2021 Kia Sedona / Carnival Is A Dramatic ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’

The 2021 Kia Carnival has been officially revealed by the South Korean car manufacturer before sales of the minivan start later this year.

The Kia Carnival, also sold as the Kia Sedona in markets such as the U.S., has been in desperate need of an update for many years now. After all, the current model has been in production since 2014 and looks far less dramatic than other more recent Kia models.

Kia official refers to the fourth-generation Carnival as a ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’ and its designers worked hard to give the minivan a more dynamic DNA. The brand adds that the new Carnival/Sedona “has been designed to appeal to progressive young families, with a leading combination of innovation, flexibility, and style.”

Radical design changes start at the front with a shorter overhang and a longer hood which was made possible by shifting the A-pillar backwards. The new Carnival / Sedona also sports that company’s ‘tiger nose’ front grille as well as angular headlights and incorporated LED daytime running lights. The grille has chrome trim as do some other elements on the front fascia such as the lower air intake and lower bumper.

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Kia has stretched the wheelbase of the vehicle and the added length is particularly visible when the ‘Grand Utility Vehicle’ is viewed from side-on. Also visible is a so-called ‘island roof’ design with blacked-out A- and B-pillars as well as a body-colored roof. Like the new Kia Sorento, the 2021 Carnival / Sedona has a signature C-pillar design with a chrome fin and diamond pattern.

Viewed from the rear, the most striking new part are sleek taillights connected by a full-width LED light bar. Situated just above this light bar is a chrome accent that wraps around the base of the rear window and the rear side windows. Finishing off the rear-end design is a metallic skid plate.

Kia has yet to release details or photos of the cabin but says it is more spacious than the outgoing model.

Powertrain details remain under wraps but CarScoops understands a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 277 hp and 310 lb-ft (421 Nm) of torque could be one of the available powertrains. Additionally, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack producing a total of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) is expected.

More specifications about the 2021 Kia Carnival / Sedona will be released soon.