The subject was easy: The 2022 Kia Carnival. The newest MPV looked like a great subject too shoot, with its bold new looks and Kia's marketing push to not call it a minivan. We showed that there was definitely some design and functional alignment with its larger SUV models.
When you first announced that your fourth generation Carnival was coming to our market, you were not going to call it a "minivan." Instead, you called it an MPV. I get that in most of the markets the Carnival is sold that it is the designation for the vehicle. But…I’m confused.
I would say that their latest design language is the draw for the brand, but there’s more to that. It is all about execution – an overused word that describes how well they have successfully launched each new vehicle onto the marketplace.
You can imagine how many contenders were for each year. Selecting one was tough, but I also did not want to repeat myself year-after-year with the same vehicle or brand. That was how the last list was set up.
Obviously, the most popular lists on this website revolve around the vehicles I had worked with. My Favorite Vehicles of [insert year here] are ones that fulfill your questions year after year. And, every year, you have opinions on it.
Of course, things change. So is Kia. They just introduced a new marketing and brand strategy that is future-forward and relevant. That is reflected on their latest offerings that have debuted since the Seltos SUV.
In the meantime, the automotive retail business has been working overtime to reinvent itself. They are hungry for inventory, while production is ramping up under safer conditions along the assembly lines. Used cars are becoming scarce, with some auction facilities laying off personnel. However, the rental car companies are trying to reduce excess fleet in the pall of financial issues due to a reduction in travel.
Kia is no exception. The recent introduction of the Optima replacement, the K5, is one piece of evidence that Kia wants to continue to sell sedans. This is a strategy the company is executing, while they are expanding their SUV portfolio.
The boost the multiple award-winning Telluride gave Kia needed a follow-up. They had to look down the size chain to find that inspiration. After all, customers also want smaller SUVs, as well.
Victory & Reseda’s ninth anniversary celebration cannot be complete with a look back at the vehicles that made this site what it is today. Not the way back machine you read through the past several days.