The Naza Ria was the Malaysian-market version of the first-generation Kia Carnival. Naza assembled and sold the large MPV under its own name, with the same body and mechanicals as the Kia original.
Naza Ria at a glance
| Maker | Naza, Malaysia (rebadged Kia) |
|---|---|
| Based on | first-generation Kia Carnival (KV-II, 1998) |
| Class | large MPV, five doors |
| Wheelbase | short only |
| Petrol engine | 2.5-litre V6, 163 PS in Europe |
| Diesel engine | 2.9-litre turbo-diesel, 126 PS |
| Australian spec | 2.5-litre V6, 132 kW |
| Facelift | Carnival II, February 2001 |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual or four-speed automatic |
The English Wikipedia article on the Kia Carnival names the Naza Ria as the Malaysian version of the first generation but does not describe it separately; this page is based on that one source.
History of the Naza Ria
Kia launched the first-generation Carnival in January 1998 and sold it in a single, short-wheelbase form. The MPV was manufactured and marketed differently by region, and in Malaysia it appeared under the Naza name as the Naza Ria, alongside the Carnival sold elsewhere. In Europe the same car was offered with Rover’s 2.5-litre KV6 petrol engine of 163 PS and a 2.9-litre turbo-diesel of 126 PS; from 2001 the petrol unit was brought to Euro 3 with 150 PS and the diesel became a common-rail unit of 144 PS.
In Australia the Carnival went on sale in 1999 with a 2.5-litre V6 of 132 kW, a five-speed manual as standard and a four-speed automatic as an option; it became the country’s best-selling MPV in 2001. North American cars used a 3.5-litre V6 of 195 hp with a four-speed, later five-speed, automatic.
The facelifted model was released in South Korea on 11 February 2001 as the Carnival II. In most markets it kept the Carnival name, while North America and some Asian markets called it the Sedona. Left-hand-drive cars received a redesigned dashboard and door trim, while right-hand-drive cars kept the earlier interior — the arrangement that applied to Malaysian-built vehicles.
Design and features
- Short-wheelbase body: the first-generation Carnival was built in one length only.
- V6 petrol power: a 2.5-litre six in most markets, 3.5 litres in North America.
- Turbo-diesel option: a 2.9-litre engine, common-rail from 2001.
- Two pedals or three: manual and automatic gearboxes were both offered.
- Facelift in 2001: new front and rear styling under the Carnival II name.
Naza Ria versions
- Naza Ria (from 1998): the original short-wheelbase MPV.
- Carnival II (from 2001): the facelifted body, sold in Malaysia by Naza.
- Sedona: the name used for the same car in North America and several other markets.
The Ria was the largest of Naza’s MPVs, above the Naza Citra, and shared the showroom with the Naza Sorento. More cars are in the Naza collection.
Sources
- Kia Carnival, English Wikipedia: first generation, engines, markets, facelift
