The facelifted Kia Carnival has at last been launched in Thailand, some 15 months after it made its ASEAN debut in Indonesia (and a full two years after it was revealed globally). The tardy timing may have something to do with where the refreshed MPV is made – whereas other markets source their cars directly from Korea, the Land of Smiles gets its Carnival from Malaysia, according to Headlight Magazine.
Interestingly, the car – still CKD locally assembled at Inokom’s plant in Kulim, Kedah – is being offered in hybrid form only, ditching the 2.2 litre turbodiesel in favour of the petrol-electric setup currently utilised in the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe. It’s not cheap, however, with prices ranging from 2,499,000 baht (RM325,300) for the Premium variant to 2,699,000 baht (RM351,400) for the Luxury, both with seven seats.
Power comes from a 1.6 litre Smartstream turbocharged and direct-injected (T-GDi) four-cylinder engine, producing 180 PS at 5,500 and 265 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. This is paired with a 54 PS/304 Nm electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission for a total system output of 245 PS and 367 Nm.
The design is as per what was shown previously, adopting Kia’s Opposites United design language and featuring new front and rear fascias. Vertical LED headlights and the brand’s signature Star Map daytime running lights frame a much larger grille, while inverted L-shaped LED taillights and a lower number plate recess deliver a cleaner-looking back end. Distinctive 19-inch cubic black alloy wheels come standard.
Inside, the changes are more minimal – the fourth generation’s reasonably modern-looking cabin gains a unified widescreen display panel that still houses a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, but the base analogue meter cluster has been replaced by a full-LCD unit with a 4.2-inch multi-info display, both housed under the same glass cover. The Luxury gains a 12.3-inch full-colour screen as before, along with a new digital rear-view mirror.
The upgraded Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system is faster and now features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (previously wired only). Also fitted is a full-width ambient lighting strip under the full-width air vents, while the audio and air-con controls have been combined into a single switchable touch panel as per the EV6, freeing up space for a larger storage cubby. Elsewhere, the six USB ports throughout the vehicle are now of the USB-C kind.
Standard kit includes power-sliding doors, keyless entry, push-button start, triple-zone auto air-con, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, faux leather upholstery, a Qi wireless charger, six speakers, a 360-degree camera system and a proximity-sensing hands-free opening tailgate.
The Luxury adds projector “cube” headlights, fog lights, dual sunroofs, a head-up display, driver’s seat memory, second-row Premium Relaxation powered seats with ottomans and one-touch recline, first- and second-row seat ventilation, black and brown leather upholstery and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Safety-wise, the Carnival comes as standard with the full complement of SmartSense driver assists, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist and blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance. Eight airbags (including a centre airbag) and stability control are also fitted across the board.
With the facelifted Carnival already being assembled in Malaysia, we expect the car to be launched here sooner rather than later. The decision to phase out the diesel engine in favour of a hybrid system makes sense for our market given the discontinuation of diesel fuel subsidies – helped further by the recent increased Budi95 subsidy for RON95 petrol. Are you excited?
GALLERY: Kia Carnival Hybrid facelift at GIIAS 2024
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price went up a lot compared to previous generations but at least still a lot cheaper than japanese brands.
This kia is china level, not japan level..please compare car accordingly. To be honest this carnival if sells above 230k…..wii be doom on arrival
Maybe Maxus MPV?
Try to compare this to MG Maxus 7,
This Kia Carnival facelift looks like it too,
But lack power like Maxus 7
245PS/350Nm 570km NEDC 470km WLTP
starting price of ฿1,769,000
(RM 229k)
Blame Bermazs**t for late arrival of new model for Mazda and Kia in Malaysia. When new model release worldwide, they baru terhegeh-hegeh want to launch the new model in Malaysia. Examples are CX-5, Carnival, Sportage and Sorento. All of these facelift (except CX-5) yet to be launched in Malaysia.
That price for a KIA? LMAO
It’s like 2x Korean selling price?
if it is selling over RM300k here in Malaysia, it is better to go for the a recond latest generation alphard/vellfire. any time it is perceived as more upmarket and holds its value pretty well. even with the current generation Carnival, it is struggling to sell in large quantities.
no market already, my friend replace his carnival with zeekr, bigger and more powerful, never look back since then
Total different pricing category la bro
what totally different pricing , zeekr MPV pricing is almost identical with kia carnival
Those living in the 2010s and still stucked inside the Japanese cocoon shell will say ” Better buy AhFart and Hellfire.”
Diesel car is irrelavent in Malaysia now due to pricing diesel system. Unless you got kebun to pick up durian
manade diesel ? carnival uses petrol engine only
Who cares about petrol or fuel pricing? Those who can afford diesel, has taste and knows what’s exclusive will choose their vehicle accordingly, unlike the FOMOs and those who lack of taste going for Japanese Doraemon bread boxes.
diesel ewwww who the heck wanna pay RM3 per liter for dirty noisy clatter , with sulphur smell, with urea refill every year.
Only dumbass and retarded one still thinks diesel is dirty, noisy and smelly.
Wow, still looking solid as ever, compared to the faggot, Jinjang Joe style Toyota Ah Fart and Hellfire.
Saw several Kia Carnivals both prefacelift and facelift in Canada, Australia, US, Brunei and Ireland, and oh man, they cruise the highway seamlessly.
In contrast, on Ah Fart and Hellfire, couple of friends from overseas were commenting …why Malaysia has so many of these gay looking vans garnished with ugly chromes, faggot curves and out of proportioned shape van. Worst still pathetic blue lights.
My answer to them is that many Malaysians are still stucked in the realm of getting Japanese cars. Before the buy, already start to think of resale value. And yes we have many poor people in Malaysia.
Clean minimalist look, with imposing stance.
Now Koreans and China mades are of high quality, and look good too.
Look at the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, look like designed by few kindergarten kids and the rear looks so weird, like trying too hard to alter the shape to be not boxy via making the bottom curvier, end up like cartoon looking.
300k is alot to ask in this economy. when ringgit appreciation is there, really cannot justify that premium