooling over it since yesterday. Very rarely an MPV will score in looks as well as comfort. Kia for sure is here to stay for decades. I wish Kia comes up with an MPV within 20 L bracket in the near future.

As per the website quoted below, Kia Carnival has been launched in Telangana between Rs.16.14 to 23 Lakhs, which is excellent value for money looking at it's proportions, engine specs and oodles of space inside. It will surely give Innova Crysta a run for it's money at this price point. This is way below the expected starting price, as far as I remember in discussions everywhere.

Website :- https://telanganatoday.com/kia-carni...d-in-hyderabad

Quote:

Hyderabad: Kia Motors India unveiled its new multi-utility vehicle (MUV) Kia Carnival in Hyderabad through its official dealer partner Vihaan Auto on Tuesday. With this launch, customers can avail test drive facility and experience the car. The MUV is priced between Rs 16.14 lakh and Rs 23 lakh. Vihaan Auto established its footprint in Kukatpally and Secunderabad, with the launch of its dealership and facility. The dealership has sold over 1,000 KIA Seltos in record time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nilesh5417 (Post 4735094)

What Toyota will lose for sure is customers who want luxury MPV and don't mind paying but had no other choice beyond the Innova.

I hope your words come true pretty soon. Toyota has been milking Indian customers in the name of reliability without actually offering much VFM for the pricing of the Innova.

If Kia is able to dethrone Toyota on the so-called Premium Reliable MPV moniker, then its good for the Indian customers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer_ash (Post 4735935)

Reliability at a premium is not a crime, IMO. But premium for "no competition" is a crime.

In a similar way, Kia and its big brother Hyundai is milking the Indian customers by pricing the Creta and Seltos in the current range. The reason for both the cases? There is no proper competition for Innova and Creta/Seltos twins. Now Carnival comes to compete with Innova. Will there be a competitor for Creta / Seltos from Toyota?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdityaDeane (Post 4735899)

Website :- https://telanganatoday.com/kia-carni...d-in-hyderabad

wow..16-23 is amazing.. would sell like hot cakes if this is true. I was ready to stretch my budget to 35 for the top trim..super value for money.
Even in Pakistan with few less features it is costing 30.5
https://youtu.be/39ILdqdD_jg

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhi1881 (Post 4736025)

Even in Pakistan with few less features it is costing 30.5

It is easier to fool them ;-)

Carnival cannot be priced more than Innova. At best it would be the same if not lesser. We are obsessed with Toyota when it comes to MPV and SUV costing north of 25 Lakhs. So to capture that market no other brand can bring in a product which is expensive then the Innova or Fortuner. If they do then it is bound to fail before the launch itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWAllstar (Post 4736042)

It is easier to fool them ;-)

So, what do you think Toyota is doing to us with respect to the Innova? :)
We have enough evidence around us to suggest that our car buying public is most gullible of the lot.

Coming to the Carnival, it's about time we had something like this in our market - with our population, this is the car we need. Will truly be a game changer and IMO Kia can afford to lose some of the bells and whistles and come with an attractive base variant price. I can imagine hotels loving these too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prakash_ajp (Post 4736066)

So, what do you think Toyota is doing to us with respect to the Innova? :)
We have enough evidence around us to suggest that our car buying public is most gullible of the lot.

True that. I meant it is easier to fool them and not that we have not been fooled ourselves. Like you even I wish that Kia somehow manages to price the Carnival within Innova price bracket. It is time to give Toyota sleepless nights with competitive pricing, reliability and lower ownership costs. Wont happen overnight but a good start is always appreciated in India. And they have Seltos as a good brand ambassador already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prakash_ajp (Post 4736066)

Coming to the Carnival, it's about time we had something like this in our market - with our population, this is the car we need.

On the contrary, we do not need big cars anymore. Our roads, population and traffic condition do not allow to drive around such long MPVs. Small and automatic cars are the need of the hour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prakash_ajp (Post 4736066)

Will truly be a game changer and IMO Kia can afford to lose some of the bells and whistles and come with an attractive base variant price. I can imagine hotels loving these too.

Hotel Industry will love it for the airport transfers but it wont be a big hit with tourist car purchasers. Difficult to overlook the reliability of Toyota Innova and also the price if too high will only appeal to a lesser percentage of market.