2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid review

The undisputed chief within the people-mover section in Australia has simply seen an essential addition to its vary.

Kia Australia has simply added the brand new Carnival GT-Line Hybrid (HEV) because the flagship providing within the vary.

It introduces a brand new petrol-electric hybrid powertrain to the eight-seat van, with significantly higher gasoline use than the prevailing V6 petrol model.

The catch? It’s solely out there within the top-spec, and the associated fee is a severe downside. To not point out the upkeep prices and concerns, which you’ll see detailed under.

How a lot does the Kia Carnival value?

Costs have gone up throughout the board for the Kia Carnival vary, and this new range-topping GT-Line Hybrid mannequin is the most costly Carnival ever.

To see how the Kia Carnival traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparison tool.

What’s the Kia Carnival like on the within?

Being the GT-Line model of the Carnival, the cabin is an upmarket and well-considered area.

There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen media system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Linked Providers with over-the-air updates out there, and quicker USB-C charging functionality than within the final mannequin, in addition to a 12.3-inch driver info display screen in a shapely curved cockpit display screen {surround}.

The menus and on-screen design look terrific, and whereas there are few buried menus right here and there it’s comparatively straightforward to be taught. For folks who wish to simply bounce in and have their cellphone reconnect with out fascinated with it, the Carnival ticks that field.

There’s additionally a Hybrid display screen on the multimedia show that may present you some more information in regards to the powertrain (engine, battery, electrical motor), and in addition provide you with gasoline use knowledge and recommendation.

Underneath the touchscreen there’s a panel that has dials on your local weather management settings, however they are often switched to quantity and tuning dials with a press of a touch-sensitive button. There are additionally an array of different touch-sensitive buttons that are less complicated to make use of than you would possibly suppose at first look.

This can be a tremendous sensible automobile. It may properly be essentially the most sensible non-commercial van available on the market, with some terrific design options that make it extra usable than eight-seat SUVs that you may additionally be weighing it up towards.

There are massive door pockets, cup holders between the seats, a stowage part on your cellphone (with wi-fi charging, plus a secondary spot subsequent to it inside proximity to the USB-C ports), and a giant coated centre console space – perfect as a snack hidey-hole.

The second row is superb when it comes to area and usefulness. The seats are simply adjustable – you’ll be able to individually slide and fold all three of them, whereas the center part will be reversed or eliminated if required. If you happen to flip the center seat again down, it has a pair of cupholders for these sat within the outboard pews.

Past that there are bottle holsters, map pockets, and fan and local weather controls with fan management and ceiling vents for each rear rows.

There are sunshades on the power-sliding doorways, and so they even have electrical home windows in these doorways – which isn’t the norm in people-mover vans.

All three middle-row seats have ISOFIX and top-tether factors. You possibly can very simply tilt and slide the outboard seats to permit for back-row entry. 

I managed to simply – I can not stress that sufficient – get into the again seat, which isn’t typical. It’s not even near a sensible expectation in any three-row SUV in Australia. For context I’m 182cm/6’0” tall.

The third-row area is superb, with sufficient room for me to sit down behind somebody of an analogous measurement in entrance with area to spare for each of us.

Third-row riders have 4 cup holders, USB-C charging factors, overhead vents and sunshades on these very again aspect home windows.

Massive households will love that there are ISOFIX and top-tethers within the very again row, and there are three seats again there for an enormous seating capability of eight. 

It’s merely essentially the most sensible automobile within the nation for large households, however remember the fact that the rearmost high centre seatbelt nonetheless falls from the ceiling reasonably than being built-in into the seat again.

The Carnival’s boot is a genius resolution to needing plenty of seats and many baggage area.

If you could use all three rows, there’s a staggering 627 litres (VDA) of cargo capability, which is greater than loads of massive SUVs with solely 5 seats.

The third-row seats can fold down (even utilizing one hand) into the storage properly within the boot space.

With these folded down flat there’s a huge 2827 litres (VDA) of cargo room on provide. As a five-seater, it’s ridiculously usable. 

There are a number of procuring bag hooks and different storage helpers within the boot. In contrast to different Carnival fashions nevertheless, you don’t get a spare wheel – the Hybrid makes do with a tyre restore equipment as an alternative.

To see how the Kia Carnival traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparison tool.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

We’re focusing simply on the HEV mannequin right here, and it will get an intriguing powertrain.

The Carnival Hybrid runs a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with 132kW and 265Nm, which is paired to a six-speed automated gearbox and it’s solely out there in front-wheel drive.

Nonetheless, the transmission integrates a 54kW/304Nm electrical motor, which is a extra highly effective unit than in different purposes of this powertrain used throughout the Hyundai and Kia ranges. 

As such, this mannequin has essentially the most mixed energy and torque of any of the hybrids on provide in that blend, with 180kW of energy and 366Nm of torque.

That’s nonetheless much less energy than the V6 petrol (216kW) and fewer torque than the diesel (440Nm), however it should eagerly shuffle between petrol, hybrid and EV modes, relying on the scenario.

It makes use of a 1.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is positioned beneath the second-row seat on the motive force’s aspect. In different phrases, it’s the place the spare tyre was and meaning you simply get a tyre restore equipment for this Carnival.

It nonetheless has a 72-litre gasoline tank capability, and the official mixed cycle gasoline use determine is 5.8 litres per 100km. 

On my take a look at, I noticed a real-world return of 6.8 litres per 100km, which is barely barely higher than what I noticed within the diesel mannequin (7.0L/100km) not too long ago throughout related conditions, however method higher than the petrol V6 (12.4L/100km as examined). 

Now, going again to my maths for the tanks of juice you can get for the value premium being requested, there’s a comfort consideration there too.

As a result of in case your V6 Carnival noticed the gasoline consumption I bought, you’d solely get 580km from a tank, whereas within the hybrid you’d see virtually double that in concept – 1058km from a fill. The diesel? 1028km. 

Additionally price noting the towing capability for petrol and diesel fashions is 750kg for an unbraked trailer, and 2000kg for a braked trailer. The hybrid however has 750kg unbraked and 1000kg braked towing capacities, however it does have a Tow Mode button to regulate the powertrain system to swimsuit that scenario.

The utmost kerb weight for the Carnival Hybrid is 2334kg, and the gross automobile mass (GVM) is 2980kg. This implies it has a permissible payload of 646kg, which is lower than the V6 petrol (700kg) and diesel (725kg), and will rule it out when you have a giant household of bodily massive individuals.

How does the Kia Carnival drive?

The hybrid is a candy operator.

It seamlessly operates between petrol, hybrid and EV modes, and when you can hear the engine kick to life it may be just a little raucous sounding in some conditions. That’s primarily all the way down to how electrical progress is nearly silent at decrease speeds, other than the outside passenger warning speaker, which is louder in reverse gear.

The transmission manages the hybrid system is spectacular. The electrical motor is built-in into the six-speed auto and this implies there’s no perceptible lag as is it swaps between EV and different modes. You’ll really feel the gears change even whenever you’re driving absolutely electrical although which is a novel sensation. 

It’s so amenable to every day driving with only a driver on board, or a complement of passengers. Admittedly I couldn’t rally seven grown-ups for a take a look at, although as talked about, it may push the automobile over its payload restrict should you attempt.

With a number of individuals occupying the seats I discovered it was by no means underdone when it comes to pulling energy, and whereas the engine doesn’t thoughts a rev, the torque of the electrical motor makes it really feel easy and unstressed beneath load.

There are Eco, Sport and Sensible drive modes, and whereas I spent nearly all of my time in Eco I by no means as soon as thought “I’ll simply put it in Sport to see what it’s able to”. Once I tried Sport mode nevertheless it felt zestier and known as upon the petrol engine extra usually to make sure fast acceleration.

Actually the Carnival isn’t sporty, and this top-spec mannequin is the heaviest of the lot. It feels its measurement on the street however it’s 5.1-metres lengthy and a couple of.3 tonnes.

It settles into EV driving at freeway tempo. I seen it on flat sections of freeway at 110km/h and that makes for a hushed expertise supplied the floor under isn’t a coarse-chip end. You possibly can nonetheless get a little bit of street noise within the cabin in that occasion. 

The experience and dealing with tune for the up to date Carnival noticed steering and shock absorber adjustments in comparison with the pre-update vary. The targets embrace “improved experience consolation and influence isolation”, “improved major physique management”, in addition to a “assured flat experience and supported on-road really feel.”

The Aussie arm has nailed the temporary with a cushty and composed nature in city driving, although its can’t cover heft and seems like there’s a bit extra momentum to arrest over bumps. The steering is competent and reliable with a delightfully easy parking weighting too.

For these frightened about with the ability to see round this massive rig, there’s a surround-view digicam with an augmented actuality show to position your automobile in its environment.

Being the top-spec mannequin it additionally will get a Blind-Spot View Monitor system which makes use of cameras on both aspect of the automobile that can assist you see what could be in your blind spot. The digicam feed is displayed on the digital instrument cluster whenever you activate the respective indicator.

Moreover, when you have got a cabin stuffed with smiling (or screaming) faces, the rear-view mirror will be flicked to a digital show. It’s higher than loads of rivals when it comes to the positioning of the digicam. 

The largest annoyance in regards to the Carnival’s drive expertise is the inane, repetitive and hateful pace signal warning chimes. They are often useful should you don’t know the restrict the place you’re driving, however are irritating whenever you’re simply confined to your suburb.

You possibly can swap it off – there’s a solution to arrange a favorite button on the steering wheel so it’s a number of much less display screen touches away – however I actually hope for any Carnival purchaser that Kia can comply with Hyundai’s lead in making an even-shorter-shortcut sequence. Within the new Tucson, you simply maintain the mute button down for 5 seconds and it disables audible warnings.

What do you get?

On take a look at right here is the brand new flagship Carnival GT-Line HEV.

Kia Carnival S commonplace gear:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Non permanent spare wheel
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• Adaptive cruise  management with cease & go
• Clever Pace Restrict Help (ISLA)
• Electrical heated mirrors
• Sliding sunvisor w/ illuminated vainness mirror
• Material seat trim
• Digital park brake with auto maintain
• Reversing digicam with dynamic automobile pointers
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Sensible key
• Push button begin
• New 4.0-inch cluster show for driver with digital speedo and revs
• 12.3-inch touchscreen media system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Eight-speaker stereo 
• Kia Join with OTA (over the air) updates
• Extra security options together with centre airbag, rear occupant alert and trailer stability help

Kia Carnival Sport provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED rear mixture lamp
• Electrical folding aspect mirrors
• Pretend leather-based seat trim
• Leather-based steering wheel
• Leather-based shifter
• Auto window defog
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear single-zone temp management
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Aeroblade wipers

Kia Carnival Sport+ provides:

• Encompass-view digicam
• Energy tailgate with auto shut
• Energy sliding aspect doorways
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 12.3-inch driver info show
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Heated entrance seats
• Second-row outboard heated seats
• Facet parking sensors
• Eight-way energy seat adjustment
• Two-way lumbar adjustment for driver
• Parking collision avoidance help rear
• Auto entrance wipers with rain sensing
• Privateness glass from B-pillar again
• Heated rear windshield

Kia Carnival GT-Line Lite provides:

• 19” Alloy Wheels
• LED inside lighting
• Auto Up/Down window for driver
• Chrome styling components (exterior handles, skid plates)
• Twin sunroof 
• NOTE: Eight-way energy seat adjustment for passenger aspect eliminated

Kia Carnival GT-Line provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with aero design (Hybrid solely)
• Tyre restore equipment (Hybrid solely)
• Energetic aerodynamic components on entrance bumper (Hybrid solely)
• Twin projection LED headlights
• Heated steering wheel
• Entrance ventilated seats
• 12-speaker Bose sound system
• Dial-type shifter
• Paddle shifters
• Digital inside mirror with digicam feed
• Head-up show
• Auto Up/Down Home windows with security perform
• Gloss Black Centre Fascia
• Distant Begin Parking Help – automobile will be began and pushed ahead or in reverse in a parking area utilizing the important thing fob
• Eight-way electrical seats with reminiscence settings for driver and passenger
• 4-way lumbar assist (driver’s seat)

Is the Kia Carnival protected?

Petrol and diesel variations of the Kia Carnival have a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on testing performed in 2021, although the hybrid hasn’t been assessed and is unrated.

Kia Australia has confirmed it’s consulting ANCAP on the changes which were made with the Carnival Hybrid, and it anticipates the model will have the ability to proceed on with its current five-star ANCAP ranking.

Given it presently doesn’t have an ANCAP security ranking which will rule this mannequin out for some fleet operators and households. If you happen to don’t have a requirement for a five-star rating nevertheless, this massive household bus seemingly ticks the bins for the tech and spec you’d count on.

Kia has added security tech throughout the Carnival vary for this replace. Some of the notable is a brand new pace signal recognition system that can warn drivers if they’re getting into a brand new signposted pace zone, and/or if they’re travelling above what the automobile thinks is the signposted restrict for that space. It may usually get it flawed although.

That system defaults on every time you restart the automobile. It may be useful should you’re driving in an space the place you’re undecided of the pace limits, however should you reside someplace that has a number of adjustments to its restrict the binging and bonging will be very, very irritating.

Moreover, a brand new entrance centre airbag commonplace in all grades, and there are entrance parking sensors fitted to each single variant. The cheaper grades nonetheless don’t get a surround-view digicam nevertheless.

Commonplace security options embrace:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, bike owner and junction detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane holding help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise management 
• Rear occupant alert
• Trailer stability management help
• Clever Pace Restrict help
• Multi-collision braking
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Linked companies with SOS name perform for crashes
• Computerized high-beam

Sport provides:

Sport+ provides:

• Rear AEB
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Encompass-view digicam
• Freeway Driving Help 2 – with steering, braking, accelerating and stop-start site visitors jam help

There is no such thing as a denying the upper Carnival grades get the most effective that Kia can provide.

All Carnival fashions include that new entrance centre airbag, in addition to dual-front, driver’s knee, front-side, and full-length curtain airbag protection. This implies full safety for these within the back-row outboard seats.

How a lot does the Kia Carnival value to run?

Kia has constructed a powerful model round its seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee program. It stays one of many strongest causes to think about a Kia right this moment.

However you actually need to concentrate to the servicing prices and concerns as a result of the hybrid mannequin has shorter service intervals of 12 months/10,000km, which means added inconvenience for house owners and added prices.

Per service, over the seven-year/70,000km interval, the common value is $656 per go to. So should you do loads of distance you can be paying in extra of $1000 yearly simply to maintain the automobile working because it ought to.

It counters towards the gasoline use financial savings you would possibly take pleasure in as a part of this powertrain as a result of it’s extra needy when it comes to upkeep – the petrol V6 and turbo-diesel fashions have 12 month/15,000km intervals, and each are cheaper.

There’s seven years of roadside help included if you are going to buy a Carnival.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Carnival

I get the enchantment of the petrol-electric Carnival Hybrid.

If you happen to’re the type of one who simply hates that dirty feeling of the diesel filler pump, and you may justify the massive worth premium this mannequin asks, then I reckon you’ll be fairly pleased with it.

There are many issues that rely towards the Carnival Hybrid nevertheless. The steep asking worth is one given the hybrid powertrain is barely supplied in the most costly GT-Line grade.

Its upkeep regularity and prices additionally works towards it, and with the real-world gasoline use enchancment being negligible towards the diesel it doesn’t solidify the worth argument.

I’m positive Kia Australia will promote each one they will get their fingers on, however I’m not satisfied it’s the most effective Carnival alternative you can make regardless of it being a really spectacular addition to the vary.

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