CABIN FEVER
The Kia Carnival is a fair bit more expensive than the Toyota Innova Crysta, and we’re trying to figure out if it’s worth all that extra cash!
FEBRUARY 2020. I WAS STANDING IN Hall 7 at the Auto Expo packed to the rafters with journalists with boilerplate tweets and half-finished web stories, waiting for the price of the Kia Carnival to be announced. The Seltos had already been established as a runaway success, but there was apprehension surrounding the Carnival. It was attempting something that had never been achieved in the last decade and a half of the Indian automotive landscape, one-upping the Toyota Innova. Many have undercut Toyota’s star MPV — the Ertiga, Mobilio, Marrazzo, Lodgy — all trying to offer the same number of seats at a better price. But no one had tried to go the other way, with more seats, more luxury and more equipment. I had already driven the Carnival and knew its potential. However, as it is with everything in India, it was all down to the price. The usual product presentation song-and-dance that I had already sat through once before at the first drive, was repeated here. Then came the prices. Just under `25 lakh for the base variant. Little under `34 lakh for the Limousine.
I remember muttering “interesting pricing” to the guy sitting on my left, and him nodding in agreement. I also remember congratulating the Kia execs (who seemed mighty pleased with themselves, and rightly so) after the launch. And interesting pricing it was, because the Carnival slotted itself just above the Innova. By a whisker. But also by a mile. For the sake of keeping it simple, let us look at the current prices (as opposed to telling you what has changed between February to now) — the most affordable Carnival is `1.3 lakh more than the most expensive Innova. And the most expensive Carnival, is a whole `10 lakh more than the most expensive Innova. That isn’t loose change — you can get an Eritga and double your people-carrying capacity. So this isn’t a story of two rivals squaring off to see which one comes out tops. Instead, we are answering the question: is this 7-seater ‘Limousine’-badged Carnival really worth `10 lakh more than the Crysta?
Pushing the boundaries
Why Kia would name a boring ol’ MPV the ‘Carnival’ had me stumped, until I tried to get in one. The Carnival feels like more of an event than anything on four wheels at this price, and I’m pretty certain the doors that slide back at the push of a button have something to do with it. Then you climb inside and press a button for the door to shut itself. There’s no unsightly huffing and heaving. Just the calculated grace of the machine doing what
machines are supposed to do — work — leaving you to do what the backseat of the Carnival so desperately wants you to do. Chill!
I mean, why else would it have seats that can move in more ways than Shakira? The captain seats that you sink in to in the middle row are rightly called VIP seats, and you can recline them, kick your feet up using the leg rests and pass out. Or you could turn on the entertainment screens and surf the internet, stream some of our latest YouTube uploads (shameless plug, sorry) or mirror your phone onto it. There’s also a power socket for a laptop, but may I suggest you throw your toxic workaholism out of the window, and instead plug in a PS4, hook it up via HDMI to said screen and game instead? The Carnival meets the power consumption cap — I checked. Just make sure you strap it in. I’m pretty sure body roll and gaming consoles aren’t a particularly fun combination.
Gadget fantasies aside, what really allows you to chill in the Carnival’s cabin is the space — it is the most you are going to get at this price short of a stripped out Tata Winger. The second row has enough for me to stretch. And this third row has the unique distinction of not letting my knees dig in to the seat in front. Can’t say that about a Q7, even. At 5.1m, you would need two panoramic sunroofs in the Carnival, but you will have to make do with two regular sized ones. Oh stuff it, I know
how panoramic sunroofs work. I was trying to be funny.
Something else that is hugely important in the backseat is the ride quality, and the Carnival gets that bit right too. Soft, yes, but that is because the Carnival is all about that comfort. The road feels well isolated from where you are sat, and bad roads are disposed of with composure. The soft setup also does make it a bit floaty at speed but it isn’t puke-inducing.
Should you want to get in to the driver’s seat — heaven knows why, with a backseat like that —what should you expect? Size! From behind the wheel, the Carnival feels long and you are always consciously aware of its length. Which is a good thing, as it means you will be extra careful when you pull in and out of lanes for overtakes. The 2.2-litre diesel is adequate to get the Carnival moving but don’t expect blistering performance. The transmission is unfussy and goes about its business without interfering with the driving experience. Nothing about the Carnival — its size, its weight, its drivetrain — urges you to be aggressive with your inputs. Drive it calmly, pick up speed gently and you will have nothing to complain about.
The Benchmark
The Toyota Innova Crysta is the golden boy of MPVs — straddling the commercial and private car markets with equal aplomb, and building a reputation of being nigh-on indestructible. All these years, if you wanted a seven-seater with presence, you got a Fortuner but if you wanted a seven-seater with comfort, you got an Innova. Over the years, the Innova got more comfortable, more refined, more powerful, and the Crysta on sale today is a benchmark when it comes to keeping its passengers comfortable. And it is here for some much-needed perspective. I need to tell you something straight up though — this Crysta is running the discontinued (blame BS6) 2.8-litre engine; if you waltz up to a Toyota dealer today they’ll only offer you the 2.4. Fret not though, there isn’t too much difference. The bigger capacity engine obviously made more power but torque figures are identical and their equipment levels are the same. However, I do think it is important to mention that while the 2.4 was only available with the manual, you can now have it with the automatic as well.
Open the door — yes, you’ve got to do that yourself here — climb in, and the Innova’s cabin doesn’t feel that special any more. After the Carnival, the Toyota feels a bit… cramped. I can’t believe I just said that about a Crysta! It isn’t as long as the Carnival, and at 4.7m compared to the Carnival’s 5.1m, the space inside just isn’t as much. The second row, well, it is still very comfortable. In fact, even though the captain seats can’t pull off the calisthenics from the Carnival, they are more supportive and comfortable. Take off the front passenger head rest and you get a great view of the road ahead too. And the seats will treat your arse with more
NOTHING ABOUT THE CARNIVAL URGES YOU TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH YOUR INPUTS
respect over a long day. The third row, well, not so much. The seats are more cramped and the Carnival is miles better here. I think what the Innova really lacks is equipment to make you feel like you have stepped into something special. The Innova gets a tray table (something that the Carnival doesn’t get, but should have) but that’s about it. No sunroof, no dime-a-dozen USB chargers, no air purifier, no rear seat entertainment… if you are lucky, the Innova you hire for your next holiday may have an aftermarket DVD player with a trashy Hindi movie on.
Where the Innova claws back points is the driving experience. It feels more car-like, and is actually a fun car to drive. The underpinnings of the Innova are the complete opposite of the Carnival’s. Body-on-frame construction with rear-wheel drive compared to the monocoque with frontwheel drive on the Carnival. And yet, everything about the driving experience feels sharper. The steering is quicker, the engine responds better to your inputs despite being down on paper, and it is a chassis that enjoys being hustled.
The ride quality may not have the same sophistication and refinement and is nowhere close to the Carnival’s, but it feels far more hardy and robust. The Innova, from behind the wheel, feels indestructible. And there is data to back that up — just look at the odo reading of the next Innova you sit in. I promise you, you will be surprised by the tens of thousands, even lakhs of kilometres on it. The dashboard is nothing to write home about with an infotainment screen that feels two generations old and barely has any features to speak of. But an infotainment screen isn’t going to get me to Ladakh and back. Solid reliability will, and that, the Innova Crysta has plenty of, like all other Toyotas.
The asking price
The Innova has spoiled us. It is a fantastic vehicle that has been around for so long, and still manages to pull people in to Toyota dealerships. Yes, we do occasionally complain that it is expensive – but when you think about how long it lasts, and how it holds value, your costs get ironed out over time. Is it worth the money being asked for it? Most certainly.
Now coming to my second question – is the ‘Limousine’ -badged Carnival really worth `10 lakh more than the Innova? There’s no denying that the Carnival is the more comfortable car. It is more spacious, has more equipment and feels like a more upmarket product. The experience is further enhanced by the better ride quality and refinement levels — they go a long way in isolating you from the outside and keeping you more comfortable in your rolling lounge. In terms of sheer size, presence, everything, the Kia one-ups the Innova. It manages to bring a lot more to the table and is asking for a fair bit of more money in exchange for that as well.
However, with how much the Innova Crysta has spoiled us with its reliability, I wonder if the Carnival will manage to do the same. Will it be as idiot-proof? Only time will tell. Going by our experiences with the Seltos though, we would have to say that there should not be much to worry about.
In my opinion, the Carnival feels worth the premium you will pay for it. Hell, if you bring in the Toyota Vellfire and the Mercedes-Benz V-Class for more perspective, the Carnival actually looks like great value. My verdict is this – if you can stretch the additional `10 lakh, you (and your family) will be very happy with Carnival. As happy as those Kia execs were when the prices were announced. ⌧