The fourth-gen Kia Carnival has received a facelift, and with the mid-life update, the minivan’s range has seen the addition of a Hybrid variant. The new Kia Carnival Hybrid has a fair chance of sailing to the U.S., where competitors are available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. Here’s what we know about the new S.Korean minivan:
Design
The new Kia Carnival, including the first-ever Kia Carnival Hybrid, features considerable visual changes on the outside. The facelifted model has new, vertical headlamps with big light guides that stretch inwards over a boxier radiator grille. The new upper grille, featuring criss-cross vertical inserts, has a more sophisticated appearance.
The new grille and headlamps emphasize the minivan’s wide body and give its front fascia an even more dominating look, elevating its SUV-ishness. The XL-size LED DRLs ensure that people recognize the new minivan even from a good distance. The two-module fog lamps on each side of the lower grille also contribute to the elevated SUV-like appearance of the updated minivan.
On the sides, in line with Kia’s newfound interest in geometric designs, the new Carnival flaunts new, cross-shaped alloy wheels in a dual-tone finish. The new wheels give the new minivan a funky styling but they may not be appealing to some customers. However, as we were expecting, multiple choices are available, with South Korea getting two 18-inch options and two 19-inch options.
At the rear, the new minivan flaunts new, vertical tail lamps inspired by those of the 2024 Seltos. Kia went so far as to even design a new tailgate for the updated model. The license plate area is located in the lower section, not the upper section like on the outgoing model’s tailgate. Another difference from the outgoing model is that the brand logo is bigger and located separately on the tailgate.
Interior
Inside, the Kia Carnival Hybrid has a new panel in a proper rectangular shape to integrate the 12.3-inch cockpit displays and give a more harmonious look to the interior. We expect the lower height of the frame of this panel to lead to improved forward visibility. A revised dashboard neatly integrates a thin ultra-wide ambient light stripe below the AC vents, which don’t look as elegant as in the outgoing Carnival.
Also new in the Carnival Hybrid is a switchable touch-operated panel that doubles as a controller for both the climate control system and the infotainment system. The exclusion of the separate, relatively bigger climate control panel of the outgoing model has led to a cleaner look, but at the cost of reduced practicality. Another change in the center console is the replacement of three USB-A ports with two USB-C ports. The biggest upgrade here, however, is a premium, dial-type gear selector with a knurled finish instead of the outgoing Carnival’s gear shift lever.
Lastly, the Carnival Hybrid supports OTA software updates and packs several new features like Ergo Motion driver’s seat, a head-up display, Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2), a camera-based digital interior rear-view mirror called ‘Digital Center Mirror (DCM),’ and a UV-C sterilization armrest box.
Specifications
1.6L Hybrid powertrain
The powertrain of the first-ever Kia Carnival Hybrid is based on a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, as seen in the Sportage Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid, which should ensure a balance of power and efficiency. The system produces 245 PS (242 hp) and 37.4 kgf-m (271 lb.-ft.) of torque.
In addition to the basic HEV functions, the hybrid powertrain enables E-VMC (Electrification-Vehicle Motion Control) for improved driving dynamics. E-VMC includes E-Ride for reduced vehicle shaking when passing speed bumps, E-Handling for increased steering response and stability during cornering, and E-EHA (Electrically Evasive Handling Assist) for turning stability. E-EHA’s control principle is similar to E-Handling, but its difference is that it activates when cameras and radar detect the risk of a frontal collision.
Ground clearance
The Carnival Hybrid is 10 mm taller than the regular Carnival, measuring 1,785 mm in height. The higher ground clearance is to mount the traction battery pack, which has an energy storage capacity of 1.49 kWh.
MPG
In South Korea, the Carnival Hybrid delivers a fuel economy of 14.0 km/l (32.9 MPG) for the 9-seater variant with 18-inch tires. That makes the Carnival Hybrid significantly more efficient than the gas-powered U.S.-spec Carnival 3.5L V6, which returns an EPA-est. fuel economy of 22 MPG (combined). In the U.S., we expect the EPA-est. fuel economy of the Carnival Hybrid (if it is approved for the market) to be around 35 MPG.
While the gas-powered Carnival 3.5L V6 has an EPA-est. range 418 miles, the Carnival Hybrid’s EPA-est. range could be well over 525 miles. That would mean far fewer stops at gas stations. Note that we have no confirmation from the company that the hybrid model is sailing to the U.S., and these are our estimates.
Release date
In South Korea, the gas-powered new Carnival’s prices start at KRW 34,700,000 (USD 25,987) and the first-ever Carnival Hybrid starts at KRW 39,250,000 (USD 29,395). In the U.S., the latter may start at approximately USD 37,000.
eToday, in a report published last year, had learned that exports of the new Carnival would commence in April 2024. It’s safe to assume that the U.S. will be the first on the list of destinations. The Carnival enjoys a strong position among RVs (MPVs & SUVs) in Kia’s home base, and the prospect of a hybrid variant with the facelift has further fueled excitement, with the pre-contract numbers showing more demand for the electrified configuration.
The new Carnival and the Carnival Hybrid could arrive in the U.S. as a 2025 model this year. While no announcements have been made, our guess is that we would see the vehicle premiere locally on the media days either at the Chicago Auto Show 2024 (Feb 8) or at the New York International Auto Show 2024 (March 27).
For America, the gas-powered 2024 Carnival (unchanged design-wise) was announced last year with an update that removed all-auto up/down and safety power windows from the EX trim and discontinued the option to delete the power liftgate from the same trim to save USD 350 in the 8-seat version.
Kia Carnival sales
The Kia Carnival’s sales in the U.S. declined by 22% (5,449 units) in 2022 to 19,706 units (2021: 25,155 units). However, things have started to look up for the S.Korean minivan. In 2023, Kia registered its highest demand ever for the Carnival, with sales of 43,687 units, an improvement of 93 percent over 2022. Kia America would do well to add the Carnival Hybrid to the lineup, in order to strengthen its presence in the segment, but we’ll get to know the what they’re thinking in the following months.
TopElectricSUV says
The Kia Carnival Hybrid can be a great value-for-money minivan with significantly lower fuel consumption and a notably higher range than the V6-powered vehicle. In fuel economy, it should be able to match Toyota’s Sienna Hybrid, or at least come close to it, and attract a new set of customers to the brand. As far as we can tell, there’s no apparent reason for Kia managers to stop the electrified Carnival from entering the U.S.!
Featured Image Source: Hyundai Motor Group
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
