The Kia Carnival has received a bold, EV9-inspired look as part of a mid-life update, but this is more than just a cosmetic nip-and-tuck.

    Australia’s best-selling people mover has received additional equipment, including the latest generation of Kia infotainment, more safety features, and a new hybrid powertrain – a first for the Carnival line.

    There’s also retuned suspension and steering, but higher prices across the board.

    The Carnival is on sale now, with the hybrid arriving in June. The electrified model will be offered only in flagship GT-Line trim.

    The petrol and diesel range still opens with the base S, but the old Si, SLi, Special Edition and Platinum grades have been replaced with Sport, Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line variants.

    This aligns the Carnival range with other Kia models.

    Pricing

    ModelPrice
    2025 Kia Carnival S V6$50,150 (+$2670)
    2025 Kia Carnival S diesel$52,380 (+$2900)
    2025 Kia Carnival Sport V6$56,050 (+$3070 over Si)
    2025 Kia Carnival Sport diesel$58,280 (+$3300 over Si)
    2025 Kia Carnival Sport+ V6$62,380 (+$4600 over SLi)
    2025 Kia Carnival Sport+ diesel$64,610 (+$4830 over SLi)
    2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite V6$66,350 (+$5160 over Special Edition)
    2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite diesel$68,580 (+$5390 over Special Edition)
    2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line V6$70,680 (+$5100 over Platinum)
    2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line diesel$72,910 (+$5330 over Platinum)
    2025 Kia Carnival GT-Line hybrid$76,210

    All prices exclude on-road costs.

    Drivetrains

    Kia Australia hasn’t released full local specifications for the hybrid model yet, though we know it uses a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a lithium-ion battery and a six-speed automatic featuring an integrated electric motor.

    As with all Carnival models, it’s front-wheel drive.

    PetrolDiesel
    Engine3.5-litre petrol V62.2-litre turbo-diesel four
    Power216kW (6400rpm)148kW (3800rpm)
    Torque355Nm (5000rpm)440Nm (1750-2750rpm)
    TransmissionEight-speed autoEight-speed auto
    Driven wheelsFront-wheel driveFront-wheel drive

    Efficiency

    PetrolDiesel
    Fuel economy (combined cycle claim)9.6L/100km6.5L/100km
    Fuel tank size72L72L
    Fuel requirement91 RON regular unleadedDiesel
    CO2 emissions (combined cycle claim)220g/km170g/km

    Dimensions

    Kia Carnival
    Length5155mm
    Width1995mm
    Height (incl. roof rails)1775mm
    Wheelbase3090mm
    Luggage space (all seats up)627L
    Luggage space (third row folded)2827L
    Braked towing capacity2000kg
    Unbraked towing capacity750kg
    Maximum weight2206kg (petrol)
    2245kg (diesel)

    Servicing and Warranty

    The Kia Carnival is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

    Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. We’ll update this article when full capped-price servicing information is available.

    Safety

    Kia Australia has confirmed it’s consulting with ANCAP on the adjustments that have been made, and it anticipates the Carnival will be able to continue on with its existing five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2021 testing.

    In that assessment, the pre-facelift Carnival achieved an adult occupant protection rating of 90 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 88 per cent, as well as 68 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 82 per cent for safety assist.

    Standard safety equipment includes:

    • Autonomous emergency braking
      • Pedestrian detection
      • Cyclist detection
      • Junction assist
    • Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
    • Intelligent speed limit assist
    • Lane departure warning
    • Lane-keep assist
    • Lane Following Assist (lane centring)
    • Blind-spot assist
    • Rear cross-traffic alert
    • Rear occupant alert (NEW)
    • Trailer stability control assistance
    • Intelligent speed limit assist
    • Multi-collision braking
    • Reversing camera
    • Front and rear parking sensors
    • Connected services with SOS call function for crashes
    • Front and front-side airbags
    • Curtain airbags for all three rows
    • Driver’s knee airbag

    Front parking sensors are a new addition for the base S, having previously been exclusive to higher-spec Carnivals.

    A centre side airbag is new to the range, while a rear occupant alert is now available across the range.

    Carnival Sport adds:

    • Highway Driving Assist 1 (NEW)

    Sport+ and up add:

    • Parking Collision Avoidance – Rear (AEB reverse, NEW)
    • Blind-Spot View Monitor (NEW)
    • Rear cross-traffic assist
    • Surround-view camera
    • Side parking sensors
    • Junction Cross, Lane Oncoming, Lane Direct avoidance (NEW)
    • Highway Driving Assist 2 (NEW)
      • Steering, braking, accelerating and stop-start traffic jam assistance

    Standard Equipment

    There are five trim levels in the Carnival range.

    Carnival S standard equipment includes:

    • 17-inch alloy wheels
    • Temporary spare wheel
    • LED headlights
    • LED daytime running lights
    • Automatic high-beam
    • Electric heated mirrors
    • Sliding sunvisor w/ illuminated vanity mirror
    • Cloth upholstery
    • Electronic park brake with auto hold
    • Proximity entry with push-button start (NEW)
    • ‘Basic’ digital instrument cluster incl. 4.2-inch screen
    • 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
    • Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
    • 8-speaker sound system 
    • Kia Connect with OTA updates (NEW)

    Carnival Sport adds:

    • 18-inch alloy wheels
    • LED rear combination lamp
    • Electric folding side mirrors
    • Leatherette upholstery (NEW)
    • Leather steering wheel
    • Leather shifter
    • Auto window defog
    • Dual-zone climate control
    • Rear single-zone temp control
    • Wireless phone charger (NEW)

    Carnival Sport+ adds:

    • Power tailgate with auto close
    • Power sliding side doors
    • Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
    • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
    • Heated front seats
    • Second-row outboard heated seats
    • Side parking sensors
    • 8-way power seat adjustment
    • 2-way lumbar adjustment for driver
    • Rain-sensing wipers (NEW)
    • Rear privacy glass
    • Heated rear windshield

    Carnival GT-Line Lite adds:

    • 19-inch alloy wheels
    • LED interior lighting
    • Auto up, down window for driver
    • Chrome styling elements (exterior handles, skid plates)
    • Dual sunroof
    • *Removes 8-way power passenger seat adjustment

    Carnival GT-Line adds:

    • Dual projector LED headlights
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Front ventilated seats
    • 12-speaker Bose sound system
    • Dial-type shifter
    • Paddle shifters
    • Digital rear-view mirror (NEW)
    • Head-up display
    • Auto up, down windows with safety function
    • Gloss black centre fascia
    • Remote Start Parking Assist (NEW)
    • 8-way electric front seats with memory (NEW)
    • 4-way lumbar support (driver)

    Colours

    All models have a two-tone black and taupe interior colour scheme.

    Ceramic Grey is the standard paint colour, with the following finishes optional:

    • Astra Blue
    • Flare Red
    • Panthera Metal
    • Snow White Pearl
    • Deep Chroma Blue (excludes S, Sport)
    • Aurora Black Pearl (excludes S, Sport)

    MORE: Everything Kia Carnival

    William Stopford

    William Stopford is an automotive journalist based in Brisbane, Australia. William is a Business/Journalism graduate from the Queensland University of Technology who loves to travel, briefly lived in the US, and has a particular interest in the American car industry.

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