The coronavirus pandemic pushed car buying into the 21st century as dealerships finally had to embrace online sales. The shift towards convenience continues as Kia has announced a new on-demand test drive service.
Known as Kia@Home, the service will allow users to schedule an at-home test drive of the all-new Carnival as well as the Niro EV.
Customers can book an appointment on Kia’s website and select which model they want to drive. At their selected time, a Kia@Home specialist will arrive at their house and give customers a detailed walkaround as well as a test drive as part of an hour-long experience. If customers like what they see, they can work with their local dealer to purchase one of their own.
Driven: The 2022 Kia Carnival Isn’t Your Typical Minivan And That’s A Good Thing
Kia is currently accepting appointments, but the service is limited to select markets including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Given that the Carnival is all-new, Kia is putting a greater emphasis on the minivan as it will be available for at-home test drives in additional markets including Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Orlando, Phoenix and Tampa.
Kia America’s vice president of marketing, Russell Wager, described the service as “personalized, convenient and on-demand” as well as something that is unique and interactive. He added, “The all-new Carnival MPV and all-electric Niro EV are two of Kia’s most high-tech offerings, and now consumers can get behind-the-wheel for up-close-and-personal test drives in their own individual, real-world settings.”
As a refresher, the 2022 Carnival starts at $32,100 and features a slick crossover-inspired design. It also boasts best-in-class V6 power thanks to a 3.5-liter engine that produces 290 hp (216 kW / 294 PS) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque.
