Kia Carnival Engine
The Kia Carnival is available with a single powertrain – a 197bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel motor mated to an eight-speed torque converter automatic. On NH, most of the 440 Nm of torque is available in the mid-range which allows the MPV to cruise at a top speed of 120 kmph with the engine spinning under 2000 rpm. This helped the MPV accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 10.80 seconds, which is exceptional for an MPV weighing 2240 kg. In fact we even experienced some torque steer under sudden acceleration conditions.
Eight-speed transmission in Carnival
The eight-speed transmission in the Carnival offers smooth and precise shifts, and you’ll barely notice the shift-shock. As for the torque converter, it upshifts quickly and we never found it getting confused or searching for gears. It achieved the 20-80 kmph roll-on acceleration test in 6.01 seconds, while the 40-100 kmph kick down was achieved in 8.02 seconds. This tells a lot about the tractability of the engine.
To stop this 2.2 tonne car, the Carnival has disc brakes all around. While the brakes aren’t entirely lackluster, they provide good progress, stopping the MPV from 100 kmph in 2.9 seconds while covering a distance of only 41.06 metres.