Verdict
The RM92,185 gap buys a very different brief. The Kia Carnival is the pragmatic people mover: it seats 11 and carries a 5-year/150,000-km warranty, but its 56-litre boot is tiny. The Xpeng X9 carries seven, yet its 721-litre boot, 535-km EV range and 537-kW DC charging make more sense for a family with charging access and regular luggage. Its RM365 annual road tax also undercuts the Carnival’s RM561, while the Kia remains far cheaper to buy.
Carnival
Pick the Kia Carnival if you need all 11 seats and want to keep RM92,185 in your pocket.
X9
Pick the Xpeng X9 if seven seats are sufficient and you want a 535-km EV with a 721-litre boot, air suspension and more driver assistance.
Key differences
- Price: Kia Carnival RM188,888; Xpeng X9 RM281,073.
- Seating and boot space: Kia Carnival 11 seats and 56 litres; Xpeng X9 seven seats and 721 litres.
- Power: Kia Carnival 197 hp and 440 Nm; Xpeng X9 single motor 315 hp and 450 Nm.
- Length and wheelbase: Kia Carnival 5,155 mm and 3,090 mm; Xpeng X9 5,316 mm and 3,160 mm.
- Road tax: Kia Carnival RM561 per year; Xpeng X9 RM365 per year.
- Warranty mileage: Kia Carnival five years/150,000 km; Xpeng X9 five years/120,000 km, plus an eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty.
Carnival
- 11-seat cabin with removable second- and third-row seating
- RM92,185 lower purchase price
- Five-year/150,000-km manufacturer warranty
- 56-litre boot versus the X9’s 721 litres
- No blind spot information system, autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist
- 197 hp is 118 hp below the X9’s 315 hp
X9
- 535-km EV range with 537-kW DC charging and 3.3-kW V2L
- 721-litre boot and 14-way ventilated second-row captain seats
- Air suspension, rear-axle steering and adaptive cruise control
- RM92,185 more expensive than the Carnival
- Seven seats versus the Carnival’s 11
- Five-year manufacturer warranty is capped at 120,000 km versus 150,000 km
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM188,888✓ | RM281,073 |
| Body type | MPV | MPV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM561 | RM365✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-Valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,151 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 197 hp at 3,800 rpm | — |
| Torque | 440 Nm at 1,750 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Diesel | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 83 mm × 99.4 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 16 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 315 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 94.8 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 535 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 537 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic with E-Shift | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 8.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,155 mm | 5,316 mm |
| Width | 1,995 mm | 1,988 mm |
| Height | 1,775 mm | 1,785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,090 mm | 3,160 mm |
| Weight | 2,129 kg | 2,750 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 72 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 11 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 56 litres | 721 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/60R18 | 235/50R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance SUV | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-links | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension, Rear-axle Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags, Integrated Second Row Seat Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 8 Three-point, 3 Lap Belts | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats | Available on Second & Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Driver and Front Passenger Powered Seats, Front Seat Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 2nd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, 40:20:40 Split-folding, Sliding, Reclining and Removable 3rd Row with Tip-up Centre Seat, Folding 4th Row | 14-way Second Row Individual Captain Seats with Ventilation, 60:40 Split-folding Third Row with One-touch Electric Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control with 3rd Row Air Vents | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Double Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Second Row, 2 USB-C Third Row | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 Wireless Chargers, 2 USB Second Row, 2 USB Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 4 Middle Row, 4 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Manual 2nd and 3rd Row Sun Shades | Sunroof Shade, Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers | 17.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 27-speaker XOpera Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Surround View |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding Rear Doors - Both Sides | Front Doors & Rear Sliding Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-Year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Carnival & X9 for sale
Carnival vs X9 FAQ
Is the Kia Carnival or Xpeng X9 better?
The Carnival is better for maximum passenger capacity and lower upfront spending. The X9 is better for a seven-seat family needing much more boot space, EV driving and charging capability, plus driver assistance systems.
What is the price difference?
The Xpeng X9 costs RM92,185 more than the Kia Carnival.
Which MPV is more practical for luggage?
The Xpeng X9 is decisively better for luggage, with 721 litres of boot space versus 56 litres in the Kia Carnival. The Carnival’s advantage is its 11-seat capacity.
