2022 The Kia Carnival High Limousine Luxury Minivan
The Korean brand has shown this special high-end version of its large minivan with luxurious reclining seats and even a television
Kia is bringing British and German levels of luxury to the minivan segment with the Carnival Hi Limousine. Kia opens up the interior by removing the third-row bench and a raised ceiling that contains ambient lighting. Heavy curtains protect passengers from prying eyes, while an interior curtain separates the driver and passenger compartments. The centerpiece of the Hi Limousine is the rear seats, featuring a deep recline, footrests, fold-out trays, and a touchscreen controller, wrapped in premium quilted leather. A bulkhead container offers shoe storage and another highlight — an automatic foot massager. Those looking for Kia’s luxury minivan experience outside of Korea will be disappointed, especially with the van’s attractive pricing.
The Kia Carnival Hi-Limousine, based on the automaker’s redesigned Carnival minivan revealed this summer, arrived earlier this month sporting a high roof and fancy second-row seats. A new video from the Asian Petrolhead YouTube channel gets up close with the seven-seat people mover. The video highlights the fancy amenities Kia added to the vehicle while commenting on its comfort in both the second- and third-row seats.
The Carnival Hi-Limousine’s stand-out feature is its second-row captain chairs and Kia’s “Premium Relaxation Seat” that can recline for maximum comfort, which includes a leg rest, too. Added creature comforts include the 21.5-inch monitor that allows for onboard entertainment through either a USB or HDMI port. Second-row passengers are also treated to heated-and-cooled cup holders and an air purifier to keep the inside feeling fresh for those longer trips.
The high roof houses a large overhead LED light and hidden mood lighting. However, one of the neatest lighting elements is the pop-out adjustable reading lights that emerge from around the roof. The high roof also makes the third-row seats a bit more usable, providing more headroom for passengers; however, a lack of legroom is remains an issue as this is still a minivan, or “Grand Utility Vehicle” as Kia coined it. The minivan feel is also present in some of the interior materials. The lower part of the doors and pillars are plastic, though those are not places passengers regularly touch.
