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
Model | Price |
---|---|
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.
Petrol | Diesel | |
---|---|---|
Engine | 3.5-litre petrol V6 | 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four |
Power | 216kW (6400rpm) | 148kW (3800rpm) |
Torque | 355Nm (5000rpm) | 440Nm (1750-2750rpm) |
Transmission | Eight-speed auto | Eight-speed auto |
Driven wheels | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Efficiency
Petrol | Diesel | |
---|---|---|
Fuel economy (combined cycle claim) | 9.6L/100km | 6.5L/100km |
Fuel tank size | 72L | 72L |
Fuel requirement | 91 RON regular unleaded | Diesel |
CO2 emissions (combined cycle claim) | 220g/km | 170g/km |
Dimensions
Kia Carnival | |
---|---|
Length | 5155mm |
Width | 1995mm |
Height (incl. roof rails) | 1775mm |
Wheelbase | 3090mm |
Luggage space (all seats up) | 627L |
Luggage space (third row folded) | 2827L |
Braked towing capacity | 2000kg |
Unbraked towing capacity | 750kg |
Maximum weight | 2206kg (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