Manufacturer Kia Motors Production 1998–present Body style 4-door minivan | Also called Kia Sedona Class Minivan Layout FF layout | |
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The Kia Carnival is a minivan manufactured by Kia Motors, introduced in September 1998, marketed globally under various nameplates–prominently as the Kia Sedona is currently in its third generation. In North America, a rebadged variant known as the Hyundai Entourage was sold from 2007–2009.
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First generation (1998–2006)
The first generation model was manufactured and marketed differently for specific regions, including under a joint venture in the Chinese market with Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, as well as the Naza Ria in Malaysia.
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 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 Rover KV6 engine 24V petrol with 163 PS and Euro 2 standard emission level and the 2,9 litres turbodiesel engine with 126 PS. From 2001 Kia Motors introduce the 2.5 KV6 Euro 3 with 150 PS and the new 2.9 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.
Second generation (2006–2014)
Kia introduced the second generation Carnival/Sedona worldwide for model year 2006–in short (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) models – with a 2-inch-wider front track, 3-inch-wider rear track and reduced turning radius than the first generation. The SWB model shares its platform with the Kia Magentis – and was specially designed for the European market, where it falls in the large MPV class.
With a lighter engine, greater use of high-tensile steel in the body, and a lighter transmission and rear suspension, the second generation model weighed approximately 400 lbs less than the first generation.
In certain markets, Kia offered the minivan in both wheelbases (e.g., in North America, Australia) or in other markets, simply as the short-wheelbase configuration (e.g., UK, France). Globally, the minivan was offered with four engines as well as manual and automatic transmissions.
Equipment content varied widely by market–including such features as six airbags (front, front side and air curtain), Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) & Brake Assist System (BAS), dual or tri-zone heating and cooling, "walk through" aisle between the front seats with fold-down tray, tilt/height adjustable steering wheel, Isofix anchor points, rear side sliding doors with "hold open" locking feature (to prevent an open door from inadvertently closing), second row power roll-down windows, third row 60/40-fold-in-floor seat (LWB only), power sliding doors and liftgate, backup sensors, and in-dash navigation.
In European and Asian markets, the SWB models offered a full range of options and available equipment, with a 2+3+2 seating configuration (an essential format in a large MPV for Europe). By contrast, in the U.S. the SWB model is offered only in a base equipment level with a 2+2+3 seating configuration–and high-end options exclusive to LWB models.
United States
Kia introduced the second generation Sedona to the North American market at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show for model year 2006 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.
Initially offered only in long-wheelbase (LWB) form, the short-wheelbase (SWB) model followed for model year 2007. Trim levels include Sedona (SWB), Sedona LX (LWB), and Sedona EX (LWB). A rebadged version of the second generation was offered from 2007–2009 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.
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. 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.
In 2013, Kia re-launched the Sedona as a 2014 model with minor updates, which started selling around the end of May.
United Kingdom
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. 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.
Australia
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.
Reception
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.
The Kia Sedona ranked 4th the "20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure" list by Insure.com. Edmunds.com names Kia Sedona as one of the "Top Recommended" Vehicles for 2010.
Reliability
Hyundai Entourage
From 2006–2009, Kia manufactured a rebadged variant of the Carnival for sister company Hyundai. 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. 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.
Trim levels
Awards
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, in fact, has christened the 2007 Entourage a "Gold Top Safety Pick," making the Entourage (and the similar Kia Sedona) the safest minivan ever tested.
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.
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.
Third generation (2014–present)
The 2015 model debuted at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in April. Kia refers to the third generation Sedona as a Multi-Purpose Vehicle rather than a Minivan, in order to attract more customers to the brand and vehicle. For US markets, the Sedona features the 276 horsepower Lambda Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 3.3-liter V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive. For South Korean markets, it's available only with the 2.2L diesel engine.
In the U.S., the Sedona was previously only available in LX or EX models. For 2015, Kia has expanded the lineup to several new models. The models are as follows: L, LX, EX, SX, Limited. In Australia, it is available in S, Si, SLi and Platinum models. All models, including the base L, include standard equipment like its other Kia siblings, such as an A/M-F/M stereo with CD player, iPod and USB input jacks, auxiliary audio input jack, Bluetooth with A2DP Stereo Streaming capabilities, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, keyless entry, alloy wheels, and more.
In the U.S., the basic 2015 Sedona L starts at $25,900 MSRP. The top-of-the-line Sedona Limited can reach an MSRP in the mid $40,000 range when fully equipped.
In Indonesia, the Grand Sedona was launched in August 2016 at the 2016 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.